"O, BAKIT sambakol ang mukha ng isang 'yon? tanong ni Alexis kay Dylan.
"Ewan ko." May pagkaasar sa tono niya.
Nakita nilang tumayo si Blue at nilapitan sa Veda, ang isang bagong geisha ng Lothario. Nag-usap ang dalawa at mayamaya ay nagtatawanang lumabas na ng game room. Nagkatinginan sina Alexis at Dylan.
Pumalatak ito. "Ano sa tingin mo, pare?" tanong nito.
Nailing siya, may galit sa mga mata. "He married my woman and then turn to a friggin' geisha. Tarantadong 'yan! Napipikon na ako, X."
"Your woman?" nakakunot ang noong buwelta nito.
"Naging kayo ba ni Helaena?"
"Hindi. Magkaibigan lang kami. Pero hindi ko nagugustuhan ang ginagawa ni Blue, pare. Unfair naman kay Helaena. Kahit kaibigan ko si Blue, parang hindi ko maatim na lunukin ang mga pinaggagagawa niya sa asawa niya. Kawawa naman si Helaena."
"Ah,ah,ah, Dylan, pare, domestic problem 'yan. Huwag ka na munang makialam. Let them resolve it themselves."
Frustrated na umalis siya ng club.
KAHIT masakit sa kanyang pride ay si Helaena na ang nagpakumbaba. Hindi niya matiis ang pagdistansiya sa kanya ni Blue. They still made love, the intensity of their passion for each other never changed but he was not the same. In bed, he was all hers, but outside, he was aloof, and seemingly indifferent to her.
Kumakain sila ng hapunan nang magpasya siyang kausapin ito. "Blue, can we talk?"
"About what?"
"About Tito Augusto..."
Nagdilim kaagad ang mukha nito. "Sinabi ko na sa 'yo, Helaena, ayokong makikialam ka sa bagay na 'yan."
Ginagap niya ang kamay nito. "I know and I'm sorry, Blue. Tama ka. You have given me so much at nagpapasalamat ako. Please don't be mad. Hindi ko naman sinasadyang makialam. Can we start again?"
He touched her face and sighed. Then he smiled. "I've missed you, sweetheart."
She smiled back. "I've missed you, too." She had too gain his trust. She would do it one step at a time.
That night, he made love to her so tenderly, loving every inch of her body so thoroughly she wanted to cry and silently uttered a plea. God, I beg you, let my husband love me. Give him to me. Make him love me back.
HABANG tinitingnan ni Helaena ang kanyang asawa na nakikipaglaro sa mga bata sa shelter, naisip niyang minamahal na rin siya nito.
Bakit hindi? He was the perfect husband. Unti-unti ay nakikilala niya ang karakter nito. He was hardworking, driven, ambitious, but he also had a heart of gold. Blue felt so at home with the streetchildren. He blended in naturally na para bang minsan sa buhay nito ay naging batang lansangan din ito. And yet he was all polished class and sophistication,totally at ease with the trappings of wealth.
He was an enigma, but slowly, she was getting to know him better each day. And loving him more each day.
Sinasamahan siya nito sa bawat pagdalaw niya sa mga bata sa shelter, pati na rin sa pakikipag-usap sa mga taong magtatayo ng building para sa foundation niya. He was very attentive and patient and utterly supportive of her, at higit sa lahat, kasundung- kasundo nito ang kanyang mga magulang. Her mother was absolutely charmed by her son-in-law and her father seemed to have gained a true son.
They settled into the routine of sleeping and working together, but there was never a dull moment between them.
One night after a intense lovemaking, he asked her.
"Are you on the pill?"
Hindi niya malaman ang isasagot. Kahit minsan ay hindi nila napag-usapan ang bagay na iyon.
"I presume that you are," anito habang nilalaro ang kanyang buhok. She was sprawled on top of him.
"Y-yes." Lord, she was not! What a mess! Kokonsultahin niya ang kanyang gynecologist bukas na bukas din. Hindi niya malaman kung maiinsulto siya o ano. She felt so awkward. But she should have taken care of it herself. Nawala sa isip niya na maaaring ayaw nitong magkaanak sila.
"Wouldn't you like to have children?" tanong nito mayamaya.
Hindi niya matantiya ang tono nito. She decided to return his question. "Ikaw, gusto mo bang maging ama?"
He did not answer. Bumuntong-hinga ito bago nagsalita mayamaya. "My stepfather used to beat the hell out of me when I was young. He'd beat my mother, too. Mabuti na lang at namatay siya. Kung hindi, baka ako ang nakapatay sa kanya."
Bumagal ang pitik sa puso niya. Iyon ang kauna-unahang pagkakataong nagsalita ito tungkol sa personal na buhay nito. She wanted to cry. He had this faraway haunted look in his eyes. Pamilyar sa kanya ang ekspresyon na iyon. She had seen it too many times in the eyes of abused children. "Hindi ko alam kung magiging mabuti akong ama," anito sa tinig na may kalakip na pait. Her heart bled for him. She wanted to hug him so tight but she didn't. Alam niyang hindi nito magugustuhan ang kanyang awa. She kissed him tenderly on the lips instead. "I know you will be a great father, darling."
He looked at her seriously. "Do you think so?"
Again, she kissed him. "I know so."
He gave her a dazzling smile.
