Kabanata 12
1093 Words
Sixth
I carefully went out of the bed while Lyneth is sleeping soundly. Sandali pa akong naupo sa gilid ng kama para pagmasdan siya. The dim light coming from the bedside lamp illuminated her ethereal beauty, and here I am, looking like a fool with a contented smile plastered on my lips.
I can't believe she just gave me herself. I can't believe the marriage I thought was all for revenge, will turn into something I know I would fight for even if it kills me.
Humugot ako ng hininga't inayos ang comforter. Umikot naman siya patalikod sa akin at muling nahimbing. Pagod na pagod 'to panigurado kaya kahit yata magpatugtog ako nang malakas ay hindi basta babangon.
I stood up and wore my pull over before I picked up my phone. Lumabas ako ng suite at doon tumawag sa pinsan kong pinakaumaasikaso sa case ng Daddy ko. Good thing he picked up my call instantly. Nang marinig ang boses ko ay kaagad akong binungaran ng balita.
"Malapit na. Mapapakulong mo na siya. May lead na ako sa witness na makakapagpatunay na siya ang may kasalanan sa pagkamatay ng Daddy mo."
I swallowed. "You can. . . stop now."
Sandaling naging tahimik ang kabilang linya. "Sorry, what?"
I sighed. "I can't. . . send him to jail anymore."
"Are you crazy?" He scoffed. "Ilang taon mo nang pinaghihirapan ang kasong 'to. Why change your mind all of a sudden?"
Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko rin alam. Siguro dahil ngayong kaya ko nang aminin sa sarili kong nahulog na ako kay Lyneth, natatakot akong bigyan siya ng dahilan para iwanan ako.
I don't even know when my feelings started. Ang alam ko lang ay matagal ko na rin itong nararamdaman at hindi lang basta maamin. But now that I am finally honoring what I feel, I realized that I am. . . scared.
Scared that if Lyneth will find out that all these years, despite her being the collateral damage, I was still trying to find a way to send her father to jail. She loves her daddy so much that if I'd push this through, I might end up losing someone I know I could never replace.
Hulog na hulog ako, at hindi ko na 'yon kayang itanggi pa ngayon sa sarili ko. I love coming home to taste her home cooked meals. I love seeing her cry and laugh while reading her books. I love watching her secretly whenever she's cleaning the house. Kahit umupo lang siya o tumayo, para akong inaakit na tumitig. Tila Dyosang ayaw kong mawala sa paningin ko.
"Just stop the investigation. I don't wanna do this anymore."
I heard him sigh. "Paano naman si Tito? Paano ang justice na kailangan niya?"
I shut my eyes. I love my dad so much, but I love my wife, too. Kung mawawala si Lyneth dahil gusto ko ng hustisya para sa daddy ko, baka hindi ko kayanin. I might lose my mind and everything else, and I don't want that. Iniisip ko pa lang ngayon na baka dumating ang araw na magigising ako't wala na ang asawa ko sa piling ko, para nang tinatadyakan ang dibdib ko.
I drew in a sharp breath, hoping it would be enough to ease away the heaviness I'm feeling in my chest. "Just do what I said. Drop the case."
Pinatayan ko na siya ng tawag saka ako bumalik sa loob, ngunit kaagad akong napakunot ng noo nang makitang nakaupo na si Lyneth sa kama.
"You're up."
She blinked her eyes. "Nanaginip yata ako, Sixth." She yawned. "Kakabasa ko yata ng R18 iba na ang napapaniginipan ko."
I pursed my lips as I sat on the edge of the bed. "Why? What did you dream about?"
Ngumuso siya. "Nakakahiya. Huwag mo nang tanungin."
Pinigilan ko ang pagngisi. "You can tell me about your dream so I can confirm if it really happened or not."
Isinandal niya ang kanyang baba sa nakatiklop na tuhod. "Nag uhm. . . nag-ano raw tayo? Gosh, ang halay ng panaginip ko. I mean, hindi mo naman gagawin 'yon kasi hindi mo naman siniseryoso ang kasal natin kaya imposibleng hindi 'yon panaginip."
A small smile made its way to my lips before I reached for her hand. Ganoon na lang ang pagkatigil niya nang iangat ko ang kamay niya para halikan habang nakatitig ako sa kanya.
"Sixth?" tila gulat niyang tawag. "Was that. . . not a dream?"
Lumawak ang kurba sa aking mga labi. Nahiga ako sa kama at pumailalim sa comforter bago ko siya hinatak para mahiga sa dibdib ko. Napaangat pa siya ng tingin sa akin na parang ayaw pa niyang maniwalang nangyayari nga ito kaya hinaplos ko siya sa buhok saka ko pinatakan ng halik sa noo.
"This is real now, Ly. You aren't just my wife in paper. Mag-asawa tayo at mahal kita."
I saw how her eyes flickered with joy. "Can you. . . say the last part again, please?"
I tucked her hair behind her ear. "Mag-asawa tayo, Lyneth. . . at mahal kita." I claimed her lips in a tender way. "Mahal kita. . . "
I saw her gulped. "K-Kailan pa?"
"Honestly, I don't know. I must've developed a crush on you a few months after we got married. After all, gandang-ganda naman ako sa'yo noong araw pa lang ng kasal. Noong unang beses kitang nakita."
She blushed as she smiled. "Eh 'yong love? Tingin mo kailan dumating?"
"Hindi ko alam pero siguradong matagal na. Bago ka dumating sa buhay ko, halos sa opisina na ako natutulog. I spend my entire day working my ass off, but a few months after we got married, I found myself getting excited to come home. I realized that no matter how tired I am at work, oras na makita kita, parang napapawi ang pagod ko. Naging pahinga kita nang hindi ko man lang namamalayan, Ly, so I no longer care kung kailan ba nagsimula. As long as it's not gonna end, I will be okay."
Namula ang mga mata niya, at nang nagsimulang suminghot ay nag-alala ako.
"What's wrong?"
She sniffed. "Nothing. Pangarap ko kasi 'tong ganitong marriage, eh. Akala ko sinira mo na ang pangarap ko."
I laughed softly before I pecked gentle kisses on the corners of her eyes before I let her rest her head on my chest.
"Don't worry, Ly. I'll do everything to keep us."
She sniffed and looked at me. "Promise?"
I smiled. "I promise."
Even if it means I have to go against my entire family.
- Writer
