MORE THAN I FEEL INSIDE

I

"WHERE'S Althea?"

Napapitlag si Althea nang marinig niya ang dumadagundong na tinig ng kanyang asawang si Gabriel sa buong kabahayan. She literally stopped breathing for a moment. Natauhan lamang siya nang muli niyang marinig ang galit na boses nito. She knew that tone very well or, should she say, she knew him very well.

"Tell her to bring my coffee into the library in five minutes!"

Agad na binitawan niya ang hawak na sandok. She saw fear in Yaya Andeng's eyes. Alam niyang para sa kanya ang takot na nararamdaman nito.

"Yaya, don't worry, I'll be fine." Then she smiled at her.

Kinuha sa kanya ng isa pang katulong ang sandok na hawak niya.

She quickly prepared his coffee, and then she went upstairs. Mabuti nang mas maaga sa five minutes niya dalhin ang kape ni Gabriel. She knew what her husband was capable of doing.

Bahagya siyang napahinto sa mabilis na pag-akyat nang mapatapat siya sa malaking wedding picture nilang mag-asawa na nakasabit sa gilid ng hagdan. Napatitig siya sa petsa na nakasulat sa ibaba niyon.

Tatlong taon na pala ang nakalilipas mula nang walang pagtutol siyang sumang-ayon sa kagustuhan ng mga magulang niya na ipakasal siya kay Gabriel. The infamous Gabriel Vasquez. The most sought-after bachelor in the whole province of Zambales. Kabilang ito sa famous Vasquez clan na inaasam ninuman na makabungguang-siko o makilala man lang. And women of all ages drooled over the youngest heir: Gabriel.

These women were not just after his money. Most of them were after his good looks and oozing sex appeal. Of course, she was not an exception. Ngunit may isang bagay siyang ipinagkaiba sa lahat ng mga babaeng naghahangad dito—women only wanted him; she, on the other hand, was in love with him.

She fell in love with him the first time she laid eyes on him ten years ago. She was eighteen then, while he was twenty.

Mula nang araw na iyon, wala na siyang iba pang hinangad kundi ang mapansin nito. Well, she got her wish. She was now Mrs. Gabriel Vasquez. Yes, he was hers—legally, literally, and figuratively.

Dagling pinigil niya ang pagdaloy ng mga alaala. Masyado na rin siyang nawili sa pagtitig sa larawan nila, tuloy ay lumagpas na siya ng limang minuto.

She opened the door of the library without even knocking. She saw Gabriel's profile from the doorway. He wore nothing else except his boxers.

Ilang ulit na ba niya itong nakita sa ganoong ayos? Nonetheless, she was still stunned by his perfect physique.

"Five minutes too long for you?" His eyes were burning with contempt and anger as he looked at her.

"I-I'm sorry, Gab..." She couldn't find the right words. She couldn't even move her feet. He was so achingly beautiful and she lost her mind just by looking at him.

Kumuha ito ng T-shirt at jogging pants sa closet na naroon at mabilis na nagbihis. She walked towards the table and placed the cup of coffee on top of it. Pagkalapag sa kape, eksaktong pumihit ito paharap sa kanya. Agad na nag-iwas siya ng tingin. Ganoon din ang ginawa nito kaya nagmukha tuloy na hinaharangan nila ang isa't isa. She gazed up at him only to see fire in his eyes.

"What are you up to?" galit na tanong nito. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her angrily.

"G-Gab, nasasaktan ako," she said fearfully.

"Well, that's good!" Malupit ang mga mata nitong deretsong nakatingin sa mga mata niya. He even grabbed her arms tighter, sa paraang tila ba gusto siyang durugin nito.