Stonehearts 5: Emerald

Forty

After the proposal, our lives seemed to go on a flash. His Mom, who's now my Mom too and my Mom went crazy when they learned that we are planning to marry. From that night, after the family dinner and after calling my parents, the days and nights started to get busy.

Cael decided to retain some of the plans Marc and I have, specifically my wedding planner Dothy, the motif and my wedding dress. We had a beautiful intimate beach wedding in Boracay, with less than a hundred guests. Natatawa pa nga ako noon nang sinabi ko sa kanyang hindi pang beach ang itsurahan ng gown ko. But he just kissed me and told me that it's our wedding, so the fvck he cares kung anong sabihin ng iba.

We had our honeymoon in Germany. Gusto niya raw kasi ipakita sa akin kung saan siya nanatili hanggang sa nagdesisyon ang magulang niya na iuwi sila ng Kuya niya rito sa Pilipinas. I had so much fun there, we visited a lot of places, Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and many more.

Nagulat pa nga ako nang tinanong ako ni Cael kung gusto ko raw bang sa Germany na lang tumira, nakita niya raw kasi kung gaano ako kasaya roon. But I just told him no and that I want to see how our story will play out in the country where our love started and prospered

We never decided when to have kids. When I asked him if we should start planning, he just told me that we could just wing it. Mas maganda raw kasi na ma-surprise kami kesa naman daw pagplanuhan namin. Ayaw naman daw niya akong ma-stress out ako kapag hindi nasusunod ang plano.

Moments like those are the things that makes me realize that Cael is always unpredictable. It's really crazy how he thinks sometimes.

Now fast forward to two months after the wedding, while I sit in my cubicle, crazy and dark thoughts cloud my mind.

Simula kasi nang nakauwi kami galing Germany, na-busy na nang na-busy si Cael. It didn't help when he decided to learn the basics of running the company. Nalipat na kasi siya sa main office, samantalang ako naiwan sa satellite. Marami kasi akong projects na hawak at kailangang tapusin. Pwede ko namang ipasa sa iba para malipat na ako sa HQ kaso nahihiya naman ako kay Sir Ray at sa ibang mga katrabaho ko.

"Ate Era, may gusto ka bang ipabili? Bababa kami." Narinig kong tawag ni Arcie sa akin.

Nilingon ko siya pero hindi ako sumagot. She pulled her eyebrows together in a frown when she realized I wasn't in the right state of mind.

"Ate?" Muling tawag niya.

Mukhang napapukaw na ng atensyon ang kalagayan ko dahil biglang nasa tabi ko na si Lydia, Gaille, at Nicole.

"Huy, okay ka lang?" Mapag-alalang tanong ni Lydia habang hawak ang kamay ko.

I shook my head, trying to keep my tears at bay. Bakit kasi kapag tinanong ka kung okay ka lang ay mas lalo kang hindi nagiging okay?

"Si Cael, eh." Parang batang sumbong ko. "He's been very distant and busy lately. Hindi niya ako magawang itext man lang."

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko para ipakita sa kanila ang huling text na sinend ko sa kanya, which was 7:30 in the morning when I arrived at work.

"Laging maagang umaalis tapos late uuwi." Dagdag ko.

"Okay, kinausap mo na ba siya tungkol dito?" Tanong ni Nicole.

Umiling ako. "Wala akong chance, eh. Kapag umuuwi siya pagod na pagod na siya. Hindi na nga siya nakakakain, kapag umaga naman good morning at I love you lang nasasabi niya sa akin saka siya nagmamadaling umalis."

"Ate Era, what if sabihin mo na kaya kay Kuya Cael 'yan? I mean he's your husband. Hindi ba't mas maganda na pinga-uusapan niya 'yan kesa naman na iniipon mo 'yan sa sarili mo?"