Fading Echoes

Once

Two months passed the couple remained civil, hindi nila pinapakealaman ang isa't isa sa mga personal nilang desisyon sa buhay. 

Their parents remained firm in their decision that they wouldn't get separated, or else their companies and names would be at stake. 

However, their families also respected the couple's decision concerning their set-up. They remained civil, but they're not the typical married couples you'll encounter. 

They did as they were told: to act like a happily married couple in public. 

Not disclosing what's happening behind closed doors...

Kasalukuyang naghahapunan mag-isa si Greggy dahil maaga siya nakauwi galing opisina, when Irene just arrived home. 

Narinig ni Irene ang tunog ng mga kubyertos kaya naisipan niyang sumilip sa dining room, there she found him having dinner alone. 

"Oh, hi... Did you have dinner already?" kaswal na tanong ni Greggy sa asawa, Irene smiled at him and nodded, "yes, I already did." she replied at dumeretsyo sa kusina to get herself a cold glass of water from the fridge. 

Tumango nalang si Greggy bilang sagot, he continued eating. Irene pursed her lips at bumalik sa dining area "By the way, I'll be joining the board of directors on Friday at the Economic Conference in California" she informed him.

Greggy just finished his meal and wiped his mouth with a table napkin, tumayo naman siya at tumango sa asawa, "I see... Nasa Davao naman ako bukas" he answered.

"Oh, what for?" Irene asked in curiosity; 

Greggy sipped from his glass of water one last time at nilingon ang asawa, "I'll visit a site there, at may meeting din ako with Engineer Gonzales" walang emosyon niyang sagot, "I'll go up now" dagdag niya at lumabas na ng dining area.

Kinabukasan, maaga nagising si Irene para maghanda ng agahan. She couldn't go back to sleep anymore that's why she decided to go down early. Pero hindi niya inaasahan na mas maaga pala nagising sa kaniya ang asawa. 

Nadatnan niya si Greggy na umiinom ng kape and having some bread with him on the table. Hindi siya napansin nito dahil abala siya sa pagbabasa ng reports sa iPad niya. "Good morning, ang aga mo naman ata?" bati ni Irene sa kaniya at dumeretsyo sa kusina to get herself some coffee too;

"Hi, good morning. Maaga rin kasi ako aalis ngayon" he replied at bumalik sa pagbabasa;

"Oo nga pala, ngayon ang alis mo for Davao. Ilang araw ka nga pala doon?" Irene asked and started stirring her coffee, nakatamabay siya sa bar area nila habang pinapanood ang asawa sa dining area. 

"Three days. Kayo?" tanong sa kaniya pabalik ng asawa, Irene sipped on her coffee, "a week? I guess. It may be cut short" she answered. Tumango naman si Greggy at tumayo na, "I'll prepare now" he replied at umakyat na. 

Sumunod namang lumabas si manang Yeda, "oh, anong gusto mong almusal? ipagluluto na kita. maaga kasi nagising si Gorio" she offerred, but Irene refused and told her that she can cook breakfast for today. 

"Teka, hindi mo ba ihahatid si Gorio ngayon sa airport?" Manang Yeda asked, Irene looked at her as her eyes widened, ikinagulat niya ito dahil nawala rin sa isip niya at siguardong hahanapin siya ng media, at maging mga pamilya nila ay tatanungin kung bakit wala siya. 

"Mmm... Nagulat... Ang sabi sa akin eh papasok pa siya sa opisina, at may meeting pa siya hanggang alas diez" Manang Yeda added and glanced at the wall clock, it's just 7:00 AM. 

Irene placed down the frozen goods and wiped her hands in a clean cloth, "manang, akyat na po muna ako para magbihis, sasamahan ko po siya" Irene told her and excused herself. Napa-iling nalang si manang Yeda at ngumisi, "mag-asawang 'to..." she whispered.