Sandoval Duology 1: Unwanted Wife (Self-Published)

Kabanata 28

Naramdaman ko ang pag higpit nang yakap ni Craig sa akin. Ang kanyang binti ay naka dantay din sa akin habang ang kanyang mukha ay naka subsob sa aking leeg.

He's still asleep while I am already wide awake. Ang liwanag ay naka pasok na sa kwarto. Nanatili ang titig ko sa kisame at pinagmamasdan ang ilaw.

Napa ngiti ako kalaunan.

I missed here. Ang kwartong ito, ang pagtulog dito, ang matulog sa tabi niya, ang makatulog habang nasa bisig niya. Para bang isang maganda panaginip pagkatapos nang mahabang bangungot.

I felt him stirred a bit and kissed my cheeks.

"Good morning," He greeted before yawning and hug me even tighter.

I chuckled at his movements and lightly tapped his forearm.

"Loosen up. I'm not going anywhere." I said and looked at him.

His eyes are still close but the dimples on his cheeks were already there, greeting me as a wide beautiful smile was plastered on his face.

"I'm making sure I wasn't dreaming anymore," He said

I poked his dimples and give a smack on his lips, "You aren't."

Dahan dahan siyang dumilat at tumitigtig sa akin. His deep eyes set are starting to pull me again. Making me drown in his own mystery. But it was just for a few seconds of a puzzle because it changed into a well of emotions. He's letting me in slowly. He's letting me know his feelings. He's opening up.

"Oh God, wake me up if this is just a dream." He whispered and pulled me closer to him, "I couldn't imagine myself dreaming of you again after giving me this kind of happiness."

I hugged him back with the same tightness and buried my face on his chest. How I prayed that this isn't just a dream for me, too. Because I will never know how to fix me again.

If I have to choose to live in the past or live now, I will choose my past, not to stop what happened but to fix everything and ready myself for the lessons of life that will teach me.

To feel this kind of unconditional love that my husband, Craig Gaisler Sandoval, had given me.

Every pain, every wound, every tear is all worth it. All worth it.

Craig decided to make breakfast as I take my time to go to the bath and get ready for the office. When I am done, he's already fresh from the shower and fixing his necktie.

I went to him and helped him fix it. When I'm done, he gave me my attire today that he personally picked for me. I smiled and just took it without questions.

It's a white slack paired with a pink ruffled v-neck top. I just put my hair down this time and made it with big curls in the end.

Craig and I ate breakfast in silence. He kept on glancing at me and I just gave him smiles in return. After that, he drove me to my office. He's still silent while holding the steering wheel and my hand with his other hand. He kept on giving me small kisses on my hand.

I got busy the whole morning but when lunch came, Craig came to get me and we ate together. The first time after years of being married, we ate lunch together.

We were very careful about the next days. Ganoon kami araw araw. Halos mas gusto ko na lang ang yumakap sa kanya sa twing kasama ko siya at wag nang humiwalay pa.

"So, okay na kayo?" Tanong ni Stephie

Tumango ako, "Medyo. Parang ganun na nga. We don't talk about it much."

Tumango tango si Stephie sa akin, "Sabagay. Hindi naman madali yung pinagdaanan niyo pareho. I can't blame you both kung pareho kayong teenager kung kumilos." Sabay irap niya sa akin.

Tumawa na lang ako sa kanya. It was one of Saturdays that month that I decided to meet up with her. Aleynah, her daughter is bored, too. Kaya nakipag kita na din siya.

Tumayo na ako, "Mauna na ako, dadalaw pa ako kay Cassie sa hospital."

Tumango siya bago kami sabay na lumingon kay Aleynah, "Oh siya, mag ingat ka. Aantayin na lang namin si Zeke dito."

Humalik ako sa kanya bago humalik din kay Aleynah at dumaretsong alis na din. Dumaretso ako kay Cassie sa hospital. May sakit daw ito ayon kay Gregg.

She's confined since yesterday kaya naman ngayon ko lang madadalaw. I don't know what happened but we do all hoped she's okay.

A week passed by too fast. Siguro'y ganoon nga kapag masyado ka nang masaya sa mga araw, hindi mo na napapansin ang araw na lumilipas.

"Ma'am, handa na po ang kotse." Sabi ng sekretarya ko.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya bago tumayo, "Felice, can you please cancel all my meetings tonight?"

Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko bago tinignan ang hawak hawak na notes nang schedule ko. She fixed her glasses that fell on the tip of her nose before turning back to me.

"I will make calls, Ma'am." Kumurap kurap siya, "May sakit po ba kayo?"

Kinuha ko bag ko at lumapit sa kanya, "I'm completely fine. Kailangan ko lang umuwi para ipagluto ang asawa ko." I tapped her shoulders and walked past through her, "Umuwi ka na din."

"Y-yes, Ma'am." Narinig kong sagot niya bago ako lumabas ng opisina.

It's about time na ako naman ang bumawi kay Craig. Simula noon, hanggang ngayon, he keeps on taking care of me, without complaints. He showed me how much he loves me. Even I gave my wrath towards him.

Maaga akong dumating sa bahay. I made sure everything's perfect. Jonah assisted me with all I'll be needing. I cooked 3 dishes and even baked muffins for Craig.

I texted him to go home early and he said yes. Kaya naman bago siya makauwi ay nag ayos na ako nang sarili. I took a quick bath and wore a simple spaghetti strapped floral dress.

Dinungaw ko ang garden. Everything is perfect as I want it to be. Inayos namin nila Jonah ang lahat nang iyon. I made sure that the lights were in the proper places, even the table.

Kinakabahan ako. It's time for me to ask his forgiveness in everything I have done. To acknowledge his sacrifices in loving me and even to share the sorrow we've been through when our son died.

To finally know every truth behind the lies. To accept and let go of the pains. And to collect our broken pieces together.

To fix our marriage and give it another chance.

Inilapag ko nang dahan dahan ang jar na may kandila sa tubig nang pool. Some of the candles are already floating. I stared at it for a minute.

"Ma'am, dumating na po si Sir Craig!" Ani Jonah

Tumayo ako sa pagkakaluhod bago tumayo sa harap nang table. The lights automatically turned off. I pulled my hair and fix my high ponytail at pinagpagan ang suot.