Napatingin sa gawi niya ang mag-asawa pagpasok na pagpasok pa lang niya ng living room. Si Nick ay nakataas ang isang kilay sa kanya, nasa mga mata nito ang katanungan habang ang asawa naman nito'y binibigyan siya ng isang nanunuksong ngiti.
"Where is Cece? Hindi mo ata siya kasama? Napagod ba?" Ang nakakalokong tanong ni Dreena sa kanya na ikina-ikot ng mga mata niya.
"She went home. She needs clothes to change into."
"Oh.. you ruined them good huh?"
"Shut up, Dreena." Saway niya sa pinsan na mas lalo lang nitong ikinangisi.
"What? I'm not saying anything."
He rolled her eyes at her. "Minx."
"Teka. Pinayagan mo?" Biglang singit naman ni Nick habang nakataas ang isang kilay.
"Well... I don't see any reason why not.."
"What if she leaves you again?"
"She won't." Ang matigas na turan niya. "Besides, I have eyes on her. Malalaman ko ang bawat galaw niya. Isa pa pupuntahan ko din naman siya mamaya para sunduin."
"Stalker much." Pasaring ni Nick na ikinatalim ng tingin niya dito.
"Tsk. Madali lang namang bumili ng damit ah. You could have ordered David to buy her a dress." Ani Dreena.
"Well that's the problem. That woman has one hell of a pride! She refused to accept anything from me to my bafflement!"
"At hinayaan mo lang?" Ang nananantiyang wika ng pinsan.
Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. "If I don't, it will just definitely end in a fight and I don't want us to fight." Halos mapangiwi siya ng mahimigan ang kahinaan sa boses niya. Bloody hell! Di yata't siya ang nagiging sunud-sunuran sa kanilang dalawa!
"Well naninibago lang naman ako. I still couldn't believe you agreed to compromise just to give a woman what she wants."
Napanguso siya sa sinabi nito.
"You make me sound like I'm a self-centered domeeneering man."
Hindi umimik si Dreena. Si Nick naman ay nagkibit balikat lang. He scoffed.
"You must be kidding me. I just want some peace with her."
"More on like you're afraid to upset her. Can't blame you though. Ganyan din naman ako kay Dreena. Wala talagang lalaking tigasin pagdating sa babaeng mahal nila."
Hindi siya nakaimik. Maybe because he knows to himself na may katotohanan nga sa sinabi nito.
"That's too much exaggeration, Nick."
"No. I'm saying you're getting soft." Nick chuckled. "It's obvious she got you around the neck. Hell! Hindi ko talaga lubos akalain na darating ang araw na magiging sunud-sunuran ka sa kagustuhan ng isang babae!"
"I'm not."
"Yes, you are." Segunda naman ni Dreena. "Bakit kami ni Elle? Kulang na lang lumuhod kami sa harapan mo mapagbigyan mo lang pero pagdating kay Cece isang sabi niya lang payag ka na?"
Napipi siya. Agad ding nag-init ang mukha niya. This talk is getting uncomfortable in every passing second!
"So, kelan ang kasal?" Pagiiba ni Nick.
Doon napasinghap si Dreena. "Wait, kasal? So you mean you two have been in a relationship for so long?"
Napatingin sila ni Nick dito.
"Don't give me that look. I didn't know. Akala ko ngayon lang kayo nagkamabutihan."
Hindi siya nakasagot. Doon lang niya napagtanto na iilan lang pala ang nakakaalam na may namamagitan sa kanila ni Cece. The people who knows are mainly the men in the family.
BINABASA MO ANG
Comrades in Action Book 5: Cece Klein
RomanceAs a child, Cece has already experienced terrible things a parent wouldn't want for their child to experience. Being abandoned and alone in a foreign country taught her what fear and death was truly like. She had learned how to survive first hand in...