PRINCETOWN| Chapter 2

 

Wife

 

 

I stare at Warrick in awe as I watch him eat so elegantly. Naconscious tuloy ako kung pano ako kumain kanina. Nang makita ko ang pagkain sa hapag ay halos kamayin ko iyon sa harapan niya. Sobra sa dalawang tao ang nakahain kanina at sa kagutuman ko ay halos ubusin ko ang lahat ng iyon. Nang matapos ako ay saka ko lang narealize kung gano nakakahiya ang ginawa ko. Namantsahan pa ang bagong suot kong peach wrap around dress.

 

I grabbed the hand towel hastily and wiped the corners of my mouth. Sumunod naman ang paningin ko sa isang plato sa harap ng baso niya.

 

“Are you done?” Tanong ni Warrick bago siya sumimsim sa baso ng red wine. “Try the chocolate eclairs, they’re from Abe’s in-laws from France.”

 

“Abe’s in-laws?”

 

I saw him raised an eyebrow at my question. “How ever did you get the impression that he’s single?”

 

His tone was playful but I could hear the edge in his voice na para bang nangaakusa siya.

 

Tumikhim ako at luminga sa paligid. There were a few servants around us at base sa reactions nila mukhang pamilyar ang ganitong eksena sa aming dalawa. Madalas kaya kaming mag-away mag-asawa? Lalu lang nadagdagan ang mga katanungan sa isipan ko at halos lahat ng iyon alam kong siya lang ang makakasagot. Magtanong na lang kaya ako sa isa sa mga kasambahay. Narinig ko siyang tumikhim ng mapansin niya ang pananahimik ko.

 

“Well, kahit naman ikaw mapagkakamalan kong single…” Agap ko.

 

“Is that a compliment baby?” Natutuwa niyang tugon. I felt my cheeks automatically heat up. Bago ako makabawi ay may panibago na siyang tanong.

 

“Do you find me handsome?”

 

Napanganga ako sa bagong tanong. “O-oo. A-alam mo naman yun diba. Tsaka obvious naman d-diba.” Sabi ko na lang para matapos na. Hindi ako mapakali at pinagtuunan ko na lang ng pansin ang eclair at sumubo ng dalawa.

 

I reached out for a glass of water ng magbara ang isang eclair sa lalamunan ko.

 

“Ako na” Tugon ni Warrick sa servant na aambang tutulong sa akin. I heard him sigh as he helped me drink my water. His other hand was on my back comforting me as I coughed like a dying person. Nang makahinga na ako ng maayos ay inangat niya ang ilang buhok ko sa likod ng aking tenga.

 

“Thank you.” Sabi ko ng hindi siya tinitingnan. I could feel the weight of his stare at me at ayokong salubungin ang mga titig niya dahil baka…

 

“I missed that.”

 

Napalingon ako sa kanya sa sinabi. He smiled when our eyes met. “It’s just that…when we were teens…” He bit his lip as if he was waiting for me to remember what he was saying.

 

“You gave me compliments a lot.” He said with a smirk na parang pinipigilan niyang ngumiti ng tuluyan.

 

Ano daw?

 

Bukas ba yung aircon nila? Bakit ang init yata…

 

I reached for my glass again and tried to collect myself. Every minute with this guy is like a test to me. I don’t know why but I feel like I couldn’t care less if I fail so badly. Judging from the few minutes that we’re together, so far naman wala naman akong nakikitang hindi ko magustuhan sa kanya. Except na lang sa pagiging seryoso niya kung minsan. At kung pano siya tumingin sakin, nakakailang.

 

“Anong oras tayo aalis?”

 

Sa tanong kong iyon ay bumalik ang seryoso niyang anyo. Ang braso niyang kanina’y nasa upuan ko’y bumalik sa tabi niya.

 

“About that, I don’t think it’s safe for you to travel to Philistine unguarded. The rebels are still around. Also, I won’t allow you to stay there for a long time. It’s too dangerous.” His business-like tone was back.

 

“But…I’m finding it difficult to live here. I don’t even feel like I could trust you!” Sabi ko ng di ko mapigilan.

 

“No offense.” Dagdag ko ng makitang nagdilim ang kanyang anyo.

 

“You're doing as told. Take it or leave it, Malka!”

 

Ang tono ng pananalita niya ang nagpagalit sakin. I have a feeling he likes to boss me around and that I don’t like it when he shifts into this mood.

 

“Why can’t you see how difficult this situation is for me?” Tumaas na rin ang boses ko. Wala na akong pakialam kung marinig man ng buong bahay ang boses ko. Kanina lang ay iniisip kong wala akong hindi gusto sa inaasta niya pero sa ngayon ay parang may binubuhay siyang dragon sakin na unti unting nagigising..

 

“I’m not comfortable around you! Hindi ko alam ang buong pagkatao ko at hindi rin nakatulong na sa buong oras na wala akong malay ay pinapatay mo ako sa panaginip ko!”

 

Nakitang kong bumahagi ang sakit sa mga mata niya sa mga binitawan kong mga salita. Nakita kong nagkuyom ang kanyang mga kamay at sa di maipaliwanag na dahilan ay nakaramdam ako ng pagsisisi sa sinabi ko.

 

I saw him sigh heavily. He pinched the bridge of his nose as if this conversation was draining him out. When he brushed his hand through his hair, I thought that was the iest thing I’ve ever seen in this world from the moment I opened my eyes.

 

Dammit Malka, don’t get distracted!

 

“Okay.” Sabi niya sa mababang boses. His eyes were still closed like he was trying to calm his nerves.

 

“I-I’m sorry.” I put my shaking hands on his balled fists to calm him down. “That was mean of me.”

 

Nakita ko kung paano niya ko tingnan na parang nagulat siya sa inaasta ko.

 

Okay. Maybe I was just thinking too much. Baka naman okay ang pagsasama namin ni Warrick noon at walang katotohanan ang bangungot na iyon. Dahil sa totoo lang kung wala ang alaalang iyon at kahit hindi ko siya matandaan ay nahulog na agad ang loob ko sa kanya mula nang magmulat ako.

 

“I understand now that you just care for me. I guess I’m overreacting.”

 

He still got that look on his face. Only now, it was laced with worry. Nailang ako sa paraan ng pagtitig niya. Ganoon ba talaga siya kung tumingin sa tao? Ang seryoso niyang mga mata’y matalim kung makatingin at kung hindi lang ako galit kanina’y nayakap ko na siya.

 

I noticed that I was unconsciously caressing his arm so I apologetically stopped. But he grabbed my hand and placed it on his lips.

 

I was about to take my leave when I felt his hold tighten on my hands.

 

“I’m sorry too. I’m deeply and terribly sorry. Sa lahat lahat.”

 

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Wala akong maisip na dahilan kung bakit pakiramdam ko malalim ang sugat na naiwan ko sa kanya at siya sa akin.

 

Hearing those words from him made my eyes sting. Naramdaman ko ang panunuyo ng lalamunan ko at gaya ng inaasahan, sumunod na ang luha sa mga mata ko.

 

“Ang weird ko. Bigla na lang akong umiiyak.” I tried to lighten up but his serious face was difficult to break.

 

“Shh.” He pulled his chair closer to mine and wiped tears away from my face. “I’ll take you to Philistine tomorrow morning.” I felt him kiss my forehead.

 

“If that’s what you want I’ll do it. Wag ka lang mawala sakin ulit.”

 

 

 

 

Nang magdinner na ay sinabayan kami ni Abe sa hapag. Kararating lang niya galing sa Thexaly at may dala siyang mga pagkain at mga prutas.

 

“Do you live here too?” I asked Abe in the middle of dinner. I was suddenly curious who else is here in this big mansion.

 

“I’m originally from Thexaly. But when my parents died I moved here. Para ko nang kapatid tong si War. Diba kuya?” Abe smirked. Sa tono niya ay nangaasar siya kay Warrick.

 

Hindi naman nagkomento si Warrie, sa halip ay nanatili lang nakakunot ang kanyang noo.

 

“Is he always this serious?” Bulong ko kay Abe pero alam kong rinig pa rin ako ng isang nakaupo sa kabisera.

 

“There was a time when he was all fun. You should know what the girls say about him…” Abe snickered naughtily. Nagtagumpay siya dahil nakatuon na sa kanya ang tingin ni Warrie.

 

“Abe” Tawag ni Warrie na may pagbabanta.

 

“Chill Kuya.” Abe winked at him.

 

“Stop calling me Kuya, you’re older than me.”

 

“Yeah but I look so much younger than you.”

 

“Childish ka din...”

 

“Kesa sa’yo kilos gurang ka.”

 

“Ako ‘gurang’? Ikaw ‘tong mabagal kumilos. Lolo ka na!”

 

I giggled at their banter. Nakakatuwa siguro silang mag-away noong mas bata pa sila.

 

“Ang cute niyo.” Nalipat ang tingin ng magpinsan sa akin. Nakita kong magsasalita na si Warrie pero nauna si Abe sa kanya.

 

“Mas cute ka.” Si Abe na tinaas ang kopita ng wine sa akin sabay tango kay Warrie.

 

Nanatili ang tingin ko kay Warrie na ngayon ay pinapanood ang pinsan niyang umiinom ng alak. Sumandal siya sa upuan bago nagsalita.

 

“Hindi ka ba hinahanap ng asawa mo?”

 

Napabaling ako kay Abe na ngayon ay napatigil sa ginagawa.

 

“Saan ang misis mo Abe?” Kuryoso kong tanong. Hindi ko na pinansin ang ngisi ng isa sa harapan ko.

 

“She’s in his room.” He hesitated but continued..

 

“She’s quite sick too.”

 

“Nandito lang siya?” Tanong ko at napabaling na kay Warrie. “Why haven’t I seen her?”

 

Tumikhim si Abe at inilipat ang tingin kay Warrie bago bumalik sa akin.

 

“My wife…she’s also like you.” Simula ni Abe. “But fortunately for you, you were only in a coma for four months.”

 

Tumikhim si Warrie ng matapos si Abe. Napansin naman ito ng huli. I don’t think Warrie expected Abe to answer me truthfully.

 

“Anong tinitingin tingin mo? Yung asawa mo yung nagtanong, bro!”

 

Nagpatuloy lang naman sa pagkain si Warrie habang patuloy ako sa mga tanong ko sa misteryosong asawa ni Abe.

 

“Is she still unconscious? Gano na katagal, Abe?”

 

“1 year and 2 months.”

 

“Ganun ka tagal?” Sambit ko. It didn’t occur to me that a guy like him is carrying a problem like this on his own. Kung hindi pa niya sinabi ay aakalain kong wala siyang dinadalang ganito.

 

“Alam mo, imbes na ako ang tanungin mo at ang misis kong nananahimik, bakit hindi iyang asawa mo ang kausapin mo? Besides, you two have a lot of catching up to do.” Abe suggested with a wink.

 

“You should ask him how many girls paraded in his office when the rumors spread that you finally left him.” Abe chuckled that made Warrie scowl at him.

 

Hindi na nasundan pa ang paguusap namin dahil nagalarm ang relong suot ni Abe hudyat na oras na para tingnan niya ang kalagayan ng asawa.

 

“Oof. Saved by the bell. If you’ll excuse me, my wife calls.”

 

Nang makaalis si Abe ay nabalutan na kami ng katahimikan. I hated it when things get awkward between me and this guy beside me.

 

Well, the topic is still hanging. Might as well call it.

 

“Is…Is that true?” Basag ko sa katahimikan.

 

Warrie cleared his throat. “Wala tayong dapat pagusapan tungkol dun.”

 

“Ah…okay.”

 

“If you’ll excuse me…” Magwowalk out na dapat ako kung hindi lang niya pinigilan ang kamay ko.

 

“What I meant to say was that…” He sighed before continuing.

 

“Wala tayong dapat pagusapan dahil wala naman akong pakialam sa ibang babae.” He explained trying not to sound impolite this time.

 

“Kung hindi ikaw, ba’t pa ako titingin sa iba.”

 

My hands automatically went up my cheeks. I couldn’t even look at his face without smiling like an idiot.

 

“I deserve a kiss for that.” He whispered so low I’d have to look at him to see if he really said it.

 

It all seems scary how easy it is to feel this way around him. But still, there’s one more question about us that needs an answer.

 

“Warrie…”

 

He was taken aback when I finally call him by my nickname for him. It’s like he didn’t hear it pero nanatili siyang nakatingin sa akin.

 

“Y-yes?”

 

“Why did I agree to marry you?”

 

It was obvious how he looked away after I asked him that. We were not the normal couple who got married because we were in love.

 

“D-did my parents force you to?”

 

He found my eyes and I thought he’s never going to answer me.

 

“No.”

 

Well…then maybe…

 

“Did I force my-”

 

“No. Malka, it was a mutual agreement.”

 

Ah, so it was business after all.