Love in a Rush 2 (COMPLETED)

Twenty

Mahirap pala ang may magandang asawa, Gerard thought to himself as he watched his wife from the balcony of the theater venue.  He could see men checking out his wife and almost ogling at her. This is the first time that other men, including Rafa, had the audacity to approach his wife. He wasn't prepared for this kind of attention on his Honey.

Mabuti na lang at nasa balcony siya, kungdi ay nakasapak na siya ng mga lalakeng walang kamalay malay na naroon ang asawa ni Shayla.

Napahilamos siya ng mukha.  Hindi ba napapansin ng mga kolokoy na'to na may engagement ring at wedding ring na nga sa kamay si honey, or they're just  f*cking ignoring it?

He paced back and forth in the balcony trying to calm himself down, or he might just gate crash and make a scene. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, before he stopped pacing. He placed his knuckles on his waist as he watched another man approached Shayla. He knew that man was obviously hitting on Shayla.  He could feel his jealousy steaming through him. But he knew he should stop, so he closed his eyes and looked up.

In his 5 years of marriage with Shayla, it was the first time that his wife was exposed to a big crowd other than those very close to them as a family and those they've already know even before they started their life together. And those men in the International Non-Life Insurance Conference have no idea who Shayla is. All they know is that she is one of the representatives of Pizzo Group of Companies Non-Life Insurance business based in the Philippines.

Well, I probably have to take into consideration that it is only now that Shayla got exposed to these people.

Sa isip niya, dapat hindi siya nagseselos ng ganito dahil may tiwala naman siya kay Shayla. At isa pa, jealousy is a sign of weakness, of insecurity, and lack of trust toward one's spouse, kaya naman kinukumbinsi niya ang sarili na dapat hindi siya magselos. Bagkus ay maging proud pa nga siya dahil may naga-admire sa asawa niya, at ang masaklap na realization para sa mga kolokoy na iyon ay taken na ang bababeng hinahangaan ng mga ito.

And the lucky man is no other than Gerard Ponce! Yep, that's me! Naisip niya and smirked at his own realization.

Feeling triumphant, he smiled boyishly to himself, but he didn't forget to say a silent prayer, bago muling tumingin pababa mula sa balcony. 

Thank you Lord for that realization. You must probably know that I might do something irrational because of my jealousy. Thank you for that grace to remember that I should not feel insecure or threatened, and that love is not jealous. Love does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not delight in evil, and always trusts. Most of all, thank you for making me realize that I'm the lucky guy that those guys would never be in Shayla's life. Hehe!

As he watched from the balcony, he noticed Rori na isa sa mga best friends ng kanyang asawa, at spouse ng kanyang pinsan na si Percival, na nilapitan din ng isa pang lalaki. He looked familiar.

If he remembered correctly, it was Lee Yuchengco. He met Lee when he was still in high school. Lee used to be in Gerard's ex fiancee's jet set and spoiled friends that Gerard had to hang out with back in high school, because they were his fiancee's crowd. He lost contact with Lee though when he went to Canada for college, and his ex-fiancee, Bianca Sobel, followed him there. Gerard offered marriage to Bianca Sobel after his graduation, but she declined, and the rest was history.

He wondered bakit nito kilala si Rori at nakipag-beso pa ito. From his point of view, alam niya kung kailan ang isang lalaki ay simpleng bumebeso lamang sa isang babae o may kakaiba na sa kilos nito. At sa kanyang palagay, mashadong malapat at touchy si Lee kay Rori. Napansin niya ang pag-linger ng kamay nito sa kamay ni Rori. Kung narito lang ang pinsan niyang si Percival na asawa ni Rori, pihadong magre-reak yon.

Naalala niya ang bilin ni Percival sa text message. "Ikaw na muna ang bahala sa mag-ina ko. Susunod na lang ako ng Friday ng umaga." Anito sa kanya. Napatingin siya sa kanyang wrist watch, and wondered why Percival has not arrived yet. He said he would go straight to the venue.

"Tss. Tagal naman nitong si Pyke! Ang hirap magbantay, a! Dalawa yung binabatanyan ko, tapos ang dami nilang babangasan ko."" Reklamo niya sa sarili and pulled out his mobile fon from the pocket of his denim jeans para tawagan sana si Percival pero napansin niyang may lalaking lumapit na naman sa asawa niya. May hitsura ito at di mapagkakailang maskulado. Parang banat ang katawan nito sa ehersisyo at hard physical training, tulad niya. The man was probably around 25 to 27 years old, Caucasian, sleek looking, at confident. Binati rin nito si Rori na para bang magkakilala silang tatlo.

Nakaramdam na naman siya ng pagseselos. Bakit may kakilala si honey na ganyan kapogi? Dapat ako lang ang pogi! Napakunot noo siya, pero binawi din niya. "Ano ba, Ardy! Tumigil ka na nga ng pagseselos!" Sita niya sa sarili.

Pero hindi pa rin niya maiwasan na maansin ang reaksyon nito. Parang namula pa ito nang inilahad nito ang kamay kay Shayla, at nahihiya namang tinanggap ito ni Shayla upang makipag-kamay.  Nahalata naman niyang nahihiya ang kanyang asawa at marahan nitong hinila ang kamay papalayo sa kamay nung lalaki.

"Hello," nabasa niyang bigkas ng bibig ni Shayla, tapos umiwas ng tingin at parang may kung anung hinahanap sa maliit nitong tote bag. Napansin niyang hindi pa rin umaalis ang lalaki na parang may tinantanong pa din kay Shayla. Si Shayla naman ay bahagyang tumagilid na kunwari ay may kinukuha. He observed his wife, and he noticed that she took her fon out from her bag, and placed it on her ear. Parang may kausap ito sa fon at nag-excuse me sa lalaking gusto itong kausapin.

Lumakad pa si Shayla malapit sa exit ng theater na tila umiiwas sa Caucasian.  Nang hindi na nakatingin kay Shayla ang lalaki, ay ibinaba na ni Shayla ang fon at luminga linga sa exit, tapos tumingin ulit sa mobile phone. Pero lumapit naman si Rafa kay Shayla. Inilagay na naman ni Shayla ang mobile phone sa tenga. Parang ipinapahiwatig nito kay Rafa na may kausap ito sa fon. Rafa left her. And as soon as he did, napansin niyang parang may tinetext si Shayla.

Biglang nag-beep ang fon niya sa bulsa. Kinuha niya iyon at nakitang may message pala siya mula kay Shayla.  "Honey, san ka?"

Napangiti siya sa nabasa at napatingin ulit sa asawang lumilinga linga pa rin sa exit habang hawak ang mobile fon nito.

Sinagot niya ito. "Hi hon. Why? Are you ok?"

"San ka nga, hon? Punta ka naman dito." Sagot naman ni Shayla.

"Hindi ako puwede sa loob ng theater kasi hindi naman ako registered." Text back naman niya.

"Kahit sa labas ka lang muna, please?" pakiusap ni Shayla sa text message.

Hindi na siya sumagot. He just brought his laptop and stuff, then exited the balcony, went down to the stairs going to the theater where Shayla was.

As Shayla saw him arriving, he saw her face relaxed, and she smiled at him. Sumalubong ito sa kanya at yumakap. Napangiti naman siya dahil kung yumakap si Shayla ay parang ang tagal nilang nagkahiwalay.

"Hon," hinimas niya ang likod nito habang nakatingkayad si Shayla at nakayakap sa kanya. "Is everything ok?"

"Eh...oo," hindi siguardong sagot ni Shayla na hawak pa rin ang fon, tote bag, at conference kit. Tintigan niya ang asawa at bakas sa mukha nito ang pag-aalala. Naalala tuloy niya yung panahon na una niyang nakita ang asawa noong dalaga pa ito. Parang may takot siyang nakikita sa mukha nito sa tuwing may lalapit na lalaki noon na hindi ito kumportable na makasama. Marahil ito ang naramdaman ni Shayla ngayon dahil first time lang nitong i-approach ng mga bold at forward na lalaking obvious na nagpapakita ng interes rito.

Hinimas niya ang magkabilang braso ng asawa. "Relax, hon." He said with so much understanding for his wife. Right now, all he could think of was to show her moral support and encouragement because he could feel her tensed.

"Shayla! Yoohoo!" Narinig nila pareho ang tawag ni Rori. Palabas na rin ito ng theater para hanapin si Shayla, at kasunod pa nito si Rafa at Lee. "Magsa-start na ang event in 5 minutes. Let's go in na." Aya pa nito habang naglalakad patungo sa kanila.

Napatigil sa pagsunod si Rafa dahil nagulat ito na naroon siya. Tumango lang ito para bumati. Pero si Lee ay nakahawak pa sa likod ni Rori habang naglalakad papunta sa kanila.

"Wait, hon," aniya at sinalubong si Rori kasama ni Lee. He gently held Rori by the arm, at nagbeso-beso dito, pero pasimple at marahan niyang ipinuwesto si Rori sa bandang likod niya, kasama ni Shayla. Parang nakaharang siya ngayon sa pagitan nina Rori at Lee.

"Hey, you look familiar." Nakangiti niyang sabi kay Lee at kinamayan ito, ngunit ang totoong intensyon niya ay para mailayo ang asawa ng pinsan niya sa lalaking iyon. "I'm Gerard Ponce." Pakilala pa niya.

"Gerard..." nasambit ni Lee at tinitigan siya, saka lumaki ang mga singkit nitong mga mata in recognition, at masaya siyang kinamayan. "Yes! Who could ever forget the sweet boyfriend of Bianca!" Excited nitong sabi. "Wow! It's really great to see you!" Masaya nitong sabi. "I didn't know you're back from Canada.  Kamusta na si Bianca?" Excited pa nitong tanong. "Well, I assume kayo ang nagkatuluyan?"

"No. We broke off 5 years ago, and I got happily married to my lovely wife," sagot niya at tumingin sa likod patungo kay Shayla, na ikinalaki muli ng mga mata ni Lee, at di nito maiwasan na hindi mapatingin kay Rafa na nasa may pintuan ng exit. Parang dumistansya ito sa kanila. Pasimple napangiti si Lee at napailing kay Rafa.

"Lee, here is the Managing Director of Prudence Non-Life Insurance company." Umalis si Rori mula sa likod niya. Oblivious ito sa unspoken na girian ng mga lalaki. "He was my classmate in college." Sabi pa nito.

"Ah, yes!" Pagsang-ayon ni Lee na titig na titig kay Rori. "You're as beautiful as you were before way back in college, Rori."Compliment pa nito.

I watched Rori's reaction and I saw her blush. "Thank you, Lee."

"Are you and Rafa somehow related?" pag-iba niya ng conversation.

"Yes." Sagot ni Lee at sumulyap sa pinsan na si Rafa.

Gerard couldn't hide his sarcastic smile. "Kaya pala..." Pareho lang kayong nag-aasam sa mga babaeng hinding hindi mapapasainyo.

"What do you mean 'kaya pala'?" Lee asked.

"I mean pareho kayo ng apelyido." Kaswal pero maangas na tugon ni Gerard.

"Ah, okay." Sagot lang ni Lee. "Before I forget, can why don't we get together after the convention? You, me, Rafa, Shay, and Rori. For all time's sake" Sabi nito na masuyong nakatingin kay Rori.

"Sure. Saan pupunta?" may nagsalita mula sa likod.

Nagulat si Lee. "Nandito ka rin pala sa convention, Pyke!" Gulat na sabi nito.

"Yes. I was invited by the organizers to be one of the speakers." Ani Percival na poker face. "Ikaw? Speaker ka din?"

"Nah. I'm a participant." Sagot ni Lee na napansin ni Gerard na parang sumulyap muli kay Rori. "Just like Rori and Shayla. So, while you're on stage, kami na muna ni Rafa ang maga-accompany kina Rori at Shayla." He offered. "Are you a participant too, Ardy?" tanong pa nito.

"Hinde," poker face na sagot ni Gerard.

"Okay, then. We'll go inside." Paalam naman ni Rafa habang hinihintay si Shayla, at si Rori naman ay hinintay na maglakad ni Lee.

Suabeng umalis ang dalawa kasama ang mga misis nina Gerard at Percival. Ang mga asawa naman nila ay walang kaalam alam sa unspoken na angasan ng apat na lalaki.

"'Tado yon a!" Percival clenched his jaw.

Si Gerard naman ay tahimik lang. Nag-iisip.

May lumapit na isang Singaporean na babae kay Percival at nagtanung kung ito nga si Percival na unang speaker ng convention. The organizer led Percival inside, while Gerard had no choice but to go up the balcony to watch them like a hawk awaiting for his chance on his prey.