The Stranger I Married

The Pros and Cons

Chapter 09—

Six months.

Imagine, Brooklyn and I are already married for more or less 180 days. Who would have thought that? I mean, I can't tell if we're in bad or good terms. Minsan bati kami, minsan naman ay hindi. We're friends sometimes but most of the time, we're enemies. Kung sabagay, ako lang naman ang umaaway sa kanya tapos siya lang itong walang ginawa kundi ang tumango, mag-agree at mag-admit ng mistakes and what-nots. Not that I'm telling na napakabuti kong nilalang ha, pero inaako na lang niya para hindi na kami lalo mag-away. I know it's also my fault for being a nagging wife too. I'm trying to make up to him naman but it always turns out that I'm picking up a fight. Kaya mas pinili ko na lang na 'wag muna siyang pakialaman sa sarili niyang buhay. And with that, we haven't seen each other for almost three weeks.

After I met my in laws for the first time, I conditioned myself that I'm gonna tied up with Brook for a couple of months. Hindi lang siguro kami magiging mag-asawa ng isang taon kundi higit pa. Kinukulit ako ni Mrs Sue Chien kung kailan daw kami magpapakasal sa simbahan ng bratinello niyang anak dahil hindi raw sapat ang civil wedding namin sa Hong Kong. Well, if I could just tell them the whole truth then I would.

"Ngayon lang natuwa ang parents ko sa akin nung nalaman nilang lumagay na ako sa tahimik. Please, please, cooperate with me, Cindy. I'll give you everything you want, just help me."

That's what he told me nung sinabi ko sa kanya na dapat kaming umamin sa parents niya na set-up at internal arrangement lang namin ang pagpapakasal. Minsan din kasi tinatamaan din ako ng pagka-pusong mamon kaya nung nakita kong super saya ng parents ni Brook nang malaman nilang kasal na kaming dalawa, hindi na ako nakapagsalita. They're too nice for me to treat them rude. I can't just spoil their happiness knowing that they really like me as a wife to their son.

"Oh, girl, kamusta ang final interview? Pasado ba?" nilapitan ako ni Mikan habang gamit ko ang Macbook Air niya sa terrace. I'm checking my email if the HR from the company I applied for a week ago has replied me. Actually, that's where Mikan works at. A consulting firm. Sa anim na buwan na mula nang bumalik ako dito sa Pilipinas, hindi rin ako agad nakahanap ng trabaho. I helped Mikan on her household chores and other stuffs. Naiwan ko ang portfolio ko sa Hong Kong which I hated myself on missing it so I can't apply to advertising companies in full swing because I don't have anything to brag to them in the first place. Mabuti na lang at nakakuha ako ng online-based part-time job na online typing job—yeah, whatever complex you may call it, kahit paano ay nakakaipon ako para sa sarili kong expenses nang hindi umaasa sa best friend ko or even kay Brook na rin.

"Wala pa nga e, pag pumasa talaga ako dun, papatusin ko na 'yun. I don't care if it's below my expected salary, basta may work ako at makapag-ipon ay ayos na sa akin." Sagot ko sa kanya habang iniisa-isa ko yung mga sender at subject line ng mga mails sa inbox ko—na puro Facebook, Twitter, Instagram notification lang ang nandun. Damn, this frustrates me!

Nakitingin na din siya sa akin, "You know what, Cindy, mayaman naman ang asawa mo. Bakit hindi ka magpatulong maghanap ng trabaho? The Maple Industries is a congolomerate company. You have lots to choose from those."

"I know your point, Mikan, but I don't wanna bother Brook. Kilala mo ako, hindi ako sanay na magkaroon ng utang na loob sa ibang tao. As much as possible."

She nodded, "Yeah, alam ko. Pero kasi masyado kang nagpapakahirap. Sa sobrang free-spirited at independent woman mo, halos isang buwan na kayong hindi nagkikitang dalawa. Do you even text or call each other?"

Marahan akong tumango pero parang umiling din ako. I really don't know what's up with the two of us. "Sometimes? Mukhang busy rin naman siya sa buhay niya at mga girlfriends niya. What matters is that he won't run away from me because he's we're still married."