Man and Wife (Wifely Duties 2) - Published by PHR

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

*the love you fail to see,

once unveiled, the heart is free,

you have it along, more than one blessing from Thee*

***

June 2022.

REEVE was like in a dream. No. This is exactly a dream. He's in the middle of nowhere. Kahit saan siya lumingon ay pulos luntiang damo at nagtataasang bundok ang nakikita niya sa paligid. He knew this is a dream because there's no way he'll end up in this kind of place. He's a city guy—never fond of what looks like a rural place...

Humipan ang napakalakas na hangin. Ipinikit niya ang mga mata at huminga nang malalim. If this is a dream, then he can just think of whatever he likes to see, and that thing will appear. He can do that, can't he?

May kung anong kumuyom ng puso niya. Agatha... He misses his wife so much.

"Reeve..."

Oh, what the power of dream can do. Napangiti siya sa tinig na ipagpapalit niya ang lahat, marinig lang muli.

Binuksan niya ang mga mata at unang bumungad sa kanya ang maamong mukha ng asawa. Agatha is smiling sweetly, like she always does.

"Too tired from work?" she asked.

Tumakbo siya at niyakap ito nang mahigpit. "Please, come home, sweetheart. Life's hard without you."

"But I'm home with you."

Damang dama niya ang haplos ng malalambot nitong kamay, na gustong isipin ni Reeve na hindi na lang sana ito panaginip.

"Please, please..." he begged. "Come home."

Lumayo ito mula sa mga yakap niya. Itinapat nito ang kamay sa kaliwang dibdib niya. "As long as I'm in your heart, I'm never gone, Reeve."

"I wanted to kiss you, touch you, make love with you. I promise I'll change. Hinding-hindi ko na uunahin ang kahit ano. Ikaw na lang... ikaw na lang, sweetheart. Ikaw lang..." he desperately said. Humigpit ang hapit niya sa baywang nito.

Tinignan lang siya nito ng may awa sa mga mata.

"K-Kung hindi ka makakauwi, then... just take me with you..." he whispered, voice broke of too much emotion. His heart can handle the pain no more. "Isama mo 'ko kung nasaan ka. I can't wake up every day without you anymore."

"How about the kids, Reeve?"

Natigilan siya. Suddenly, the green grass and tall mountains faded in the background. Agatha remained in front of him, but he can't touch her! Hindi niya ito mahawakan!

"Agatha!"

"Rainiel, Riana, Adam, and Rade... how about them, Reeve? Aren't they enough reason for you to stay?"

Hindi siya makasagot. Tila ngayon lang niya naalala ang mga anak. It was like it's his first time to realize that he's already a father to four children.

"Agatha!"

Unti-unting nawala ang imahe nito. Reeve screamed and tried to hold her back. But when his wife's image was gone, his children appeared one by one.