HER SECRET

Chapter 2

MARSHALL

MORROCO

HUMIKAB siya habang nakaupo sa tabi ng kaniya Nanay habang nakikipag usap ang naman ang kaniya Tatay Rowan sa isang kasosyo nito sa negosyo.

Isang pinong kurot ang natamo niya sa katabi.

"O-Ouch.." mahinang daing niya.

"Don't yawn, Marshall. Respect," may diin na bulong ng Nanay Rosie niya.

Umayos siya ng upo, saka sumulyap sa babaeng katabi ng kausap ni Tatay. Mula pa kanina pagpasok niya, hindi siya nag abalang tapunan ito ng tingin kaya naman ngayon lang niya napagmasdan ang babae.

Mahaba ang kulay itim nito buhok na abot hanggang beywang nito, nakasuot ito ng simpleng long white dress na tinernuhan ng 3 inches white jane shoes. Hmm, nice outfit. 'Di makabasag pinggan.

Dumako ang mata niya sa dibdib nito. Tumikwas ang sulok ng labi niya.

Well, 40A size?

Hanggang bumaba ang mata niya sa beywang at balakang nito. Not bad at all.

At saka niya inilipat ng mata sa mukha nito, maamo ang mukha, mapupula ang mga labi, matangos ang ilong, ang kulay hazel nito mga mata. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Her eyes seemed familiar, as if he had seen the woman before but couldn't remember where.

He just shrugged and let the oldies do the talking. Nang matapos makapag usap ang mga ito, pinapirma na siya sa marriage certificate at gano'n rin sa babae na ang pangalan pala ay Zhera Sallow.

"Thank you for accepting my daugther. Zhera will be a good housewife for your son Marshall, I assure you of that."

His father laughed softly.

"Your daughter is a modest and beautiful, she and Marshall will definitely get along."

His eyes just rolled because of the conversation between the two oldies, as if they were sure that his marriage with Zhera would be a success.

Napaigik siya at napaawang ang labi dahil sa kurot ng Nanay Rosie niya sa tagiliran niya.

"Go, get your wife so you can talk and get to know each other. Bring her home later for dinner, understand?"

Nagbabanta ang tingin ng Nanay niya kaya walang buhay na tumango siya sabay sulyap kay Zhera na ngayon ay nakatingin din sa kaniya.

He just sighed.

Why did he even agree to this arranged marriage?

Maybe, because he had nothing to do with his life and was tired of hooking up with just any woman.

I don't think there's anything wrong with him trying to make this marriage last.

Nang makaalis na ang magulang niya at Ama ng dalaga, tanging sila na lang ang naiwan sa pribadong opisina.

Tumayo siya malapit sa glass window at nagpamulsa.

"I'm Marshall Donovan--"

"I know."

From being modest and gentle, her face became cold and emotionless.

What an Icy eyes she have...

Tumikwas ang sulok ng labi niya dahil sa pagputol nito sa pagpapakilala niya. Snarky.

"Can I ask you some personal question?"

Zhera just looked at him straight on.

"Why did you agree to marry me?"

"Why not? You're a good catch."

Gusto niyang matawa dahil sa paraan ng pananalita nito. Sounds sarcastic.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

Umiling ito.

"Any lovers I should know about?"

Umiling uli ito.

"So, you're just a good daugther who follows your parents' wishes, no matter who they ask you to marry. Is that right?"

"Yeah, you can say that," anito saka tumayo at dahan-dahan lumapit sa kaniya.

"If I were to ask you a question, would you answer?" Her gaze was seductive as she smiled.

He shrugged. "Just... no math."

Zhera slowly moving closer to him until their bodies were touching.

"Do you want us to go on a honeymoon?"

Kumurap-kurap siya kasabay ang paglunok ng laway. Honeymoon?

"Uhm, don't tell me you didn't think about it? you don't want to? We need to consummate our marriage, you know," anito na may kakaibang kislap sa mga mata.

Of course, damn it! Kailangan may honeymoon! Fúck! Bakit ba nakalimutan niya ang pinaka exciting part sa pagpapakasal?

Well, with Zhera's beautiful body shape, it looks like he'll surely enjoy their honeymoon.

He grinned mischievously.

"Who said I don't like it?"

Lumayo si Zhera sa kaniya saka tumungo papunta sa pinto sabay lingon sa kaniya.

"Shall we, Mr. Donovan?" she said while looking at him intently.

"Absolutely, My wife."

Nauwi sila sa isang luxury hotel sa subalit nagkaroon ng kaunti problema. Hindi pa rehistrado ang kasal nila at wala silang maipakitang proof na kasal sila.

Naiinis siya at mahinang napamura.

"What's the matter?" painosenteng tanong ni Zhera sa kaniya.

Dagli siyang humarap sa dalaga sabay buntonghininga.

"It is illegal here in Morrocco for unmarried couples to stay in or share room," paliwanag niya rito. "Our marriage is not yet registered. Also, we do not have a marriage certificate as of this moment." Bagsak ang balikat na dugtong pa niya.

Nagkibit balikat lang ang dalaga at matiim siyang tinignan saka hinila siya pabalik sa sasakyan.

"Let's go to your parents' house... we'll have dinner there too, right? and for sure, you have your own room there?"

Sumimangot siya. He wants to have a dirty séx honeymoon! At hindi niya magagawa 'yon sa bahay ng magulang niya kahit pa may sarili siyang kwarto.

Isa lang ang naiisip niya. Tutal, asawa naman niya ito. Plano niyang dalhin ang dalaga patungo Pilipinas.

Hindi na siya kumibo at pinaandar na ang sasakyan pauwi sa bahay ng magulang niya. Nang makarating, masayang nilapitan ni Nanay ang asawa niya at hinila patungo sa kusina.

"Do you know how to cook, Zhera?"

"No, I'm sorry."

"Oh, it's fine, and please me call me Mama or Nanay, okay?"

"Uhm, yes, Mama." Ngumiti ito.

Tuwang tuwa ang Nanay niya na panay kwento tungkol sa mga paborito niyang pagkain. Napailing siya, pero hindi niya pa rin maiwasan mapaisip habang tinititigan ang kaniyang bagong asawa.

Not a typical woman... tila may kakaiba sa babae na hindi niya maipaliwanag. Ang bawat kilos nito na para bang aral na aral, pati na ang pag ngiti at pagtawa nito na para bang pinipilit lang. Maging ang ibang sinasabi nito na malayong malayo sa nakikita niya sa mga mata nito.

He sense something. He has a hunch that this woman was hiding something strange.

And he needs to know what that is.