Martyr Wife

Chapter 15

It's been a year since I witnessed how Colton cheated on me. I became cold and distant towards him, and I know it was a favour to him. We often sleep together, and I would always let him release his heat at me, but that's all. No more, no less. I was just a slave to his bed and someone who could help him have pleasure. Hindi ko na maramdaman na asawa niya ako sa sarili naming bahay matapos ang nangyari.

He didn't bother explaining everything to me. He let me stay awake overnight, questioning my own worth. He let me battle with my own demons and fight for myself while he was busy making me suffer. And that's not what my Colton does; he completely changed.

I watched Colton as he packed his things. Mayroon siyang flight papunta sa Italy at kailangan niyang mag-stay roon ng isang linggo. I sighed and helped him pack some of his clothes; hindi naman siya nagsalita at pumasok na lang sa banyo upang kunin ang ilang gamit niya roon.

When we're done, he gets money from his pocket and hands it to me. Napalunok ako bago kinuha sa kanya'yon. "Use this money to buy everything you want while I'm away. You're still not allowed to go outside, and the maid will also stay here for a while. Siya ang utusan mo kapag may kailangan kang bilhin."

I nodded at him and put the money inside the cabinet. Hindi ko na siya hinintay pa na magsalita ulit at dumapa na lang sa kama upang magpahinga. I wasn't eating breakfast yet and still couldn't feel my stomach aching. Naramdaman ko ang paglubog ng kama sa likod ko. I looked back at him and saw him unbuckling his belt.

He leaned on my face and started kissing my neck. Napakapit ako sa unan at hinayaan siyang tanggalin ang suot kong dolphin shorts.

"C-Colton," I called his name when his hard and callouse hand touched the cheeks of my buttocks. Napasinghap ako nang tinapik niya 'yon gamit ang palad niya, mahina lang ngunit alam kong nagmarka.

"Change your clothes; you're going with me." Umawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya at mabilis na napadilat. Sinuot niya sa akin muli ang shorts ko at bahagyang lumayo. Pinukulan ko siya ng nagtatakang tingin, but my mouth parted when I saw what he got from his pocket. It was my passport, along with a plane ticket.

"Get dressed, ako na mag-aayos ng gamit mo." I still had no clue about what was going on, but I just followed what he said. Hindi ko alam kung magiging masaya ba ako o kakabahan dahil biglaan ang lakad na ito. Hindi naman niya sinabi na kasama pala ako sa paglipad niya, akala ko ay isang linggo akong maiiwan sa bahay. Para saan pa ang mga bilin niya kanina?

I sighed and shook my head. Balak naman niya palang iwanan na lang ako rito, bakit pa biglang nagbago ang isip niya? Hindi na ako nag-isip ng kung ano pa at naligo na lang. Nang lumabas ako sa banyo ay nakita ko na nakahanda na ang lahat ng susuotin ko. Colton was sitting on the bed while typing something on his phone. Nakalatag ang damit ko sa kama, kaya roon na rin ako nagbihis.

He glanced at me, but I just shrugged and wore the dress. Lumapit ako sa vanity mirror after and brush my hair. Nagkatitigan kami ni Colton sa salamin ngunit nag-iwas lang siya kaagad ng tingin sa akin.

"Our things were already inside the car; bumaba ka na lang kapag natapos ka na," he told me, leaving me alone in the room. Hindi na ako nagsayang ng oras at nag-ayos ng sarili. When I'm done and content with my looks, I walk downstairs to see him. Lumabas ako ng bahay at nakitang nasa loob na ng sasakyan si Colton at naghihintay.

Sumakay ako sa passenger seat at mabilis naman niyang pinaandar ang sasakyan. The whole ride was quiet—not until his phone rang and I heard Azrael's voice.

"Bro, susunod na lang ako roon. Mauna na kayo ni Amaia, baka matagalan pa ako, eh," saad ni Azrael, dinig ko ang lahat dahil naka-connect ang cell phone ni Colton sa sasakyan.

"Sasama ka rin sa'min, Azrael?" I asked happily. Narinig kong natahimik siya sa kabilang linya bago nagsalita ulit. "Oo, ayaw mo ba akong kasama?"

I laughed and turned my gaze away when Colton glanced at me. "Hindi, ah! Mas mag-e-enjoy ako kapag sumama ka. Sumunod ka kaagad, okay?"

"Yes, Madame. Ang galing makautos, ano?" he said, and I chuckled.

"Basta! Bilisan mong sumunod dahil maghihintay ako," nakangiting utos ko sa kanya. "Aba! Amaia, trabaho pupuntahan namin doon. Baka akala mo magbabakasyon kami?" natatawang saad ni Azrael. Bahagya rin akong natawa nang mapagtanto 'yon.

"Why? Hindi ba puwedeng mag-enjoy habang nagtatrabaho?" nakangusong katwiran ko.

"Nagiging pilosopo ka na, Ama—" Hindi natuloy ni Azrael ang sasabihin nang biglang pinatay ni Colton ang tawag. I looked at him, and my forehead creased.

"Bakit mo naman pinatayan?" inis na tanong ko at nagsalubong ang kilay. His face was serious, while his eyes were focused on the road. Pinagkrus ko ang mga braso ko at padabog na sumandal sa upuan. I heard him sighed as his grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"Too loud," he reasoned out, and I just rolled my eyes. I was just quiet until we arrived at the airport. Si Colton ang nagdala ng lahat ng bagahe namin. Inabot niya lang sa 'kin ang isang maliit na bag kung saan nakalagay ang passport at ilang importanteng gamit namin. I followed his walk until we arrived inside the airplane without any hassle.

Magkatabi kaming dalawa ngunit siya ang nasa tabi ng bintana. Kaagad kong nilibot ang paningin sa loob ng eroplano, kahit na ramdam ko ang pamamasa ng mga kamay ko. It was my first time riding a plane, and I was really nervous. Malagkit ang pawis ko sa noo at malakas ang kabog sa dibdib.

Colton was just quiet beside me, and I pouted when I saw him cross his arms at his chest and close his eyes. I really want to hold his arm, but I'm afraid that he would be mad at me. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at yumuko. I embraced myself and whispered assurance to myself as I heard the captain announce that we were having our takeoff.

Nangilid ang luha ko sa kaba at mahigpit na napayakap sa sarili. I was close to crying when I felt a hand grip on mine. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita ko ang seryosong mata ni Colton na nakatitig sa akin.

He held my hand and intertwined our fingers. My breathing became hitched as I felt the plane move. Napapikit ako at mahigpit na napakapit sa kamay ni Colton. Parang may paru-parong gumalaw sa tiyan ko nang magsimula kaming lumipad sa hangin. Colton's hands were warm, and it was enough to warm my heart and calm my raging beat.

Tuluyan akong kumalma nang nasa himpapawid na kami. "Are you okay? Do you feel dizzy?" he asked seriously. I met his blue eyes and slowly shook my head. The hues of his eyes resembled the sky; napangiti na lang ako ng maliit at sumandal upang magpahinga. It would be a long and tiring trip. Halos isang araw ang biyahe bago kami makarating sa Italy.

I slept for three hours and woke up when I felt a hand caressing my cheeks. Natagpuan ko ang mata ni Colton na seryoso ang tingin sa 'kin habang hinahaplos ang pisngi ko. He didn't stop, even though I had already seen him. Pinagpatuloy niya lang ang paghaplos sa pisngi ko na para bang hindi ako nakatingin.

"What are you doing?" I asked, using my bedroom voice. His brows furrowed, and he licked his lower lip as his blue eyes settled on me. "Am I not allowed to touch my wife?"

A soft gasp escaped from my mouth when he said those words. Tila doon lang din siya natauhan at mabilis na lumayo sa akin. I brushed my hair with my finger and looked away. Colton cleared his throat and diverted his gaze.

"Are you hungry?" he asked after a moment of silence. Umiling ako ngunit naging papansin ang tiyan ko at mabilis na kumulo. A flight attendant passed through us, and Colton talked to her. Mayroon siyang mga dalang snacks sa tray, pero narinig kong pinakuha pa siya ni Colton ng ibang pagkain. I was about to complain when he stopped me by putting his finger on my lips, causing me to swallow my saliva.

"Don't complain; this is Azrael's property, and he allowed me to request and command his people in exchange for money, okay? Bayad ang lahat ng ito, Amaia." Nakakintindi akong tumango at hinayaan na lang siya. Five minutes had passed when the lady arrived. May tulak siyang tray at laman n'on ang pagkain na pinahanda ni Cotlon. It was two steaks and a bottle of wine. May nakita pa akong gatas, kaya napabuntong hininga ako dahil alam kong para sa akin na naman 'yon.

Colton arranged the food and settled everything before opening the bottle of wine and pouring some into his glass. Nilagay niya gatas sa table ko bago sumandal at sinimsim ang wine.

"Hindi ka kakain?" mahinang tanong ko dahil dalawa ang steak na s-in-erve sa amin.

"Eat first; I will eat if I feel hungry." I nodded and started digging for the foods. Dumating muli ang flight attendant at nagdala ng malamig na tubig para sa aming dalawa. Pakiramdam ko ay pinagsisilbihan talaga nila kami, hindi rin sila nagrereklamo sa tuwing may inuutos si Colton sa kanila.

Colton busied himself by playing a movie on the mini-television. Nakinood din ako sa kanya kahit na hindi ko rinig ang pinapanood niya dahil nakasuot siya ng headphones. He looked at me when he saw me watching too. He sighed and stopped the movie before clicking something on the mini-TV in front of me. Kumain lang ako at hinayaan siyang hanapin doon ang movie na pinapanood niya. He gave me the headphones and made me wear them; napangiti ako nang sabay niyang pindutin ang movie para mag-play rin ng sabay.

The whole ride was indescribably tiring. Kung hindi matutulog ay kakain lang ako, hindi naman nagreklamo si Colton dahil siya ang madalas na mag-utos upang bigyan ako ng pagkain.

When we arrived at Italy's airport, I was wrapped in delight. This was my first time going here, and I was really excited. Hinawakan ni Colton ang bewang ko at inalalayan ako sa paglalakad. Mayroong sasakyan na nag-aantay sa amin sa labas ng airport, kaya mabilis kaming nakarating sa hotel kung saan kami mananatili.

Nakatulog ako kaagad nang ibagsak ko ang katawan ko sa kama. I was not still changing my clothes because I was already tired as hell. Maging ang sapatos ko ay nasa paa ko pa rin at nakasuot.

I don't know how long I slept because when I woke up, Colton was already sleeping beside me. Nakasuot na siya ng pantulog at nakayakap sa unan habang nakaharap sa akin. I moved towards him, but I stopped when I noticed that my clothes were already different from what I wore earlier. Tanging malaking T-shirt at boxer na lang ang suot ko na pagmamay-ari pa ni Colton.

I moved and closed our gap to see his face. His breathing was calm yet heavy. Nilagay ko ang palad ko sa kanyang pisngi at pinakatitigan siya. After feasting on his handsome face, I stood up and cleaned myself. Napagdesisyunan kong umikot muna sa baba habang tulog pa siya. I wore his hoodie and went out of the hotel room. Masyadong malalim ang tulog ni Colton para malaman niyang lumabas ako.

I was not familiar with the place, so I was really fascinated when I saw the class and style of the hotel. A soft gasp escaped from my lips when I saw a familiar woman walking towards the elevator. It was Zylla; she was wearing an elongated red fitted dress and with a man whose face I don't see. Lalapitan ko na sana sila nang tuluyan silang makapasok sa elevator at magsara 'yon.

Hindi ko alam ngunit hindi ako mapakali pagtapos ko silang makita. The back of that man was also familiar, and by just seeing him, I felt uneasy and scared. Pumunta ako sa kabilang elevator upang bumalik sa hotel room namin. Nangilid ang luha sa mata ko at naging mabigat ang aking paghinga.

I clenched my hand into my fist as tears fell from my eyes. Malamig ang pawis na namumuo sa noo ko, at bahagyang nanginginig ang tuhod ko sa takot. I don't know what's happening to me; gusto ko na lang bumalik sa hotel room at sumiksik kay Colton sa kama.

When the elevator opened, I immediately got out and walked to the hallway. Natigilan ako nang makita ang isang pamilyar na bulto ng lalaki na pumapasok sa isang kwarto. Our eyes met, and I immediately shivered when I familiarised myself with his face. Napaatras ako at halos matumba sa sobrang takot. Nakita ko ang pagdaan ng gulat sa mata niya ngunit kaagad akong tumakbo upang hindi niya ako maabutan.

I was crying while running away from him. I felt like he would catch me and hurt me at any time. Halos matumba ako nang mabunggo ko ang isang bulto ng lalaki. I screamed and cried harder when he held my hand and pinned me to the wall.

"Please! Let go of me! Y-Yosemite, please. Bitawan mo 'ko!" nagmamakaawang saad ko at mas lalong nagpumiglas.

"Amaia! What the hell is going on with you?" I froze when I heard that manly voice. Sobbing, I slowly looked up and met the eyes of the only man who could tame my heart. A sob escaped from my lips again as I buried my face in his chest. Takot na takot ako. Akala ko maabutan niya 'ko.

"Did you just mention that bastard's name?" he asked dangerously. I slowly nodded as my grip on his shirt tightened. Pakiramdam ko ay ligtas ako sa bisig ni Colton.

"N-Nandito siya, Colton. N-Nandito siya... akala ko wala na siya, hindi niya na tayo guguluhin pero nandito siya..."

I killed him to make him stop, and I punished him for what he did to us. I didn't expect that he would be able to survive, and I'm afraid that he's here to get his vengeance.