Sans Lui (Without Him) - [Short Story]

Sans Lui: THREE

He started the engine and drove the same unpaved road for about ten minutes. He stopped in front of a house, it was wooden and rustic. He went out to open my door to escort me out and walked me inside the property.

"Huy, kanino 'to?" I asked him as he was busy digging into his pocket, "Baka makasuhan tayong trespassing ha!"

He just let out a small laugh. Aba'y tinawanan lang ako.

He took out some keys and inserted one on the knob, it made me a bit suspicious yet at the same time excited. He opened the lights and my eyes just glistened in awe of how beautiful the interior was, but I halted and looked at him in discombobulation.

"Did you rent this?" I asked.

He went near me and dug again on his pocket, "Nope. It's ours." And handed me a set of keys.

Still perplexed, I followed him, "What do you mean 'It's ours'?"

"Di ba you used to tell me that you wanted to have a retirement home somewhere away from the city with this kind of view and this kind of style? I realized I wanted that kind of quiet life with you, too, so I found this place, bought it, and built the home you always wanted."

"Baba..." My heart melted in joy.

He will really do everything just to make me happy.

I felt a little tear at side of my eyes, I am immensely touched. Those tears, though, didn't escape his eyes, he extended his hand and gently wiped them away with his finger. He gave an assuring smile and pulled me closer to him.

"Thank you, Baba. You made me so happy." I whispered which I thought he didn't hear.

He held my chin to lift up my head, "! " Your happiness is my happiness, Mahal. Kaya whatever makes you happy, makes me happy."

I flushed. Ang sweet talaga ng asawa ko.

"Gutom na ako, Hon." He broke the silence while we stood still. I chuckled and moved away from his hug.

"Order nalang tayo ng Jollibee, Hon." I suggested as he led me to this sunken living room.

I looked up and saw a painting of our wedding portrait. It was only painted with black strokes in a very modern and minimalist way.

"Ala palang signal dito, Ba." He scratched his head, again. May dandruff ka ba, Hon?

"Edi, magluto nalang tayo." I remarked.

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I found a stack of chips in our pantry, cup noodles, spaghetti pasta, tomato sauce and a bunch of herbs and spices while our fridge had three tomatoes, a lettuce, an apple, a slice of T-bone steak and a whole chicken. I rested my hands on my waist as I think on what I could cook with these "ingredients", ni wala nga kaming sibuyas at bawang. Bahala na si Batman, kung ano nalang.

I started my "experiment", sauteed my tomatoes and tomato sauce first, then boiled my pasta on a casserole. I noticed that Ogie wasn't speaking since I went to check the pantry only to find out that he wasn't really here the whole time. He just left me. Pagkatapos niyang pumalpak sa dinner date plan niya, ako pa ang pinagluto, iniwan pa ako dito... aba naman.

"HERMIN-" I froze as I felt his arms around my waist. A music started playing on the background and he slowly swayed me to the rhythm of the song.

He sunk his face on my neck and I held his nape. He was holding me so tight that I could feel his strong heart beats against my back.

"Akala ko umalis ka na naman." I softly said, then I heard his stomach grumbled.

"Gutom na gutom na'ko, Hon. Pwede ba ikaw muna kainin ko?" He teased.

I pinched his ear that made him to sharply gasped against my neck, "Aray..." he lifted his head, "Masakit, mars!" he gayly acted. I laughed.

I turned to face him and reached his face to kiss his hurt ear, "Sorry, sorry." I laughed again.

We continued to dance and now that our cheeks were against each other, we couldn't seem to stop whispering 'I love you'. I just smiled in each time he would utter those beautiful words. No one could express such words as loving as he could.

"Love me tender, love me sweet..." he started to softly sing in my ears.

I suddenly fell in deep delight hearing that song, it took me back to the time we were just starting and everything seems to go against us, our love. The time I countlessly gave up on you and you would tirelessly pursue me. The time we were contented to the squeezed and sneaky short hours just to be together, hidden and alone in an intimate space where it's just you and me. And now years forward, dancing to the same song, freer and much in love.

"Hindi mo siguro napansin, I was the one singing on the player, Honey."

I was astounded, I really didn't notice, "You rerecorded it?"

He nodded, "I made an entire album for you. I rearranged and rerecorded all our favorite songs."

"Is it out in the market? Ba't di ko man lang nabalitaan yan?" we're still dancing.

He shook his head, "I made it exclusively for you."

I didn't even know how to react; I am overwhelmed. The effort is just incomparable.

I met his gaze, even his soft eyes melt me. I held his jaw and closed the gap between us though a kiss. I led the rhythm and he obliged, his hands going back and forth from my waist to my shoulders while I stayed still embracing his neck. He left my lips and went down to my neck, his hands still swaying me to the music of 'Sa Piling Mo'. He went back up and traced my jaws then, ceased.

I opened my eyes and confusingly looked at him, "Bakit?"

"Di mo ba naaamoy yun? Parang may nasusunog."

My eyes widened when I realized that I was supposedly cooking, "Yung niluluto ko!" I exclaimed.

I rushed back to it only to find a burned sauce and a soupy pasta. I covered my face in dismay.

Parang ako na ata talaga ang magiging hapunan nitong si Herminio.

"Sorry, Hon." I turned to his direction.

He just smiled and went to the pantry. He came back with two cup noodles in his hands.

"Di bale na, Hon, bubusugin mo naman ako mamaya di ba?" He jested. I playful slapped his face and laughed with him.

He decided to sear the steak while he waited for the water to boil for our cup noodles. Then, we waited for a couple of minutes for the steak to bake. We dive right in after it was cooked. We just laughed at how epic this night had turned out.