Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Seraphina pov

"Congrats." Sabi ni Maine. Kapatid ni Nikolai.

"I don't know if I'll be happy with that congrats of yours. But thank you." I smiled.

"Just pretend you're happy. No one notice." She said.

I smiled at her, and even to the guests who were looking at me. I smiled at them too.

It was not that hard to pretend, but I couldn't say that I was happy.

Then my so called husband was there, dancing with the guests as if he was in a party.

Para bang andito lang siya para magsaya, habang ako, gusto ko nang umuwi.

"Good luck for being a wife now. Not easy, but you will get used to it,"

I felt a little pressured by it. It wasn't something I wanted to hear, but maybe, just maybe, it would end up motivating me.

I didn't really know Nikolai, not even his family. The only one familiar to me was Maine. She was an artist, after all, and everyone knew her. But the rest of Nikolai's family? Their history? That would take a long time to uncover. The only thing I knew was that their grandfather used to be a boxer.

"Sleepy already?" tanong ni Nikolai nang makarating kami sa bahay at isinasara na niya ang pinto.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at pilit na ngumiti. "Hindi pa," sagot ko, sabay upo sa sofa.

I glanced around the quiet space, the walls still unfamiliar, the silence heavier than I expected. It felt strange being here, being with him, knowing so little about the life he came from.

Nakatayo pa rin si Nikolai malapit sa pinto, parang may iniisip habang pinagmamasdan ako. Hindi siya agad nagsalita. But then he took off his jacket at isinabit sa likod ng upuan bago lumapit sa akin.

Umibabaw siya sa akin.

I could hear his heart beating and mine was beating just as fast. I swallowed hard.

He kissed my forehead softly, then my cheeks, and a quick peck on my lips. When he looked into my eyes, parang tumigil ang mundo ko.

"You want to do it?" tanong niya.

Do it what? Is he asking my permission?

Napakurap ako at napalunok ulit. "I don't know." sabi ko.

"I won't force you if you don't want to," sabi niya

I looked at him, rinig ko pa rin ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. There was no pressure in his eyes, only patience. Napabuntong-hininga ako. While his hand stayed on mine.

"I'm not ready yet." sabi ko.

Narinig ko ang mahinang buntong-hininga niya, pero napansin ko rin ang maliit niyang pagtango. Walang inis. Walang pamimilit.

"Get some rest. I'll just get some fresh air outside," sabi niya.

Hindi na niya hinintay ang sagot ko. Tumayo siya at kinuha ang sigarilyo niya bago tuluyang lumabas ng bahay.

Naiwan akong mag-isa, nakaupo sa sofa, hawak ang sarili kong mga kamay. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong makaramdam ng kaba.

Fresh air lang ba talaga ang kailangan

niya. O.... ako rin.

Hindi siya nagalit. Hindi rin niya ako pinilit. That alone should have made me feel relieved. Pero bakit parang mas lalo akong napaisip.

Tumayo ako at dahan-dahang lumapit sa bintana. Bahagya ko itong binuksan at agad kong naamoy ang usok ng sigarilyo. Nandoon siya sa labas, nakasandal sa pader, nakayuko, at tahimik na nagbubuga ng usok.

Pakiramdam ko, parang ang layo niya sa akin kahit ilang hakbang lang ang pagitan namin.

I hugged my arms around myself. Ganito ba talaga kapag kasal na. Magkasama sa iisang bahay, gagawa ng pamilya, bubuhayin ang pamilya, and that's enough. I never thought of this. Making a family for some guy I barely know.

Huminga ako nang malalim at isinara ang bintana. Bumalik ako sa sofa at naupo ulit. Ipinilit ko na lang ang sarili kong humiga. Maybe I really needed rest. Maybe tomorrow would be easier.

But when I woke up the next day, my body felt sore. Sa sofa kasi ako nakatulog, at may unan at kumot na hindi ko alam kung sino ang naglagay.

"Good morning, ma'am." A girl in a maid outfit smiled politely.

Naglapag siya ng kape sa maliit na mesa sa harap ko. And that made me pause, confused.

Pati yung paraan ng pagtitimpla ng kape iba pa gumagawa. Kung nandito lang si Lola, nabatukan na niya ako dahil iba pa gumagawa ng ganito para sa'kin.

"I should do that. You don't need to make me coffee," sabi ko.

"It's my responsibility, ma'am," sagot niya.

Tumango ako at nanatiling nakaupo sa sofa, pinagmamasdan siya.

"Pia, my breakfast."

Napalingon ako sa direksyon ng boses niya.

Nakatayo si Nikolai sa may pintuan ng dining area. Suot niya ang black and white androgynous outfit. A white collared shirt paired with a black waistcoat, black trousers, and a black tie. Everything fit him. The fabric hugged his arms, making his muscles noticeable. Hindi ko maiwasang mapatitig.

Agad akong tumikhim at umiwas ng tingin.

"Good morning, wife." sabi niya nang mapansin niya akong nakaupo sa sofa.

Napatingin ako sa paligid bago tumingin muli sa kanya. "You didn't wake me. Dito ako nakatulog."

Lumapit siya nang bahagya sa akin. "You sleep pretty well. Ayoko makaistorbo."

Natahimik ako.

He let me sleep here alone. Without waking me. Without even telling me.

Ganito bang asawa 'to?

Oh... I forgot. He's my fake husband. None of this is real.

Tumayo ako at inayos ang gusot kong damit. "I'll prepare your breakfast now."

Bahagya siyang ngumiti.

"Ma'am." Pinigil ako ng maid. She held my hand and made eye contact with me. "Ako po dapat ang gagawa niyan. It's my responsibility po."

"Let her." Sabay kaming napalingon kay Nikolai.

He was looking at me like I was the only person there. "Let her cook for me." He smiled slightly.

Inalis ni Pia ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa akin, pero hindi ko inalis ang tingin ko kay Nikolai.

"Pero sir-"

"I said let her." Hindi niya tinaasan ng boses, pero sapat na para mapatahimik si Pia.

Napaatras siya ng kaunti. "If you need anything po, ma'am, sabihin niyo lang."

Tumango ako, saka muling tumingin kay Nikolai.

I made sure that Pia left us before I spoke.

"You don't have to scare her."

"I didn't scare her."

"You glared at her."

Tumingin siya sa akin, bahagyang nakakunot ang noo. "That wasn't a glare," sagot niya, "I was just being clear."

"Clear enough to make her step back," sabi ko, hindi ko pa rin inaalis ang tingin ko sa kanya.

For a moment, hindi siya nagsalita. Then his lips curved slightly, almost amused. "You're protecting her like I didn't get married to you yesterday."

"I'm just protecting a woman."

I glared at him, the same glare he used on Pia. At hindi na ako nagsalita pa.

But the way he walked toward me and the way I stepped back made my heart race again. Rinig ko na naman ang tibok ng puso ko, parang sasabog sa lakas.

He held my waist, one hand staying on my wrist when I almost fell. His grip was not painful, just firm enough to stop me from moving.

I froze, and my heart beating too fast. Hindi ako umatras o tinanggal ang hawak niya. Nakatayo lang ako, parang natrap sa pagitan ng mga kamay niya.

"Is that how you say good morning to your husband? Scolding me like I was your baby?" nakangiti sabi niya. Maliit na ngiti, na parang inaasar niya ako.

Hindi ako sumagot. Instead, I kept eye contact with him, but the moment Pia came in again, I looked away. I don't know what there is in his gaze, pero ang hirap umiwas. It's like a magnet, pulling me back no matter how much I try to resist.

Itinulak ko siya ng bahagya. And the way he look at me, hindi siya mukhang galit.

Tumalikod ako at dumiretso sa kusina, I tried to calm myself even though I could still feel his gaze on my back.

Did he really think I was okay with him treating another woman like that? Hindi niya ako madadala sa titig niyang iyon. Well, maybe he does it to others, but not in front of me. If that's what he's used to, then I won't let him keep doing it.

He married me, a woman. He promised to protect me, and if he can't even show respect to other people, how much more to me? I won't let his spoiled brat attitude ruin us just because he thinks he rules the world. If he wants to act like a fucker, then fuck him.

"I said I don't want to. Ang kulit mo!"

That simple shout made me freeze when I heard that voice. I know that voice, galing iyon sa galit na boses ni Nikolai.

"Get out!"