Eula/Lianna
Albert's warm arms are around me when I woke up. Alam kong maaga pa dahil sobrang dilim parin sa paligid at mahimbing pa ang tulog niya. Nagising lang siguro ako because I barely recovered from my trauma last night, but thank God I'm better now. I'm thankful that Albert came to save me and that he's here until today to comfort me.
Hindi ko maintindihan kung anong nararamdaman ko sa lalaking katabi ko ngayon. Everything felt right when I'm with him. Pero syempre alam ko naman talaga na hindi tama dahil kung tama ito, wala dapat Oliver sa buhay ko. That's the sad reality.
Minsan naisip ko, paano kung hindi si Oliver ang asawa ko? Paano kung si Albert? Paano kung mas nauna ko siyang nakilala? Siguro mas masaya ang buhay. Siguro mas masaya ako ngayon.
All that this man made me feel for several weeks, I never felt that with the man I'm with for so many years. Wala siyang sinasabi, pero iba ang nararamdaman ko sa bawat titig niya, sa bawat ginagawa niya para sa akin. He made me think of something I never thought I would consider - That maybe it's not too late too finally choose myself? I know hindi na dapat dagdagan pa ng isa pang pagkakamali ang isang pagkakamali. At hindi dahil niloloko ako ni Oliver ay may karapatan na rin akong lokohin siya... pero may karapatan naman din akong sumaya hindi ba?
Besides, I know this one will not last, eventually aalis din ang isang ito sa isla so why not play with him for now? It's better to be happy for a short while than never felt happy at all.
.
.
.
My hand automatically searched if someone was still beside me pero naramdaman kong wala na akong katabi. Siguro ay umuwi na si Albert, hindi ko rin namalayan na nakatulugan ko pala ulit ang pag-iisip ko sa mga bagay bagay kanina.
I sat up from bed and looked at my right foot, medyo malaki rin pala ang naging sugat ko kagabi.
Limping, I went to my shower room to wash my face and prepare myself. I was getting ready to go out of my room when I smelled the garlic aroma wafted from my kitchen.
On my way there, I noticed na malinis na ang paligid at wala na ang kalat ng mga basag na pinggan mula kagabi. And then I saw Albert, standing with the beauty of his masculine shoulders and his broad back facing me while busy doing something in front of my cooker.
I felt my heart thumping inside my chest with the view of him at this early.
"Good morning" I greeted, in my low but cheerful voice.
He then turned to me and smiled.
"Hmm, nangialam na ako sa kitchen mo. I'll make you breakfast" he said, pointing the pan as if he's asking for approval
"It's okay" tango ko at nilapitan ang ginagawa niya
"Wait. Hindi ka dapat nakatayo dito, just wait for me in the living-" Albert was about to carry me but I smacked his shoulder to stop him
"No. Dito lang ako, tulungan kita" and I gave him a convincing look
I heard him tsked and shook his head bago binalikan ang niluluto niya.
"Ano pa bang kailangan? Let me help you"
I walked closer to see what I can do but I gasped when he suddenly turned to me.
"Darn it!" Albert hissed before lifting me to the stool chair on my kitchen and made me sit there.
He towered me and tipped my chin up so he could meet my eyes.
"Just stay here. That's how you may help me" saad niya
Wala na nga akong nagawa kung hindi ang umupo doon at panuorin siya hanggang sa matapos ang ginagawa niya.
"Siguro you make breakfast for someone back in Manila ano?" I asked, trying to start a conversation while he was busy preparing the food on the table.
"Yeah...." he nonchalantly replied. My heart sank because of his answer though I suddenly felt the urge to ask more about him.
"Ah talaga? For your girlfriend?" usyoso ko pa pero natatakot na talaga ako sa isasagot niya
"I used to make breakfast for my wife" he replied then he finally lifted me down from the high chair.
I did not protested when he carried me to the dining area. I think this will be the last time I'll enjoy being with him. Bakit ba hindi ko naisip na baka hindi lang pala ako ang nakakulong sa isang relasyon?
He's also married.
What's gotten into you, Lianna? You're married and worse, you're also flirting with someone who's also married! Double kill!
Nang nasa harap na kami ng lamesa ay nagkunwari akong inaabala ang sarili sa pagkuha ng pagkain kahit na ang totoo ay nawalan na ako ng gana
"Bakit hindi mo siya isinama dito?" tanong ko nalang para mabasag ang katahimikan sa amin.
"And why are you suddenly curious?"
"Wala, baka magalit iyon kapag nalaman niyang nandito ka?"
Akam ko kahit na hindi ko siya tinitignan directly, Albert was looking intently at me. He's watching me as if he's waiting for my horrible reaction, then he said, "She's gone"
Napatigil ako sa sinabi niyang iyon. I know it's not right, but hearing that made me feel relieved.
Lips pressed, I looked at him apologetically before saying "I'm sorry"
I don't know if I misinterpreted him but I think he smiled with full of sarcasm when I said sorry.
"Kumain ka na" utos niya na sa akin at nagsimula na rin siyang maglagay ng pagkain sa plato niya at tila ayaw nang pag-usapan pa iyon.
.
Albert and I were eating in silence when someone knocked.
Sino naman iyon? Napakaaga pa
"Ako na" pagpiprisinta ni Albert pero hindi ko siya hinayaan
What if it's Oliver? But no, if that's Oliver hindi na iyon kakatok. Pero kahit na, hindi parin pwedeng makita ng kahit sino na may kasama ako dito sa villa ko.
"No. You stay here. Huwag kang magpapakita" I warned him and he did not say a word until I slowly walked to the door to see who's outside.
.
.
.
I pulled the knob only to have the view of Henry widely smiling with his chinky eyes.
"H-Henry, what are you doing here?" I tried to remain chill and stand firmly on the door, limiting him to the view inside my villa.
"Oliver asked me to check on you. Hindi ka daw sumasagot sa tawag" saad ni Henry nang may pag-aalala.
"Ah hindi ko ata na-charge ang phone ko. Wala kasing kuryente kagabi" pagsisinungaling ko because truth is, I never check my phone since last night.
"Okay, I'll tell him. Uhmm I also came here to ask if you want to join me for breakfast?" he hesitantly said.
Napa-isip muna ako bago ko siya tuluyang nasagot.
"I'm sorry Henry, kumain na kasi ako... and in fact I'm about to take a shower eh. Why don't you just wait for me at the resort?" I replied, sending him the signal to just go.
Henry nodded, believing my made up story
"Ow. Okay, see you then"
I readily close the door when I saw him walked back to the resort area at nakahinga na ako nang maluwag nang tuluyan na siyang makalayo.
Binalikan ko na si Albert sa dining pero nakita kong nagsisimula na siyang ligpitin ang mga pagkain sa mesa.
"We're not done eating yet, Albert" saad ko at sinalubong siya
"I heard you'll join Henry for breakfast?"
My heart leaped with the sight of him almost looking like a jealous husband. And I don't know why my hands automatically held his waist as I tilted my head teasing him
"Selos ka ba?" tanong ko
He gave me a stern gaze then said, "Don't flirt with me, Lianna. You're not my type"
•
BINABASA MO ANG
(EulBert Story) Across the Sea
FanfictionOn a same breeze of salty air, but a different view of wide ocean, I found her. The one I thought to be in the afterlife was just Across the Sea. [EulBert Fanfiction]
