Cradle Snatcher

CS 1

CS 1

Husband

Nakaupo ako sa harapan ng lalakeng sinasabing asawa ko siya. Naka titig lamang ako sa papel na naka lapat sa lamesa na katibayang kasal kaming dalawa ngunit parang walang laman ang utak ko at tila hindi ito gumagana at pinoproseso ang mga sinasabi ng lalaking kaharap ko ngayon. Naka upo si Mama sa gilid habang pinapakalma siya ni Papa.

"Let's just take an annulment..." wala sa sarili kong sabi.

"No one's gonna take an annulment, Tallulah Desiree!" parang kulog ang boses ni Papa na nakapag patahimik sa akin. "Lalake ako at alam kong mayroon nang nangyare sa inyo ng lalakeng sinasabi mong hindi mo kilala! Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyare sa inyong dalawa pero ayusin niyo ang gusot niyo. Hindi laro ang pagpapakasal, Tallulah."

Huminga ito nang malalim at hinilot ang sentido niya. Napayuko ako at napapikit nang mariin. What a pain in the ass you are, Tallulah Desiree!

"We'll leave the both of you so you can talk. You're not a child anymore, Tallulah. Fix your mess. I won't tolerate it now." Papa said with finality in his voice.

Tumayo sila ni Mama at iniwan kaming dalawa sa sala. I glanced at the man in front of me and saw him sporting a look way more sellable than the models I saw in the television. Napatingin ako sa sarili kong hindi pa nakakaligo, magulo ang buhok at ni hilamos ay wala pa! God.

"So..." panimula ko. "Paanong nangyare na kasal tayong dalawa?" tanong ko rito. "All I remember was us getting wasted with almost all the alcohol in the bar and f*****g each other on the hotel room." walang ka amor amor kong sabi.

Matalim and titig nito sa akin at halos walang emosyon akong makita sa mga mata into. "Watch your language, lady." mariin at malamig nitong sabi.

Parang gusto kong tumakbo paakyat sa kwarto ko at maligo gamit ang mainit na tubig dahil sa lamig ng presensya ng lalakeng nasa harapan ko. Where's the fun and playful man that I met last night? Napahilamos ako sa mukha ko at pinasadahan ng kamay ang aking buhok.

"Ano na nga? I don't remember us getting married at all!" I said impatiently.

Nabalot ng pagkainis ang aking system nang maalala si Enrico. How can I be with him now that I am married? So much for waiting for him all this f*****g time. That's what you get for playing with alcohol, Tallulah. Dumantay sa akin ang lalakeng kaharap ko at halos gusto ko nang isiksik ang sarili ko sa inuupuan para lamang makaiwas dito.

I don't even remember my husband's name for f**k's sake!

Ramdam na ramdam ko ang mainit na hininga nito sa aking tenga. His breath smells like mint... I wonder how my breath smells? Jesus. "Here's the thing, my dear wife. Just so you know... my family values the sacredness of marriage just like how your parents does. I am engaged and I'm supposed to marry a woman I got arranged with by the end of the month but as you can see we cannot push through with that anymore because I'm married to you now."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Anong konekta ng sagot niya sa tinatanong ko? "And so? What do I have to do with that? It's not like I wanted this marriage." inis kong sabi.

Hinarap nito and mukha ko saka hinuli and mga mata ko. I almost wanted to sunk down in my seat when he held my chin and slightly caressed my cheeks. "I'm bringing you to my hometown."

Lalong kumunot and noo ko kasabay nang pag salubong ng kilay ko. "Oh no, you are not the master of my life and decisions, mister. Hindi ako sasama sayo." sabi ko rito saka iniwas ang mukha ko sa pagkaka hawak niya.

Kumunot ang noo nito ngunit agad ding napalitan ng mapag larong ngisi ang mukha. Tinaas nito ang isang kilay niya saka tinitigan ako sa mga mata. "I'm not asking you, lady. You're going with me... not unless you want to go to jail for theft?"

Umawang ang labi ko saka hindi makapaniwalang umiling. "Wow! Just... wow! And now you're blackmailing me?" napa hilamos ako sa mukha ko saka tinulak ito palayo sa akin. "My parent's won't let me come with you!" sabi ko rito saka ngumisi.

Huling alas ko na ito para matakasan siya. I don't want to go with him. Ni hindi ko nga siya kilala! We just happened to be two consulting adults who had a one night stand to satisfy our needs!

Prente itong naupo sa harapan ko. Maluwag itong naka upo na tila walang pakialam sa paligid niya. I looked like a puppy trying so hard to fight with a wolf. Tumaas and isang sulok ng labi nito at alam ko... alam kong katapusan ko na ang dahilan ng ngisi niyang iyon.

"I already talked to your parents and they have agreed. There's nothing you can do to escape now. Just be a good wife and come with me..."

Kumunot ang noo ko saka galit na tumingin dito. "Look, my dear husband, isama mo man ako sa lugar ninyo ay hindi mo pa rin ako mapapa sunod sa mga gusto mo. You don't know me and you can't do anything to tame me. Just back the hell off." sabi ko saka tumayo.

Ngumisi ito at marahang humalakhak. "Really now? But you were pleading and obeying everything that I said last night, lady..."

Napaawang ang labi ko at mabilis kong naramdaman ang paginit ng buong mukha ko. "Bastos!" sigaw ko dito.

Parang kulog and tawa nito. His eyes were reflecting of amusement and I don't know why he's amused! Siguro ay natutuwa so yang makita akong mukhang tanga! "Don't act so innocent now, Talullah Desiree..."

Kumunot ang noo ko saka matalim itong tinignan. "Mag hintay ka rito. Magaayos lamang ako saka tayo maguusap. Nang matino." sabi ko at mabilis na umakyat sa kwarto.

Napasandal ako sa pintuan ng kwarto saka napapikit nang mariin. Wow, I'm instantly married! Isn't that amusing? Dumiretso ako sa banyo saka naligo. Mariin akong napa pikit habang hinahayaang dumaloy ang malamig na tubig sa katawan ko. Remind me to never take on impulsive decisions again! Goddamn it!

I wore a denim short shorts and top it off with my white long sleeves. Itinupi ko ang cuffs nito hanggang siko. I grab my black peep toe heels together with my black purse before heading down. Wala na iyong "asawa" ko sa sala kaya dumiretso ako sa dining are para kumain. I'm starving! Napaawang and labi ko nang makita si Mama, Papa at and lalakeng iyon sa dining area na naguusap.

"Come here and sit down beside your husband, Tal." mahinahong sabi ni Papa.

Huminga ako nang malalim saka tumingin ditto. I caught my husband looking at me from head to toe and I felt my cheeks instantly heated. Napa irap na lamang ako saka umupo sa tabi nito. Kumuha ako ng brown bread saka nilagyan ito ng strawberry jam.

"Dash and I had been talking about your transfer in Xavier University, Tal." biglang sabi ni Papa na ikinalaki ng mata ko. "We already talked about you staying in his hometown and I think this is for the best."

Now I remember his name, it's Xian Dash. But the hell I care about that right now! "Papa, no! This is my last year in college and I want to spend it with my friends. Kuya will be mad when he finds out! Please, don't do this..." halos mag makaawa na and boses ko.

"You should've taught about that before causing this ruckus, Tallulah!" sabi ni Mama.

Napayuko ako saka napakagat sa labi ko. That was my last call.. I can't believe that this is happening with my life. It's so scary how fast things change. One day I'm single and in the blink of an eye, wow! I'm married. Iniwan kame ni Dash pati ni Papa para makapag usap kame ni Mama. Tumayo ako at mabilis itong niyakap.

"Ma... I'm sorry... wag ka nang magalit sa akin, please?" nanginig ang boses ko.

I felt a big lump on my throat. Nangilid ang luha sa aking mga mata. Buong buhay ko ay lagi kong kasama sila Mama at Papa pati na rin si Kuya Cage kahit saan pero ngayon ay mahihiwalay na ako sa kanila. And it's all because of my impulsive act last night!

Niyakap ako pabalik ni Mama at naramdaman ko and pag alog ng mga balikat into. Kinagat ko and labi ko para pigilan and pag tulo ng luha ko and I was thankful enough that it did not drop. Just like what my Mom said, sa aming dalawa ni Kuya ay ako ang mas malakas, mas misteryoso, at mas makulit. I would never show anyone my weakness.

"Hindi lang ako makapaniwala na kasal na ang baby namin... Naunahan mo pa ang Kuya mo. He will surely freak out kapag nalaman niya ito. We won't tell him for now... ang sasabihin muna namin pag uwi niya ay duon mo gustong mag aral."

I did not say a word and stay in for a hug. Mama sighed and caressed my back. "Make sure to call us right away when something happens, okay? I know that you're a grown up now and that... I also have to let you go..."

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko. "Mama... pwede namang dito nalang ako. Dash and I can just have an annulment para matapos na ito."

Humiwalay sa akin si Mama at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi ko. "That, we won't do. Marriage is sacred, Tal. You can't just undo it like that just because you don't want it. You made this commotion now it's time for you to face it, okay?"

I sighed in defeat and nodded. "Don't worry, I'll fix my mess, Mama."

Umiling si Mama at pinaka titigan ako sa mata. "Marriage is not a mess, Tal. What you should do is work it out with your husband. Dash seems like a good man. I can feel it and your father knows his father and grandparents. They're good people. Get to know him first before you decide. Don't be impulsive this time."

Tallulah Desiree Nepumoceno-Fletcher.

Naka upo ako ngayon sa kotse ni Xian Dash habang naka titig sa marriage certificate naming dalawa. I did not know that a marriage certificate can be processed that fast! Kinagat ko ang kamay ko dahil sa tingin ko ay nanaginip lamang ako. Please, let this be a dream. Mas diniinan ko pa ang pag kagat sa kamay ko at napasigaw na ako sa sakit.

"Aw!" daing ko.

Napalingon ako kay Dash nang hawakan nito ang braso ko kung sana ko kinagat ang kamay ko at pinunasan niya iyon saka marahang hinipan. Kunot noo itong bumaling sa akin. "Stop biting yourself... You're not dreaming." mariin nitong sabi.

"Why is this happening to me? I just turned nineteen! Nineteen!" binawi ko ang kamay ko rito saka bumaling sa kanya. "How old are you?" tanong ko rito.

Tumaas ang isang kilay nito saka humarap sa akin. Prente itong sumandal patagilid sa back rest ng upuan niya saka pinatong ang kaliwang braso sa manibela habang ang kanang kamay niya ay nasa mga labi niya. His knuckles were slightly brushing his red and luscious lips. "I'm twenty nine..."

Napasabunot and dalawa kong kamay sa akin buhok saka tumingin sa harapan. "God! My life is just starting and now it's over! No more night life! No more fun dares! No more hang outs! No more shopping with my friends! Oh my God! I don't want to be a wife waiting for his husband to go home carrying a baby on my arms! I'm still so young!" I rant hysterically.

Napabaling ako rito nang marinig ko and pag halakhak nito. He was smirking dangerously that I almost want to get off his car and ran back home to my Mama. "Look, wife... I'm not a sucker and boring of a husband. You can still go out with your girls." napasinghap ako nang lumapit ito sa akin.

He rested his right arm on the back of my chair at ang kaliwang kamay niya naman ay nakapatong sa kanang hita ko. "And chill... alright? I'n not going to impregnate you this early... well... not unless you want me to..." he whispered naughtily on my ears and slightly bite my earlobe.

Kaagad kong naramdaman and elektrisidad na tumakbo sa buong katakana ko at and pagiinit ng buong mukha ko. Napahawak ako sa dibdib into at mariing siyang itinulak. "Stop it, Dash!" irita kong saway dito.

Natawa ito sa reaksyon ko saka tinaas and kamay niya. "Calm down, wife..." he said in a very deep and slow voice.

Umirap ako rito saka huminga nang malalim. "What now? I thought you wanted to talk?" seryoso kong tanong rito.

I want to be with the serious Dash more and not the playful one. He's more dangerous when he's that playful... I think I can handle his serious attitude more.

"I just want to clear things out... You're going to stay in my house once we arrive in CDO. You will transfer in Xavier University... and please, no more petty dares when we go there..." tumingin ito sa akin gamit ang seryoso niyang mga mata. "You can still go out and hang out with your friends, I won't deprive you of that... but if you're going to the bar I'll come with you."

Napailing ako at halos gusto kong matawa sa sinabi into. "What? Are you now my daddy s***h my body guard?" inis kong wika.

He looked at me with his dark and brooding eyes I almost caught my breath. I felt my heart hammering crazy against my chest. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko at pilit pinapakalma ang walang hiyang puso ko na grabe kung mag wala.

"I'm neither one of those, Tal... I'm your husband." he said with a matter of fact and once again, I'm doomed.

To be continued...

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