CHAPTER TWO

Bumuntong hininga ako nang makaalis na ang sasakyan ni Cleven. I turned my gazed to the man in front of me. He's handsome. Mukha rin itong kasing edad lang ng asawa ko. Asawa ko... It feels surreal.

Ngumiti ako, "Hi, a-ahm." nahihiya kong pag-bati rito.

He smiled at me showing his dimples on his left cheeks, it's deep. "You look cute," napatakip ako ng bunganga ko,

Tinawanan ako nito, "Cute lang? Ma-" natahimik ito ng makitang nakatitig ako rito.

He fake a coughed, "I guess, Ma'am, I should call you ma'am since you're my boss wife right?" he formally said and asked while looking at my hand, probably, to my ring finger.

"You can call me whatever you're comfortable with," yumuko ako ng konti, "Gabby pala," pagpapakilala ko at inabot ang palad dito,

He accept my hand and we hand shake, "Cino Oyanib Ma'am,"

Ginaya ako ni Cino sa sasakyan na nakaparada sa harapan namin, he open the door in the back seat. Umiling ako,

"Passenger seat," mahinang sabi ko,

"Ma'am your my bo--"

Pinutol ko ito, "Not your boss, I'm your boss wife, yes. But, ayoko sa pakiramdam na para akong reyna kung turingin," he sighed and close the door. Ako na rin mismo ang nag bukas ng pintuan ng passenger seat kaya umikot na lang ito pa driver seat.

Inayos ko ang upo ko at nag lagay ng seat belt, "Your car smells good. It's also giving me a vibe of, dont-feel-awkward."

Tumawa ako sa sarili kong sinabi, "maybe because you ain't making me awkward? Unlike your--" I refrain myself from talking,

"My boss?" He starts the engine, "Why? Maybe you like him." ngumiwi ako,

"I like you too,"

"So do I?" Sabi nito, "but as a friend only, I know you feel the same," tumango ako, "Can I be your friend? Your Kuya?" Excited akong tumango sa offer nito. Ever since I wanted to have a Kuya, but...

"Let's not talk about my hus-- your boss, Kuya." he genuinely smiled at me, "Where to go, po? Can I know? I need to call my mother in law."

"Sernal Condominium Building," kiming sagot nito habang nakatingin sa kalsada,

"Narinig ko pala yan kanina," nahihiya kong sambit, he chuckled.

Kinapa ko ang keypad kong cellphone sa bulsa ng pants ko habang ang tingin ay nasa kalsada rin. I dialed mom's number. Naramdaman ko ang pag sulyap sa akin ni Kuya Cino. Maybe thinking why I have this kind of phone?

"Mom," mahina kong banggit ng sinagot nito ang tawag ko. "Kuya Cino-  Cleven's secretary will going to bring me to--," I pouted when she cut me off,

"I know, I called your husband." narinig kong sinaway nito ang asawa, they're cooking I think. "I'm sorry for cutting you sweety,"

"It's okay po. You look like busy, I'll end this na mom." when she bid her goodbye I ended the call.

Binalik ko ang cellphone ko sa bulsa, "you've been glancing me,"

"I'm sorry, are you uncomfortable?"

"No Kuya. You're curious aren't you?" tumango ito, "I trust you, so I'm going to tell you this but don't share it with him?" I'm referring to my husband. He nods his head. Will, I will just give him a glimpse of my life. "Anak ako sa labas, my father is a filipino american. Marunong ako mag english dahil nakatungtong ako hanggang fourth year high school plus I was with my dad's shelter." huminga ako ng malalim, I miss my dad.

"What happen? Hindi ka ba nakapag kolehiyo?" pinasok niya ang sasakyan sa parking lot ng building ng mga sernal. I sort of know this.

Hindi muna kami bumaba ng sasakyan, "My dad died. My mom also died giving birth at me." humina ang boses ko,

"I'm sorry," he looks apologetic, I smiled at him, a sad smile.

"Baba na po tayo?" tanong ko, pinapaabot na ayoko na siyang mag tanong.

Sabay kaming bumaba ng sasakyan. Ginaya ako nito papasok sa elevator dito sa parking lot. He pressed the 29th floor button.

I guess that's the floor where his- my husband Cleven condo located.

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa sa loob ng elevator. Maybe he spot that I'm not in my mood to talk too. Pag magulang ko ang pag uusapan, my mood always change.

When the elevator stopped, we went out.

"There is only five condo's here, hanapin mo ang may pangalan ng asawa mo."

Lumingon ako kay Kuya Cino, he was looking at his phone, typing something.

"I need to go, gab. I'm sorry I can't accompany you. There's emergency in the bar," nag aalala ang boses nito, but he looks so serious looking on his phone.

I tapped the elevator button to open, I pushed him inside. "Go, I'll be fine." Ngumiti ako at kumaway sa kaniya, bago pa sumara ang elevator he mouthed I'm sorry.

Hinanap ko ang pangalan ni Cleven, it wasn't im my left side not even in my right side. So, I assumed that his condo was the middle in between of right and left side.

Tinahak ko ito, I frowned upon realizing that I don't know the code of his condo. I sat in front of the door. Niyakap ko ang mga tuhod ko.

CLEVEN WAS so focus on his work, reading ang signing the papers. When his phone rang he immediately answered it without looking who's the caller. It's only her parents, his friends and his two Secretary who knew his personal number.

"Yes, hello?" He rudely asked,

"Why so rude 'nak?" mahina niyang binagsak ang ballpen na hawak at tinignan ang caller, it's his mom.

He cursed lowly, "My apologize mother," he sincerely said,

"Oh, baby." Ngumiwi siya sa tawag nito, Baby? Pwede ko na nga silang bigyan ng apo. Ginulo niya ang kaniyang buhok ng maisip ang babaeng yun, "anak, are you still there?" mahinahon pero nag aalala ang boses ng kaniyang ina,

"Yes, mom. What is it?"

"Si Gabby?" tanong nito,

"Sernal Condo--,"

"Okay, thank you. I'll be sending her things there."

Umiling siya ng bigla nalang nitong pinatay ang tawag. She even cut his words.

The next one who called is his secretary- Cino.

"Fuck." magkasalubong ang kilay niyang kinuha ang kaniyang suit at mabibigat ang hakbang na tinahak niya ang daan papungang elevator.

Cino called that there is emergency in the bar, well, he can- Cino can fixed it but Cino left his wife in his floor. Hindi pa naman nito alam ang passcode niya, no one knows except him.

Why is he even worried?

HINDI PA UMIINIT ang pwet ko ng bumukas ang elevator. Tumayo agad ako at pinagpagan ang damit ko. Gumilid ako ng dumiritso si Cleven sa harap ng condo niya.

He tapped the code without bothering to look at me, "Don't tell me you want me to invite you inside?" He coldly said, and stepped inside.

I bit my lower lips and blow an air above my forehead. Sumunod ako rito. Nakita ko ang back pack ko na nag lalaman ng mga damit ko, nakapatong ito sa sofa. Dali dali ko itong kinuha ng tinitigan niya ito.

"I don't have spare room here," bagot na sabi nito at humalukipkip,

Yumuko ako, "Dito na lang ako sa sala, " I suggested because it look like he won't offer me to sleep with him, understable. May kumot naman akong dala rito, pang sapin sa sahig. Nakakahiya rin kong sa sofa ako matutulog. Halatang mamahalin, nakakahiya. 

Hindi siya nag salita. So, I guess it's a yes.

"I always come home five in the morning and went to work, 8:30. As if you need to know about it." Madiin nitong bigkas sa mga binitawang salita.

I nodded at him, "Pwede kong malaman ang passcode?"

Tinignan ako nito ng mapanuring tingin, "1012. Don't fucking bring someone else here." saka ako iniwang nakatanga.

I sniffed. Hanggang sa hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili na umiiyak. Ano ba ang nakain ko at pumasok ako sa ganitong sitwasyon? Para malayo sa mga taong nanakit sa akin? Sana, sana hindi niya ako sasaktan. Siguro yung ganito, makakaya ko pa, pero hanggang kailan?

His passcode. Monthsary nila.

©BINIBINING ROIMI