" The Cold Wife "

Afraid and Sebastian Renzo

“Hey, babe..” napaupo naman si Monique sa kama nang biglang pumasok sa kwarto niya si Nick na may dala-dalang tray ng breakfast. Nakasuit na rin ito para sa trabaho. Bumalik na naman kasi ulit si Nick sa dating gawi nito—ang bigyan siya ng breakfast tuwing umaga sa kwarto niya.

These days, naging okay na sila ni Nick. Mas naging open na siya ngayon dito. Iniiwasan na niya ang ginagawa niya rito dati. Well, she was afraid that she will lose Nick again.

“Ang aga mo naman yata..” napahikab pa siya at tumabi na sa kanya si Nick.

“Naman. Early bird yata ‘to, haha. Sige, kumain ka muna para pagkatapos into, magshoshower ka na lang at magbibihis para sa trabaho mo mamaya.” Sabi ni Nick sa kanya saka kinuha nito ang plato sa tray na may lamang rice saka beacon with hotdog. “Susubuan kita?” he asked her.

She chuckled. “Parang naman akong baldado nito. Grabe ka.”

Nick grinned. “Masanay ka na. Ganito ako, laging nangspospoil.” He then pinched her nose.

“Hey!” she snapped and touched her nose. “Masakit yun ah!” hinampas niya ito sa balikat.

Tumawa na rin ito. “Sorry na, sige na, susubuan na kita para makakain ka na.” then he took a spoon at the food. Sinubuan nga siya nito.

Monique could feel the butterflies in her stomach with her husband gestures. Minsan nga, hindi niya alam pero kinikilig siya sa mga ginagawa nito sa kanya. She felt giddy every time Nick did something randomly sweet at her. Kahapon nga, nagvolunteer itong suklayan siya, na ito raw ang aayos ng buhok niya. But they just ended up laughing kasi ginawa nitong katatawanan ang buhok niya. Aminado siyang wala itong alam.

“Kinakabahan ako para mamaya.” Sabi ni Monique dito. Mamaya kasi ang resulta kung mapropromote siya sa trabaho na noong isang buwan pa niya inaplayan.

Nick smiled at her reassuringly and squeezed her hand. “Ano ka ba, don’t worry. Alam kong mapropromote ka. You did great in your job kaya dapat lang na bigyan ka ng promotion.” He said. Sinabi niya kasi rito ang tungkol sa promotion niya sa Star.

“Pero, hindi ko maiwasang kabahan e.. We were many fighting for that position.”

Nick just kissed her forehead. “As I said, don’t worry. Mapropromote ka at kung hindi man, magkakalimutan kami ni Kurt.” Anito na tila seryosong kakalimutan talaga ang CEO ng Star na kaibigan ni Nick.

She just laughed. “H’wag ka ngang ganyan. Baka naman sasabihin nilang kaya ako na promote kasi may contact ka sa may-ari, hindi dahil sa performance ko.”

“Oo na. I was just kidding. Basta, trust me. You’ll get that position.” He assured her.

Hanggang sa maubos na nga niya ang pagkain at tumayo na rin si Monique para magshower. “Labas na, maliligo na ako. “ saway niya sa asawa niya. Ayaw niya kayang maghubad sa harapan into.

She saw anticipation from Nick’s eyes. She rolled her eyes. Parang alam na niya kung bakit ganun. “What?”

“Hindi ba pwedeng maghubad ka na lang sa harap ko? Don’t worry, we’re married anyway.” Kibit-balikat nitong sagot.

Kinuha niya ang isang pillow sa kama at ibinato sa mukha nito. “Pervert!”

Tumawa ito. “Oo na, aalis na. Pero wala man lang bang kiss?” he begged, puppy eyes.

She just rolled her eyes again. “Tigil-tigilan mo ko. Pasalamat kang good mood ako ngayon.” Then she leaned at him and gave him a quick kiss on his lips.

Pero nagulat na lang siya nang hapitin nito ang bewang niya and Nick deepened the kiss. Pagkatapos ng ilang segundo ay tumigil na ito, “Now, that was enough, sige, shower na.” Nick then spanked her butt para pumunta na siya sa CR. Tumayo na ito.

“Hey!” she glared at him. Napalakas kasi ang hampas nito sa pwet niya.

“Shower now or do you want me to strip you naked there?” he teased.

She gave him an incredulous look. “Maniac!” pumasok na nga siya CR at malakas na sinarhan ito ng pinto. She heard him chuckled and the door from her room locked. Mukhang nakalabas na ito sa kwarto niya.

She sighed. Alright, she has to admit, parang may ibang nararamdaman na siya para sa asawa niya. Pero.. she was afraid. She was afraid to risk her heart again. She was very broken from her past at ayaw na niyang maulit pa iyon. She need to be distant from Nick bago pa lumala ang lahat at masaktan na naman siya gaya sa nangyari sa kanya noon.

***Flashback 

“Hey, baby.. Why are you crying?” pag-aalalang tanong ni Renzo sa kanya nang dumating na ito sa restaurant kung saan siya nakikipagkita rito. Pagkatapos kasi ng nangyari at ang pag-amin ng Daddy niya sa lahat, nakipagkita siya kay Renzo. Gusto kasi niyang may mapagbuhusan siya ng sama ng loob tungkol sa ginawa ng Daddy niya sa kanya. Sobrang nasaktan siya dahil dito.

“Si Dad kasi.. Totoo ang mga speculations, Renzo. Umamin siya sa kin.” She said between her sobs. Renzo’s eyes softened at her. Renzo was her boyfriend for almost four years. Naging sila ‘nong first year college palang siya. AndRenzo is also her first boyfriend. Ito na lang ang tanging lalakeng pinagkatiwalaan niya ng lubusan matapos siyag biguin ng dad niya.

“Hey..” hinawakan nito ang dalawa niyang kamay. “Look at me.” Napatingin naman siya rito.

“Everything will be fine. Lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay mo ngayon ay may dahilan. Maybe from what happened between you and your father will be a lesson that you need to be stronger. “ Then Renzo cupped her face. “Listen to me, magiging okay din ang lahat. Magtiwala ka lang and always remember, nandito ako lagi para sayo kahit anuman mangyari.”

She wiped her tears. “Promise?”

Renzo smiled at her. “Promise.”

“Promise you’ll never do the same like my dad did to me?”

“Yes, I won’t Monique. I will not hurt you because I love you.”

---

“Liar!” Monique shouted at the top of her lungs. Tears were constantly flowing from her eyes.

“Monique, let me explain. Listen to me—“

“No!” hindi niya pinatapos si Renzo. Hindi na niya alam kung anong gagawin niya. Parang tumigil ang pag-ikot ng mundo niya nang makita si Renzo na nakaboxers lang sa bachelor’s pad nito na may kasamang babae na nakasuot din ng robe. Sa ayos ng mga itsura nito, halatang may nangyari sa dalawa kagabi.

Bibisitahin sana niya kasi ang lalake dahil 4th anniversary nila. Nakasanayan na kasi nilang dalawa na sa bachelor’s pad nito sila magcecelebrate. Magluluto siya o ‘di kaya silang dalawa ang magluluto tapos, manunuod lang sila ng movie sa pad nito.

Pero iba ang nadatnan niya sa pad nito. Nang pinindot niya ang doorbell into, iba ang nagbukas ng pinto, isang babae na halos kasing edad lang niya na nakarobe at magulong-magulo ang buhok. The lipstick of the woman was even smudged. Nang tanungin niya ito kung sino ito, she answered her that she was Renzo’s fiancée.

“Don’t explain to her Renzo.” Sabi ‘nung babae. “She needs to know na hindi pwedeng maging kayo because I’m your fiancée.”

“Monique.. listen..” Renzo was about to hold her hand but she yelled at him. “You’re a liar! I hate you!” pagkatapos ay tinalikuran na niya ito at mabilis na tumakbo.

Pero nahabol siya nito at nahawakan ni Renzo ang braso niya. Hinarap niya ito saka sinampal ng kalakas-lakas. “Renzo.. I trusted you! Bakit mo ginawa sa kin ‘to?” naiiyak na sabi niya rito.

“Monique, making ka muna sa kin..”

“Shut up, fuck you!” she cursed. “You promised. You promised not to hurt me, pero ano ‘tong ginawa mo sa kin? Mas lalo mo kong dinurog, Renzo.. Akala ko hindi kayo magiging pareho ni Dad pero wow, expect the unexpected. Kailan ba naging kayo, Renzo ha? Kaya pala naging malamig ka sa kin these past few days..” she bitterly replied.

“Monique, you don’t understand.. Lahat ng iyon—“

“Ayoko na! Just fucking shut up, Renzo. Dahil simula ngayon, I despise you. All of you are just the same! I will never ever fucking forgive you!” then she just left him.

Even the man she thought loves her and would never hurt her just like what her dad did to her, let her down.


***End of Flashback


Simula ‘non, hindi na siya nagmahal pa. She closed her heart from everyone. Durog na durog siya dahil ang lahat ng lalakeng pinagkatiwalaan niya ay sinaktan siya ng sobra.

She doesn’t want to be broken again. She doesn’t want to risk her heart anymore.

---

“Tapos ka na pala, so, ano, ihahatid kita?” sinalubong siya ni Nick nang makababa siya matapos siyang magbihis at mag-ayos para sa trabaho niya mamaya.

“Hindi ako magpapahatid. Salamat na lang.” she answered him coldly. “Mauna na ako.” Pagkatapos ay nauna nga siyang lumabas dito sa bahay. She saw Nick’s reaction from what she did. Gulat na gulat ito sa inasal niya.

“I’m sorry Nick, but I don’t want to risk my heart to you.” She said to herself.

---

Nabigla naman si Nick sa inasal ni Monique sa kanya. Naging malamig na naman ito sa kanya. Hindi na naman niya maiwasang malungkot. Parang bumalik na naman ito sa dati.

But he thought everything was fine now. Akala niya, she was giving him a chance, she was giving their marriage a chance pero parang.. nagiging malabo na naman. Kanina, okay sila. Pero ngayon.. She became cold to him. May nagawa ba siyang masama?

Bakit parang nararamdaman niyang Monique is becoming distant to him again?

Bigla namang tumunog ang cellphone niya at kaagad sinagot ang tawag mula rito.

“Yes, Jen?” he said when he picked up the call and saw who was calling, it was just his secretary.

“Sir Torres, nandito na si Mr. Lim, kasama po ang anak niya. 8:30am po kasi ang appointment niyo pero nauna na po sila sa opisina kaya po tinawagan ko na lang po kayo.”

He glanced at her wrist watch. 8am na pala. “Sige, pakisabi na lang na I’m on my way and accommodate them properly Jen. Thank you.” He ended the call. Mr. Lim is one of their biggest clients. May-ari ito ng Lim Industries Corporation. Dito rin kasi sila kumukuha ng mga appliances or machineries na ginagamit nila sa Torres Corporation. He heard that Mr. Lim will retire at ang papalit nito ay ang anak nito. Mr. Lim’s son will take care their transaction in behalf of him.

He frowned. Hindi niya alam kung makakausap niya ang mga ito ng maayos. Parang nawalan siya ng ganang kausapin sina Mr. Lim dahil sa nangyari sa kanila ni Monique.

---

“Mr. Lim, sorry for the inconvenience. Medyo natagalan lang kasi may nangyari pa sa bahay.” Natatawang sabi ni Nick nang dumating na siya sa opisina niya at pinapasok sina Mr. Lim at ang anak nitong lalake na tantiya niya na halos magkasing-edad lang sila. 

Kanina pa kasi siyang hinihintay ng mga ito. Parang nahiya tuloy siya kasi Mr. Lim was one of their biggest client.

“Ano ka ba hijo, hahaha. It’s okay.” Mr. Ponciano Lim stifled a laugh. “Ganyan talaga kapag may-asawa.”

Natawa naman siya sa sinabi nito and sheepishly replied, “Y-yeah, ganun nga po.”

“So, Mr. Torres, I want you to meet my son, Sebastian.” Mr. Lim gestured the man who was behind him. “Alam mo namang matanda na ako kaya magreretire na ako and so, my son will be the one transacting you from now on. Siya na ang bahala sayo and he will also be the one attending for our future meetings.”

Nick offered his hand to Mr. Lim’s son, Sebastian and smiled. “Hi. Nice to meet you. I’m Nicholas Troy Torres.”

The man accepted his hand. “Nice to meet you too. I’m Sebastian Renzo Lim. I heard a lot from you. You’re married to Monique Valdez, right?”

Nick raised an eyebrow. He sensed Sebastian’s question was double meaning. Parang may kakaiba sa tanong nito. “Well, yeah. I’m married to her. Why?”

Sebastian laughed and shook his head. “Wala naman, Mr. Torres. Nababasa ko kasi sa mga tabloids. The two of you are the talk of everyone today. But anyway, I’m just here for business and I hope we can be in good terms.”

Nick really felt something's wrong with this guy.