His Wife's Misery (His Series #3)

Kabanata 8

Kabanata 8
Promise

"ATE MELLE!" hiyaw ng dalawa kong pinsan nang makita nila ako.

Sinalubong ko sila ng yakap na agad ding kumalas. "I've missed you both! Last year ko pa kayo last na nakita."

Tatlo na lang kaming magpipinsan ang natira rito sa Pilipinas dahil karamihan ng kamag-anak nila mommy at daddy ay nag-migrate na sa ibang bansa. Ewan ko rin, mas stable siguro ang buhay nila roon. Kung wala lang negosyo sina mommy dito ay siguradong sa ibang bansa rin ako ngayon at nakikisama sa mga taong hindi ko kalahi.

My tears started dropping when they gave me a sweet smile. Halos nakaluhod ako ngayon para mapantayan ang mga heights nila at makita ko ng maayos ang mga mukha nila.

"Why are you crying, ate? We're not going yet!" Marga said.

"Pregnancy hormones, i guess," i answered then laughed a little.

Sophia wiped my tears and caressed my cheeks. "Ate, it's okay. We're going to miss you!"

Gusto kong humagulgol sa harap ng dalawang bata pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Nasubaybayan ko ang paglaki ng magkapatid mula pagkapanganak pa lang sakanila ng bunsong kapatid ni daddy.

Marga is two years older than Sophia. Exactly at eight months of my baby, Marga and Sophia together with their parents will migrate, too. Doon na raw magtatayo ng panibagong business sina tita.

Kauuwi lang nila galing Sydney, kung saang bansa sila mags-settle para i-ready ang bahay nila roon. Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit hindi sila naka-attend sa kasal ko. Ang iba namang kamag-anak ay sadyang hindi talaga makakauwi dahil sa iba't ibang dahilan. Personal o tungkol sa trabaho nila nagka-conflict.

"Can't ate Chai go with us, tita Chesca?" Marga looked at mommy. "We'll miss her."

Sinamahan niya pa ang pakiusap ng puppy eyes at malambing na tono kahit alam niyang malabong pumayag sina mommy.

"Oh, Marga, dear, you know that ate Chai is married now. She can't go anywhere. Her husband will look for her," mommy reasoned out.

I laughed. "Nako, 'my. Iba ang hinahanap no'n!"

"Pero Chai—"

"Let's go, Marga, Sophia. Dun tayo sa room ko. I'll show you my added barbie collections!"

Atat na sumunod sa akin ang dalawang bata. Habang naglalakad ako ay tinapunan ko ng tingin si mommy at nakita kong bumuntong-hininga siya habang nakatitig sa amin.

'My, I know it's hard to accept that your only daughter is getting this kind of treatment but trust me, 'my, this will end at the right time. For now, i need to settle for my baby.

"CHAI," narinig ko ang boses ni Ridge mula sa labas ng kwarto ko kaya tumayo ako para buksan ang pintuan.

May dala siyang sandamakmak na paper bags na hula ko ay iba't iba ang laman. Pagkapasok niya ay agad niyang naibaba ang mga dala niya at naupo siya sa sahig pagkatapos. Tumayo siya at tinanggal ang dalawang paper bags na nakaharang sa pintuan saka niya ito isinara.

Hinihingal siyang tumitig sa akin. "Lahat..." he took a deep breath, halatang naghahabol siya ng hininga.

"Nag fun run ka ba nung umalis ka?" ani ko habang nagpipigil ng tawa.

Baliw din pala 'tong lalaking 'to. What he's rushing for? Relief goods? Gold medal? A million pesos?

"I thought you're really mad and you need this random foods, random stuffs for you and... baby stuffs to brighten your mood," he continued.

When i heard the "baby stuffs" word, i became fluttered. Oh damn. You got me on that, Ridge. Magaling ka talaga.

"That is Marga and Sophia, my cousins," i pointed my cousins at one side of my room and looking at my barbie collection. "Marga! Sophia! I want you to meet someone."

My cousins rushed to go at my side. They we're smiling widely. Kapag ako talaga ang kasama nila, hindi naaalis ang mga ngiting ito. They love me so much to be this cheerful and jolly when i am with them.

"This is kuya Ridge, my husband," i introduced them to Ridge while intently looking at the tired Ridge.

"Hi! Nice to meet you, sir!" Sophia greeted.

"Mister, please take care of our ate Chai when we're already gone, understood?" Marga said with such authority.

Ridge smiled. Halatang natutuwa agad siya sa dalawang pinsan ko. "Yes, ma'am. I will take care of this beautiful creature. I love her and our baby so much."

"Yeah, right! She's a beautiful creature!" Marga agreed, almost jumping. Ganyan siya kapag interested o natutuwa siya sa pinag-uusapan.

"I love ate Chai," Sophia murmured.

"You love me so much, baby?" i asked, assuring myself that what she said was true.

She nodded. "So much, ate Chai," she turned her gaze at Ridge. "So don't hurt her, okay? Also, don't hurt the baby."

"Yes, of course. I wouldn't. I'll take care of them."

Sophia giggled and raised a hand. "Promise?"

Ridge did what Sophia did. "Promise, Sophia. Whatever happens."

AFTER a week, bumigay na ako't umuwi sa bahay namin. Halos tumalon sa sobrang tuwa si manang nang makita muli ako.

"Tomorrow, pupunta tayo sa school to get your modules and recorded discussions. Papaalam din muna ako sa team ko sa loob ng room na sila muna ang bahala sa darating na sports fest dahil wala ako," ani Ridge habang may kinakalikot sa laptop niya.

Nakahiga kaming pareho sa kama namin at may iba't ibang ginagawa. Ako ay kumakain ng mangga na may asukal na ni-crave ko lang kanina at habang siya ay may kung anong sinesearch sa laptop niya.

"What are you doing? Kanina ka pa diyan, naiirita na ako."

"Oh," he stopped doing what he's doing and look at me. "Do you want me to close my laptop and lay down with you or... you want me to eat that mangga with sugar, too?"

Natawa ako sa suggestions niya na posible kong ipagawa sakanya. Kahapon ay nag-crave ako ng apple na may toyo at bagoong saka niyaya ko siyang kumain. Halos masuka siya na ipinagtaka ko dahil masarap naman iyon!

Sinubo ko ang last na mangga'ng nasa bowl saka nginitian siya. "I'm just wondering what you're doing."

"Uh, I'm searching places for us to go to. I want to bring you to the best place we can ever be."

Ang abnormal na mga paru-paro ay nabuhayan na naman at naramdaman ko na namang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

"I want in Ilocos. I want to see the windmills there," i requested, grinning at him.