The BAREN Wife

YES

FLASHBACK, Junior HighSchool

The backstory of her Life

I WITNESSED HOW Rancel worked hard and waited patiently for me. Sa kabila ng maraming bawal at makalumang tradisyon sa aming bahay ay pinili niyang sumunod at intindihin iyun. Our family remains conservative and very traditional. If a man likes a woman, he must pursue her and wait for the right time for them to be together.

“Rancel, alas otso y media na.” Nakangiting paglapit ni Mama sa amin. “Hindi ka pa ba hinahanap sa inyo? Hanggang ganitong oras lang pweding bisitahin si Camille.”

I smiled at Rancel when he looked at me. Alam naman ng lahat na nanliligaw siya sa akin. And I have very understanding parents, despite them being so strict they still understand and allow me on this, siguro malaking factor nun ay dahil si Rancel ito. Isang Salaez.

“Sure, Tita. I will go home now. Our driver is on the way.” Nagkatinginan kami ni Rancel bago niya binalingan si Mama. Kabado akong tumingin kay Mama. “Nga pala Tita. Malapit na kami mag-Senior High. Bakasyon na by next month.”

Mas lumapit si Mama sa aming puwesto. Katulad ng nakagawian ay nasa sala lang kami. nanunuod ng TV, nag-uusap at nag-aaral minsan.

“Ipapaalam ko sana si Cami. May outing kaming magkakaibigan.”

My mother blinked subsequently before she chuckled.

“She is not allowed, Rancel. Her friends are always welcome here. But I won’t allow her for now. Baka kapag nagkolehiyo na siya ay pwedi na.” Nilapitan ako ni Mama at marahan na hinaplos ang aking buhok. “Cami… is it okay if I say no?”

“It’s okay, Mama.” I smiled at her.

Tumango si Rancel at ngumiti na tila naiintindihan ang bagay na iyun. I didn’t grow up in a controlled environment, but I grew up following rules without exerting force. Malinaw na pinapaliwanag ang mga bagay na dapat sundin at malinaw din na pinapaalam sa akin na darating ang araw na hahayaan nila ako kapag nasa tamang edad na.

Maybe the reason why it’s difficult for me to take risks. Maybe it was the reason why my life was not challenging and going through a rough journey. Or maybe I am just lucky enough to have a balanced life.

I am not like Ninya who lives independently. I am not like Aubrey being allowed to party at night and enjoy life outside of their house. And I am not like Lucy, who can date without thinking about other people’s opinions.

“I don’t understand why they are debating about divorce. It is a sacred testimony and should not be legalized in our country. Matagal na itong usapan, paulit ulit na binabalik.” My mom shook her head while we were dining. Si Papa naman ay tahimik sa nasa gitna nakaupo ng mahabang lamesa. “We should not be accustomed to other countries' liberated lifestyles. We must stick to our culture and beliefs. That marriage between two people should remain intact until the end. Hindi pweding isawalang bisa ang kasal na para bang isang laro lang iyun. Kng ganun sila, huwag nating itulad ang ating bansa roon.”

“It’s difficult to argue on that matter. But I believe in marriage, you should marry one person only. Hindi pweding palitan at maghanap ng iba kapag nagsawa na.”

I smiled and was kind of amazed by that statement. Kung paano nila pahalagahan ang kasal ay para na rin nilang pinapahayag kung gaano kahalaga ang kanilang pagsasama. Sa ganung edad, nakakamangha at parang karespe-respeto ang opinyon na aking narinig sa mga magulang ko. Dahilan para tumatak iyun sa aking isipan. You marry only one person in your life. You should be with that person forever. Marriage is important, at dapat kinakapitan. But that was what I thought…

NARAMDAMAN KO ang pagdikit ng dibdib ni Rancel sa aking likod. I was trying to escape from him after our conversation but he put his palm on my waist to restrain me from walking away. Isang kamay lang ay napapirmi ako sa kinatatayuan habang siya ay nasa likuran ko.

“Anong sabi mo?” hindi maitago ang tuwa sa boses niya. I felt his lips near my ear. “Ulitin mo. Ano yung sinabi mo?”

“Si-sinasagot na kita.” Uminit ang pisngi ko at napayuko. Pero pumunta siya sa harapan ko at inangat ang baba ko para matignan ako sa mga mata.

“Ano?” bulong niya sa nanunuyang boses pero kitang kita ang aliwalas at malapad na ngiti sa labi.

“Boyfriend na kita,” seryoso kong saad kahit pinapamulahan na at tipid na pigil ang pagngiti.

He punched the air and went to our friends who were just on the water from the falls.

“Kami na!” sigaw niya na halos nagbigay ingay sa tahimik na gitna ng falls sa gubat. “Kami na ni Camille!” Hinawakan ako ni Rancel sa kamay at hinila sa tabi niya habang nakaharap sa mga kaibigan namin na nasa tubig.

Lucy, who is lying on her unicorn swimming float, was shocked and she covered her mouth.

“Crazy! Really?!” bulalas ni Lucy habang si Sandro na nasa likod nito at tinutulak ang swimming float ni Lucy ay napangisi at nilakasan iyun para mahulog siya sa tubig.

“Sa wakas, nakuha mo na ang pinaghirapan mo.” Paglapit ni Rico at kinamayan si Rancel.

“Sinagot mo yan?” Ninya jokingly went to me and hugged me. Ganun din si Aubs na dinaluhan ako. Namumula ako at tanging pagngiti lang ang naging tugon sa kanilang tukso.

I glanced at Rancel, naabutan ko siyang nilapitan nina Siv at Lucan.

“We need to drink, let’s celebrate this!” excited na umahon si Lucy sa tubig at patakbong nagtungo sa lamesa para maghanda ng alak.

When they were busy, Atom hugged me and tapped my head.

“Congrats. Akala ko hanggang MU lang kayo.” Natawa ako sa biro niya at napanguso.

“Let’s drink!” Lucy went to me and handed me the cup of alcohol. “Are you allowed to drink na ba? Eighteen kana rin naman.” Kunot ang nuo niya ng mapansin ang pag-alinlangan ko sa alak.

“She is not. Tita reminded me about it,” Rancel went beside me. “Ako na lang ang iinom. Hindi pa pwedi ang girlfriend ko,” pagyayabang na niya agad sa kanila.

“Ugh! Ang corny!” Lucy rolled her eyes while grinning.

Rancel and I started liking each other when we were just in highschool. Pero ngayong college na kami ay doon ko na siya signage at pumayag na rin naman ang parents ko. Kung tutuusin ay matagal na kaming dalawang nagkakagustuhan. But we made it official only today.

Kahit papaano ay nakakasama na ako sa kanila. Pero kailangan din umuwi agad at hindi pweding magpagabi.