Stonehearts 6: Alexandrite

Twenty One

A mixture of different emotions consumed me as we made our way to Gio's house. Naka-ilang punta na ako roon, pero this time iba ang kaba ko. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ba tatanungin sa kanya kung hanggang kailan kami pupwedeng mag-stay ni Clyde sa bahay niya, o kung papayagan niya ba akong magbayad o mag-ambag lang sana sa gastusin sa bahay.

Tahimik kong pinagmamasdan ang mga nadadaanan namin nang bigla kong naramdaman ang pagdapo ng palad niya sa tuhod ko. He gently gave it a squeeze which made me look his way.

"Wifey, everything's gonna be okay. You have me and as long as I have you two, I will make sure that everything for the both of you will be okay."

My heart fluttered and I felt my cheeks flare. Buti na lang he was concentrating on the road kaya hindi niya nakita.

I let another couple of minutes passed before I mustered all my courage to ask him, "Gio, paano magiging set-up natin nito?"

He looked at me briefly before he turned his attention back to the road. "What do you mean, wifey?"

"Magbabayad ba ako sa'yo o mag-aambag sa gastusin? Ako ba muna sa kuryente? Sa tubig? Sa groceries at palengke? I don't want us to be a free-loadere in your house."

I saw him pursed his lips. It took him a few seconds to reply, "Hindi ka magbabayad. My house is not for rent. You will also not be taking care of the electric bill or the water bill or any other bill of some sort."

"Gio...." I let out an exasperated sigh.

"My wife, you have been taking care of yourself for a very long time. Let me take care of you. Just let me. I promise na hindi ko kayo pababayaan ni Taba."

I went mute. Suddenly, forming an intelligent reply is beyond me. His hand on my knee found my trembling hand. He took it and gently pressed a kiss on the back of it.

"You and Clyde are mine now, Lex. I've searched for you, yearned for you, longed for you. Let me make up for the lost years we had."

And with that, the argument I've been brewing dissipated. Hindi ko nga napansin na naka-park na kami sa harap ng main door ng bahay niya.

Pinagmasdan ko ng matagal ang magiging bahay namin sa ngayon sa ko nilingon ang mahimbing na natutulog na si Clyde sa likod.

"Welcome home." Gio silently but blissfully whispered. I turned to look at him and I was blinded by his beautiful smile.

It was so contagious that I found myself mirroring the same expression.

"Welcome home." I echoed.

Inuna naming pinasok si Clyde sa bahay. He was sleeping soundly na hindi na niya naramdaman ang ginawang pagbuhat sa kanya. Kailangan ko pang mag-isip ng paraan kung paano ko ipapaliwanag sa kanya na makikitira muna kami kay Taytay Gio niya. Malamang sa malamang, magtatanong siya pagkagising niya kinabukasan.

Dumiretso kami sa isa sa mga guestrooms. Agad naman niyang inihiga sa kama si Clyde saka ako hinarap.

"This room is just in front of mine. Kumatok ka lang sa pinto ko kung may kailangan ka." He said. He planted a soft kiss on Clyde's forehead and then on mine before he left to gather the things we brought with us.

Binibihisan ko na si Clyde nang natapos niyang i-akyat ang mga gamit na nahakot namin. Inakma niya pa ngang ayusin ang mga damit namin sa cabinet kaso pinigilan ko siya at sinabihan na kailangan niya rin ng pahinga. He was reluctant to leave at first but he gave in.

Tinapos kong iligpit ang mga gamit namin bago ko naisipan na mag-shower. Hindi rin kasi ako makatulog. Ewan ko ba, hindi ko alam kung namamahay ba ang katawan ko o sadyang kinakabahan lang ako sa hindi ko malaman na rason.