Return Of The Wife

Chapter 5

[5] Terrence

I gently stroke the hairbrush that I was holding against her soft straight hair. Siya naman ay sinusuklay rin ang buhok ng manyika na may kulay asul na buhok. She was humming kasabay ng musika na pumupuno sa loob ng kuwarto.

"Mom."

"Yes baby?"

Umikot siya paharap sa 'kin at muli ko na namang nakita ang malambot niyang ekspresyon. Somehow her angelic face reminds me of someone, she kind of looks like a person I knew long ago but still, that would be impossible.

"When is Daddy going back? I miss him already," she said in a soft voice. Alam kong miss na miss na niya si Terrence, the two of them are truly attached to each other. Sometimes they fight but it was because of their jealousy through me. Ayaw na ayaw kasi ni Gerry na umeepal si Terrence kapag Mommy and Gerry time.

I kissed the top of her hair.

"Soon baby," I smiled as she smiled back.

Tumayo na 'ko at nilagay ang hair brush sa kaniyang lamesa at inalalayan siyang humiga. I covered her with her soft pink blanket. I also turned on the lamp placed above her table dahil hindi siya sanay na matulog nang walang ilaw. She would sometimes scream and cry kapag magigising na naka-off na ang ilaw.

I sat beside her as she cuddles Lolita, the doll that Terrence gave her as a present when she turned four.

"Good night my love," bulong ko habang maingat na hinahaplos ang malambot niyang pisngi. She yawned as her eyes watered. Mabuti na lamang at nakaka-adjust na siya kahit papaano sa oras sa Pilipinas, unlike the other nights that she would cry in frustration.

"Mommy can I ask for something. I promised, I would never ask for more." She begged habang mahigpit na magkadikit ang dalawang palad at mariing nakapikit ang mga mata.

I sighed, seeing her cute as ever.

"What is it this time?"

"Well, you know Carl, right Mom?" She started, tumango naman ako. Carl is her best friend back in the US. "Well we chatted on the phone this morning and he told me about his new baby brother. So I was thinking....Uhmmm."

She paused, mukhang alam ko na kung anong pupuntahan ng request niya.

"Can I have a baby brother too? Please my gorgeous, sexy and sweet Mommy!"

I giggled.

Kapag talaga may gusto siyang ipabili parati na lamang nambobola. Baka mamaya maging basketball player na 'tong anak kong 'to.

I patted her head and kissed her on the cheek.

"Bonne Nuit, Ma fille." Good night, my daughter. I said and then silently left her room. Marahan kong isinarado ang pinto sa kuwarto niya at dumiretso sa sarili kong kuwarto.

I sighed as I remembered what she just asked me for. A baby brother, mukhang hindi madali na mai-grant ang wish niyang iyon. It would be impossible since Terrence and I aren't really married.

"Gerry," I whispered.

Marahan kong pinihit ang doorknob pero hindi pa ako tuluyang nakakapasok sa loob ay bigla na lamang may humila sa 'kin at kinulong ako sa mga bisig niya. I felt my heart racing as his warm breath stings against my neck.

I squealed, "Terrence ano ba! You scared the hell out of me,"

Pinipilit kong kumawala sa pagkakayakap niya pero masyado itong mahigpit. Isa pa, masyado siyang malakas and I'm physically drained to even move a muscle.

The next thing I know is that he's already pinning me to the wall with his each hand beside my head. Mas matangkad siya sa 'kin kaya nakatingala ako sa kaniya and he was leaning down, aiming for my lips.

"Hon," he said in a hoarse voice.

My heart started beating fast na anomang oras ay maaaring gibain ang ribcage ko. He lowered down pero imbes na dumapo sa labi ko ang labi niya ay dumako iyon patungo sa aking collar bone.

His soft lips against my skin makes me weakened.

I can't bear it anymore. It's like my mind and my body's both telling me to go for it. To return the favor to him, but something's telling me to stop this craziness and go back to myself.

My thoughts are betraying me!

He planted soft kisses on my neck that made me moan in frustration. "T-Terrence what the hell...stop...please." I pleaded almost breaking my voice. Parang wala siyang narinig at patuloy lamang sa paghalik sa leeg ko pataas.

He's now tracing my jawline using his lips.

"Our daughter wants a baby brother, sinusunod ko lang ang gusto niya." He said in between his kisses.

I don't know what came into me pero kinalaunan ay biglang may tumulong mga luha sa mga mata ko and I was already sobbing softly. Nang mapansin niya ang pag-iyak ko ay bigla siyang tumigil at niyakap ako ng mahigpit.

I knew it. Something is really wrong, I can't identify it for now. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko but for some reason ay hindi ko kaya.

"I'm sorry..." he hushed me. I rested my face on his chest and I can hear his heart beating fast and loud. "I'm sorry hon, it's just that hindi ko na alam ang ginagawa ko."

"I'm trying, okay? Ginagawa ko naman ang lahat ng kaya ko para ibalik sa 'yo ang nararamdaman mo para sa 'kin but I just couldn't! Hindi ko alam, hindi ko talaga alam kung paano." I sobbed.

He didn't say a thing but instead, he kissed my forehead and gently wiped away the tears.

"I love you so much.." he said and then embraced me.

I choked, "I-I want to love you."

~*~

"Ay Ma'am pasensiya na po! Akala ko po kasi talaga magnanakaw si Sir. Sorry po talaga kuya!"

"It's okay Miyang, I forgot to tell you."

I gazed at Terrence na kumakain habang may band aid sa kaliwang parte ng ulo nito. Aksidente kasi siyang nabato ni Miyang ng kawali sa pag-aakalang magnanakaw si Terrence. Mabuti na lamang at maliit lang ang naibato sa kaniya.

Nagising na lang ako kanina habang sumisigaw si Miyang at pinapalo ng walis si Terrence. She was hysterical at kamuntikan nang tumawag ng pulis.

Lumapit ako kay Terrence.

"Does it hurt?" I asked and pointed out his wound. Tumingala siya at nagpuppy eyes sa 'kin at ngumuso. Bukod kasi sa noo niya ay mayroon din siyang mga kalmot sa braso dahil sa walis.

"Kailangan ka na bang isugod sa ospital ha?"

He chuckled. "Hon, nakalimutan mo na yata. I'm a doctor so I can take care of this. Besides, hindi naman gaanong malaki." He answered at hinapit ako sa bewang papunta sa kaniya. He buried his face to my back habang si Miyang naman ay pasimple kung panuorin kami.

"Nagtataka nga po ako Ma'am kasi po ang guwapong magnanakaw ni Sir." She added. Kasabay ng hindi mapigilang kilig. Natatawa na lang ako sa bawat salitang binibitawan ni Miyang. I'm sure na-starstruck siya sa mukha ni Terrence.

"Mommy?" I saw Gerry coming in the kitchen carrying her doll. Mukhang hindi niya pa napapansin si Terrence. "I think I heard Daddy's voice,"

"Surprise!"

Biglang lumabas mula sa likod ko si Terrence. Gerry's eyes got wider and wider habang tumitingin siya sa taong nasa harap niya. A few moments later ay kumunot ang noo niya trying to identify if the man in front of her is real or not.

When she figured it out ay nagtatakbo siya papunta kay Terrence. They hugged and I saw how Terrence wiped his tears, kahit na palihim pa iyon ay nagawa ko pa rin iyong makita.

Humiwalay si Terrence ng pagkakayakap at pinupog ng halik ang matabang pisnge ni Gerry. Ang anak ko naman ay humahagikgik na pati si Miyang ay napapangiti.

"I miss you princess!"

"I miss you more Daddy,"

Binuhat ni Terrence si Gerry. "What do you want to do?" He asked, si Gerry naman ay ilang segundong nag-isip at mayamaya ay ngumiti. "Park, let's go to the park Dad." She beamed.

Tumawa naman si Terrence at muling pinupog ng halik ang pisnge ni Gerry.

Pagkatapos mag-agahan ay nagsimula na kaming mag-ayos ng mga gamit na dadalhin para sa picnic. Punong-puno ang dalawang basket ng mga pagkain simula sa tanghalian hanggang sa snacks at mayroon pang dala na maliit na bag si Gerry para ilagay ang mga tinapay ni bigay ni Miyang.

We arrived at the park before lunch at mabuti na lamang at hindi ganoon kasakit ang sikat ng araw. Gerry run with the other kids na nandoon din.

"Terrence tatawagin ko lang si Gerry, it's already lunch." Paalam ko kay Terrence na siya namang naghahanda ng mga pinggan.

"Sige hon, matatapos na rin 'to."

Dumiretso ako sa may malaking puno kung saan naglalaro si Gerry. Nakita ko siya na may kausap na lalaki pero hindi ko makita kung sino ito. He seems like an adult dahil nakaluhod ang isa nitong paa para pantayan si Gerry.

My daughter seems happy talking to the stranger kaya bigla akong kinabahan.

"Gerry!" I called out her name, narinig niya naman iyon at kumaway lamang kaya tuluyan na akong lumapit sa kanila. "It's time to eat baby."

She pouted her pinkish lips. "But Mommy I'm still playing with him." She whined and pointed the man behind her.

"Mommy?"

Ang kaninang kaba ko ay parang biglang nawala. Parang tumigil ang puso ko sa pagtibok at tila ba nanlamig ang paligid. Hindi pa ako nakakarecover sa pagka-shock ay tumayo na siya at tumingin sa 'kin.

"Is she your daughter?" Damien asked and pointed at Gerry. Ang anak ko naman ay nagpapapalit-palit ng tingin sa 'kin at kay Damien.

I don't know what to do kaya hinigit ko palapit sa 'kin si Gerry at tinago sa likod ko.

I looked at him with a stern eyes. "Sorry but I don't allow my daughter to talk to strangers." I said coldly at hinila na si Gerry palayo.

Hanggang sa makabalik kami sa puwesto namin ay nandoon pa rin ang pakiramdam na iyon. The way he looks at me, the way his face questioned me.

Damn, he still have that same effect on me.

*****