Since Childhood

29: Salty as the Sea

Nagkulong lang ako sa kuwarto ko hanggang sa marinig ko ang pagaalis nung sekretarya ni Tim.

I'm still thinking of her. I mean, kung may access sya sa bahay pati na sa kwarto ng asawa ko, she can replace me easily.

I don't like my brain right this moment. Alam ko kasi na capable of cheating si Tim. He's good at it actually. Somehow sinisisi ko yung sarili ko pero at the end, ibabaling ko lang pabalik kay Tim ang sisi.

And the fact that she arranged his personal things tapos iniwan nya lang na nakakahon yung mga pambabaeng kailangan ko for personal hygiene? The hell, right? Ganon na ba talaga ang gawain ng mga secretary ngayong generation? Pati gawaing bahay sila na sasalo? And she seem to enjoy it very much!

The more I think about it, the more annoyed and irritated I become.

I exited my room and then I went to kitchen. Nakita ko ang nakataklob na rectangular silver food protector at the center of the table. Lumapit ako sa pagkain na niluto ng secretary ni Tim.

What was her name again? Jean? Jenny? Hindi ko na matandaan basta alam ko it starts with letter J.

Binuklat ko ang taklob and my suspicions moved to another level. She make not just one dish but two different kinds with a soup. The rice is still at the cooker to keep it warm. Hindi naman sana ako maghihinala na but seeing how she design the plate and the garnish of the dishes made me rethink. Sinong matinong sekretarya na magluluto para sa boss nya na may papuso-puso pa syang carrots at pipino na nalalaman? At ang malala, alam nya na may asawa na yung pinagluto nya!

Habang tinititigan ko yung pagkain, parang gusto kong syang halo-haluin para masira yung plating. Gusto kong babuyin. Kaso ayoko na mag-aksaya ng pagkain. Instead, I grabbed a seperate pair of spoon and fork. Pinili ko ang lahat ng heart-shape na veggies at pinagtatapon ko silang lahat sa basurahan. After securing that there is no single heart left on the dish, I started tasting them one by one.

My tongue was so pleased to the taste of the dishes. It is so delicious to the point na lalo lang akong naiinis. What if magustuhan nya tong niluto ng babaeng yun? Tapos lagi na nyang papuntahin dito sa bahay para paglutuin? Then what? They will fall for each other tapos he will file for annulment and he has his revenge?

Out of anger, hinalungkat ko ang mga drawer to search for the salt. When I saw it, I grabbed a fistful. Lumapit ulit ako sa nakahain na pagkain tapos binubod ko yung asin sa kanilang lahat.

"Ayan! Sige! Mabaliw ka sa alat nyang dinner mo." Nanggigigil kong turan while putting too much salt.

Pagkatapos ko non ay tinakpan ko ulit ang pagkain. I went to the living room. Binuksan ko ang flat screen TV as well as the DVD player. Nagsalang ako ng bala na basta ko na lang nahawakan. I go back to the kitchen and treat myself with the snacks na nandon. I flop on the couch and I focused my attention to the movie na hindi ko alam kung ano tittle. I missed the title when I was busy at the kitchen making a snack.

Natapos ko yung unang movie nang walang naiintindihan kaya for the second movie, I choose something that is more interesting to watch. I ended up with Beauty and the Beast starring Emma Watson.

In the middle of my second movie, I heard the gate turns open and a car getting in. Out of the blue, my heart started pumping hard and fast. It's Tim for sure.

I check out the time. It's only nine in the evening. Mayamaya pa ay bumukas na ang pinto sa may sala. I didn't dare to look at him.

"You're here?" He asked probably looking at me.

I steady my voice first before saying, "isn't it obvious?"

"I shouldn't have asked." Narinig kong sinabi nya sa mababang boses.

When I turn around, he's already walking away. Papunta na sya sa kusina. The speeding pound of my heart increased more. My God! How is he going to react? What if I just made a part 2 of our fight last night?

It was pure curiosity that gave me courage to sneak into the kitchen para mapanuod ko ang magiging reaction nya sa dish na niluto nang secretary nya. I hide sa gilid ng pinto. May nakatakip na manipis na kurtina doon kaya ginamit ko na lang sya para makapagtago.

The first thing that he did is to take off his coat na ibang-iba na sa style na suot nya kagabi. He was left with his long sleeve na kulay gray along with the pants. Binuklat ni Tim ang nakatakip na pagkain and as soon as he saw how it looki like, he smiled!

A smile of appreciation. Is he happy na gawa yun nung secretary nya? I feel so irritated.  Nakakainis yung ngiti nya. Pupusta ako na iniisip nya yung babae na yon habang nakatitig sa mga pagkain na yon.

Hindi ko na hinintay na tikman ni Tim ang mga maaalat na pagkain na yon. Thinking that he will not enjoy those foods are enough. In a tippy toes, I return to the living and binalikan ko yung part ng movie that I missed.

*           *           *

[Timothy's Point of View]

It looks so beautiful. Although I don't know anything about food styling or anything, I still could appreciate such an art. If anybody will judge the apperance, talagang matatakam ka sa sobrang ganda ng pagkaka plating ni Jane. The beauty made me assume that it is delicious.

After getting enough rice for myself, umupo ako sa tapat ng pakain and then I started digging in.

I was about to swallow a huge portion when I tasted something wrong. Hanep sa alat yung mga ulam. Parang tubig dagat ang pinang hugas at pinangsabaw sa kanilang sa lahat. Parang likidong version ng asin.

I immediately run to the sink and I open the faucet to wash my mouth. At the left side of the island, I saw the container of salt. Nakabukas pa at nangangalat pa yung iba.

It must be Rhein who ruined the dish.

Malalim ang paghinga ko just so I could control my arising anger. Nagaway na kami kagabi. Ayoko na sundan yon. My purpose in making this marriage possible is taming her back. Winning her heart. Kung aawayin ko sya ng aawayin, how will I succeed? Hahayaan ko muna sya magalit ngayon. And when she cooled down, I will change everything. For good.

I grabbed my coat and then I abandoned the foods. Lumabas ako ng kusina at naabutan ko sya na nanunuod parin sa sala. Dumaan lang ako. When I open the door, she spoke.

"Where are you going?"

I stop at my tracks. Nang lingunin ko sya, I realized that she's looking at me.

"I'm going out to have a proper meal."

"Eating out? Or meeting someone?" She return her gaze at the flat screen TV.

Napataas ang kilay ko sa accusation nya. Instead of denying I replied, "I don't know. Maybe both? Why not? It's not like you'll mind, don't you?"

With my final words, tuluyan akong lumabas. Binuksan ko ulit ang gate saka ako sumakay sa sasakyan ko. After closing the gate I drive away.