Since Childhood

33: A Husband's Desire

[Timothy's Point of View]

The moment  Rhein grabbed my hand and wash them by herself, I know I had to pull away. Hindi ko kayang tagalan ang ganong contact with her. If I didn't  put distance between us, I may end up grabbing her nape and draining the air in her lungs because of a torrid kiss.

I know. It's been a week since we got married but we hadn't had even a proper conversation ngayong umaga lang. Each night I'm imagining that she is in my bed or I'm at her side. Each night I'm praying for her to knock on my door and ask me if she could stay with me.

I had to control myself as long as hindi ko pa nae-earn ang loob nya. Last night when she cooked dinner, when I saw her sleeping at the dinning table probably waiting for me, when she cried and hugged me tight, that moment I know that she's starting to open up.

Kailangang kusa syang malapit sa akin because if I force myself to her, I'm a hundred and one fucking percent sure na lalo kaming magkakalabo.

I left her at the kitchen busy in washing the dishes. Nang makapasok ako sa kwarto ko, I immediately slide my window open para pumasok ang malamig na hangin. Then I switch my ceiling fan on.

The vision of her hands massaging mine under the water is still vivid. Her soft palm against mine, her gentle touch, her skin, her eyes locked into mine.

"God, damn it!" I cursed.

I want her. This craving is making me insane.

I throw myself at the center of my bed then I watch how the ceiling fan move in its circular motion.

If there is an annual award for the "weirdest couple of the year" its not impossible for us to be nominated.

It feels like I'd been spacing out for half an hour. Since totoo naman talaga na may mga ilang papel pa ako na aasikasuhin ay umupo na ako sa study table ko and I diverted my whole attention to the papers.

This is the first Sunday in my life that I'm  working. Before tuwing linggo ng umaga I was out with a girl, or sometimes kasama sina Davien. Sa gabi naman I'm  always in the club enjoying my bachelor life. Enjoying the company of different woman who are willing to spend the night with me.

I've already enjoyed almost every  taste of a woman. Never in my past life na inisip kong magiging kasal ako and I'll change rapidly. When Amanda left me, akala ko there is no longer room for change.  I made myself believe that woman are the same. Mga nang iiwan.

By the time na natapos ko ang mga documents, quarter to eleven na pala. I'm so absorbed with my paperwork nakalimutan ko tuloy i-check si Rhein.

I keep all the papers in one folder then left them in my drawer. I shut my laptop off bago lumabas ng kwarto.

I am heading to the laundry area which is nasa likod lang ng kusina. When I set foot on the kitchen floor, I don't  hear anything. Everything  seems normal.

I approach the laundry area. From the kitche door, I saw Rhein. Nakaharap sya sa planggana where she seemed to start rinsing the clothes. Nakatalikod namam sya sa akin. Her legs are spread wide so she can move comfortably while washing. It is damn normal to see her that way kasi kahit naman ako pagnaglalaba nakabukaka din. But that situation is arousing me. Lahat ng bagay na ginagawa ni Rhein,  even the simplest thing, it turns me on.

Since we became engaged I never share a bed to anyone. It's been more than a month. Kaya siguro ganito na lang mag react ying katawan ko.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Her voice woke up from my fantasy. "Magbukas ka na! Last na to oh!"

Sinubukan ni Rhein na buksan ang hose but she is having a hard time. Habang pinapanuod sya, ngayon ko lang naalala namatigas na nga pala ang controller ng hose dahil sa kalumaan nya.

"Open up!!" She said angrily and out of the blue, napasigaw nalang sya nang bumulwak ang tubig. Multi-purpose kasi ang hose. It can turn into sprinkle drop para sa pagdidilig ng halaman. Sakto namang sa sprinkle na stuck ang controller kaya heto at naligo sya ng wala sa oras. Habang galit na galit sya as she try to turn the thing off, ako naman tawang tawa habang nanunuod.

"You are the worst thing ever created! Bakit ba kasi ganito ang hose na nasa labahan nila! Sumara ka na!!" At her fifth attempt in closing the hose, mas lalong lumakas ang pagkakabukas ng contoller kaya lumakas din ang bulwak ng tubig.

I forced myself not to laugh and then I run to her.

"What's going on? I heard you scream." Lumapit ako sa kanya and pretend not to know anything.

"Ah, wala. Sige na,  bumalik ka na sa ginagawa mo." She said with an embarassed face and voice.

"Leave that to me, ako na ang tatapos." I told her.

"No!" She burst. I was surprised by her loud voice. "Ako na. Ako dapat ang gumagawa nito eh. I'm  the wife, right? ‘Di ba nga?" I don't know if she's being sarcastic or sincere. Wala namang hint of sarcasm in her voice but I can't persuade myself that she is sincere kasi hindi pa kami gaano nagkakasundo.

"Ako na, Rhein. I live here for so long, alam ko na kung papaano aayusin ang mga simpleng bagay na yan."

She raised her eyebrow then she dropped the hose.

"Sige nga. Show me how you contol that thing." She move aside.

Lumapit ako sa hose and it started soaking me as well. The first thing I did was of course, get grip on the hose. I fully removed the spigot or yung bakal na contoller ng hose. After removing it, mas lalo lumakas ang tubig. Ibinalik ko ng maayos ang spigot, I switched it into normal flow kaya ayun, bumalik sa ayos ang daloy ng tubig.

"Okay na, you can go back." I heard Rhein said.

Humarap ako sa kanya but I soon regretted it.

Because she's soaking, bumabakat ang bra nya sa manipis na damit na suot nya. I can even see her erected nipples against the soaked fabric.

The view drives me at the edge of mg patience but I hold myself back. The last thing I want is to rush Rhein.

Damn it! If she won't leave soon, baka i-corner ko na lang sya bigla sa pader and claim her body like what the husband deserves.

Pasimple akong tumalikod and then I saw a towel na naka hanger. I grabbed the piece of fabric that'll help me surviving out of this urge.

I throw the towel to her body then says, "go to your room and rest. Ako na ang tatapos nito. Take a shower before you rest baka lamigin ka."

"Ako na nga—"

"Ako na, Rhein. Hindi lang naman babae ang naglalaba, ‘di ba? Or gusto mo buhatin kita papunta sa kwarto mo?"

"Will you?" She challenged me.

Tumingin ulit ako sa kanya. Now with a fucking serious face.

I swear in the name of this broken hose if she stayed another minute, we are going to spend the whole noon and afternoon in this zone. And I'm gonna show her how much I improved compare to our first night.

"Why not?" I asked seriously.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at akmang bubuhatin but she quickly move away.

"O-okay na. M-magpapahinga na ako." She tremble and then run away.

Whatever happened today, siguradong hindi na naman ako nito patutulugin.