FORBIDDEN SERIES 3: THE BODYGUARD'S WIFE

Kabanata 10

PANAY ang lingon ni Rancho sa kanyang wrist watch. He's in the middle of an important meeting yet his mind couldn't focus. Ayaw man niyang aminin sa sarili ngunit nag-aalala siya kay Kathlyn. Kaya nga gusto niya sanang i-move ang meeting na ito. Ayaw lamang pumayag ng investor.

He sighed and checked his watch again. Halos twenty minutes pa lamang simula noong nagsimula ang meeting ay kating-kati na talaga siyang umalis nang mabantayan niya ang asawa niya. Kahit na bumaba na kasi ang lagnat nito ay hindi pa rin siya nakakampante.

He shifted to his seat as his mind remained occupied by his wife. Baka mamaya ay kung ano-ano ang gawin nito habang wala siya sa bahay. May katigasan pa naman minsan ang ulo nito. Baka mabinat at lalong magkasakit kung hindi niya mababantayan.

"Everything you need is in the folder. Cashflow, the records you were asking for, and the proposal," malamig ang boses niyang sabi sa lalake.

Billy Ibasco smirked. "You don't look eager to close this deal, Mr. Santi Vlanco. Your mind seems pretty occupied." Sumandal ito sa swivel chair. "Hindi kita masisisi. Kung kasing ganda ni Kathlyn ang napangasawa ko ay baka hindi na rin ako umalis ng bahay. Ang sabi ng sekretarya mo ay si Kathlyn ang dahilan kung bakit gusto mong i-reschedule ang meeting."

Nalukot ang noo ni Rancho. "Did you do a background check on me or something?"

"I don't think I have to. I was one of the many suitors of your wife back in the days. Kumusta na nga pala siya? Wala akong gaanong balita tungkol sa kanya. I expected her name to blow up, especially because of her talent."

Hindi alam ni Rancho ngunit nakaramdam siya ng inis dahil sa narinig. Napakuyom siya ng kamao nang hindi niya namamalayan habang ang tingin niya kay Billy ay tumalim. Wala naman itong masamang nasabi pero parang gustong umusok ng ilong at tainga niya sa inis.

Rancho inhaled a sharp breath. His upper body slightly leaned forward as he kept his gaze on Billy. "I don't think this is the right time to discuss about my wife," he said, putting emphasis on the word 'my' as if he unconsciously became possessive.

Lumawak ang kurba sa mga labi ni Billy. "Sayang. I was really hoping to get any updates about her. After all, we were still good friends even after she rejected me."

Wala sa sariling napaismid si Rancho. Nang mapagtanto ang nagawa ay tumikhim siya. "Sorry. Anyway, my wife rejected you? I wonder why. Care to share the reason?" he asked, sounding cocky and mocking.

Ngumisi si Billy. "I thought this isn't the right time to discuss about your wife, hmm?"

Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ng sekretarya ni Rancho sa kanila. Nang tila hindi na ito nakatiis ay itinaas nito ang kamay na may hawak na pen.

"Uh, sorry to interrupt, Sir but are we . . . going to continue the meeting?"

Sabay silang napatingin ni Billy sa kanyang sekretarya. Tila roon lamang din natauhan si Rancho. Although his mood didn't change anymore, he tried to stay professional until they were able to finish the meeting with Billy signing the contract.

Billy shook hands with him with a meaningful smirk on his face. "Maybe I could invite you and your wife one of these days. Let's have dinner at home. I have a piano she could use in my house."

Muntik nang mapiga ni Rancho ang palad ni Billy nang maramdaman na naman niya ang inis sa kanyang sistema. Ayaw niyang aminin na dala iyon ng selos kaya kahit bwisit siya rito sa hindi niya matukoy na dahilan ay pilit niya itong nginitian.

"I'll ask my wife," malamig ang tinig niyang sagot bago pinakawalan ang palad nito.

Billy and his men left the conference room. Nang sila na lamang ng sekretarya niya ang natira sa loob ay naihilamos ni Rancho ang kanyang palad sa kanyang mukha. What the hell did just happen? Ganoon din ang naramdaman niya noong outreach program. Nagseselos ba siya sa mga lalakeng halatang interesado sa asawa niya?

No, no. Hindi pwede. He's still in love with Demi, right? Saan naman manggagaling ang selos niya kung hindi niya naman mahal ang asawa niya? Yes, nag-aalala siya rito pero iyon lamang iyon. Wala nang iba pa.

"S-Sir? Gusto n'yo ho ba ng tubig? Parang . . . hindi ho kasi kayo okay," alok ng sekretarya niya.

Rancho sighed. "Get me some. Thank you," aniya.

Nang makalabas ito ay muli siyang humugot ng malalim na hininga kasabay ng pagsara ng kanyang mga mata.

"Pull yourself together, Rancho," he murmured to himself before he sighed. "Pull your f*****g self together . . ."

KATHLYN was playing the piano when her husband came into the room. Mukhang narinig siya nitong tumutugtog sa silid kaya roon ito dumiretso.

Sandaling ibinaba ni Kathlyn ang kanyang mga palad. "Sorry, bumaba na ako rito. Hindi kasi ako makatulog saka okay naman na ang pakiramdam ko."

Umiwas ito ng tingin. His adam's apple bobbed up and down as well. "It's fine." Ibinalik nito ang tingin sa kanya. "Keep playing. I didn't mean to interrupt."

She smiled at her husband as she continued playing. Sa sulok ng mga mata niya ay napansin niyang hindi ito umalis. Nakatanaw lamang sa kanya habang nakasandal sa frame ng pinto. Tila ba nais pakinggan ang musikang tinutugtog niya.

Kathlyn tried to feel the music even more. Her eyes shut and her head slightly leaned to the side as every note created a beautiful chaos.

She learned to alchemize her pain and turn it into her own compositions. Wala mang nakalapat na salita ay sapat na ang kumbinasyon ng mga nota upang iparamdam sa nakikinig ang emosyong laman ng musika.

Dahil nadala na ng ginagawang pagtugtog ay hindi niya namalayan ang paglapit ni Rancho. He was already standing next to her when she finished playing. Halatang nahiya rin ito nang magtama ang tingin nila kaya sandaling tumikhim bago nito iniangat ang palad upang pakiramdaman ang kanyang noo.

Kath gave her husband a reassuring smile. "I'm okay. Hindi na bumalik ang lagnat ko."

She noticed that Rancho isn't planning to leave yet. Dahil may kahabaan naman ang kinauupuan niya ay umusog siya nang kaunti nang may maupuan ito.

Rancho sighed before he sat next to her. Napansin din niyang ipinagkiskis nito ang mga palad bago muling tumingin sa kanya.

"Our new investor said he knows you. Billy Ibasco. Ring a bell?" he asked.

"Billy . . ." Her forehead creased a little as she tried to dig her memory. "Oh, yeah. Si Billy. We went to the same music class back then. He plays piano, too. His Dad is a businessman while his mom is a music teacher abroad."

Napansin niyang may dumaang inis sa mga mata ni Rancho. Yumuko ito at humugot ng hininga bago ito muling nagsalita.

"He said he courted you back then. Is that true?"

Tumango siya. Hindi niya naman kasi naiisip na magseselos ito kung sakali.

"Oo."

"Why did you reject that motherfuck--" Umiwas ito ng tingin. "Sorry. I mean him. Why did you reject him? He seems well-off and . . . nice."

"Yeah, he's really nice but . . ."

"But what?" tanong kaagad nito.

Kathlyn sighed. "I was . . . really into you so . . ." Uminit ang pisngi niya dala ng hiya. "I see no point in letting him court me when I'm . . . already in love with you."

Hindi niya alam kung bakit ngunit tila umaliwalas ang mukha ng kanyang asawa. Napansin din niyang bahagyang umangat ang sulok ng mga labi nito bago ito umayos ng upo.

Rancho cleared his throat before he stood up. "Let's go upstairs. I'll check your temperature."

Hindi na lamang siya nagreklamo. Sumama siya rito paakyat ng kanilang silid saka siya naupo sa gilid ng kama. She waited for him to check her temperature. Nang makumpirmang mababa na ang temperatura niya ay inilapag nito ang thermometer sa bedside table.

Tiningala niya ito at payak na nginitian. "I'm okay now. Thank you for taking care of me."

Rancho stared at her with a surprisingly softer expression. Ilang segundo rin iyon kaya medyo na-conscious siya. Para kasing nakatulala na ito sa kanya habang nakatingala siya rito.

She was about to ask him what's wrong when Rancho lowered his head. He clutched her hair on the back of her head and then pressed his lips against his.

Sumara ang kanyang mga mata. She answered his kisses with the same intensity, and as Rancho started pushing the strap of her nighties down, Kathlyn knew where things are heading . . .