Napahiya talaga ako pero hindi ko nalang pinahalata. I used my phone to get away from kahihiyahan. Pasimple akong nag tingin-tingin sa photos ko. Oh diba, busy talaga ako.
"Here's your order ma'am."
"Thank you." I smiled then.
Anthon cleared his throat again. "How are you?" seriously dapat pa ba'ng itanong 'yan? Naku Anthon 'wag ka nang magsalita please.
I sipped my coffee and looked outside. "Okay naman ako. Eto pa din, okay na okay. Always naman kase talaga akong okay e."
He looked at my eyes na parang tutunawin niya ako. Lupa kainin mo na ako. "I see. You seemed so different. A good different." Ano ba'ng pinagsasabi niya? Naku malapit na akong maniwala dun ah. Good different. Baka maganda ang ibig niyang sabihin, uhmm like gumanda? Mukhang tama ako sa mga pinagsasabi ko ah. Great, feeler na kung feeler.
"Thank you. Marami na kaseng nagbago." I face palmed. Hindi ko sana sinabi 'yun. Wrong move Emma. Take two. "I mean, salamat naman. Marami na talaga akong pinagbago. It's been two year na din kase na we last met diba, so mababaguhan ka talaga." I faked a laugh and mentally slapped myself. Ano ba 'tong kahihiyan na pinasok ko? Feeling ko wala na akong mukha na maihaharap sa kanya. Feeling ko talaga sana hindi na lang ako pinanganak.
"Yeah, it's been two years. Grabe na ang improvement mo no. may negosyo ka na and all. I am happy for you."my heart's beating is faster than a car in a race. Jusko po, ayoko pa naman na mamatay. Give me strength po. I need strength, and water.
"Naku, pagsisikap lang talaga ang kailangan para maging successful." I am proud of myself. Hindi na ako napahiya sa sinabi ko. Grabe hoo, akala ko end of the world na.
"Who are you living with now?"
Seriously? Ano ka ba? Co-seller ko o imbestigador? "I am living with myself. Ako lang. may condo ako somewhere here." Nice nice. Ganda ng sinabi ko, may condo ako. Parang ang yaman ko na talaga ah. Parang lang naman.
"Ah." Was all he said. He then rested on his seat tapos nakapikit siya. Pagod lang siguro siya palagi sa trabaho niya. Pinagmasdan ko siya. He looked different too. His haircut is a lot way better than before tapos nagging mas macho siya. Emma relax, stop your daydream.
I ate. Saktong matapos na akong kumain e may dumating. She's very familiar. I've seen her somewhere. Naku bakit ba hindi ko matandaan.
"I'm here."
"Nandito ka na pala, Andy."
BINABASA MO ANG
Battered Wife
Roman d'amourI am Emma, and my life in living with my husband is the least you could have imagined and want. For I, am a battered wife.