We Are Married Novels & Stories

VERONICA Weeks have passed, and our married life has been incredibly good. Tapos na rin kami sa honeymoon phase—well, kahit na technically wala naman talagang honeymoon. I think that’s enough na, right? Ayoko rin naman masyadong magpadala sa mga typical na honeymoon na ginagawa ng mga bagong kasal.

Just the thought of it, we both groaned, because as much as possible we both didn’t want grand celebrations. “Thank you again…for coming to my life.” He said. “No…thank you for saving and loving me at the same time during my battles.” I said. We stayed there for a while and still talked about what comes next after this before we drove off in our separate cars, fully knowing that after tonight, we will be spending the next following days preparing for it. In life really, you will undergone a lot of times to situations where it will question. Happily, on 15 of December – we got married officially in a church in Los Angeles.

I stated as a matter of fact. “I know! Pero hindi talaga ako mapakali. It’s almost a year since we got married. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring improvement sa ‘ming dalawa. It’s like we’re just married on paper. Though I get it naman! We were just arranged by our parents but still! And we’re living together. Kahit kaunti ba wala talaga siyang nararamdaman sa ‘kin? Gosh! This is really frustrating!”

"Before we parted ways, you told me that—" "It was not legal that time." Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita. "Pardon?" Did I heard him right? Tumayo ito hawak-hawak ang tagiliran niya at medyo nakangiwi ito. "I can explain everything if you'll just let me." "Ulitin mo ang sinabi mo kanina," I commanded. "Our marriage isn't legal, right?" He shook his head. "We're married."

Bumalik kami sa dati but minus sex. Walang sex, okay? Kase nga we decided to take it slow. Sa edad namin 'to talo pa ang teenagers sa pagiging pabebe namin. If we think it talaga, dapat pag-usapan na namin tungkol sa kasal and after the wedding.

She asked. “Sure, I’ll wait.” Sagot ko rito at saka bumalik sa aking inuupuan. Our marriage wasn't registered? How is that possible? If our marriage wasn’t registered, that means… hindi totoong kinasal kami ni Jes…

I know we are already married pero ibang usapan iyon. We were married before because we needed Kiel for the sake of our business. But right now, we want to be married because we both love each other. At gano'n naman talaga dapat, 'di ba?

It's Dex. -Are you available tonight 6pm? Let's have dinner near the convenience store. This is your number, right? Just looking at it ay bigla nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko nang naisip ko ang magaling kong asawa. Is this cheating? Well, technically, we're not a real couple. We're not also committed to each other. What we have is just a contract. Yes, we got married but, we're not really in a relationship.

sagot ko, huminga nang malalim, “I don’t need perfect promises. I just need you to stay—even when it hurts.” At doon, sa ilalim ng buwan, inabot niya ang simpleng singsing na bakal, walang diamonds, walang engravings. Pero nang isuot niya iyon sa daliri ko, parang ang bigat ng mundo ay biglang nawala. “We’re married,” bulong niya. “Secretly. Stupidly. But truthfully.” Nagkatawanan kami, ngunit nang magtagpo ang aming mga labi, para bang sinelyuhan namin ang isang kasunduan na hindi kayang sirain ng panahon.

At dahil naka-leave kami sa trabaho ay tinanghali na kami ng gising. Maru cook brunch for us. Honestly, I don't know what to do now. All I know is that I need to agree on whatever he wants to do so that he will stop bugging me, but now I have to guard my heart. It’s crystal clear that this marriage is just for business. Nothing more, nothing less. "Penny for your thoughts wife?" Maru’s question made me back to reality.