She's Bitter Sweet [completed]

chapter four

"Don't worry, Elora. I'll take care of your cousin," nagsalita ang lalakeng umakbay sa kanya. Only to find out that it was Valen---her husband.

Hindi maibuka ni Sophie ang kanyang bibig, naglipatlipat siya ng tingin sa dalawang kaharap. Ang sakit, sobra. Hindi siya handa na harapin si Rafael. Hindi siya handa sa lahat ng nangyayari ngayon!

"E-excuse me," nauutal niyang sabi, at inalis ang kamay ni Valen sa pagkakaabay sa kanya at dali-daling umalis.

Agad siyang puamasok sa kanilang kabahayan at dumiretso sa loob ng comfort room sa maid's quarter. Duon pinakawala niya ang mga luha na kanina pa nagbabantang umagos.

Kinuyom niya ang mga palad, she felt so weak and alone. Walang kakampi, and now, isang ganap na Mrs. Salvador nga siya subalit hindi kay Rafael.

Alalang-alala niya ang pag-uusap nila ng kanyang ama, hanggang ngayon ay galit parin ito sa kanya at sinabihan siya nitong mag-inpake ng mga gamit at siya'y iuuwi na ni Valen sa mismo nitong bahay. Ang sakit... mismo niyang ama ay ayaw na sa kaniya.

Litong-lito na siya sa lahat ng nangyayari, then something came over her mind. She frowned and clenched her fist. "I promise I won't cooperate with this godd*mn marriage thing! This won't last forever," she said.

She wiped her tears using her bare hands, she faced the mirror at inayos ang sarili. Today will be her last day in their house.

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It was past eight nang makaalis sina Valen at Sophie sa bahay ng mga Madrigal. Tahimik silang dalawa sa loob, wala ni isa ang nagsalita buhat nang matapos ang civil wedding nila.

Nasa labas ng binatana ang mga mata ni Sophie, blangko ang kanyang isip. She doesn't know what to think or feel right that very moment.

Lahat ng kanyang mga gamit ay nasa backseat, Valen helped her out with her things.

Seryoso ang mukha nito, while his eyes ay nakatuon sa daan. She doesn't want ask him anything or saan siya nito iuuwi. Anyway, nothing interest her about him.

Ang alam niya lang ay iuuwi siya nito sa sarili nitong bahay, na matagal na nitong pinatayo nung nasa ibang basa pa ito.

Tumikhim si Valen, breaking the silence between them. Subalit hindi paapektado si Sophie, ni hindi man lang siya nag-abalang lingunin ito, but she can feel that his eyes are staring at her from the rearview mirror.

"Don't worry, hindi tayo tatabi ng kama, not until you reached eighteen. I promised your Dad that I will take care of you," anito sa kanya ngunit nagmistulan siyang bingi kaharap nito. "You will still go to school, at Madrigal parin ang dadalhin mong apelyido," he said.

Hindi na rin siya nakatiis, "I won't! Ayokong mag-aral sa dati kong paaralan," she answered him in a cold voice without even turning her head.

"Well okay, if that's what you want I will transfer you sa ibang school," Valen sighed. Mukhang mapapasubo ang kanyang pasensiya sa asawa.

Silence again...

"You should have protested," it simply slipped from her mouth. Noong isang araw pa niya gustong sabihin sa asawa.

Valen frowned, "you really think na kagustuhan ko din ang nangyari?" he sarcastically asked her. "In the first place, you were inside of Rafael's room---naked. I'm putting every piece of the puzzle young lady, and I'm not that stupid para hindi malaman na gusto mong pikutin si Rafael!"

"That's not true!" She denies, facing Valen's gaze.

"Don't play games with me young lady, I could see it in your eyes that you have feelings towards my brother," his face was serious. "Actually, I really don't have any intentions marrying you as a matter of fact, tatakas sana ako kung hindi lang ako kinausap ulit ni Rafael."

Silence again...

"What would your father and mother say about those stupid things you've done? You ruined my life, your own life!" Muling nagsalita si Valen. "You're still young and have a lot of things to do, but then dahil sa lahat ng ginawa mo, look at us. We're both tied up just because of your pathetic selfishness!"

She's begining to get tear-eyed, bistado na ang kanyang ginawang kapalpakan. Ang sakit-sakit lang na ipamukha lahat ng kaniyang kagagahan!

Agad iyon napansin ni Valen.

"Don't cry, why don't you just thank me for doing you a favor. And besides wala sa aming pamilya ang isang duwag, running from a responsibility kahit hindi iyon sinasadya," sita nito sa kanya.

She didn't answered back bagkus ay yumuko siya sa sobrang kahihiyang nadarama.

"Let's just be like other normal husband and wife, okay?" Dagdag pa ni Valen. Tumango lamang siya bilang tugon niya rito, kahit wala naman siyang kasiguruhan sa kaniyang pinasok.

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After one hour of travel ay nakarating sila sa bahay, it was a two story house, typically for newly weds na nagsisimula ng pamilya. May maliit na garden, may garage.

"Come..." Aya ni Valen sa kanya.

They both went inside the house, it was a cozy place, well lighted and fully furnished. May isang kwarto sa ibaba para sa kasambahay, tatlong bedrooms, including the master's bedroom.

"Feel free, this is your house. I intentionally built this for my future wife and well since ikaw ang pinakasalan ko, so definitely it's yours", patay malisya nitong pahayag sa kanya.

"Where's my room?" walang gana niyang tanong.

"This will be your room," sabay turo ni Valen sa isang silid. "And this will be mine---and soon will be ours."

"No way!" Protesta niya.

"There's nothing you could do about it my dear wife, whether you'd like it or not as soon as you turn eighteen I will fully practice my husbandly rights," anito sa kanya.

Hindi Maiwasan ni Sophie ang mapalunok sa takot. Ang mga katagang iyong mula kay Valen ay hindi paki-usap but more of a demand. Simply telling her that he already owns her, but what about love?

How can they stand living together kung hindi naman nila mahal ang isa't isa.

"Whatever! I'm tired and super exhausted I want sleep!" Nagtapang-tapangan siya just to cover her real feelings, tumalikod siya at tinungo ang silid na tinuro ni Valen.

"Good night," narinig niyang sabi ni Valen sa kanya. She paused for a while at the door, at kibit balikat na pumasok sa loob.

TBC ☺