BROKEN BACHELORS SERIES 1: MY HUSBAND'S WRATH

Kabanata 3

Sixth

I kept glancing at my watch to check the time. Dalawang oras na mahigit ang itinagal ng huli kong meeting kasama ang ilang mahahalagang tao na kabilang sa proyekto pero mukhang wala pa kami sa kalahati ng kailangang pag-usapan.

We won the bidding for the facility management contract in Camp John Hay, at dahil malaking proyekto ay kailangan kong tutukang maigi. Isa pa ay hindi pa lahat ng establishment sa Pilipinas ay may konsepto ng facility management. Most of them have maintenance departments, but that's it. Kaya kung magiging successful ang proyekto ng kumpanya ko ay siguradong dadami ang kliyente.

We spent another hour discussing about the things we need to focus on during the first two years. Nang matapos ay halos nagmamadali akong bumalik sa hotel namin ni Lyneth. It's already quarter to eight and I didn't receive any notification that she already ordered something to eat. Ang babaeng iyon, mabubuhay ba 'yon nang hindi ko minamandohan?

Binuksan ko ang pinto at naabutan siyang nanonood ng TV habang hinihimas ang tiyan niya. Nang makita ako ay parang kawawa na sumimangot.

"Nagugutom na ako. Wala silang kitchen tapos puro chocolate at alak ang nasa mini fridge. Wala man lang kahit anong pwedeng makapawi ng gutom," reklamo niya.

I removed my coat and undid my necktie. Dumampot din ako ng tee shirt at jeans saka ako dumiretso sa banyo para magbihis. Nang lumabas ako ay lalo niya akong sinimangutan, siguro ay dahil hindi man lang ako nag-abalang sagutin siya.

I ran my fingers onto my hair. "Get your jacket. It's cold outside."

"Saan ba tayo kakain? Hindi ba sa resto sa baba?"

"Akala ko ba gusto mong gumala?"

Umaliwalas ang kanyang mukha bago nagmamadaling naghalungkat ng maisusuot. She found a purple cardigan that I thought wouldn't look good, pero noong isuot na niya ay nagmukhang maganda.

"Okay na 'to?" she asked.

Natauhan ako at napagtantong napatagal masyado ang pagkakatitig sa kanya. I cleared my throat and looked away, trying not to make it obvious that I find her gorgeous in her silly purple cardigan.

"Yeah. Let's go," I said before grabbing my leather jacket.

Lumabas kami ng hotel at dumiretso sa elevator. Lyneth couldn't keep herself from smiling as if she's so excited to go out. Parang nakalimutan na rin niya ang tungkol sa gutom niya sa sobrang tuwa.

"May bukas pa kayang bookstore?" she asked.

"Let's just check," I replied while chatting my cousin.

As if Lyneth thought I'm talking to my sidechic, her eyes rolled before she kept her distance. Noon pa naman niya ako pinag-iisipang may babae dahil minsan ay sa opisina na ako nagpapalipas ng gabi tuwing tambak ang trabaho. Maybe she thinks that just because I forced her into this marriage, I don't honor its sanctity anymore.

Lumabas kami ng elevator nang tumigil iyon sa basement. Pagkasakay sa kotse ay panay pa rin ang sulyap niya sa cellphone ko. She's probably checking out my wallpaper, wondering who it was.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin lalo nang sumimangot lalo. Dinala ko na lang siya sa isang resto sa John Hay at doon kami kumain ng dinner. Nang matapos ay idinala ko siya sa downtown nang makita kong bukas pa ang book shop malapit sa Session road.

"Wait lang, ah?" she said.

Tumango ako at nanatili sa labas. Pasimple ko naman siyang sinilip habang pinapasadahan niya ng tingin ang bawat shelf. Her eyes seem to twinkle as she bent down to see each book, and every time she sees something that intrigues her, she lifts the book to show it to me.

"May Jane Austen sila, oh!"

A simple nod was my answer. I don't know who the f**k Jane Austen is, but the cover of the book looked really old.

My brows furrowed when Lyneth started sniffing the pages. May papikit-pikit pang nalalaman at malakas na pagbuntonghininga na akala mo drugs ang sinisinghot. Seriously, what's with old pages that makes her want to stick her nose in every book she sees?

Saan ba nakakabili ng pabangong amoy lumang papel?

I swallowed when I realized what I just asked to myself. What the f**k was that?

I sighed. "Can you choose a little faster? I'm tired."

She lifted her hand as if telling me to wait. "Saglit na lang."

Napailing ako. I'm sure she won't come out of the store until she's done scanning the entire shop so I ended up going in. Mabuti na lang at iyong dulong bahagi ng shop ay may artistic products gaya ng paintings, sculptures at handmade jewelries.

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga produktong naroon. Nang makita ko ang bracelet na mukhang gawa sa Obsidian at may tila rune na ukit ay dinampot ko ang dalawa. Sakto namang lumapit ang bantay ng shop sa akin.

"What is this for?"

"For protection ngay, Sir. Protection from badluck and toxic relationship."

"Huh. Are these couple bracelets?" I asked.

"Yes, Sir. Kung gusto mo ngay na i-protect ng bracelet ang relationship ninyo, i-wish mo ngay Sir then ikaw mismo ang magsuot sa pagbibigyan mo."

I jerked my head before I unconsciously looked at Lyneth. "Eh, 'yong pampatigil sa babae na suminghot ng libro, wala ba kayo no'n?"

Natawa siya. "Wala ngay, Sir."

I smirked. "Kidding. I'm getting these, and also her books. Wrap these in a separate bag for me."

Tumango siya at kinuha na ang bracelets. Sakto namang natapos na rin sa wakas si Lyneth sa pagpili ng libro. She ended up leaving the store with twelve books, kaya noong nakauwi kami sa hotel ay dumapa kaagad sa kama para simulan ang pagbabasa.

I drew in a sharp breath before I sat on the edge of the bed. Nagdadalawang-isip pa kung ibibigay ko na ba ngayon ang bracelet. I didn't want to make things awkward while we're here so I ended up not giving it to her. Nag-shower na lang ako at kinuha ang laptop ko. I didn't want to disturb her with my typing so I stayed at the veranda of our room.

I got busy with all the documents I had to review and revise, and when I was done, I went back inside the room only to find Lyneth sleeping while laying on her stomach. Hawak pa niya ang librong nakatulugan.

I sighed. Gigisingin ko na sana para paayusin ng higa nang maalala ko ang bracelets. I ended up sitting on the bed, holding the bracelets. Ginawa ko ang sinabi ng babae sa shop, at nang matapos akong humiling ay maingat kong ikinabit sa braso ni Lyneth.

I felt like an i***t for smiling while checking out the bracelets on our wrists. Mayamaya ay bigla siyang gumalaw at napagkamalan yatang unang ang hita ko. She ended up hugging my thigh like a clingy baby, while I felt so mesmerized to run my fingers onto her silky hair.

Tinitigan ko ang asawa ko habang may munting ngiti ako sa labi, ngunit nang maalala ko kung kaninong anak siya, kumirot ang dibdib ko at natalo ng pangungulila kay Daddy ang kung ano mang nararamdaman ko para sa kanya.

I sighed before I carefully removed her arm around my thigh. If only she isn't that man's daughter, then I'd wholeheartedly wrap my arms around her all night. . .