TWO MONTHS.Dalawang buwan na akong kasal kay Ryland. Sobrang bilis ng panahon. Parang kahapon lang ay nasa loob kami ng isang bulwagan at nagpapakasal para sa negosyo at pangarap.I moved in Ryland's penthouse a month ago just like what he said before. Mabuti na lang at binigyan niya pa ako ng isang buwan para makapaghanda. I just brought a few clothes and some essentials with me. I just can't totally leave the place where I found peace. Bumibili na lang ako ng bago.Ryland doesn't stay here a lot. Ni hindi kami masyadong nagkikita kahit nasa iisang lugar lang kami nakatira. Hindi pa sumisikat ang araw ay umaalis na siya at bumabalik lang kapag malalim na ang gabi. Maybe he's even more busy now because he just fully inherited his father's company. Isabay pa ang trabaho sa university.We barely see each other. Even in the campus, madalas din siyang hindi pumapasok sa klase. Mabuti na lang at may sub siya. At kung magkatagpo man kami, we'll just nod at each other. It seems like everyda
RYLE WAS talking to someone on the phone when I went downstairs. He has a frustrated look on his face. I wonder what's the problem? Or who is he talking to?"I don't care Daniel, reschedule it in some other time." He said with dominance in his voice. Pumihit siya paharap sa direksyon ko at natigilan nang makita ako. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago lumapit sa kanya. He scanned me from head to toe while he's still holding his phone in his ear. Gone was his frustration when he snaked his other hand around my waist. He's towering over me so I had to look up at him. And I'll never get used to this feeling. He kept on talking to someone on the phone while keeping me close to him. "I can handle it, so just do what you are asked to do so," he said to the other line. Hindi na naman natanggal ang tingin niya sa akin at may ibinulong. "Gorgeous as ever," Namula naman ako sa kanyang sinabi. I have recieved compliments before, but hearing it from him feels different."Huh? Ano'ng gorgeous—"
"SO HOW'S life being married to your professor?" Nanigas ako sa kanyang tanong. What does he mean? Siguradong alam niya ang sitwasyon namin ngayon pero bakit kailangan pang itanong 'yan? Bumabalik na naman ang pangamba sa akin."Castillo." Matigas na sabi ni Ryland. Masama ang tingin na pinupukol nito kay Fred habang ang huli naman ay parang walang kaalam-alam."What?" Fred asked innocently. Namayani ang katahimikan sa amin. Ryle was still looking at him darkly kaya hinawakan ko ang braso nito. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Maybe to calm him down? As if I have the power to do that.Bigla namang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Fred habang nakatingin sa akin, as if realization hit him. "Oh no! No... I didn't mean to use that term or sound like that. Wala akong problema sa relasyon ninyo. I'm sorry if you took it that way."Hindi naman talaga niya kailangang humingi ng tawad. Tama naman iyong tanong niya. "Wala naman dapat ihingi ng tawad. And to answer your question, ayos lang naman." Sabi ko r
ISANG LINGGO na mula nang dalhin ako ni Ryland sa museum. Isang linggo na rin kaming hindi nagkikita. He's really a busy person. Hindi pa rin siya pumapasok sa university and that makes everyone think that he's on a leave.Si Ms. Aisha naman, napapansin kong sinusubukan pumunta sa seventh floor but unfortunately, may harang sa hagdan at hindi rin gumagana ang elevator. Ano naman kaya ang kailangan niya roon? Is she even authorized before? Sa pagkakaalam ko ay si sir Chase pa lang ang nabibigyan ng pahintulot.And speaking of this crazy professor. Palagi ko siyang nakakasalubong o nakikita sa campus and he would always give me a derisive look and a playful smile. He's totally creeping the shit out of me sometimes when he do that. Tinutukso niya kasi ako sa pagpapakasal sa kaibigan niya at ang lakas pa ng boses. Nababahala ako palagi na baka may makarinig kagaya ngayon..."So ano meron na ba?" Tanong nito."Anong meron?""A baby! Ano na? Kailan ako magiging ninong!?"Umawang ang aking b
THE 30 minutes nap was a scam for the both of us. Nakatulog ako and now I am very late in our class."Ryle gising..." I tapped his cheek making him stirred on his sleep."Wake up please." He really needs to wake up dahil hindi ako makabangon dahil sa bigat niya."Ryle, come on!" Niyugyog ko ang braso niya at naramdaman ko naman ang pag-angat niya ng tingin sa akin with his eyes half-closed. I have to admit, ang gwapo niya kapag bagong gising."What?" He groaned. "I have to go, ang bigat mo!" Reklamo ko sa kanya na sinagot lamang niya ng mahinang tawa bago muling sinubsob ang muka sa aking leeg."Mamaya na,""Ang sabi mo 30 minutes lang, anong oras na!?" Inis kong wika.I felt him stiffened, then slowly, he put a little distance between us. Enough for me to finally sit on the bed."Are you mad?" Mahina niyang tanong nang makabangon. Kunot noo ko naman siyang tinignan dahil sa kanyang tanong. There was sadness in his eyes making me feel guilty.I sigh as i brush his hair up. "I'm not,
I COULD feel the soft fabric pressing against my temple, down to my cheek, and neck. I got even sweater with his hot stares. I have to remind myself that he's just being a good friend. Friend?Friends don't kiss.But we're not lovers either. We're married, yes. That's all that really binds us together. Nothing else.I mentally slapped myself. I shouldn't be thinking any of these. Mahina kong tinabig ang kanyang kamay at nilabanan ang kanyang titig."Salamat, pero kaya ko na 'to," I smiled, trying to make the awkward feeling disappear. Kumuha ako ng sariling panyo sa aking bulsa at saka tumayo, iyon ang ginamit kong pampunas. I anticipated that I'd be bathing with sweat today kaya nagdala talaga ako. Tumayo na rin siya at nagpakawala ng buntong hininga. "Dad's inviting us for dinner later," he informed."A-ah, pupunta ka?" Tanong ko rito."If you're not busy," Umiling naman ako kaagad. "Hindi naman, pero ikaw ang bahala,""We're going then," he said muttered. I stayed inside his of
HE WAS hugging me softly. Ako naman ay natuod sa aking pwesto, contemplating if I should return his hug or just let him. But in the end, mas pinili kong kumawala."Come on, we're running late, I need to dress up," mahina kong bulong.Humiwalay naman siya. Mabuti at hindi pala ako ganoon karupok.Sa huli ay kumuha na lang ako ng beige na dress. Iyon na ata ang pinaka-conservative kong damit.I really don't have a problem wearing sexy dresses, I can wear whatever I want, pero depende lang talaga sa mood. HAWAK NI Ryland ang kamay ko habang papasok kami sa restaurant kung saan naghihintay ang ama at kapatid niya.Not long after, nakarating kaagad kami sa table. His brother, Renz, spotted us first. He smiled at me widely kaya ngumiti rin ako."Sa wakas nandito na kayo! Makakakain na ako!"Natawa ako sa naging turan nito. Si tito Miguel naman ay nabaling ang atensyon sa amin."Hey dad," bati ni Ryle sa ama."Good evening po tito," "Good evening, please sit down both of you." I could see
"SAAN KA?" "Kahit saan basta wala ka," sagot ko sa tanong ni Kevin.Tapos na ang dalawang subject namin at lunch break na. Kagaya ng gusto ni Ryland ay doon ako dumediretso sa opisina niya para mananghalian. Isang linggo na rin ang lumipas simula noong gabing iyon. Nahimasmasan din naman siya sa inis niya at pinili na lang matulog habang yakap ako ng mahigpit."Ikaw ah! Iniiwasan mo ako noh?" Sumunod pa rin ito sa akin."Pasensya na kung masyadong halata, nasusuka lang talaga ako sa muka mo," "Hala, ang sama ng ugali nito. Nagbago ka na nga..." I can't help but roll my eyes dahil sa kadramahan niya.Pinanlakihan ko ito ng mata dahil talagang may panguso-nguso pa. Akala niya talaga bagay sa kanya."May pupuntahan pa nga kasi ako,""Saan nga kasi? Sama ako, sige na!" Pangungulit pa nito. Kaunti na lang ay masasapak ko na ito.Ito ang dahilan kong bakit ako nahihirapang um-oo kay Ryland. Sobrang hirap kasi makawala sa radar ng bwisit na ito. Si Sean pa lang kasi ang nakakaalam pero w