07

QUIVA

"Tita!"

"Emily!"

They excitedly greet to each other. They met halfway and hugged each other tightly.

"What brings you here?" Tanong ni tita. Kumalas siya sa kanilang yakap.

"Tita you're so pretty parin!"

Muntik na akong mapairap. Its true tita is still pretty. Naumay lang ako sa pambobola ng mais.

"You are still pretty as well. What brings you here?"

Oo nga. Bakit ka nandito?

"Namiss po kita tita like how I missed your son."

My jaw dropped. Ang kapal! Ang kapal talaga.

"Ahehe. I have Quiva's company right here." Doon lang ako binalingan ni Emily. But I know she saw me earlier. "Do you know each other?"

Bumuka palang ang bibig ko ay naunahan na niya ako.

"Yes tita. She knows I'm Nicholas first fiancee."

Wow! Just wow! Nagpatattoo sana siya ng numero uno sa noo niya. Grabe kung makasabing first fiancee. Yabang na yabang.

I feel a little bitter about it. I may be the third but I'm the one he married in the end.

"Ex fiancee, yes. And you must know my darling here is Nicholas wife."

Go tita. Make her remember her place.

"Yes, tita."

"I'm glad seeing you again but sorry for asking dear, why are you really here? I mean..."

"I just miss you tita. That's all. Ikaw talaga ang pinunta ko dito. Naisip ko lang na why not bisitahin ka? I'm not with Nicholas anymore but it doesn't mean my good relationship with you has ended too."

I won't missed hearing the way she emphasised the words "good relationship". She even threw a glance at me.

"Right. Right." Tita chuckled awkwardly. "Come Emily. Is it okay dear?" Biglang tanong niya sa akin.

"Opo, tita." Sagot ko.

"It's okay tita. I can just come back another day. Baka hindi komportable si Quiva na nandito ako."

She's purposely putting me in a awkward situation. Peke akong ngumiti. "No, its okay. She can stay tita."

"Great!" Kita ko ang discomfort sa mukha ni tita kahit pa nakangiti at maaya.

"Oh! You're looking through your family albums tita? You showed me these before right?" She immediately pick up an album. Sat down beside tita.

"Nicholas is so cute in here." Turo niya sa isang picture sa mesa. Napakunot ako ng noo.

"That's not Kalle."

"Yes. That's not Nicholas Emily. That's his brother, Trevor." Tunog nahihiya si tita para sa kanya.

Akala ko ba nakita na niya ang mga picture na ito noon? I could recognise Nicholas at one glance. Pinigilan kong mapangisi. Pahiya ang beshy ko.

"Right. His twin. Magkamukhang-magkamukha talaga sila."

A bark of laughter resounded within me. "They're not twins." Pigil tawa kong sabi.

"They indeed look very much alike. But they're just brothers. Not twins." Tita cleared to her again.

Hindi na siya makahawak o makatingin man lang sa mga pictures.

"Right. I was just confused, with my memories. I used to say to Nicholas that they're like twins. Hindi na naalis sa isip ko."

Lagi magalaw ang balikat at maarte ang pagsasalita.

"And honestly since galing po ako sa work, I guess its my hunger talking? What food did you bring for tita Quiva?"

Napataas ako ng dalawang kilay doon.

"Oh dear. I told Nicholas not to make her bother to bring me anything. She's my special guests so... anyway. Gutom kana? Let's order food then."

"I can cook tita. Don't you miss my recipe?"

Wow again.

"I mean if its okay with Quiva. Kung kakainin niya ang luto ko."

I faked a laugh. "I will, basta ba walang lason." Sandali kaming naglabanan ng tingin. Naputol lang sa awkward na tawa ni tita.

"Is there anything you want to eat darling? Let's order while Emily's cooking." Sweet na tanong sa akin ni tita. Napangiti ako.

"I'm good tita. But do grant me to take a look in here. hehe." Turo ko sa fridge. She was chuckling as she nods at me. Natakam ako sa juice at prutas na nakita.

I stayed in the small dining area while eating orange. Nandoon si Emily kasamang nagluluto si tita. They're talking about some skincare tapos bigla malilipat about ingredients, and so on. I felt out of place.

Hindi ko pa nga talaga kilala si tita. Naiingit ako dahil marami silang napag-uusapan ni Emily. Watching them from a corner, I realized more that they're much closer.

And watching Emily work in the kitchen, mas marami siyang alam at mas sanay na sa pagluluto.

***

"What is my baby thinking? What is my babies feeling? Are you okay?" Ani Kalle. Hinalikan ang aking tiyan.

"We're okay." Mahinang sambit ko.

"Your energy is down. Did something happened?" Patagilid siyang humiga sa tabi ko sa aming kama. Nakatukod ang siko. Isang kamay ay haplos ang aking tiyan.

"I went to your mom earlier."

"Uh-hmm."

"Emily came too." His hand stopped. He looked up to me.

"That's what mom didn't wanna tell me. And that's why she told me to check if you're okay after today."

Umupo siya paharap sa akin. "Anong ginawa doon ni Emily? Inaway kaba niya?"

Umiling ako. "She cooked for your mom." Kunot noo siyang titig na titig sa akin. "Tita enjoyed her food."

"She's close to your mom."

"A lot closer."

"Baby..."

"I know. I just can't help it."

"Mom likes you. At magiging close din kayo. You just have to spend more time together. Bond more."

"Emily is a good cook."

Kulang nalang ay irapan niya ako. "Mom knows how to cook. She doesn't need a cook. You don't need to be her cook just to be close to her."

"Agree ka na magaling nga magluto si Emily?"

"Compare to a beginner yes."

"You mean me?"

He licked his lips and shifted on his seat. "Yes, you're a beginner at cooking baby. But I like your cooking more. It's improving actually." He held my hand.

"I don't need a cook as well."

"You need someone who will prepare your meals to work. Serve you meals at home."

"Baby you're doing that already. You just need to improve your recipe. Improve on the taste."

I gave him a "Really?" sarcastic stare. Sinuklay niya ang buhok ko.

"I could enroll us in a cooking class but I have work. I'm too busy at work. And I don't want you taking that class alone. Lalo na't buntis ka."

He thought about that?

"You'll improve in time. Keep practicing." He said encouragingly.

"Paano kung hindi? Paano kung wala pala talaga akong talent sa pagluluto?"

"Baby you will. Kapag hindi na ako sobrang busy, I will teach you. Magluluto tayo ng marami. Let's just give it to mom, your parents, sa ate mo, o sa mga employee sa opisina kapag sobrang dami."

I guess he thinks we'll do a lot of remaking.

"And baby, may food delivery naman. Though I don't recommend you eating fast food all the time. Home cooked meals are healthier and safer. Plus I can cook for us."

Sa akin dapat ang responsiblidad na iyon.

"I'm not looking for a good cook. You're here with me, because I love you. I married you because you're my love. I fell in love with you kahit 'di ka pa marunong magluto. What more now that you're learning?"

"At kung isa sa iniisip mo na baka hindi ka magiging mabuting ina because you're still learning how to cook, baby, mothering isn't just about prepping food for the children."

Pinigilan kong kumawala ang ngiti.

"We can hire a cook." He suggests.

"If we're too busy, yes. But let's not get a maid if its not that necessary for us."

"Okay."

"Are you good now? Is this silent now?" Menasahe niya ang aking sentido. Natawa ako.

"No."

"It's never silent. There's always something silly running around in here."

True. Bigla ako may naalalang nakakatawa. "Alam mo ba? We were looking through your family albums when Emily came."

"Ah-huh."

"Pinagkamalan niyang ikaw si Trev."

"And guess what? Twins daw kayo! HAHAHA!"

"She never remembered that we are not a twin no matter how many times I correct her."

"She said she always teases you before na twin kayo kaya siguro daw iyon ang inakala niya kanina. At dinahilan pa ang gutom sa bad memory niya."

"No she doesn't. She only met Trev once. She's just crazy about me. She was never attentive with my family, except with mom."

"She's still crazy about you." I said meaningfully.

"She's not a threat."

"She is, to me." I think she'll start going through your mom.

"Our parents can still break us apart kahit na kasal na tayo. I think Emily knows that. That's why it bothers me how close she is with your mom."

"Baby you're overthinking too much."

"Babae ako Kalle. I once was cheated on."

"I'm a man. Not a boy like your dumb ex. I won't cheat on you, ever. Except..."

There's an exception?

"If our baby is a girl, for sure she's a daddy's girl." Natawa ako. "I can't promise you I won't cheat on you with our baby girl." Lumakas ang hagalpak ko lalo doon.

"You're gonna be a spoil dad."

Last night Kalle said with me until I fell asleep. Sigurado ako napuyat siya. May itinuloy pa kasi siyang trabaho.

Nauna akong gumising. Hindi ko muna siya ginising. I will prepare breakfast for us. Hindi ko alam kung ako ang natagalan sa pagluluto, but when I woke him up he said he was already late for work.

Hindi ko siya agad ginising dahil alam kong puyat sa trabaho. Kung alam ko lang ginising ko sana siya agad.

"You're not gonna eat your breakfast?"

"I want to baby. But I'm really really late."

"Can't they spare you fifteen minutes?"

"I'm thirty minutes late already. I'm truly sorry baby. I'll try to go back. Kapag hindi kinaya, I'll eat those tonight."

He was running around our room. Sobrang nagmamadali.

"Itatabi ko nalang? Okaya ako nalang ang kakain. That's for breakfast. I'll prepare a new meal tonight."

"Yes? Yes. I'm on my way."

May kausap na siya sa kabilang linya. Uminom lang siya ng kaunting kape, hinalikan ako sa pisngi at sinabing, "I'll call you after this call." Saka na umalis.

I looked at the breakfast on the table with a pout. What if I pack it? Tapos dalhin ko sa opisina niya. But I don't think he's on his way to the company building. Sa ibang lugar yata ang kameet up niya.

This isn't the first time he couldn't eat breakfast with me. But today is the first time na nauna akong gumising. Kaya excited akong unahan siya sa paghahanda ng agahan.

The next day I went to his office. Nabanggit niya na may meeting siya today with Emily. Sa pagpasok ko sa opisina niya ay nadatnan kona siya sa loob. Hindi ako masyadong nag-isip dahil alam kong may meeting sila, at nandirito rin ngayon ang sekretarya ni Kalle.

"How are you? We have a meeting in five minutes." He kissed me softly on the cheeks then went back to his desk.

"I'm okay. Dito lang ako." Umupo ako sa sofa. Emily is sitting crossed leg on the armchair in front of his desk. Nakataas ang isang kilay sa akin.

Maluwang ang necktie ni Kalle at magulo ang kuwelyo ng polo. He does pull his necktie loose when he's about to get serious with something.

Patuloy silang nag-uusap ng sekretary niya. My husband look so hot.

"Let's go." striktong sambit ni Kalle sabay tayo. Tumayo rin si Emily.

Tumayo rin ako dahil aayusin sana ang necktie ni Kalle, pero nagdilim ang paningin ko nang makitang lumapit ang mais sa aking asawa.

Hinawakan niya ang necktie ni Kalle. "Let me help you with this." malagkit niyang sabi. Sobrang lapit kay Kalle kulang nalang ay dumikit ang dibdib niya sa kaniya.

Nag-igting ang panga ko. Nagtama ang tingin namin ni Kalle. Doon niya tinulak palayo si Emily.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"I was just helping you with your tie. I'm sorry. Nasanay lang ako na ako ang nag-aayos sa damit mo kapag magulo. Nasanay lang ako na ganoon tayo ka-sweet noon."

Nagkiskisan ang aking mga ngipin. Noon 'yon hindi na ngayon.

"I don't want you acting like this again Emily. And you don't need to bring the past. Forget about it. Like I did."

Kalle went to me.

"You two go in the conference room now. I'll be there in few minutes."

Ganito ba kapag wala ako? Hinahawak-hawakan ng babaeng iyon ang asawa ko? Shes lrobabky taking every chance to touch him. Hinahayaan lang ba niya? Para kasing hindi matatauhan si Kalle kung hindi dumapo ang tingin niya sa'kin.

"I'm sorry about that."

"May meeting ka pa. Mamaya na natin pag-usapan." Pinakatitigan niya ako. "I'm not angry." Nagtatampo lang. Maingay pa ang isip ko. Hindi magandang mag-usap pagganito.

We didn't talk about it that day. Sunod-sunod ang naging meeting ni Kalle. He only came back to me for a few minutes to send me off.

I tried to call his number pero pinapatay niya. He said he's in a meeting. I'm on my way to his office. Para kahit papaano ay nagkakasama kami. Sa gabi nalang kami nagkikita.

My hand turned cold and stiff, holding the door handle. I could hear a woman giggling inside.

Please don't be her.

I pushed open the door. Please don't be...

It's Emily.