The Marriage Solution

Chapter 6

That's all, sabi ni Kate sa sarili paglapag ng eroplano sa Singapore airport.

That's all, she told herself again as she checked into the Hotel.

That's all, she told herself again and again as she lifted the phone in the front desk.

Tatlong beses na siyang nag attempt na tawagan si Fiel pero hanggang sa mga sandaling iyon hindi pa rin niya makuhang dayalin ang numero ng binata. Nanginginig kasi ang mga kamay niya pag pipindotin na niya ang mga numero.

Hanggang sa wakas ay na contact na rin niya ang numero nito. "H-hello, I'd like to speak to Fiel Delos Arcos, pease."

"Hold the line, please," said a pleasantly spoken girl na napaka slang mag english. "I'll put you through to his secretary."

There were several clicks on the line before a connection was made. This time the female voice did not sound so pleasing, and was more brisk than pleasant.

"Fiel Delos Arcos office."

"Hello. Is he there, please? My name is Kate Buenaflor."

Natahimik saglit ang kabilang linya. "May I ask what it is concerning, Miss Buenaflor?"

She didn't want to come over as some desperate woman, pero tila ganon siya sa mga oras na iyon. "I met Fiel, I mean Mr. Delos Arcos on holiday recently. He told me to look him up if I happened to be in Singapore and..." Napapalunok si Kate, dahil alam niya kung gaano ka babaw ang katwiran niya. "And well, here I am." she finished lamely.

Natahimik ulit ang kabilang linya sinyales na hindi ito kumbinsido sa sinabi niya.

"I see," said the brisk voice. "Well, if you'd like to hold the line I'll see if Mr. Delos Arcos is available..though his schedule is very full today." pinagdiinan pa ng kabilang linya ang huling sinabi nito.

Nagsisi tuloy si Kate kung bakit pinakita niya kaagad kay Marlyn ang mga litrato niya sa Maldives na hindi dino-double check ang ibang larawang kuha ng kanyang camera. At pati rin ang pagpayag niya na pumunta dito sa Singapore.

Then she heard another click.

"Kate?" sabi nang napaka pleasant na baritonong boses sa kabilang linya. "Hi Fiel, yeah it's me. Remember?"

Of course he remembered. Ilang gabi na nga si Fiel na hindi nakakatulog ng maayos dahil sa kakaisip sa dalaga. But now he'd moved on, kaya nga hindi niya inasahan ang pagtawag ng dalaga. Kaliwa't kanan pa naman ang appointment niya ngayon. The completion of one deal made room for another, and he had the devil of a project to cope with it now. Fiel dealt with his life by compartmentalising it, and Kate Buenaflor belonged in a compartment which was little more than a pleasing memory. That's why the last thing he needed at the moment was feminine distraction.

"Of course I remember you." ani Fiel. "This is a surprise."

A stupid, stupid surprise, sa isip ni Kate. "Well, sinabi mo kasi na tatawagan kita pag nandito ako sa Singapore."

"At nandito ka nga sa Singapore?"

"I am."

Fiel leaned back in his chair. "For how long?"

"Isang linggo lang. Ahmm..nakakuha kasi ako ng pinaka mababang promo fare sa isang airline." alibi ni Kate.

Maybe it wasn't the wisest thing in the world, but he could do absolutely nothing about his body's reaction. And his body, it seemed, reacted very strongly to the sound of Kate Buenaflor, coupled with the memory of her soft, curved body pressed against his chest.

"At gusto mo ng tour guide? Tama ba ako?"

"Oh, I'm quite capable of discovering a city on my own." sagot naman ni Kate. "Ayaw na kitang abalahin pa. Sabi kasi ng secretary mo busy ka."

Tiningnan naman ni Fiel ang mga nakatambak na papeles sa mesa niya. "And so I am," he breathed with both regret and relief, pero sa ibang banda nasiyahan siya dahil naunawan siya ng dalaga. "Pero libre ako mamaya. How about if we meet for dinner tonight? Ikaw baka busy ka rin mamaya?"

For one sane and sensible moment, gusto niyang sabihin dito na busy nga siya. Terribly busy. Kaya hindi siguro siya makipagkita nito mamaya. Magsisimula na kasi siyang magsulat ng article tungkol sa..

"No, I'm free for dinner." she heard herself saying.

Mahinang napabuntong-hininga si Fiel. Akala kasi niya naiiba si Kate sa mga babaeng nakilala niya. Oo nga't hindi siya sanay na tanggihan ng babae, kaya nga naging interesado siya ni Kate noong una palang dahil akala niyang reserved ito na klase ng babae. And yet here she was, as keen and as eager as the next woman.

"Where are you staying?"

"Floresque Hotel."

"I'll pick you up around seven."

Naghintay lang si Kate sa mga susunod na sasabihin nito. Pero hindi na ito muling nagsalita pa. In fact, there was nothing further than a short 'Bye' and disconnected the line.

Ibinaba na rin niya ang telepono. Naramdaman naman niya ang biglang pag-iba ng mood ng binata. Pero baka sobrang stressed at busy lang talaga ito sa trabaho. Tumawag-tawag pa kasi siya eh. Alam naman niya kung gaano ka busy ang isang Fiel Delos Arcos. At isa pa, nagbakasyon ito ng magkakilala sila kaya less stressed ito at more relaxed.

Pero bakit pakiramdam pa rin niya na biglang nag-iba nga ito?

For her sanity's sake, sana nga mali siya.

*****