Ikaw At Ako

Kabanata 12

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Kabanata 12

We were invited to Mr. and Mrs. Moretti's wedding anniversary celebration. They are Megan's parents. Bineso ako ni tita. Kilala niya na ako bilang isa sa mga nakakasalamuha ni Megan. They also know my brothers and met our parents before. Wala nga lang doon sa party ang mga kapatid ko dahil abala at may iba ding inattend.

"Hijo!" Megan's mother also turned to Joaquin beside me. "Nagulat pa ako nang nalaman sa asawa ko na kinasal ka na pala!" Saglit nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa amin ng mommy ni Megan.

"Sayang. Naisip ko pa naman sanang puwede kayo ng anak ko!" It was followed by her laughter. Na para bang nagbibiro lang siya.

Nawala naman ang ngiti ko.

Lumapit din si Mr. Moretti sa amin to welcome us, or Joaquin. My husband politely greeted them. Polite ko rin binati ang dad ni Megan. "Where's Megan?" he asked his wife beside him.

"Oh! She's here." Sinalubong nito ang anak.

Ngiting-ngiti na lumapit sa amin si Megan. She was wearing a revealing evening gown. She greeted Joaquin before she turned to me. "Angel," bumeso siya sa akin.

Hawak ni Joaquin ang baywang ko ay giniya na nila kami sa table namin. "Are you okay?" Joaquin asked me.

I looked at my husband and nodded at him with a reassuring smile on my face. "Yes." I assured him.

He leaned to kiss my forehead. Napangiti na ako lalo. Nahuli kong bitter na nakatingin sa amin si Megan na nakaupo kaharap namin sa mesa. She smiled when she saw me turned to her.

Naging abala rin si Joaquin dahil marami siyang kilala sa party. Halos businessman ang mga narito at parte rin ng company nila. Sinasama niya ako pero nang mapansing medyo napagod na rin ako at nahirapan din sa suot na gown ay pinagpahinga niya muna ako doon sa table namin. I was sipping on my glass of wine when Megan came and sat across me.

"Are you okay now?" she asked.

My forehead creased a little.

She let out a small sigh. "Hindi na ako pumunta sa company building ni Joaquin. Ako na lang ang umiwas para hindi ka na mag-isip ng kung anu-ano." she said, halos nakanguso pa.

My lips parted a bit. "Wala ka rin naman talagang gagawin doon kaya bakit ka pupunta?" Sagot ko naman sa sinabi niya.

She shook her head. "I understand you now, Angel... Joaquin is a good catch. A very good catch. Who wouldn't want a man like him, right? Kaya naiintindihan ko kung natatakot ka na baka mawala siya sa 'yo... Lalo at arranged marriage lang pala kayo." She said this like she's happy.

Lalong nangunot ang noo ko.

"Nalaman ko kay Dad. He knows Tito Stefano. Sayang nga at sabi ni Dad kung alam lang daw niya na ipagkakasundo rin pala sa Joaquin sana ay nireto na lang din nila ako ni Mommy." She even laughed. Kahit wala namang nakakatawa.

"Kaya I really understand where you're coming from, Angel. Ang sabi pa nga ni Dad ay masunuring anak talaga si Joaquin..." She shrugged. "Kaya what if 'di ba? Kung while nasa marriage ninyo ay makilala niya ang babaeng magugustuhan talaga niya. Since mukhang napilitan lang naman siyang magpakasal sa 'yo."

"What are you saying, Megan?" I was already irritated.

She smirked seeing my reaction like she's satisfied. Like she got what she wanted. She shrugged. "I'm just saying na...kapag ang lalaki inayawan ka na, ayaw na talaga sa 'yo... So I really understand you, Angel. Natatakot ka lang na ayawan ka na ni Joaquin. Lalo at malaki ang possibility since arranged marriage nga lang kayo."

I had the urge to throw the wine in my glass at her face. But I stopped myself dahil ayokong mag-iskandalo rito at mapahiya si Joaquin. Huminga na lang ako at kinalma ang sarili ko.

May lalaking lumapit sa table namin. Malaki ang ngiti ni Megan na sinalubong ito. "Arnold!"

Napaangat ako ng tingin. Bumaba rin ang tingin nito sa akin. His eyes widening a bit upon seeing me there. "Angel!"

Tumayo na rin ako at bahagyang bumeso gaya sa ginawa ni Megan. He's a friend after all...

"Joaquin!"

Agad akong bumaling sa likod ko nang binanggit ni Megan ang pangalan ng asawa ko. "Joaquin," tawag ko rin sa kaniya. Agad pumulupot ang braso niya sa akin.

"Arnold, this is Joaquin." mabilis na pakilala ni Megan. "Joaquin, this is Arnold, Angelica's ex-boyfriend." ngiting-ngiti siya.

Umawang ang labi ko. This girl's really aggressive...

"Oh!" Nakatingin naman ngayon si Megan sa likuran namin. "Jace!" she called someone again.

My eyes widened a bit. Nang lumapit sa amin iyong lalaki at nakita ko ay nakumpirma kong isa nga rin iyon sa mga naging exes ko. Napayuko na ako. Bakit nandito sila? Did Megan invited them? This evil witch!

"Joaquin, this is Jace." pakilala muli ng bruhang si Megan. "Isa pang ex-boyfriend din ni Angelica." She laughed as if it was so funny.

In my head I was already pulling her hair from her scalp.

Pormal na nakipagkamay si Joaquin sa dalawang lalaki. "I'm her husband."

"Husband?" nagulat pang tumingin sa akin si Jace.

Hindi ko na maalala kung kailan naging kami. Even Arnold. Pinakamahaba ko yatang relationship ay ilang buwan lang hindi naman talaga umabot ng taon... Tama si Kuya Angelo, mabilis akong magsawa sa mga naging boyfriends ko noon. I don't know. Naglalaro nga lang talaga siguro ako noon. I was never really serious. Until of course Joaquin came. Ilang buwan na rin kaming mag-asawa ngayon. At wala talagang signs sa akin na nagsasawa ako sa kaniya... That will never happen.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Nabigla lang ako." bawi rin niya. Jace smiled.

Nasulyapan kong nakatingin din sa akin si Arnold. At nang lumagpas ang tingin ko ay isa pang ex ko ang nakita ko doon. Oh my... What in the world...?

"Raymond!" tuwang-tuwa talaga si Megan sa mangyayari na mukhang siya lang din ang nag-plot nito.

Umirap na lang ako.

"Another ex..." ngiting-ngiti siyang bumaling kay Joaquin sa tabi ko para lang sabihin iyon.

Natapos din ang gabing iyon. I feel like I was so stressed after. Inisip ko ang iniisip ni Joaquin ngayon. Lalo at parang tahimik siya sa drive pauwi hanggang makaakyat na kami sa penthouse niya.

Bucky was already asleep.

Magkasunod kami ni Joaquin na pumasok sa bedroom namin. "Please," I asked him to help me with my dress.

Inabot naman niya ang zipper ng evening gown ko at binaba. Hinayaan ko lang iyong mahulog sa sahig. I wasn't wearing a bra dahil ang gown ay may sariling padding. Hinarap ko siya. I started unbuttoning his dress shirt. I was looking at him. And he was looking at me, too. I gave him a smile. "Are you okay?" I asked him. I was nervous too at his reaction now. I was really concerned as how he's thinking right now. Natatakot akong...magbago ang tingin niya sa amin...sa akin...

He nodded. "Yeah, of course." Bahagyang nangunot ang noo niya sa tanong ko. "Why?"

Umiling ako. I thought he was disappointed? Kasi andami kong exes? Parang pinagsisisihan ko na tuloy... Sana nag-behave na lang talaga ako noon at hinintay siya. "You were quiet..." I said.

He nodded and touched my cheek with his palm. "I was just a little shocked at the party earlier. You were a playgirl?" he asked, smiling this time.

Sumimangot ako. "If only I knew then we'll meet, naging good girl na lang sana ako." I said.

He promptly shook his head. "Hey, don't think about it. It doesn't matter. It's all in the past now. And, it's part of your life while growing up. I know you learned something from it..."

"I learned a lot from you." I said.

He smirked before he claimed my lips. Napangiti ako sa labi niya. I think Joaquin isn't a jealous husband. Sa aming dalawa ay ako yata talaga ang selosa. Naisip ko na naman iyong sinabi sa akin ni Megan kanina sa party ng parents niya... I shook the thought away. I trust Joaquin...