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26-minute read

Only Ones Who Know are for us na bystander sa relationship nila ;) 

Woman is how they see each other. 

Happy Holidays po! 

Karina’s 

I slowly opened an eye para silipin ang pinagmulan ng kaluskos na narinig ko. Nang maaninag ko ang katawan ni Winter na nasa kabilang dulo na ng kama, I concluded na tunog lang ‘yon ng paggulong niya paalis sa aking yakap. Saglit akong nag-inat before checking the time sa phone.

11 in the evening; kailangan pa naming magpack ng gamit. Kadarating lang namin ni Winter kahapon from our Banff trip with my family. She was finally able to celebrate Christmas with us. We went home early pero naiwan pa sina mommy ro’n. They’ll be spending the remaining days of the year there too. 

Now, I have to wake my wife up na dahil wala pa talaga kaming naihahanda na dadalhin namin. Labis na pahinga lang kasi ang ginawa namin nang makauwi kami rito sa house kahapon. Umusad ako palapit sa kanya, closing the distance nang idantay ko sa kanya ang right arm and leg ko.

She immediately stirred paharap sa ‘kin, situating her face on the nook of my neck. “Morning nuzzling…” muffled voice na pagdadahilan niya pa nang tapikin ko ang kanyang balikat. “It’s not even morning yet, baby,” gently carding my fingers through her shoulder length locks. “Wakey-wakey, sleepyhead. We have to pack our  clothes pa,” napangiti ako when I felt her place a kiss sa ilalim along the bend of my jaw. 

“Can’t we be there by lunch time? Antok pa ako, love,” lalo niyang hinigpitan ang yakap niya sa akin. “We promised your parents, Win. Your kuya and his family will be there din for breakfast,” bahagya kong paglayo sa kanya to let her see na seryoso ako sa sinasabi ko. Pero hindi pa pala siya dumidilat. 

“Malapit lang naman sila kina mama, eh.” She’s puckering her lips with her eyes still closed. “Tayo na tayo, baby,” marahan kong himas sa braso niya under the duvet. Hindi ko na pinatulan pa ang reasoning niya. “Cook for us, okay? We didn’t eat dinner bago tayo natulog,” nagdilat na rin naman siya ng mga mata.

Without a word, she pulled me up with her. Winter also held my hand habang nil-lead niya kami papasok sa bathroom. Sabay kaming naghilamos at nagbrush ng teeth. Maghaharot pa ‘yan in the middle of our morning routine pero ngayon, she didn’t. Mukhang alam niyang magagahol kami sa time if she pursued the harot portion.

I looked at her, asking for a kiss nang matapos kami. Matamis niya akong nginitian bago tumingkayad to place a chaste kiss on my lips. 

Nakacling lang ako sa kanya habang naglalakad kami papunta sa kitchen, caressing her arm while deciding what to eat. “Or magtake-out na lang tayo mamaya?” suggestion ko nang ipaghila niya ako ng silya sa dining area. “On second thought, why don’t you shower na while I cook dinner? Ako nang bahala, you’d eat anything I cook naman diba?” I placed my arms around her neck, pulling her for another kiss. “Okay, baby,” tumayo na ako, at naglakad pabalik sa room.

Bago maligo, nilatag ko na sa ibabaw ng bed ang mga damit na dadalhin namin para ilalagay na lang sa luggage mamaya.

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Nang makasakay si Winter after closing the hatch, “Wala na tayong naiwan?” 

“Wala na, baby,” she smiled at me before maneuvering out of the driveway. Smooth naman ang drive palabas ng city since pamadaling araw pa lang naman at patulog pa lang ang siyudad. 

“Hindi ka muna ba pipikit?” tanong niya sa akin habang nakapila kami sa tollgate. “No, baby. Hindi naman ako inaantok,” sagot ko without looking at her. I was answering Ning’s messages kasi sa phone. She was asking about our yearly lakad sa first week ng January. 

Napalingon lang ako kay Winter nang kunin niya ang left hand ko which was resting on my thigh. A question suddenly popped in my mind, “Baby,” malambing kong tawag sa kanya. “Hmm?” her left hand guiding the steering wheel habang umaabante kami. 

I leaned closer, hugging her arm, “How do you celebrate your birthday with them?” Sumagot lang siya nang makalagpas kami sa toll barrier, zooming pass the greenery. “Hmm, bata pa lang ako the 31st has always felt more Christmassy? Is that even a word, love?” natatawa niyang sulyap sa akin mula sa rearview mirror. 

“Masyado bang malamig?” naramdaman niya yata ang paghigpit ng kapit ko sa braso niya. “Yes, baby,” nakangiti niyang tinimpla ang combination ng settings for the aircon while asking me kung comfortable na ako.

Oh well, Nissan’s known for their aircon naman kasi. I should’ve worn thicker clothes.

“Lagi sigurong puno ng gifts ‘yung room mo before, ‘no?” 

Vigorously nodding, “Sinabi mo pa! Halos isang linggo yata ang itinatagal ko sa pagbubukas ng regalo. Though, lahat ng natanggap ko ay nilalaro na ng mga pamangkin ko ngayon.”

“You didn’t keep kahit one toy?” bumitaw na ako sa kanya, settling sa seat ko. 

“Ah, I let them choose kasi which toy they want kapag holidays na noong college. Kids stay with me sa room while the adults enjoy outside. Ang naiwan na lang yata ro’n ay books.”

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa k’wento niya, “That really sounds like a very practical tita. Someone who’s very matipid. I don’t want to use the word ‘kuripot’ kasi you’re not naman.”  

Sabay kaming tumawa nang saglit na magtama ang tingin namin, “Love, hindi na nga kasi. Sa akin na nga galing ‘yung malulutong nilang cash, eh.”

“Alright, toys are on me then,” napailing na lang si Winter. Mukhang napagtanto niya na ang real question ko. “P’wede mo naman akong tanungin directly, Rina,” turning the blinker on before she gracefully turned left. 

“No stories for me to hear kapag gano’n, baby.”

4 hours na ring nagmamaneho si Winter, wala pang isang oras ay darating na kami sa house nila. The road we’re tracking is on top of the mountains na. Walang masyadong kasalubong na cars pero maraming big motorbikes ang kanina pa nago-overtake sa amin. 

The view’s really nice up here. “Sayang, the car doesn’t have a sunroof,” muling hawak ni Winter sa kamay ko. “I’ll buy one that has it,” tapik ko sa pisngi niya. Nginisihan niya ako before driving papunta sa shoulder ng kalsada. Nagtataka lang akong nakatingin sa kanya nang ipark niya ang sasakyan, unbuckling her safety belt. 

“Chineck ko ang time ng sunrise when we stopped sa gas station kanina,” she smiled at me, also unbuckling my seat belt. “Watch natin? Walang nakaharang na buildings tapos fresh air pa,” panghihikayat niya while wiggling her brows.

“Tingin mo ba, tatanggi ako?”

She kissed my lips, “You are free to do so, love. Baka gusto mo nang magpahinga.”

Tinulak ko siya pabalik sa seat niya, reaching for the door lock. I stared at her for a little while, cupping her cheeks. “You’re stari—” hindi na niya natapos ang pang-iinis niya when I pressed an agonizingly fervent chaste kiss sa mga labi niya.

Nakita ko pa ang pagbite ni Winter sa lower lip niya bago ko tuluyang maisara ang door nang makababa ako sa sasakyan. Ang side ko ng kotse ang nakaharap sa cliffside kaya hindi ko na kailangang umikot pa. 

Lumingon lang ako when I heard Winter lock the car. Holding out her hand, niyaya niya akong tumayo near the cement guard rail. Naglakad ako papunta sa likuran niya, hugging her from the back. Ipinatong ko ang baba ko sa kanyang balikat, “Are you the type to enjoy the scenery or the type who wants to experience trekking your way down?” 

Tiningala niya ako as she makes my hold on her tighter, “If it’s with you, either way is fine.”

Pinigilan ko ang ngiti ko, tickling Winter. What she said was totally unexpected, “Napaka, Winter.” Although, I tried my best mukhang hindi ko naman naitago ang kilig ko. 

Tinawanan niya lang ako, lifting the camera that was previously dangling on her neck near her eyes. Winter then started to take photos with me still hugging her.

“Is there something you want for your birthday, baby?” bulong ko sa kanya. Winter shifted to face me, the camera also pointed towards me. An eye hiding behind the viewfinder.

I smiled for my dear wife.

She answered before pressing the shutter, “None na. Sasalubungin na natin ang birthday ko together tomorrow midnight. I have nothing more to ask, love.”

How was the shot? My smile probably grew wider, eyes totally succumbing sa mga talukap nito.

“Ako, I have one wish.”

“Hmm?”

“Let me drive your car.”

“Can I say no?”

Napansinghap ako, withdrawing my arms from the hug. Agad naman itong binalik ni Winter, “Joke lang, baby. Of course, I’ll let you.” Though, I can sense her kaba from the way she answered. Napalunok pa siya before dropping the car key sa naghihintay kong palad.

Hinila ko na siya pabalik sa car, opening the shotgun seat door for her.

“Buckle up, engineer,” excited kong paalala sa kanya. 

Wala pa yatang limang minuto since I started driving, nakareceive na ako ng lectures from her.

I don’t feel tensed up at all. Sa totoo lang, kanina ko pa gustong tumawa at this serious Winter na nasisilayan ko ngayon. “Love, alam ko namang you know how to drive but please?” napakagat na lang ako sa lower lip ko nang siya na mismo ang nag-ayos sa p’westo ng mga kamay ko sa manibela. “What’s the ideal time?” matalim ang tingin sa akin ni Winter.

Saglit ko siyang nilingon para kindatan, “Anytime, baby.” 

“That’s it. I’m really calling daddy para isumbong ka,” balak ko pa sana siyang inisin lalo pero nakita ko ang pagbunot niya ng phone sa bulsa. Dali-dali tuloy akong nagsignal light before driving the car sa may shoulder. Inagaw ko ang phone kay Winter after pulling up the parking brake. Pulling the seat belt with me, “Ang daya mo. Akala ko ba you’re on my team?”

And as if on cue, we both pursed our lips.

“Ayusin mo kasi ‘yung sagot mo,” a ni Winter as her expression softens. “Maayos naman ‘yung answer ko, baby. Not really my fault na vague ang question mo kaya I,” maloko akong ngumisi, “probably misinterpreted.” I pocketed her phone para safe ako from daddy’s road policy lecture.

Winter unbuckled her safety belt to bring herself closer to me, “Probably talaga, ha?” I tried my best to keep a poker face pero natawa na talaga ako when she air quoted the word probably. “You and your ual innuendos, Miss Karina,” naiiling niyang tingin sa akin.

“Hey,” hawak ko sa baba niya. “Don’t you think na it’s kinda unfair? That was an innocent answer, baby. Ikaw ang nag-iisip n’yan,” nakangisi kong biro, swiping my forefinger on the tip of her nose. But Winter knows better, “Nye nye,” sticking her tongue at me. “I’m choosing my fights. I can’t win with that logic,” I smile at her quick-witted clapback.  

I leaned in to give a peck on her lips, “I’m trying to be funny,” only whispering the next phrase, “and perhaps seductive too; you know that, baby? All you do is make my heart flutter with that brain of yours, eh.”

Need I remind myself na my wife sees through me na? 

She pulled herself a distance away. “That’s sweet of you pero no. Get back to driving na,” placing a finger on my lips while her other hand pushes my shoulder pabalik sa pagkakasandal ko sa driver’s seat. Habang nagb-buckle siya ng safety belt ay inadjust ko na ang gear shifter. “Proper time position ng kamay while driving is?” hawak niya sa baba ko to make me face her bago ko pa man maiangat ang paa ko from the brake.

“10:10, baby.”

“Good. I’m only reminding you kasi hindi ka familiar sa road. It would be easier to move with that position, diba?” I do understand where her strictness is coming from. But I want to further, “Sure ka, it’s not because kinakabahan kang iba ang nagd-drive ng car mo?”

She crossed her arms at matalim akong tiningnan habang tumatawa ako bago muling magmaneho. Huli siya, eh. 

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Naunang bumaba si Winter pagkapark ko ng sasakyan sa front yard. Kita ko pa siyang patalon na sinalubong sina mama at papa. It was papa who opened the door for me. “Sabi ko na, eh. Mas bagay talaga sa ‘yo itong Terra, Karina,” bungad na bati ng dad ni Winter nang makababa ako. “Good morning, papa,” beso ko sa kanya.

“Uy, pinahawak ka?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ng kuya ni Winter, who was carrying his son with him, nang makalapit siya. Galing din