CHAPTER 09

After our honeymoon, Hunter and I stayed with his family for another week before going back to the Philippines. I wasn't that thrilled coming back home.

I'm already dreading facing Hunter's parents and my parents as well. Marrying in a rush is such a mistake on our part. It was clear as day, we both came from wrecked marriage.

Not one employee back at work knows about our sudden marriage at Vegas, which is a relief to me.

Ayon sa mga dokumento, I'm married. But my name remains Julianne Averee Lustre. I'm aware how difficult it'll be for me to take my name back after taking Hunter's surname.

Ayaw niya iyon siyempre. He's convinced that I should take his surname. Pero will Tito Henry allow me to use it?

I'm aware how prideful Huntingtons are. Kita iyon sa klase ng pamumuhay nila.

If they disagree with our marriage, we can easily divorce since we only did a Vegas wedding.

"Are you sure, you're leaving here?" malungkot sa tanong ni Angel.

Nasa bahay ako ngayon ni Nicole at hindi pumasok ng trabaho dahil kukunin ko ang iilang gamit ko at iuuwi sa condo ni Hunter kung saan kami pansamantalang tumutuloy.

I forced a smile, "I have to, Geli, since I'm married now..."

"Sabi mo magbabakasyon ka lang sa Bahamas tapos pag-uwi mo kasal ka na..." may himig nang pagtatampo sa boses ni Sophia.

I didn't tell them the story of how I got married to Hunter. It was an arranged marriage. I see no point in telling them about it anyway.

"Well, one thing lead to another..." sabi ko na lang.

"Have you met his parents yet?" si Nicole ang nagtanong noon.

I forced a smile, "We are meeting his family this weekend," sagot ko.

Tito Henry called for a family dinner this Saturday. Since Hunter only did break the news to them through phone call. Kasama rin sa dinner na iyon ang pamilya ng kanyang Mommy.

Which made makes me nauseous just thinking about it. She's someone I don't want to meet in my entire lifetime.

Kahit na nakilala at nakahalubilo ko na ang iba nilang kapamilya sa Las Vegas, alam kong hindi ako ang babaeng gugustuhin niya para sa kanyang panganay.

From what I heard, his mother is ambitious. She has many known connections from various sectors, be it the government, private, corporate and so on...

It was all I was thinking about since Hunter informed me of the dinner his father will host.

"It's nice that you know a few house work but cooking is not one of those..." mapanuyang saad ni Hunter nang maabutan akong pina-flatten ang seams ng ginagawa kong dress.

"Welcome home, Hunter." mapanuyang sagot ko.

"Where would you like to eat tonight?" he asked.

Umiling ako, "May inuwi akong pagkain na niluto ng kaibigan ko," patuloy kong pinaplantsa ang seams hanggang sa ma-satisfy ako sa pagka-flat niyon. "I don't think eating take away food is healthy..."

"Said the one who likes eating fried chicken..." he chuckled.

I pouted, "So? Just prepare the table so we can eat already!" utos ko.

Tinatanggal niya ang kanyang korbata, "Okay, I'll prepare the table..." Hunter said and went to the kitchen.

I sighed.

So much for a married couple.

We ate our dinner in utter silence. Tanging ang pagtama lamang ng mga kubyertos sa plato ang ingay na maririnig sa kusina.

Hindi ko rin naman alam ang sasabihin ko. I was still undecided. Yesterday he brought me something I don't know how to respond to.

Hunter is urging me to stop working.

Hindi ko alam kung sasalungatin ko siya. Gusto niyang tumigil na akong magtrabaho at manatili na lang rito.

Pero obvious na ang magiging sagot ko. I'm thinking of agreeing to not work in the office any longer. I find it exhausting. We're living the double life now.

No one in the office knows about our marriage yet.

Which is kind of good but those people are still running their mouths, talking shit about me.

Palagi na lang rin akong nag-a-undertime dahil hindi ko masikmura ang sinasabi ng iba sa akin kesyo social climber, gold digger, at ang below the belt pa'y I'm sleeping with Hunter daw.

They're not wrong in sleeping with Hunter. We sleep on the same bed but there's no sex happening. The last time we had sexual intercourse was at our wedding night.

"You know," I spoke, breaking the silence that envelops the dining room.

"Hmm..." Hunter gazes over at me.

Binaba ko ang kubyertos at tumitig sa kanya, "I thought about your suggestion the other day..."

"And?"

I sighed, "I agree."

"You agree?"

"Yes, I think it's time to stop coming to work just to sketch at my office and do nothing..." sarkastikong sabi ko.

I guess, it's also the time for me to learn how to cook. If I were to live alone after our divorce, I'd like to cook my own food.

Saturday came in a blink of an eye. I'd rather wish for this day to have not arrived at all. I'll be meeting my husband's parents tonight.

I've met Tito Henry in most occasions but we only exchanged pleasantries and no whatsoever conversation was formed.

What I'm most worried about was his mother. I've never met her, not even once. Ang kilala ko lang ay iyong si Callum, Hunter's half brother.

"Are you nervous, Julianne?" Hunter asked, breaking my reverie.

Umiling ako, "No..." pagtanggi ko.

"Are you sure?" he pressed on, "Nakatulala ka na naman kasi."

I rolled my eyes, "Hindi nga ako kinakabahan, Hunter!" I exclaimed.

He raised his hands up, "Okay! Fine! Jeez! There's no need to shout."

Tumayo ako at naglakad papuntang guest bedroom, kung saan nilagay ang aking mga damit maging ang aking mga sapatos. Ngayon pa lang ako magtitingin ng damit na maaari kong maisuot mamaya sa dinner.

I know that I had many days before this day arrived to pick out a dress pero 'di ako naghalungkat. Instead, I've worked day and night to produce a dress worthy of this dinner. Pero 'di ko na gusto pagnasukat ko na. It just looked good in my head.

"Casual lang ang isusuot mamaya." Hunter shouted to remind me yet again.

Casual my ass!

I stayed inside the guest room. Doon na rin ako nag-shower. Hunter kept banging at the door every hour to remind me that we'll leave at six.

Sa huli ay napili ko ang isang floral dress sa nakaraan ko pang collection. I paired it with a gladiator wedge heels. I painted my face with natural almost bare looking makeup.

I can almost hear Hunter's exasperation. This doesn't look casual at all!

And boy was I correct!

Hunter was sizing me up from head to foot.

"I said casual..." he said under his breath.

I smiled, "Come on, I'm feeling pretty..."

"I won't argue anymore," he said, "Let's just go!"

We arrived at his father's house 20 minutes later. Harper was there on the living room when we entered. Masama ang tingin niya kay Hunter.

"You didn't like me near her because you want her for yourself!" he said.

"I didn't want you near Julianne because you're harassing her..."

"No, Hunter, you are greedy asshole!"

"Harper!" Tito Henry's voice boomed across the living room.

It stopped Harper from saying anymore offensive. Dinaluhan rin ang huli ng kanyang mommy, si Harlane Corpuz-Huntington, she keep shushing Harper.

"Hello, Henry..."

Lahat ay napatingin sa entrada at naroon ay si Tita Elena, ang mommy ni Hunter, kasama ang pamilya nito. Callum and Sullivan Wolfe.

"Let's have dinner," Tito Henry said and he lead the way to the dining room.

The long table was brimming with food that elites eat. Sinulyapan ko si Hunter, na nakapulupot ang kamay sa aking baywang, at nakatingin ito sa kanyang ama. I see no emotion on his face.

"Have a seat everyone," anyaya ni Tito Henry na inukupahan ang kabisera.

Everyone followed. Tita Harlane took the right seat beside her was Harper. Hunter took the left seat and I took the seat beside him. Tumabi sa akin si Callum, katabi niya ay si Tita Elena at sumunod sa kanya ay ang kanyang asawa.

We started eating. Hunter was the one filling my plate with food. Tinitigan ko siya ng patuloy niyang nilalagyan ang plato ko hanggang wala ng maaaring lagyan.

"This bastard," Harper whispered.

Tito Henry glared at him and Tita Harlane hushed him.

"He knew I liked Julianne ever since!" Harper exclaimed on the dining table, "He keep on preventing me from making advances and he just goes to marry her!"

"It was Grandma who insists of our unio-" Hunter was cut off.

"Then just divorce her, Hunter..." her mom, Tita Elena, said.

Binalingan ko siya. She had this smug look on her face. The kind of face that'll infuriate you.

"There's nothing wrong in divorce, Love," she continues, "You're not the first one to do so..." she trailed off before sipping on the spicy grape juice.

I held Hunter's hand under the table. He's trembling. It takes so much effort to keep your temper in check so I'm collecting my composure.

I won't give her the satisfaction of triggering me.

"It's easy for you to say," Hunter said under his breath, "Unlike any of you here, I respect the sanctity of marriage..."

"But isn't your marriage arranged?" Harper's mother interjected, "Not to mention, it is also a Vegas wedding..."

"So, our marriage isn't considered as a legal one?" I questioned.

"Well, Julianne, it's not like that but..." si Tito Henry.

"Pero ganon na nga..." Callum continued.

Binalingan ko siya. Nakatingin lang siya sa pagkain niya at nakangiti. It was a weird sight to see.

Inabot ko iyong wine glass ko at ininom iyon. I can't lose my cool.

Kung magba-base lang ako sa ekspresyon ng mukha ay alam kong malapit nang mapuno si Hunter. Hindi maganda ang magaganap kung iyon nga ang mangyayari.

"Excuse me," the butler came in the scene with a tray at hand, "We forgot to include the Charcoal Chicken..."

They placed the chicken in front of me. Nang maamoy ko ang Charcoal Chicken ay agad kong tinakpan ang ilong ko. I don't like the smell of it.

"Can you please take the chicken away from me?" magalang kong sabi roon sa butler, "It doesn't smell good..."

"Excuse me, Ma'am..." the butler look appalled.

"Sorry, if it may have offended you," paghingi ko ng paumanhin, "But the smell is hor-"

Hindi ko na naituloy ang sinasabi ko dahil naduwal na ako. Dinaluhan ako roon ni Hunter. Hinahagod niya ang likod ko samantalang naluluha ako dahil sa eksenang nagawa ko. Nakakahiya!

Tang ina.

"Take the chicken away now, Marlon." kalmadong utos ni Hunter doon sa butler, "Ask for maids to clean up..."

"Certainly, Sir." said the butler.

Hinarap ko si Hunter. May ngisi na sa kanyang labi at dinadampi niya ang napkin sa aking labi. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa ngisi sa labi niya.

"Sorry..." bulong ko, "Nakakahiya..."

"It's okay," bulong niya pabalik.

Tito Henry cleared his throat that caught my attention. He was staring at us. "Eat your food now, Julianne." ani nito at tinuro nito gamit ang kutsilyo ang plato ko na puno ng pagkain.

Tahimik kong sinimulan ang pagkain. Panaka-nakang tinatanong ako ni Hunter kung gusto ko pa raw ng pagkain at naiiling na lang ako.

Isang bandehado ang binigay niya sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung mauubos ko ba iyon. Baka magkaroon ako ng maraming leftover sa aking plato.

Natahimik ang hapag matapos ang eksenang nagawa ko. Tita Harlane kept glancing my way but asked not one question.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal at dumating iyong butler na may kasamang naka-uniform na maid. Lumuhod iyong maid at sinimulang linisin ang suka ko roon.

"Sorry, Miss." sabi ko roon sa babaeng naglinis nang suka ko.

She smiled at me, "It's okay, Ma'am, normal po iyan sa buntis."

Napatigil ako.

Natigil ang ikot ng mundo ko.

Ano raw?

Normal daw saan?

Normal sa buntis?

Sinong buntis?

Ako?

Binalingan ko ang tahimik na kumakain na si Hunter sa tabi ko.

"What?" Hunter mouthed, "You need anything?"

Umiling ako, "Wala, parang gusto ko nang umuwi..."

Hunter wiped his lips with the napkin and immediately stood up. Iniabot niya ang kamay niya sa akin at tinanggap ko iyon.

"Won't you wait for us to finish, Hunter?" tanong iyon ng kanyang ina.

Binalingan niya ito, "We are here to let the family know that Julianne and I got married," Hunter paused and glanced at his father, "And we have done it, so I guess we can leave now..." was all he said before taking me away from there.