Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

His Plan

Nagpatuloy lamang ang katahimikan sa loob ng opisina nang biglang tumayo si Dwayne.

"Joaquin, kailangan na nating umalis."

Agad na napatingin sa kanya ang bata.

"School na?"

"Yes. Late na tayo."

Napanguso si Joaquin at tumingin kay Drake.

"Uncle Drake, hindi ka ba sasama?"

"No."

"Bakit?"

"May trabaho ako."

"Pero wala ka namang ginagawa."

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Excuse me?"

Ngumisi siya.

"Nagbabasa ka lang ng papel."

"That's work."

"Parang boring."

Napailing ako.

"Joaquin, umalis ka na."

Tumawa siya.

"Okay, Uncle Grumpy."

"Joaquin."

"Bye!"

Mabilis siyang tumakbo patungo sa ama niya.

"Bye, Dad!"

"Bye. Be a good boy."

"Yes!"

Sumunod naman ang isang lalaking katiwala ni Dwayne na siyang nakatalaga upang ihatid at sunduin si Joaquin sa eskwelahan.

Grade 1 na si Joaquin at sa isang sikat na paaralan ito nag-aaral. Pagmamay-ari iyon ng isang matagal nang kaibigan ni Dwayne. Dahil medyo nahuli na ang bata sa pagpasok sa paaralan, pumayag ang pamunuan na magkaroon siya ng espesyal na arrangement sa kanyang pagpasok.

Kung tutuusin, espesyal talaga ang trato kay Joaquin.

Hindi dahil mayaman lamang ang pamilya niya, kundi dahil kilala rin ng may-ari ng paaralan ang pamilya Harrington.

Nang makalabas na sina Joaquin at ang katiwala, napailing ako.

"That kid is a boss."

Natawa si Dwayne.

"Alam mo bang ganyan din ang tingin ko sa kanya?"

"He's bossy."

"Mana sa iyo."

Agad akong napatingin sa kanya.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"Don't compare me to your son."

"Why not?"

"Because we're different."

Dwayne smiled.

"Actually, hindi."

"What?"

"Magkaugali kayo."

Napailing ako.

"Definitely not."

"Pareho kayong may sariling gusto."

"So?"

"Pareho kayong ayaw pinapakialaman."

"So?"

"Pareho kayong matigas ang ulo."

Hindi ako sumagot.

"And both of you hate being told what to do."

"Dwayne."

Tumawa siya.

"I'm just saying."

"Your son is annoying."

"At least, hindi siya boring."

"He's seven."

"And yet, he already knows how to annoy you."

I rolled my eyes.

"That's because you let him."

"Maybe."

Umupo muli si Dwayne sa harapan ng mesa ko.

Ilang segundo niya akong tinitigan bago siya nagtanong.

"So..."

"So what?"

"What are you planning to do now?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"About what?"

"About your wife."

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

"Aya?"

"Yes."

"Wala."

"Wala?"

"Wala."

"She's been gone for a week."

"I know."

"At hindi mo man lang siya tinawagan."

"Why would I?"

Dwayne stared at me.

"She's your wife."

"She's in another country. She's safe. I gave her enough money. What else do you want me to do?"

"Maybe ask if she's okay?"

"I don't care if she's okay."

Tahimik si Dwayne.

Hindi ko na kailangang magpanggap.

Hindi ko talaga mahal si Aya.

At hindi ko kailanman minahal.

"Drake..."

"What?"

"She's still your wife."

"And?"

"You're supposed to at least act like a husband."

Napangisi ako.

"Since when did I become the perfect husband?"

"Hindi naman kita hinihinging maging perfect."

"Then don't expect anything from me."

Napabuntong-hininga siya.

"Alam mo, minsan hindi kita maintindihan."

"There's nothing to understand."

"May asawa ka na."

"I know."

"But you're acting like you're single."

Napangiti ako.

"Because I am."

"Drake."

"What?"

"You're married."

"On paper."

Umiling si Dwayne.

"So what's your plan?"

I leaned back against my chair.

"My plan?"

"Yes. Ngayon na wala siya."

Hindi ako agad sumagot.

I looked through the glass window of my office.

A week.

Isang linggo pa lamang siyang wala.

Pero para sa akin, parang mas matagal pa.

Hindi dahil nami-miss ko siya.

Kabaligtaran.

Mas gusto ko ang ganitong setup.

Walang nagbabantay.

Walang nagtatanong kung saan ako pupunta.

Walang naghihintay sa akin sa bahay.

At higit sa lahat, wala akong kailangang pakisamahan.

"I'll enjoy it."

Dwayne frowned.

"Enjoy what?"

"My freedom."

"Freedom?"

"Yes."

Napailing siya.

"Drake, you're married."

"Again with that?"

"Because you keep forgetting."

"I haven't forgotten."

"So?"

"So I'm going back to my old life."

Dwayne already knew what I meant.

"Night bars?"

"Of course."

"Drake..."

"What?"

"You're not a bachelor anymore."

I smiled.

"Nobody needs to know."

"Your wife is going to know eventually."

"She's not here."

"And?"

"And I don't care."

Napahawak si Dwayne sa noo.

"You're unbelievable."

"I've been like this long before I got married."

"Exactly. That's why Dad thought marriage would change you."

I laughed.

"Marriage doesn't change people."

"Maybe."

"But it definitely won't change me."

Dwayne stared at me for a moment.

"And what exactly are you planning to do at the bars?"

"Have fun."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Just have fun?"

"Maybe meet someone."

"Drake."

"What?"

"You just got married."

"Correction. I was forced to get married."

"Still."

"She knows what this marriage is."

Dwayne narrowed his eyes.

"Does she?"

I didn't answer.

Because that question irritated me.

Of course, she knew.

She had agreed to the arrangement.

I gave her money.

I gave her a place to stay.

And I gave her the freedom to live however she wanted—as long as she stayed away from me.

That was enough.

"Dwayne," I finally said, "I'm not going to waste my time sitting at home just because I have a wife."

"Then what?"

"I'm going out tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yes."

"Already?"

"Why not?"

Dwayne shook his head.

"Where?"

"The usual place."

"Which means?"

"The bar."

"You're really going back to your old routine."

"Exactly."

Napangiti ako.

For the first time in a week, I actually felt excited.

I could already imagine the loud music, the expensive drinks, the beautiful women, and the freedom of not having to explain myself to anyone.

No Aya.

No marriage.

No responsibility.

Just me.

"I think it's time to enjoy my single life again."

"Single life?"

I looked at my brother.

"Yes."

"But you're married."

Napangisi ako.

"Only technically."

Dwayne let out a long sigh.

"One day, Drake, you're going to regret the way you're treating her."

I shrugged.

"Maybe."

"That's all you have to say?"

"Yes."

"And if she decides she doesn't want this marriage anymore?"

I looked at him.

"Then I'll let her go."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

Wala akong kahit anong pag-aalinlangan.

Dahil para sa akin, walang mawawala.

Hindi ko siya mahal.

At hindi ko rin kailanman hiniling na maging bahagi siya ng buhay ko.

Kaya kung sakaling dumating ang araw na ayaw na rin niyang maging asawa ko...

Mas mabuti.

Mas magiging malaya kaming pareho.

Tumayo si Dwayne at inayos ang kanyang coat.

"I have to go."

"Good."

"Don't stay out too late."

Napatawa ako.

"Since when are you my father?"

"Since you started acting like my son."

"Get out."

Tumawa siya habang papalabas ng p***o.

"Have fun tonight, little brother."

"I will."

Bago pa tuluyang magsara ang p***o, narinig ko ang huling sinabi niya.

"At huwag kang gagawa ng kalokohan."

Napangisi ako.

No promises.

Nang tuluyan siyang makaalis, naiwan akong mag-isa sa loob ng opisina.

Tumingin ako sa aking relo.

Mamayang gabi.

Babalik ako sa dating buhay ko.

At sa pagkakataong ito, wala nang asawa na hahadlang sa akin.

Hindi ko alam na ang gabing iyon ang magiging simula ng isang bagay na tuluyang magbabago sa buhay ko.