Almost Over (SP #1)

Kabanata 14

HINDI ko alam kung talaga bang na-ban na si Tim sa subdivision namin or what pero hindi ko na ulit siya nakita pa mula nang magwala siya sa labas ng bahay namin at pinadampot namin siya sa security.

I wanted to take that in a positive light and think na talagang sumuko na siya at hahayaan na lang kami ni Claus because I'm getting tired of all this drama I had brought to myself. Gusto ko na lang ayusin ang relasyon namin ng asawa ko.

I sighed while staring at the tickets in my hand. Masyado ata akong nawili at hindi ko man lang naisip ang complications ng mga ginagawa ko.

How could I book a ticket without asking for his schedule?

I was about to put the tickets back inside the drawer on my bedside table nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan. Claus' eyes immediately landed on the things in my hands.

I smiled at him as I put down the tickets on the table and stood up from our bed to walk towards him. I took the towel he was holding as I gently pulled him by the edge of the bed and made him sit so I can dry his hair.

Napangiti naman ako nang makita ko ang pagsibol ng ngiti sa mga labi niya. I really admire how he finds these small things so joyous. Para bang kahit anong gawin ko ay sobra niyang naa-appreciate?

"What was that?" he asked while I was gently rubbing his hair with the towel.

"Ang ano?" tanong ko pabalik sa kanya.

"'Yong hawak mo kanina," sagot niya. Sandali akong natigilan sa pagtutuyo ng buhok niya bago ako huminga ng malalim at nagpatuloy sa ginagawa.

"Tickets." Agad na kumunot ang noo niya sa sagot ko.

"Tickets? For what?" Hindi ako sumagot at tahimik lang na tinuyo ang buhok niya.

Pareho lang kaming tahimik nang bigla na lang akong mapatili dahil sa gulat nang walang anu-ano'y hinatak niya ang baywang ko palapit sa kanya. He wrapped his arms around my hips and looked up at me with an adorable expression on his face.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang mapabungisngis nang makita ko ang nagpapa-cute nitong mukha.

"Bakit ka may tickets? Para saan ba 'yon?" pangungulit niya.

Tumawa ako at nanggigigil na kinurot ang magkabila niyang pisngi bago dahan-dahang tinanggal ang mga braso niya sa balakang ko at naglakad palapit sa bedside table sa kabilang side ng kama para kunin ang mga tickets.

I stared at it for a while before sighing and walking back to him.

Bahala na nga!

Nagtataka siyang tumingin sakin nang iabot ko sa kanya ang sobreng puti. He took it out from the envelope and I saw how his lips parted as he saw two tickets inside with our names on them.

"I was thinking if we can go to Maldives next week. Uhm . . . Our anniversary's—" Halos matumba kaming dalawa nang bigla niya na lang akong dinamba ng yakap.

"Hey! Ang laki-laki mong tao tapos—"

"Thank you! Thank you for remembering—" Pinutol ko rin ang sasabihin niya ng bahagyang pagtulak sa kanya pabalik sa kama.

I sat on his lap and laid my head on his shoulders comfortably, agad namang pumalibot ang mga braso niya sa baywang ko bilang suporta.

"Of course, I'll remember," saad ko sa kanya.

Hindi ko rin naman siya masisisi kung iisipin niya na nakalimutan ko ang tungkol doon. Grabe ang effort niya last year for his anniversary surprise for me but it only ended up tragically since I wasn't able to come home that day dahil biglang nagkasakit si Tim.

"But I called your secretary earlier and I heard that you have—"

"No. Let's go," he said stubbornly.

"Pero may important meeting ka raw," kunot ang noo kong sagot sa kanya. "Maybe we should just resched—"

"No. May mas mahalaga pa ba sa asawa ko? Minsan ka lang mag-aya and once lang naman sa isang taon ang anniversary natin. I'll just cancel the meeting. Tinanggap ko lang naman iyon to keep me preoccupied," paliwanag niya.

"But—"

"Let's not argue with this, babe," he said as he placed a loud kiss on my cheeks that made me chuckle.

Sometimes, Claus can really be a kid. He always craves attention and affection.

I buried my face on the crook of his neck and the minty fragrance of his aftershave welcomed me.

"You smell nice," bulong ko sa kanya.

"You too, babe," he said as I felt him placed a kiss on the top of my head before I found myself being carried back to the bed.

Claus gently put me down before taking his place beside me and pulled over the duvet over us. I waited for him to settle on his position before I scooted closer. He let my head rest on his arms as he pulled me closer to his body. I felt his fingers playing with my hair, which feels nice. Unti-unti nang bumabagsak ang mga talukap ko nang bigla siyang magsalita.

"Are you happy with me? Do I make you happy?" he asked out of nowhere.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at agad namang sinalubong ng malulungkot niyang mga mata ang mga mata ko. His eyes were staring straight through me.

I hated this.

I hated it when he doubts himself because of me. Dahil sa mga pinaggagagawa ko ay kinukwestyon niya ang sarili niya.

Inangat ko ang kamay ko at masuyong hinaplos ang pisngi niya habang may ngiti sa mga labi ko. Agad na lumambot ang kanina ay mapag-obserba niyang mga mata.

"You do. You're making me happy, Claus. Extremely happy. You don't need to doubt yourself. You're the best, Claus. You're the best husband every woman could ever ask for."

"Right. Every woman but you . . ." he uttered in a low voice pero hindi rin nakaligtas sa pandinig ko.

I felt bitterness filled my heart for a moment before I was able to shake my head.

"No, Claus. Kahit ako. I am so grateful to have you in my life. To have you as my husband," sinsero kong saad sa kanya habang patuloy na hinahaplos ang pisngi niya.