Wife's Benefits

Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Wife's Benefits ~

        I awoke the next morning to pale sunlight. I was alone in the bedroom. I searched all over the room to look for Dale, but I was really alone. Lumabas ako ng kwarto at nagpunta sa kwarto ni Allison, baka kasi nandoon siya. But he wasn't there, and Allison was still asleep. Downstair I could hear nothing at all, and I had no idea what time it was. I lay still, not wanting to go downstairs after last night's bedroom farce. It was chilly in the room, but my body still held the warmth of his, pero si Micah ang naramdaman ko nang gabing iyon.

        Dale left me in this room without telling me. I felt my throat tighten and my eyes begin to sting. I felt as abandoned and alone as I ever have in my life.

        I go out of bed to window and looked out having the thought that Dale might be outside, but he wasn't. I wondered where he went. Sana lang hindi niya ako iniwan dito sa malaking bahay na ito. I wore my bathrobe and decided to went outside the room. Bumaba ako sa hagdan at nagtungo sa may dining area. There I found him at the table, drinking his coffee and reading a newspaper. After seeing him in that way, naalala ko na naman si Micah. Laging ginagawa 'yon ni Micah tuwing umaga. It made me smile and I ran lightly with joy in my heart.

        "Dale, thought you left me", I said and hugged him.

        "Hindi pa naman ako umaalis", sagot niya.

        "Aalis! Aalis ka? Where are you going? Are you going to leave me in here?"

        May takot na namuo sa dibdib ko. Ayokong maiwan dito na kasama ang pamilya ni Dale lalong-lalo na ang nanay niya. Pakiramdam ko kapag naiwan ako dito, lalabas na ang tunay na sungay ng nanay niya. Sa totoo lang, natatakot talaga ako, hindi ko lang pinapahalata sa nanay niya, dahil kapag ipinakita kong mahina ako, mas lalo niya lang akong kakayanin.

        "Xenia, I have to go to my work. Hindi naman pwedeng dito lang ako sa bahay. And I have a meeting".

        "Iiwan mo kami dito mag-isa ni Allison? You know hindi kami gaanong magkasundo ng mama mo. What if she.. how if.."

        "No, Xenia. Wag ka naman mag-isip ng ganyan. How many times do I have to tell you my mom is not like that? Puro kasi negative ang iniisip mo".

        Kung alam mo lang Dale kung gaano kaayaw sa akin ng mama mo. Kung alam mo lang kung gaano katutol ang mama mo sa relasyon nating dalawa. Kung alam mo lang na lahat ay gagawin niya para lang magkahiwalay tayo. Hahamakin niya ang lahat, para lang hindi tayo maging masaya.

        "I'm sorry", sambit ko. May lungkot sa aking pananalita, kaya napayuko na lamang ako. Hinayaan ko na lang at alam ko namang kahit ano'ng gawin ko, hindi ako maiintindihan ni Dale.

        "Look, Xenia, I'm sorry too", he stood up and hugged me briefly to make me feel okay. "Ayoko rin naman sanang iwan ka, but I have to. Sana maintindihan mo".

        "Naiintindihan ko".

        He stared at me and smiled a bit. "Just make yourself busy para hindi ka ma-bore, o kaya tawagan mo na lang ako para kunyare magkalapit lang tayo".

        "I will", I pretend to smile a bit.

        "I have to go, baka ma-late pa ako sa meeting ko".

        "Take care".

        He just smiled at me and then kissed me on my lips. Inayos ko ang kurbata niya at saka nagmadali na siyang umalis. Sa pag-alis niya, bumalik na rin ako sa kwarto at nahiga muli sa kama, hindi para matulog kundi ang mag-isip ng maaari kong gawin habang wala si Dale. Pwedeng magkulong na lang ako maghapon sa kwarto at magpretend na hindi ako nag-e-exist sa bahay na ito. I think his mother will be favorable with that, pero hindi pwede. Hindi naman pwedeng mabulok na lang ako sa kwartong ito, at lalabas lang kapag nariyan si Dale. Kailangan kong lumabas. But before I enter this war, I have to be prepare. This is a battle between me and his mom.