Kabanata 03:

KONSTANTIN GABRIEL MOROZOV

I have never been fond of unnecessary noise, especially during dinner.

For years, I have been accustomed to eating alone or having a few of my most trusted men accompany me when business requires it. I don't particularly enjoy conversations while eating, nor do I have the patience to entertain people who have nothing valuable to say.

Pero iba ang nangyayari ngayong gabi. Dahil asawa ko na ang kasama kong kumakain sa mahabang lamesa sa hapag-kainan.

I glanced at her.

She was sitting with her back straight, both hands resting on her lap. Her eyes occasionally wandered toward the food on the table, but she hadn't made any effort to reach for anything.

Kahit na ang tubig na nasa harapan niya ay hindi niya man lang ginagalaw. Para bang hinihintay niyang sabihan ko pa siya bago siya kumilos.

I picked up my fork and knife, cutting a piece of steak on my plate.

Across from me, she remained unusually quiet.

"Are you not hungry?"

Her head immediately lifted.

"I am."

"Then eat."

"O-Okay..." halos pabulong niyang sagot sa akin.

Yet she didn't move.

I continued eating, giving her a few seconds to do what I had told her.

Nothing.

My eyes slowly shifted toward her plate. It was still empty.

I placed my utensils down.

"Is there something wrong with the food?"

She quickly shook her head.

"No, K-Konstantin.

"Then why aren't you eating?"

She looked at her plate before answering.

"I was just waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"Hinihintay ko lang na magsimula ka ng kumain," sagot nito na agad na ikinakunot ng aking noo.

I stared at her for a moment.

Was she serious?

I had already started eating several minutes ago.

I leaned back slightly, studying the woman in front of me.

She wasn't exactly difficult to read. Her fingers were nervously playing with the fabric of her dress, and she seemed to be choosing every word carefully before speaking.

It was becoming increasingly obvious that she was uncomfortable. And I wasn't stupid enough not to understand why.

For three days, this woman had been living under my roof, yet she had barely made herself visible. My housekeeper had mentioned that she preferred taking her meals upstairs. Every time she needed something, she would politely ask one of the maids rather than approach anyone herself.

Hindi siya nakikipag-usap sa mga tao dito sa bahay. At iniiwasan niya ang mga ito kaya halos nagtatago lamang siya sa kanyang kwarto.

I had initially assumed she simply needed time to adjust. But watching her now, I was beginning to understand that there was more to it.

She was afraid of being a bother.

Or perhaps she had been made to believe that her presence was one.

I picked up the serving spoon and reached for the roasted vegetables.

"Here," kalmado kong sabi matapos nilagyan ng pagkain ang kanyang plato.

Her eyes immediately widened.

"Konstantin, I can—"

I reached for the roasted chicken next, placing a piece beside the vegetables.

"Just eat, Evangeline. Ayaw kong isipin ng iba na pinapabayaan kita at hindi ko pinanindigan ang responsibilidad ko bilang asawa mo." I said.

She looked at her plate, then at me.

"You don't have to do that."

"Do what?"

"Serve me."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Would you rather starve while staring at the food?"

Her lips parted slightly.

"Then stop arguing and just eat."

I continued putting food on her plate. A little rice, some vegetables, and a piece of chicken.

I also placed a glass of water closer to her.

"There. Is that enough?"

She stared at the food for a few seconds.

Then, almost hesitantly, she picked up her fork.

"Thank you."

I nodded and returned to my own meal. For a while, the dining room became quiet again.

I occasionally glanced in her direction.

She was eating slowly, taking small portions at a time. Every now and then, she would glance at me before immediately looking back at her plate.

I found it rather peculiar.

"Do I make you nervous?"

Her fork stopped halfway to her mouth.

She looked at me.

"Not really..." aniya at tahimik lang ako. Naghintay pa ako kung may kasunod pa iyon. At ilang segundo nga lang ay nagsalita siya ulit.

"A little."

At least she was honest.

"Why?"

She seemed to struggle with her answer.

"You're... intimidating."

I almost smiled.

"That's usually the intention."

Her eyes widened a little, as though she hadn't expected me to say that.

I took a sip of water.

"But you don't have to be afraid of me simply because the rest of the world is."

She remained silent.

I looked at her again.

"Unless you've done something that would give me a reason to be angry, you have nothing to worry about."

Matapos ng maging sagot ko at dahan-dahan siyang tumango. Hindi na rin ako nagtanong pa ng kung ano-ano at ibinalik na muli ang aking atensyon sa pagkain ko. Pero paminsan-minsan ay palihim ko siyang sinusulyapan.

Then, I saw that she had barely touched the chicken.

"Don't you like it?"

She immediately shook her head.

"No. It's delicious."

"Then why are you eating like someone is going to take it away from you?"

Her cheeks turned slightly pink.

"I'm just not used to eating this much."

I studied her for a moment. "Is that so?"

She nodded.

I didn't press further, although I made a mental note to have the kitchen staff prepare proper meals for her.

I wasn't particularly interested in knowing what her family had or hadn't provided for her. At least, that was what I initially told myself. But there was something about the way she behaved that bothered me.

She asked permission for almost everything.

Panay ang pagso-sorry niya kahit wala naman siyang ginagawang mali—kahit wala siyang ksalanan.

And she seemed to think that accepting something as simple as a meal was already asking too much.

I had met countless people who would gladly take advantage of my wealth. People who would demand expensive jewelry, properties, and privileges simply because they knew my name. But she's different.

Sa ganito pa lang ay malakas na ang kutob kong hindi siya tina-trato ng maayos sa puder ng sarili niyang ama. I can tell how she suffered in their hands. At sa paraan pa lang kung paano nila ito ipinakasal sa akin ng walang pagdadalawang-isip... at alam ko ng hindi nila pinapahalagahan ang nararamdaman niya.

And I will make sure that it won't happen again. Not anymore that she's now my wife.