ARRANGED MARRIAGE

Chapter 20

YEONWOO'S POV

The twins are growing fast and now in a few months they're turning three years old. Nancy has finally overcome her eating disorder pero ayaw kong magpakampante. We're always on the watch and aware of her eating habits. The twice a week jogging was part of Nancy's coping system and now her routine excercise aside from going to gym. She encourages me to go to the gym too and I am more than willing, sabay bakod na rin. Mahirap na.Tulad ngayon nasa park kami kahit kasama niya si Daisy hindi ko pa rin mapigilang magbantay. I'm holding my camera as usual taking pictures of my family but this time I focused to my wife and to the person she's talking with. Hmm, not a familiar face at mukhang mayabang, sinasadyang ipakita ang muscles niya. Kung wala si Daisy baka sinugod ko na sila.

"Momi, tagal." Rinig kong boses sa tabi ko.

"Ha?" takang tanong ko at lumingon kay Dane

"Nina pa ikaw ganyan po, eh. "Sagot ng anak ko. "You teking picture Mama?" tanong niya ulit.

"Yes, I am Sweetheart." sagot ko.

"Nina pa ikaw ganyan." pansin niya dahil matagal na akong nakasilip sa lense pero dko pa napipindot ang shot button. Natawa ako.

"I'm looking for a good shot, princess." katwiran ko.

"Why not you are moving?" balik niya. Tiningnan ko siya at nangiti.

"Say it again, sweetheart...follow me...Why?"

"Why"

"Are?" ako ulit.

"Are"

"You?"

"You-"

"Not?"

"Not-"

"Moving..."

"Moving--"

"Why are you not moving." sabi ko.

"Why not you are moving." sabi niya ulit at natawa na lang ako.

"Hay naku, anak." nasabi ko na lang.

"Ay naku, Momi." gaya niya sa akin na natatawa na din.

"So my princess is making fun of me now?" sabi kong mukhang seryoso at mabilis siyang lumapit at hinalikan ako. Nagbago agad expression ng mukha ko sa yakap at halik ni Dane

"Nah Mowmee." sabay sabi niya.

Mahigpit ang yakap niya sa akin ng napalingon ako sa kanyang kapatid na matamang nakatingin din pala sa kanyang Mama Nancy. I slowly moved towards him while Dane is still clinging on me.

"Son?" tawag ko.

"Eschenger?" Sabay turo niya sa direksiyon nila Nancy.Sabay kaming napalingon ni Dane

"That guy?" tanong ko at balik tingin sa anak ko na tumango. "Yes, anak. He's stranger." sagot ko " to us but not to your Mama, I guess." Sabi ko at bigla na lang siyang tumayo para maglakad papunta doon. Nataranta ako at akmang tatayo ng sumigaw si Dane

"J!" she shouted calling out to her brother at the same time waving at him to come back, and her voice caught Nancy's attention kaya napatingin sa direction namin. She immediately run towards our son kaya hindi ko na rin sinundan. We're not too far from where Nancy and Daisy are standing and there are just pathways in the area. Nancy signalled that it's ok and she got Jackson

"D!" kaway naman ni Jackson sa kapatid niya ng makalapit na kay Nancy

"Want to go there baby?" tanong ko.

"Nah nah, hungry " sagot niya.

"Ok want milk?"

"Nah nah, peter pan..." sagot niya at tumawa ulit.

"Peter Pan fliez..." paalala ko.

"and eats pankeyks!" sagot niya. Hay naku itong batang ito may kalokohan. Mas tahimik pa si Jackson kesa sa kanya. Nasanay na silang tawagin ang isat isa sa initial nila.

"You will not wait for J?" Hindi siya umimik pero tumigin sa kapatid saka nag isip ng malalim.

"Mhmmm...Nah!" sabay tawa ulit at nag papacute. Mana kay Nancy bipolar, minsan ang taray at ayaw pahawak sa akin pero ngayon gusto buong attention ko nasa kanya.

"You won't give him some of your pancakes?" tanong ko muli habang inilalabas ko na ang pancakes sa container.

"Uhmmm...I...wil giv him...lyk thiz!" sabi niya sabay taas ng palad niya sa akin.

"How sweet of you, baby." saka ko siya hinalikan sa ulo sabay lapit naman niya at yakap sa akin.

"Lav yah mwami." sweet niyang sabi.

"Love you too, baby." yakap at halik ko muli sa kanya.

NANCY'S POV

When I heard my daughter called my son bigla ako nataranta and walked and ran fast to meet him coming towards us. Daisy and I were having our rounds when we're stopped by an old friend. Sehun, our friend back in college. He's also jogging around the park.

"Your son?" tanong niya when I got back to him with Jackson

"Ah, yes. They're twins actually. My daughter's over there with my wife." pakilala ko sa pamilya ko and he just nod after looking at Yeonwko and Dane na nagkukulitan.

"I see." balik ng tingin niya sa akin. "Handsome kid, What's your name?" bati niya sa anak ko na ngayon ay karga ko na.

"Mohm shed no toking eschenger." tinging malalim ni Jackson sa kanya habang nagsasalita. Natawa si Daisy pero maagap ako.

"Son, he's no stranger. Friend namin siya ni Ninang Daisy." paliwanag ko.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm your Tito Sehun, I'm your Mommy's friend." lahad niya ng palad kay Jackson pero tiningnan lang ulit siya ng anak ko.

"Momi frend him?" tingin ni Jackson sa akin.

"No, baby. He is my friend. Sorry Jackson mommy kasi tawag nila sa asawa ko." pag correct ko at napatango lang siya. "Baby don't be rude, he's being friendly." bulong ko sa anak ko. Tumingin muli siya kay Sehun

"Shorry Tito Sehun." sabi niya at lahad ng kamay na maagap namang inabot ni Sehun

"It's alright, big guy. No problem." sagot ni Sehun

"I no big yet." sagot ni Jackson at nagtawanan na kami.

"I can see you have a future lawyer here." biro ni Sehun

"Makulit lang talaga tong batang to."

"Mama, I not kulet...shomtimesh" depensa ni Jackson

"Yes, baby. Sometimes like now." sabi ko sabay gigil ng halik sa pisngi niya. "We better go, need to feed the kids." paalam ko na kay Sehun. "Care to join us, para makilala mo na rin asawa ko." I invited him.

"Oh, it's ok Nancy, thank you. Maybe next time." he declined at nagpaalam na.

"Was he your stalker back in college?" tanong ni Daisy when we're heading towards Yeonwoo and Dane

"Stalker?" I asked back. "Bakit mo naman nasabi?"

"Oo kaya, madalas ko siya makita pasilip silip sa'yo." tawa tawang sabi ni Daisy

"Naku Bestie tigilan mo yang imagination mo. Baka ikaw nag stalk sa kanya bakit mo sinasabi yan?"

"Ay! obvious ba?" sabay tawa niya muli.

-

We're on our way home and Yeonwoo's driving. The kids sitting at the back of the car on their child safety seats. Kanina pa namin sila naririnig na nagbubulungan. After a few minutes when I'm about to ask them. We heard Jackson

"Mohm?" tawag ni Jackson

"Yes, son?" sagot ni Yeonwoo

"Waht'sh eshtoker?" tanong niya at nagulat ako.

"Why? why did you ask?" balik na tanong ni Yeonwoo, bigla ko naalala usapan namin ni Daisy kanina.

"Becoz, Neynang Deyshi sed thath guy earlier iz mama'z ezthoker." singit ni Dane at namula ako lalo na ng saglit na napatingin sa akin si Yeonwoo na salubong ang kilay.

"Is that true, hon?" tanong niya saka nagbalik ng tingin sa daan.

"Uhm, honey. Alam mo naman si Daisy wala ng magawa yon kundi mangulit lang." depensa ko.

"So he's not stalking you?" balik ulit ni Yeonwoo.

"As far as I know hindi honey" I truthfully said.

"Mohm..." tawag muli ni Jackson

"Yes, Jackson?" sagot ni Yeonwoo

"Waht eshtoker?" ulit niya at nagkatinginan kami ni Yeonwoo

"Uhm, Baby. Stalker is someone following a person or just looking at someone from a distance, something like that." mahinang sagot ni Yeonwoo habang tinitingnan ang mga bata sa mirror.

"Ish daht bad?" tanong muli ni Jackson

"Kind of because it makes the person feel a bit scary towards that stalker lalo na pag nanakit or something." Dugtong ni Yeonwoo

"Wath if you're juzt looking?" singit naman ni Dane

"Well, I guess that's fine, Sweetheart. Maybe that person admires or just wanted to look at the other...like more than sneaking or watching secretly" paliwanag ni Yeonwoo. Biglang natahimik ang dalawa at paglingon ko sa likod ay nagtitinginan.

"Why?" tanong ko sa kanila.

"Momi eshtoker?" tanong ni Jackson sa akin.

"Wha--- Me?" bigla namang sambit ni Yeonwoo. "How? Bakit niyo nasabi?" tanong niya sa mga bata.

"Becoz we alwayz see you loohking at Mama." sagot ni Dane sabay tawa at parang batang nag blush ang asawa ko.

"What? When? Anong sinsabi niyo?" sunod sunod na tanong ni Yeonwoo

"Wehn Mama coohking." sagot ni Dane

"Yesh." sang ayon ni Jackson na nakatingin sa labas. Napangiti ako saka ko naalala na pag nagluluto ako ay nagugulat na lang ako nasa likod ko na si Yeonwoo or napapansin ko lang nakatitig siya sa akin.

"Ako? O c'mon kids. I'm just checking what your Mama is cooking." depensa ulit ni Yeonwoo na parang nahuli sa kanyang sekreto.

"Is that true?" kantiyaw ko naman sa kanya.

"Hay naku, Hon. Why are you sneaking on me kids?" baling niya sa mga bata

"Nah, Momi. We saw you. We don't snheak." depensa ni Dane. Natatawa na ako dahil namumula na si Yeonwoo

"Really, kids?" ulit ni Yeonwoo

"It's ok honey. I know you're just head over heels in love with me." I confidently said and I saw her broad smile.

"Wat head heesh?" si Jackson

"Just an expression, sweetheart." simpleng sagot ko.

"Oh key...another adult wordz, Jackson." taas kilay na sambit ni Dane habang nakatingin sa kapatid.

"Yesh, hard worthds." pag sang ayon ni Jackson at nagkatinginan na lang kami ni Yeonwoo at nangiti sa isat isa. The kids are so curious and ever so often they asked too many questions especially when Yeonwoo and I are talking things that are hard for them to understand.

"It's ok, sweethearts, when you grow up like us you'll understand everything." ngiti kong baling sa kanila at nagtinginan lang sila. "Head over heels means your Mommy is so much in love with me. That's why you find her sneaking around me." I said almost boasting at napapailing lang si Yeonwoo

"You not head over healz with Mommy, Mama?" curious na tanong ng panganay ko.

"And why do you say so?" balik tanong ko kay Dane

"Are your Mama not sneaking or watching me?" singit ni Yeonwoo

"She...uhm...watching...but uhm...with a furrowed face." sagot ni Dane

"And why would she be looking like that?" curious ng tanong ng asawa ko. Kibit balikat lang sagot ni Dane saka naman tumingin sa akin saglit si Yeonwoo bago bumalik ang mata sa daan. Hindi ako sumagot kundi si Jackson

"Yesh, Mama shimangot wen you toking on the phone long." at ako naman ang biglang nakaramdam ng pag iinit ng pisngi.

"Really?" laking matang tanong ng asawa ko.

"Yesh/Yez." halos sabay na sagot ng kambal.

"Oh, maybe your Mama's jealous..." Yeonwoo smirked looking at me in seconds then back to face the road.

"Mama what'z je..."

"That's adult word." depensa ko na at hindi na pinatapos ang sasabihin ni Dane

"No it's not." kontra ni Yeonwoo

"Yes it is honey." pinanlakihan ko na ng mata si Yeonwoo.

"Hon, even for kids we taught them..."

"Honey, this is a different kind of jealousy." I insisted.

"Then we can explain, so they could understand." Yeonwoo reasoned.

"Not now."

"And why not?" kulit ni Yeonwoo

"Because it's not right..."

"Anong hindi tama doon? Ang malaman nila na nagseselos ka?" halos natatawa ng sabi ni Yeonwoo

"Are you getting back at me?" kunwari kong inis na sabi.

"What?Me? Why should I?" natatawa na ngayong sabi ni Yeonwoo

"I'm not jealous." sagot ko na.

"Who said you are jealous, Hon?"

"You..."

"Wala akong sinabi."

"Sabi mo..."

"All I said was 'maybe'" depensa bi Yeonwoo "why being so defensive?" tanong niya na nakangiti, bigla akong namula, naku obvious nga ako dahil nag react agad ako.

"Ewan ko sa'yo." I said and straighten up to my seat and looking straight to the road. Naiinis ako sa mga kausap niyang clients dahil pati sa bahay tumatawag ang mga babaeng halos lahat ay hindi ko kilala.

"Hey." kalabit sa akin ni Yeonwoo ng ilang segundo na akong walang imik. "I'm sorry, I was just kidding." lambing sa akin ni Yeonwoo

I looked over the rear view mirror and saw my kids silently looking at us. A worried face written across their faces but at the same time smiling timidly especially Dane

"Momi alriedy shed shorry Mama." Jackson said almost in a whisper.

"What you do wrong Mohmi?" tanong ni Dane

"I...I am not sure what I did wrong, Baby." sagot ni Yeonwoo. Hindi pa rin ako kumikibo. "She's not talking to me anymore." sabi niyang nagsusumbong.

"Hmmm. Adult tokz not good sometimez..." rinig naming sabi ni Dane

"Yesh yesh." san ayon naman ni Jackson na tumatango pa.

"And why did you say that?" Si Yeonwoo

"Becoz you end up not tohking."

"All right kids...that's enough." singit ko na. "Mommy and I are good, ok?"

"You better kizz if you good." si Dane and I just rolled my eyes but when I looked at Yeonwoo, she's all smile. Hay naku babaeng to talaga asar, lagot ka sa akin mamya. "If your good kizz kizz."

"Yesh kish." si Jackson. Wala na ako nagawa so I leaned over to Yeonwoo to give her a kiss on her cheek but I was surprised when she quickly moved her head so that my lips touched hers. At ngiting tagumpay ang sinukli niya sa akin.

"Yehey!" sigaw ng mga bata at kinindatan naman ako ng asawa ko. I moved closer to Yeonwoo's right ear and whispered.

"That'll be your kiss for the whole day. Akala mo ha." I said and when I moved back to my seat and glanced at my Yeonwoo gusto kong matawa pero pinigilan ko lang. Para siyang batang inagawan ng laruan, gustong magmaktol pero pigil na pigil. Ngiting tagumpay ako pero hindi nagtagal dahil ilang segundo lang ay nagsalita ang kambal.

"Momi why silent?" alalang tanong ni Jackson, hindi sumagot ang Yeonwoo

"Yez, why you silent Mohmi?" ulit ni Dane

"N-nothing kids...Mommy just thought of something."

"Liiike?" kulit ni  Dane

"Uhm...Like how I love Dane, Jackson and Mama." sagot ni Yeonwoo

"And?"

"And... I'm thinking if you love me, too."pagdadrama ng isa. Hay naku Yeonwoo

"Of courshz Mowmi!!!" duet ng kambal. "Right Mama?" baling sa akin ng mga bata saka taas kilay kong tiningnan si Yeonwoo

"Of course, honey. We love you very much." ngiting aso kong sabi at baling kay Yeonwoo

"Then kiss and hug me so I can feel your love." sagot nito.

"Mama hug mohmi and kish her plesh." pakiusap ni Jackson, wala ako nagawa kundi sumunod. I leaned forward and kissed Yeonwoo's right cheek again and hugged her. "That's your kiss for tomorrow." bulong ko muli sa kanya at bigla nawala ang matamis na ngiti sa kanyang labi.

"Hon naman..." parang bata niyang reklamo but I just smirked at her.

"That's what you get when you play tricks on me." paalala kong sagot.

"What tricks?" pabulong niyang tanong.

"Mama, could kizz Mowhmi for us? We stuck here so pleaz do it for uzz?" pakiusap ni Dane na hindi makatayo dahil naka seatbelt.

"Ok princess, glad to do it..." I smiled back to my kids and was about to lean forward to Yeonwoo when she leaned sideways to avoid my kiss."Why?" I asked.

"Baka yang halik na yan para sa susunod na araw naman, Hon." alala niyang sabi.

"Good guess, honey." ngiti ko at muling hahalik sana sa kanya.

"It's ok kids you can kiss and hug me later!" halos pasigaw na sabi ni Yeonwoo sabay iwas sa akin.

"Why don't want Mama'sh kish Momi?" tanong ni Jackson

"I like Mama's kiss and hug so much, Jackson but I want you and Dane kiss and hug me by yourselves." sabi nito. "And you can do it when we get home. We're almost there." dugtong ni Yeonwoo na panay ang iwas sa akin na para akong may sakit. Natatawa ako sa asawa ko. Hindi ko na namalayan na nahihto na kami sa tapat ng bahay namin at dali dali na siyang bumaba at binuksan ang pinto sa likod para alisin ang seatbelt ni Dane at hinalikan at niyakap siya nito habang karga niya at inilabas ng kotse, saka umikot sa kabila at ganon din ang ginawa kay Jackson. Tapos ay sabay na inakay ang kambal papasok ng bahay, nailing lang ako na natatawa.

-

YEONWOO'S POV

"Hindi ka naka score noh?" nagising ako sa nagsalita.

"Ano?" tanong ko pabalik kay Hyebin na papasok ng office.

"Sabi ko hindi ka naka score sa asawa mo..." ulit niya.

"Bakit mo naman nasabi yan?" hindi ko pagsagot sa tanong niya.

"Well...usually kasi ganyan ang hitsura ng hindi nakaka score." tawa tawa niyang sabi.

"As if alam mo..."

"So hindi ka nga naka score..."

"Hyebin..."

"Ok..." taas kamay niyang sabi "I get it. Tama ako." sagot niya hanggang makalapit sa akin. Obvious ba ang mukha ko? After kasi ng jogging at breakfast namin ay umalis ako at lahat ng bahay ng walang kiss kay Nancy. Nakakainis tinotoo niya nga sinabi niya. Paano yan hanggang bukas wala akong kiss. Hindi ba niya alam kung gaano ako kasabik lagi sa halik niya?

"Umuwi ka na kaya? Try mo maka score? Sama ng mukha mo eh..."

"Hyebin!" sigaw saway ko sa kanya.

"What brad, kanina ka pa kaya ganyan mula ng dumating ka. Ano ba nangyari?" Tanong niya pero hindi ako umimik. "Baka hindi mo alam lunch na." saka ko lang tiningnan ang relo ko, lunch time na nga. Nagbuntong hininga lang ako tapos ay umiling.

"You go ahead, I'm not hungry." pagtataboy ko sa kanya.

"Pansin ko nga busog ka na sa kape..." patol naman ni Hyebin

"Just leave me please." pakiusap ko.

"Hindi ka talaga gutom?" kulit niya at umiling lang ako.
"Sa asawa mo gutom ka?" sunod na sabi ni Hyebin at bigla akong napaangat ng tingin sa kanya.

"Get out Hyebin!" halos pasigaw ko ng sabi pero nakakainis ang tingin niya. "I'm serious."

"Yeonwoo, brad. Relax. Napaka obvious mo. Kung may problema kayo ni Nancg hindi ganyan ang hitsura mo kaya hindi ko papatulan yang taray mo. Siguro may ginawa ka kaya hindi ka naka score ano?"

"What do you mean?"

"Mukha kang inis na hindi maintindihan. Salubong yang mga kilay mo, para kang nagmamaktol. Ano ba kasi ginawa mo?" tanong ni Hyebin

"Wala..." sagot ko lang.

"Alam mo Tsong mahirap talaga espelingin mga babae kaya dapat huwag mo ginagalit o iniinis kasi 'no touch-zone' ka pag nagkataon." banat niya pa.

"You're not helping..." I plainly said.

"Thank you." sagot niyang natatawa. "Bahala ka mauuna na kaming kumain." sabi na nitong naglakad na palabas. Hindi na ako umimik. Pagsara ng pinto ng office ay napahalumbaba ako sa desk ko at pumikit. Kainis talaga. Matagal ako sa ganong posisyon ng may maamoy akong familiar na amoy. Hay, namiss ko ang asawa ko kaya pati pabango niya naamoy ko ngayon. Nabuntonghininga ako,I slowly moved back to seat on my chair eyes still closed feeling the smell that's home for me. Nancy's scent.

"Miss you, hon." bulong ko sa sarili.

"Really?" halos mapatayo ako sa kinauupuaan ko sa narinig ko.

"Nancy!" sigaw ko and I saw her flashing her sweet smile in front of me. "What are you doing here?"

"Checking if you really are in a bad mood..." simple niyang sagot.

"Who told you?"

"Jooe, kasi may short meeting daw kayo pero naging long meeting because you're not cooperating."

"Talagang nagsumbong ha."

"Nope. I just happened to call her for some baked recipe the kids love to eat." paliwanag niya. Minsan kasi ay namamasyal doon si Jooe at may dalang cookies and cakes for the twins or would bring it to the office at inuuwi ko para sa mga bata.

"What's with the face?" tanong niya.

"Where's your shoes?" tanong ko pabalik ng napansin kong wala siyang suot na sapatos, kaya pala dko naramdaman ang pagpasok niya.

Tumayo na ako at lumapit sa kanya.

"At the door." she simply said at paglingon ko ay andon nga. "What's with the face?" ulit niya.

"Your fault..."

"Me?" tanong niya. "Why me?" ngiti niyang tanong. Hay naku Nancy pag ganyan ka ngumiti sarap mo halikan. We're just inches away from each other baka dko mapigilan sarili ko kaya I decided to move a little but she held my hand to stop me from taking a step. "Because of this?" tanong niya and I felt her hands on my cheeks and moved my head for us to face each other. Then slowly she moved closer and I felt her lips to mine. Heaven. It was sweet and tender kiss, when I felt her pulling away I moved closer and held her body closed to me while kissing her back tenderly. I dont want to stop, not yet. We kissed long and sweet, until I felt her pulling away again.

"H-honey...we're at your office."

"No one enters here when you're here especially during lunch break." paliwanag ko.

"Lunchbreak will be over soon." she reminded me. Wala na akong nagawa. I kissed her again, deep and sensual that we're both panting when we parted.

"H-honey..."

"Just missed you. And don't ever do that to me again." seryoso kong sabi at natawa siya.

"Yes, Boss." sagot niya.