The Ignored Wife (Published by PSICOM)

14: Woman

"If you don't want to scare her, let her fly..." -jazlykdat

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Published by PSICOM. Available in all leading bookstores nationwide.

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It was dinner time when Vaughn went home. Nasa hapag na sina Lianna at ang mga bata.

He loosened his tie at agad na bumati sa mga anak. Yumapos naman ang mga ito sa ama nila bago nagsibalik sa puwesto.

Vaughn glanced at her.

Did he just give her a half-smile? His signature smile.

"Good girl," he said without sound.

Ano daw?

Good girl for what?

Dahil ba nagpalit siya ng jeans kanina at pinalitan yung kulay ng suot niyang blouse?

Is the weirdo Vaughn back?

"Dad, will you teach me how to fly a helicopter? Please??" Liam asked as they were eating.

Sumulyap si Vaughn sa kanya bago hinarap ang anak.

She wanted to smile. Pansin niya lang na tumitingin na ulit ito sa kanya. Not as radiant as it was before but enough to make her heart skip a beat.

"Sure son! When you turn 18," tugon nito bago itinuloy ang pagsubo ng pagkain.

"Are you serious dad?! Obsolete na ang helicopter paglaki ko."

Bahagya siyang natawa sa sagot ng anak. First time niya itong narinig na magsalita ng tagalog. It sounded like his father. And oh boy, obsolete? Where did that came from?

"It wouldn't be, magpapalit lang ng anyo o magiging mas mabilis but not obsolete," Vaughn answered calmly.

"Whatever dad! But you have to teach me. Will you be free over the weekend?"

Pareho silang napatingin ni Vaughn sa bata.

"Here comes the most insistent person in the world," Vanna said rolling her eyes.

"Shut up, ate!" sagot naman nito sa kapatid.

"Ate?? We're twins. I am not older than you," sagot naman ng isa. She even stuck her tongue out.

"You are 5 minutes older. That makes you my ate."

"Whatever brat!" Vanna answered. Ginamit pa nito ang mga hintuturo para gawing sungay at nagbelat sa kapatid.

Natatawa siya sa sagutan ng dalawa pati si Vaughn ay napailing sa usapan ng kambal.

"So, dad will you teach me how to fly the helicopter?"

Vaughn put down his spoon and fork at tumingin ng seryoso sa bata.

"Helicopter is not for kids."

"Dad, I saw you pushing and navigating the buttons. It's as easy as navigating the controller of my toy helicopter. I can do that, too."

"Liam!" saway niya sa anak. Naubusan na kasi yata ng maisasagot si Vaughn.

"Even the pilot has to graduate in college just to fly a helicopter. You are still too young." paliwanag niya rito.

"Mom, hands-on is better than lectures. I can do it." Katwiran pa rin ng anak.

"Enough!" madiing saad ni Vaughn.

"I'll teach you when you turn seven."

Napatingin siya sa asawa. Seryoso ba ito? Pitong taong gulang magpapalipad ng helicopter? Is that even legal?

"How about when I turn five, dad?"

Vaughn stood up and went to Liam.

"You.are.the.most.insistent.creature.on.earth!" he said chuckling. Pinisil nito ang magkabilang pisngi ng kawawang bata. Hindi naman ito makapalag. Vanna Lei also chuckled.

"Anong tinatawa-tawa mo?" baling naman ni Vaughn sa anak na babae at pinisil din ang magkabilang pisngi nito. He was chuckling. Lianna feels happy seeing the three.

"Dad! What?" ungot ulit ni Liam na namumula na ang pisngi. Vaughn glanced at her before answering.

"Okay, but you will sit on my lap while we fly," natatawa nitong saad. Liam squealed kulang na lang ay matatalon ito. Now, he's a kid again.

"I will have to leave. May mga kailangan akong i-meet na clients ngayong gabi." Paalam nito nang matapos silang kumain.

He stood up kaya sumunod na rin sila ng mga bata.

"Magbibihis lang ako. Then, I'll go."

Hindi alam ni Lianna kung sa kanya sinabi ni Vaughn iyon. Sumulyap kasi ito sa kanya bago lumuhod para hagkan ang mga bata.

Sinundan na lamang niya ito ng tingin habang paakyat ito ng hagdan.

"Hey time to prep up for sweet sleep," saad niya sa mga bata nang makitang uupo pa ang mga ito sa sofa.

Mabilis namang lumapit ang dalawang bata at humawak sa kamay niya.

Sinamahan muna niya ang dalawang anak para magbihis bago pumasok sa kuwarto. Vaughn is still in front of the full-length mirror. She sat on the bed.

She felt a little nervous nang lumapit ito sa kanya.

"Lianna, will you help me fix my tie?" mahina nitong saad nang makalapit sa kanya. Mas lalong dumagundong ang kaba sa dibdib niya nang tumayo siya at hinawakan ang neck tie.

Bahagya itong yumuko.

She doesn't want to see his face. Paniguradong magpapang-abot ang mga mukha nila. But it was a wrong move. Kitang-kita niya kasi ang paggalaw ng adam's apple nito. It looks so sexy.

Shit!

Hindi na yata siya marunong mag-ayos ng neck tie. Pero malamang dahil lang ito sa lakas ng kabog sa dibdib niya.

Vaughn patiently waited for her to finish. Nang matapos niyang ayusin ay hindi pa ulit ito umalis sa harapan niya kaya mas lalo siyang kinabahan.

She felt the urge to just cross their few inches distance and kiss him pero bigla siyang nahiya sa sarili niya. What if he will stop her? That will be shameful.

She stood frozen nang pumulupot ang isang kamay nito sa baywang niya. Then, she felt his warm lips on her forehead.

"I won't be home tonight," mahina nitong saad bago siya binitawan at tuluyang lumabas ng kuwarto.

It took few minutes before her heartbeat returned to its normal pace.

***

"You can stay for the night," saad ni Vaughn nang magpaalam si Lianna. He doesn't want her to go yet.

He just met her and they made love a couple of times. He never did it to any woman before. Pero sabi nga nila, there is always an exemption to the rule. It seems like the woman have this magnetic power over him.

She was about to open the door nang pigilan niya ito at niyakap. He kissed her deeply. Alas, she didn't respond to the kiss.

Ayaw man niya itong pakawalan. He knows that she has a mind of her own and he doesn't want to scare her.

"If you change your mind, you know where to go back." He whispered in her ear. He finally let go of his grip. Baka hindi na niya ulit ito bitawan kapag nagkataon.

He drew a deep breath when she finally walked out and shut the door behind her.

Ah, that woman.