We Got Married

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY

LOUISE

Pagdating namin sa kotse ni Celine, she was looking at me funnily.

“What is your problem Celine?” sabi ko.

“Lately kasi parang laging wala si Red. Is everything okay with you?” she asked, concerned.

“Honestly, I don’t know. After nya mag-propose everything changed. Every week he’s either out of town or the county. We barely see each other. Sabi nya babawi siya, pero hindi naman nangyayari” I answered truthfully.

Natahimik kaming dalawa.

“Lou, bakit nga ulit kayo naghiwalay ni Kabe?” tanong nya.

Nagulat ako dun. She heard it a lot of times as I remember.

Pero nung nagtanong siya, biglang gumulo ulit yung isip ko. Bakit nga ba ulit?

“Honestly, I think it was the distance. You know LDR didn’t really work for us. Isang araw paggising ko pakiramdam ko ayoko nang malayo sya. Gusto ko nasa tabi ko siya. Tinawagan ko siya and decided to tell him na hindi ko na kayang wala siya sa tabi ko. Kaya ayun, we broke up” paliwanag ko.

But the thought still gives a pang on my heart.

“Really? Dahil lang dun?”

“It was a tough time” sagot ko na lang.

It really was. Waking up worrying if he’s being faithful or not. I guess it wasn’t the distance but the fear that ended our relationship. Just like what Xander said before.

“Kaya pala tuwing nagkikita kayo parang gusto nyo na hubaran ang isa’t isa” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Celine!” nagulat ako sa sinabi nya.

“What? It’s true you know”

“Let’s not talk about it please” I asked firmly.

“Well if you change your mind about marrying Red just tell me, tatakas kita” sabay kindat sakin.

“Loka!” tas tawa ko.

Pagdating namin sa condo ni Celine, tulog pa din si Andy.

Nagbihis na kami at natulog na din.

“Wakey wakey sleepyhead, you still have packing to do” rinig kong gising sakin.

Pagmulat ko si Celine pala.

“Morning! Oras na?”

“6 am, shouldn’t you be going?”

“Are you kicking me out?” biro ko sabay kuha nung kape na inaabot nya.

“Yes. Because you guys are crowding my place. Joke, sinasabi ko lang naman” sabay belat nya.

Lumabas ako ng guest room nya at nakita si Andy nakatulala sa pagkain nya.

“Huy Andrea!” panggugulat ko.

“Morning Lou”

Nilapag ko yung kape tapos niyakap ko siya.

“Andy Pandy wag ka na malungkot!! Alam give him a little time okay, and listen to him. Baka naman may mas malalim na dahilan diba?” sabi ko.

“Thanks Lou. Siguro, after a few days. Ewan ko” sagot nya ng malungkot.

“Basta don’t ever think of giving up on him. Pag ginive up mo siya para ka na rin nagpatalo kay Victoria, you wouldn’t want that don’t you?” sabay yakap samin ni Celine.

Bumuntong hininga lang siya.

“Thanks for keeping me bitches. I don’t know what I’d do without you”

Nagkatinginan kami ni Celine. This is the time to tell her na siguro.

"My condo's welcome to you anytime. But..." alangan na sabi ni Celine.

"Andy, aalis kasi kami ni Celine eh. We have an offer sa States, but it'll just be a quick one, a week or two tops" paliwanag ko.

"We hate leaving you in this state pero kasi naka-oo na kami"

"Kelan alis nyo?" tanong nya

"Mamyang gabi pa naman. You will help me pack sweetheart. And you can stay here as long as you want" assure ni Celine sa kanya.

“I’m a big girl na. Don’t worry about me. I’m just hurting not suicidal. Pagbalik nyo nandito pa din ako, maybe a whole lot better” sagot nya samin.

“Good because we don’t want to attend your funeral any time soon” sabi ni Celine tas nagtawanan lang kaming tatlo habang magkakayakap.

After breakfast nagpaalam na ko kay Andy at nag-drive na pabalik sa condo ko.

Pagdating ko sa floor ko may lalakeng nasa tapat ng pinto ko. Likod pa lang kilala ko na kung sino.

“Ang alam ko 6 pm ang flight ko. Masyado ka atang maaga?” I joked.

Kabe looked at me and gave me a cheeky smile.

“I thought I’d help you with the packing” sabi niya sakin.

The way he said ‘packing’ was actually more like ‘f*cking’.

I shrugged the feeling na yun nga ang gusto nyang ipahiwatig.

“I hope you’ve had breakfast because we’re going to pack a lot of things” tapos binuksan ko na yung pinto ko.

He did help me pack my things. Andamin nyang alam na advices para maluwag yung maleta ko. Mabilis kaming nakatapos. Dito ko na din siya pinag-lunch.

After lunch he volunteered to wash the dishes habang ako maliligo.

Naka-bathrobe na ko’t nagpupunas ng basa kong buhok. Isusuot ko na sana yung engagement ring ko nang nakarinig ako ng pagkabasag ng plato sa kitchen ko.

“Kabe anong nangyari?” labas ko sa kwarto ko’t punta sa kitchen.

Nakita ko siyang may pinupulot na basag na plato.

“Sorry nadulas-Aray!” sigaw nya.

Agad akong lumapit sa kanya. Nasugat pala siya.

“Halika gamutin natin, iwan mo na yan muna” tapos pinapasok ko siya sa kwarto ko.

Kinuha ko yung first-aid kit sa banyo ko habang nakaupo siya sa kama ko.

Nilagyan ko ng betadine yung sugat nya at ng band-aid. Unconciously, I kissed his finger after, just like what my mom does pag may sugat ako.

“Ayan, gagaling na yan” sabi ko pa with a smile.

Natahimik siya. Tsaka ko lang narealize kung ano yung ginawa ko. Oh my god! I kissed his freaking finger tapos ngumiti pa ko!!! Napatingin ako sa kanya.

I saw longing and lust and love. God I missed being this close to him. The years apart only made me want him more. Parang mas lalo ko siyang hinanap hanap nung naghiwalay kami.

Bago pa ko makapag-react, he held on my nape and crashed his lips on mine.

My mind was telling me that this is wrong but my heart and my body was saying the otherwise.

After ng ilang segundong hesitation, I kissed him back. His hands loosening the sash on my robe, my hands tugging on his shirt. At that moment wala na kong ibang naisip kundi ang maramdaman ulit siya sakin.

Before I know it we were in my bed, exploring each other’s bodies like never before.