The BAREN Wife

IDEAL HUSBAND

Buenavidez's Residence

WE WERE INVITED to Ninya and Rico’s house for the birthday of their daughter, Natahlia. Nauna naming naabutan doon sina Aubrey at Atom sa sala na nakaupo at nagkukuwentuhan.

“You guys have been with each other lately,” puna ko at natunugan agad ni Aubrey ang aking tono. “Kaya naman pinagseselosan ka ng boyfriend, eh.” I looked at Atom.

“Tsk,” tanging sagot ni Atom at masungit na umiwas ng tingin. “Kahit sino naman pinagseselosan ni Joros.”

Tumikhim si Aubrey at nakangiti akong tinignan. Sabay silang tumayo at dinaluhan kami ni Rancel para batiin. Ang regalo ko ay nilagay ko muna sa gilid.

“Where is Rico?” tanong ni Rancel. Tinuro ni Aubs ang kusina. “I’ll just greet them,” he mumbled to me and kissed my cheek before he let go of his hold on my waist to go into the kitchen.

Narinig ko ang marahan na halakhak ni Aubs at hinila ako paupo sa couch. Sumunod naman si Atom at umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa harapan namin.

“Can we see the ring?” excited na pahayag ni Aubrey. Nilahad ko ang palad ko na hindi maitago ang ngiti sa labi. Unang tumingin nun ay si Aubs.

Nakita ko ang pagtayo ni Atom para tignan na rin ang singsing na suot ko.

“Finally! After years of being together, ikakasal na rin kayong dalawa. Ang tagal niyo na hah!” saad ni Aubs.

Atom held my hand to check the diamond.

“Fancy,” he murmured and nodded his head. “May plano na ba kayo kung kelan ang kasal?”

“Rancel wants it to happen immediately…” I paused and thought. “His business is doing good and growing. Kaya tingin niya, it’s about time to build a family.” Bigla na namang natutunaw ang puso ko iniisip ko pa lang na magiging mag-asawa na kami.

“Siguradong sabik na yan si Rancel sayo,” hindi napigilang pahayag ni Aubrey at humagikhik. Pero humupa rin ang tawa at tumikhim. Sumeryoso nung mapansin na pinamumulahan ako ng pisngi. “You’re conservative, I know. Pero hindi niyo pa ba talaga ginawa? Talagang hinihintay mo yung kasal?”

“Aubs,” pigil ni Atom dito.

Umiinit na ang pisngi ko pero nanatili ang ngiti sa labi. We are all close, but I am not very expressive and honest about those private information. I can share details pero dahil narito si Atom at lalaki siya ay nahihiya ako ng konti.

“Is it bad?” tanong ko sa maliit na boses.

“Of course not, not at all, Cams,” Atom immediately said.

“Okay lang yun. I’m just amazed at how… you stick to your beliefs and…” Aubs shrugged her shoulders. “Pero, is it good now that you didn’t explore that much and you’re going to be chained in marriage?”

Napakunot ako ng nuo at nakita ko ang pag-ayos ng upo ni Atom na tila gustong marinig ang sasabihin ko. Aubs seems attentive too. I don’t share many details about my life or plans. I only do it with Rancel.

“I mean, Lucy explored. I am not yet married and I do date other guys and explore too. You have the same situation with Nins, but Ninya like… she explores and didn’t… rely on Rico the whole time.”

Napakagat ako ng pang-ibabang labi.

“You mean, I am dependent on Rancel?” I was a bit anxious.

“No! You have your own life. That’s what I mean… but it pretty looks like you are being…” hindi madire-diretso ni Aubs ang nais niyang sabihin kaya mas nalilito ako.

“Maybe she wants to be a housewife and be a mother.” Napaangat kami sa pagdating ni Lucianda, walang bitbit na kahit ano bagkus isang alak.

Natahimik ang sala sa kanyang pagdating. Aubs shut her mouth and crossed her arms.

“Lucy!” maligayang sambit ko at tumayo tsaka siya sinalubong. She smiled at me before I hugged her. She has been out of nowhere lately. Mukhang abala sa pag-aaral kaya madalas ay wala, o baka may iba pang dahilan.

I glanced at Aubs who stood up and went in the kitchen without saying anything.

“Iiwan ko lang ito at babati, tsaka aalis na rin.”

“Agad-agad?” nag-aalala kong sambit.

Hindi siya sumagot bagkus ay binalingan si Atom.

“Guwapo natin ngayon, ah!” she snapped cooly and Atom laughed hoarsely as he licked his lower lip and shifted his eyes on me. Nagkibit balikat lang tsaka binati na rin si Lucy.

“Tita Lucy is here!” lumabas ng kusina si Rancel karga si Natahlia, ang anak ni Nins. “Let’s check what is Tita’s gift for you,” Rancel adorably mumbled carrying the little girl in his arms.

I bit my lower lip as I watched him already take care of and handle a kid. Sobrang bagay sa kanya at mukhang… magiging magaling siyang ama.

“I have… uhm… wine,” Lucy plainly uttered, a bit embarrassed. “Sorry baby, Tita Ninang will try to give your gift tomorrow okay?” Lumapit si Lucy sa bata at hinalikan ito sa pisngi.

“Ano ba ang pinunta mo rito? Inuman?” natatawang tanong ni Atom sa kanya.

“Asshole, hindi! Uuwi nga lang diba?” Lucy blatantly said.

“Lucianda,” makahulugang sambit ni Rancel na lumapit sa akin. Lucy just mouthed sorry. “Where is our gift to Tahlia?” masayang tanong nito sa akin.

“It’s here!” kinuha ko iyun agad at inabot kay Tahlia.

“Wow! Thank you!” Tahlia answered cutely and smiled at me.

Umupo si Rancel sa couch at hindi mabitawan ang bata sa kanyang braso. Rancel reached for my hand and pulled me beside him, ang isang palad niya ay pumulupot sa aking baywang.

“We bought it for you. You will open that later, okay?” Rancel whispered to her.

I couldn’t help but feel astonished watching him. Nang balingan ko ang dalawa naming kaibigan na nakatayo ay tahimik din na nanunuod.

“You guys should marry and build a family!” Lucy interrupted. “You both look good.”

“Kaya nga minamadali ko na nga, eh.” Rancel laughed and glanced at me.

Sunod na lumabas ay si Rico galing kusina at may dala ng pagkain tsaka alak. Nakangisi nung makita ang pagdating ni Lucianda.

“Attorney! Kumusta na!” he teasingly welcomed.

“Eto, may dalang alak. I was too busy to even realize that this is a kid party.”

The night went smooth, not until nagkaroon ng maliit na diskusyon kung kaya nauna na kaming umalis at sinabay si Lucianda para maihatid. Aubs and Lucy got into a bit of a heated argument again so…

The car stopped in front of the convenience store. Lumabas si Rancel para bumili ng kailangan niya raw na gamit. Naiwan kami sa sasakyan ni Lucianda and when I turned to her she was staring outside the window.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

“I hope you can come to my wedding.”

Tinignan niya ako.

“Oo naman! Bakit hindi?”

I paused and stared at her.

“Dapat lang. You’re my maid of honor,” I confessed. Nakita ko ang gulat at pagkamangha sa kanyang mukha. She becomes excited, only visible to her face and eyes. She chuckled heartily and nodded her head.

“I’m happy for you Cams. I am.”

I am close to everyone in our circle. I am okay with them. But Lucy is like a sister to me. Hindi ko makakalimutan nung handa siyang makipag-away para lang sa amin. At siya rin naman ang dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon kami ng malisya ni Rancel. Siya ang unang tao na tinukso kami. And it seems like Rancel is pretty close to her, sa kanya nga nagpapatulong pagdating sa mga sorpresa, sa kanilang kambal.

“Thanks. If Lucan can come home, he might be the best man. I hope he can come home.”

“Sasabihan ko.” Her words were reassuring.