Chapter 15
Pagkagising ko kinabukasan, wala na si Magnus sa tabi ko. Alam kong hindi naman panaginip na nagkabalikan kami. Pero agad akong bumangon at lumabas ng kuwarto. Pagbaba ko sa kusina, at saka lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag.
I saw Magnus cooking breakfast. Napatingin siya sa 'kin mula sa niluluto. He smiled calmly. Kabaliktaran sa bilis ng kabog ng puso ko.
"Good morning, Caly. Are you fully awaked?" Sabay tingin sa buhok kong hindi ko na nasuklayan.
"G-good morning..." I just combed my hair with my fingers. "Gising na 'ko. Sorry, hinanap kita agad. I just want to make sure that yesterday was not a dream..."
He chuckled quietly. "Well, grab a seat. You'll eat real food for breakfast to know this isn't a dream and we're still married."
Napangiti na 'ko. We're still married! Magnus and I!!!
I want to hug him from behind. I want to bury my face on his broad back. I want to kiss him and tease him. But I restrained myself. Ito na naman ako sa puro "want" ko.
Napaupo na lang ako stool sa may island counter. "Where did you get the breakfast pala?" Pagsilip ko ay nagluluto siya ng scrambled egg na binudburan ng cheese.
"Dala ng caretaker. Naalala niya raw na walang kahit anong pagkain dito pero 'yung natira lang niyang tinapay kahapon. Manong and his wife brought us hot pandesal, eggs, cheese, and brewed coffee. Tama lang para masimulan natin ang araw."
Huminga ako nang malalim. "May plano ka ba today?"
Sinara ni Magnus ang kalan. He served the food in front of me. "You said we'll get some groceries. Do you have to do a remote work after?"
"Oh, naka-leave ako sa trabaho. Sabbatical leave. Sina Daddy ang nag-grant since... ahm, cannot function ako the past few months..." Sumubo ako ng pandesal.
Magnus sat across me, again. He quietly looked at me as he sipped his coffee.
"Ikaw? May work kang gagawin? How was your coconut farm?" naisip kong magtanong na rin.
Marahan siyang umiling. "I have a manager for the farm. He takes over every time I was away. He just calls me to update me from time to time. Hindi ko pa alam kung kailan ako babalik ng Siargao."
Napatango-tango ako. "Okay. Nandito kasi sila Kuya Cerek at ang buong family niya sa Sta. Carmina. Kaya wala rin naman silang news kung kumusta na ang koprahan mo. Anyway, just tell me if when are you planning to go to Siargao, again. Para lang makapag-prepare ako kung gusto mo akong isama."
Ikiniling niya ang ulo. Ibinaba ni Magnus ang tasa ng kape. "You're not going back to work any sooner?"
Marahan akong umiling. "I'm planning that if you want... ahm, sasama ako kahit saan ka pumunta for work..."
Naisip ko, bilang asawa, gusto ko na'ng nasa tabi palagi ni Magnus kapag magta-trabaho siya. This is my personal devotion for him.
I'm considering to be a housewife, yes. I mean, puwede naman akong mag-part time work sa kompanya. I know that the De Haro are opening positions na puwede ang permanent remote work. Basta nagagawa ang deliverables nang maayos, lalo na sa mga computerized lagi ang tasks.
It was Daddy's idea. Technology is rising faster and faster. Kailangan daw mag-take advantage ang business sa ganoon.
I'm considering just taking that kind of job as part of making it up to Magnus. I want to take care of him. I want to serve him the way or more than the way he cared for me kahit noong hindi niya pa 'ko asawa. Gustong-gusto ko lang talagang bumawi. I wanted to be a devoted wife. At kung magkaka-anak kami, a hands-on mother, too.
