CHAPTER 5

● Yazmin

THE warm water soothes my flesh and helps me relax. Paglabas ko, nakabihis na, wala si Evron sa kwarto. I dried my hair with the towel because it got wet when I unconsciously sunk myself in the tub. Minutes passed and he's still not coming in.

Lumabas ako sa sala. Wala siya roon pati na rin sa kusina. I opened the office and still not there. Pagbukas ko sa guest room, naroon siya, nakapagbihis na rin ng pamalit na damit at nag-aayos ng bedsheet. Napatingin siya sa akin.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" tanong ko.

He looked at me, confused. "Making the bed."

"I can see that, but why?" agap ko. "Akala ko iyon ang kwarto mo,"

"Ayaw mong magkatabi tayo, ikaw matulog do'n."

Oh... He is really just like a kid. Taking things very seriously.

Tumikhim ako. "The bed's too big for me. Tabi na tayo,"

Umaliwalas ang mukha niya. Mabilis siyang lumapit sa akin kaya tumalikod na ako at naunang naglakad pabalik. ‘Oh God! My heart suddenly palpitate fast.’

Napansin ko na malapit ng mag-alas onse kaya sumabay na ako sa higaan. This is my first time sleeping with a man in the same bed, other than Dad when I was little. Kinalma ko ang puso kong naghuhuramento at humiga sa tabi ni Evron.

We both stayed silent. I am facing the other side so I won't have to face Evron. Ewan ko kung saan siya nakatingin. Pinilit ko ang sarili na makatulog agad.

I woke up and I am already on a hard bed. Umungot ako at unti unting dumilat. I inhaled the familiar scent and abruptly stopped, sit up with eyes wide open. Kumalabog na naman bigla ang puso ko sa kaba. Bakit ako napunta sa dibdib ni Evron??

Dumaing ako ng mahina at mabuti naman hindi ko siya nagising. He is sleeping peacefully, it made me smile unknowingly. I am married to this dummy.

I took a quick bath and prepared breakfast before he wakes up. May nakita akong bacon, eggs and spam sa fridge niya. Iyon ang pinagkaabalahan ko. I made fried rice with those three add ons and fried another bacon and egg separately.

Nakapagbihis ako ng panlakad na damit dahil pinauna ko kay Kristen, kasambahay namin, ang paghatid ng mga damit na kinakailangan ko. The rest of my clothes will arrive later.

"Good morning,"

Napasinghap ako nang may yumakap sa akin mula sa likod. "E-Evron... Hi! Good morning."

"I'm starving," he groaned huskily.

Pumikit ako sandali. Bakit ba apektado ako sa boses niya at mga galawan? Humugot ako ng malalim na hinga bago dumilat muli.

"How do you like your coffee?" tanong ko.

"Black."

I pressed the coffee maker to do its thing.

"Can you let go of me, please? Mag-breakfast na tayo," marahan kong sabi.

Ginawa naman niya iyon at umupo siya sa silyang nasa upuan ng padre de pamilya. I placed the food in front of us and his coffee before seating.

Pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin.

"Aalis ka?" aniya.

His hair is still messy. Like a grumpy morning child. Looks like I signed a marriage contract to babysit a husband.

"Yeah. Pupunta ako sa kompanya. I need to work," sabi ko.

"Okay..." aniya. "Let Jeff drive you,"

"Who's Jeff?"

"Our driver."

Ah, may ganoon pala. We digged in to have breakfast. After that, he helped me clean the table and the dishes. Tila isa siyang bata na gustong sundin lahat ng ginagawa ng Ina.

"Be back early," mahina niyang bulalas.

Mahina akong natawa. Inabot ko ang buhok niya at sinuklay gamit ang daliri.

"Take a bath now. I made chicken adobo for lunch baka malate ako ng uwi."

"Oh..." a hint of disappointment is in his voice.

"Bye," I smiled and turned the door open.

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●To be continue