A Trouble Called Marriage

A Trouble Called Marriage Book 1 | The CEO's Forced Wife Episode 3

NAPAPALIBUTAN ng scented candles at iba’t-ibang romantic decorations ang buong dining room para sa monthsary celebration nila ni Miles nang gabing iyon. Yanna wore a lovely red dress for the occasion, it has a seductive low neckline and a slit on the skirt. Kinulot din niya ang mahaba at tuwid na buhok.

Napangiti siya sa resulta ng paghahanda niya para sa gabing iyon. Sigurado siya na magugustuhan ni Miles ang sorpresa niya para sa asawa. Lalo na ang bihis niya.

Umupo siya sa isang silya sa dining table habang hinihintay ang pagpatak ng orasan sa ika-alas siyete. And she perked up happily when a half hour after seven PM the automatic door to their home beeped. Miles is home.

Tumayo si Yanna sa tabi ng mesa habang hinihintay ang kabiyak na pumasok sa komedor. Nang makita niya ang gwapong mukha ni Miles ay masigla niya itong binati. ““Happy two months anniversary, Miles!””

Inikot ni Miles ang tingin sa buong dining room na para bang nasa ibang bahay ito. ““Wow,”” he said, but lacking emotion. ““Ikaw lang ang gumawa nito?””

““Yes, for us.”” Bago pa siya matanggihan ng asawa ay lumapit si Yanna palapit dito para dampian ito ng halik sa labi.

Halos walang kakilus-kilos si Miles habang hinihintay siyang makalayo rito. ““Ditto,”” he said.

Hindi siya ganoon ka-satisfied sa pagbati nito. But she thought it was better than nothing. Pinilit niyang ngumiti. ““Did you bring the wine?””

““Y-yeah.”” Inabot nito ang box sa kaniya.

““Ihahanda ko na ‘yong niluto ko. Can you pour us some wine?””

Tumango lang si Miles. Nagsimula itong magsalin ng wine sa dalawang wineglass habang ihinahanda naman niya ang pasta at steak na niluto niya para sa dinner nila.

““Thank you for preparing this tonight,”” Miles told her as she was plating the food.

She just smiled. ““Thank you for coming home early,”” she told him over her shoulder.

Nang maupo sila at magsimulang kumain ay kaagad na naghari ang katahimikan sa pagitan nilang dalawa. This happens all the time and Yanna has gotten used to it for the past two months. Pero iba ang gabing iyon. She’s determined to step up her game. Embarrassment all out on the window. They were husband and wife anyway.

Yanna played a little footsie with her husband under the table. The first time she did it, he jerked a little bit, but calmed down instantly that it was almost unnoticeable. The second time, however, Miles politely asked her to stop.

Inalapag nito ang hawak na wineglass sa mesa at halatang hindi komportable sa nangyayari.

““Miles?”” She asked.

““Ano ba’ng ginagawa mo, Alyanna?””

““Ano’ng problema? Hindi ba ako pwedeng makipag-flirt sa asawa ko?”” Nasasaktang tanong niya.

““Ayokong gawin mo ulit ‘yon,”” he insisted.

Nagkaroon ng mas mahabang katahimikan sa pagitan nila. Sa wakas ay malungkot na napangiti si Yanna, nanunulok ang luha sa mga niya. ““Why do you hate me so much, Miles? Ano ba’ng ginawa ko sa’yo?””

Miles looked dumbfounded. ““What are you talking about? I don’t hate you.””

““So, bakit palagi mong iniiwasang hawakan ako? Bakit hindi pa tayo nagha-honeymoon? Bakit hindi pa natin napag-uusapan kung kailan natin gustong magkaroon ng anak?””

Huminga ng malalim si Miles. ““Kasi hindi pa tamang oras para doon.””

““Dalawang buwan na tayong kasal! We never even slept together!””

““Kahit na dalawang buwan o dalawang taon na tayong kasal, pwedeng hindi pa rin iyon ang tamang oras para simulang bumuo ng pamilya. The right time is when both of us are prepared for it.””

““I am prepared for it! I want to bear your children!”” She said with all sincerity.

““But I’m not ready.””

““Are you even trying?””

He paused and looked at her.

““Kanina, noong hinalikan kita, parang diring-diri ka.”” Pinahid niya ang mga luhang dumaloy sa mga pisngi niya. ““I want you, Miles. Gusto kong maramdaman na asawa mo talaga ako. Gusto kong halikan mo ‘ko, hawakan mo ‘ko, angkinin mo ‘ko. Why do you seem so scared to do so?””

Miles could not look her in the eyes. ““Kasi hindi ko kayang gawin ‘yon sa’yo,”” mahina nitong saad.

““What?””

After a short moment, he stared in her eyes as if he had gathered the courage to say the words again straight to her face. ““I don’t want to touch you, Yanna. I don’t want to kiss you. I don’t want to make love to you.””

Bumagsak ang puso ni Yanna sa narinig. ““A-ano’ng ibig mong sabihin?””

““Hindi ko kayang gawin ang gusto mo. I just can’t. Ayoko, at hindi ko kaya.””

More and more tears started streaming down her cheeks. ““I don’t understand. Why not?””

““I’m very sorry. But I just can’t be the kind of husband you want me to be.””

““Miles, please. Miles!”” Sinundan niya ang kabiyak nang maglakad ito palabas sa dining room. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face on her back. ““Please, sabihin mo’ng nagsisinungaling ka lang. I love you, Miles. I do. Mahal na mahal kita.””

Inalis ni Miles ang braso niya sa bewang nito at nagpatuloy sa pagpanhik sa hagdan papunta sa guest room. Bago pa siya makasunod ay ipininid na nito ang pinto.

Napaluhod sa sahig si Yanna at tahimik na humikbi. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit nasabi nito ang mga narinig niya. Ano’ng ibig nitong sabihin?

““YOUR husband is the biggest idiot in the entire universe!”” Yanna’s friend, Abby, took another shot of tequila and angrily put the glass down on the counter. ““How can he refuse to have s*x with you?””

Yanna shushed her friend. ““Huwag mo namang ipagsigawan, Abby! Hindi naman kailangang malaman ng buong bar ang tungkol sa marital problems ko.””

Tila hindi naman siya narinig ng kaibigan. ““Nasa tamang pag-iisip ba ‘yang asawa mo? You were even wearing that sexy dress when you asked. Paano niya nagawang tanggihan ka?””

Yanna didn’t want to burst into a puddle of tears again so she just finished her drink. Ayaw na niyang isipin ang nangyari o kung anuman ang sinabi ni Miles. Sigurado siyang may dahilan kung bakit nito sinabi ang mga iyon. At anupaman ang dahilan nito, mahinahon siyang maghihintay hanggang sa kaya nang buksan ng asawa ang puso para sa kaniya. No matter how much it would hurt her in the process. No matter how long it takes.

““Hiwalayan mo na kaya si Miles?”” Biglang naisatinig ni Abby.

Rumehistro ang labis na pagkabigla sa mukha ni Yanna. ““Abby! Bakit ko naman gagawin iyon? Mahal ko ang asawa ko. I’m not leaving him just because he’s not ready to make love to me.””

““E, magiging ready pa kaya siya?”” Abby remarked sarcastically. ““Paano kung nakukuha naman pala sa iba kaya ayaw gawin sa’yo?””

Yanna froze. It was painful just to hear about it and she could not help the tears that started to flow down her cheeks again. ““Hindi ‘yan nakakatulong sa’kin, Abby!””

““Ay, sorry na.”” Abby looked guilty. She tucked Yanna’s hair behind her ear. ““Huy, okay lang ‘yon. Siguro naman hindi magtatagal mare-realize din ng asawa mo kung anong nami-miss out niya.””

Yanna nodded. ““I know. Kaya ayoko na lang isipin iyon ngayon. Gusto ko lang uminom at malasing at kalimutan ang mga sinabi niya ngayong gabi. Tomorrow, we’ll start off a fresh slate.””

ABBY lazily followed Yanna who was walking in zig zags on the sidewalk. Napabuntonghininga siya. ““Seven shots and you’re already pissed drunk. What a weakling,”” she said more to herself than to her friend.

Pero nanlaki ang mga mata niya at halos mapatakbo para saklolohan si Yanna nang muntik itong mawalan ng balanse sa suot ng heels. Before Abby could catch her, Yanna had regained her posture and stopped walking. She leaned on the railings on the sidewalk.

““I don’t think I can walk, Abby. I’m sprained,”” reklamo ni Yanna.

““Ano?”” Chineck ni Abby ang paa nito at pagkatapos ay sumimangot. ““You’re not sprained, drama queen.””

““Can you call someone to pick me up? But don’t call Miles because Miles hates me and I don’t want to bother someone who hates me.””

Gustong matawa ni Abby sa inaasal ng kaibigan. Lasing na nga talaga ito. ““How about I call a cab, then?””

Yanna pointed a finger at her. ““That’s— That’s great!””

Abby sighed and smiled. ““Alright. Behave and just stay here, okay?””

YANNA’S head was spinning like a top and she could not see straight. Couldn’t even think straight. ““I should go home,”” sabi niya sa sarili, already forgetting in her drunken state that her friend was calling her a cab.

Itinulak niya ang sarili mula sa railing na sinasandalan at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa cab line. But her sense of balance had completely abandoned her.

Niyuko niya ang suot na sapatos. ““You are not very cooperative today,”” she grumbled before taking off her heels and walking bare feet.

Walang anu-ano ay naramdaman niya ang kamay ng kung sino sa balikat niya, umikot siya para tingnan kung sino iyon. But before she could make out a face, her spinning head had finally blacked out.

Naramdaman niya ang pagsalo sa kaniya ng malakas at matipunong mga braso bago siya tuluyang takasan ng malay.