Bachelor's Affection (Series 1) (Under Editing)

05

Maaga akong nagising pero 'di tulad noon na gigising ako ng maaga para sa asawa. Hindi para pag-asikasuhan si Russel ng breakfast. Nakakatawa mang isipin na lagi ko pala iyong ginagawa kahit na hindi naman binibigyang pansin ni Russel.

Todo akong gawin ang makakaya ko, pero wala namang nangyayari.

It's as if I was functioning because that's what I was told, not because that's what I want to do, working without any progress. It was like walking my path without advancing.

Matapos magbihis, hilamos at toothbrush ay nag suot na ako ng black leggings and sports bra tinernohan ko rin ng color mustard na jacket. Balak kong mag jogging ngayon para naman mai-hersisyo ko ang katawan.

Lumalantay na ang pakiramdam ko dahil sa kagagawan ng damuho na iyon. Bakit ko pa nga ba pinag-aaksayahan ng oras 'yun sa mga pinang gagagawa ko? Eh, mas malinaw pa sa dagat ng Boracay na wala naman talagang pakialam iyon sa akin.

'Yan tama 'yan, 'yan ang isipin mo sinag dahil ayun naman talaga ang totoo.

Nang makababa ako, as usual, hindi pa gising si Russel dahil 5:30 am palang at 6 am siya nagigising. 7 am naman ang pasok niya sa opisina.

Lumabas na ako ng bahay at isinara lang iyon pero hindi ko na inilock. Nang makalabas ay agad akong nag jogging habang bitbit ang bottled water ko, inihanda ko talaga 'yun kapag nauhaw ako.

Naka ilang ikot din ako sa buong village. Dumaan muna ako sa park ng village na 'yun para makapag pahinga. 6:25 na rin pala. Inubos ko ang laman ng bottled water ko, dahil after ko mag pahinga ay uuwi na rin naman ako.

Inilibot ko ang paningin sa kabuohan nitong park. Several people like me have just arrived from jogging. There are others with their families for a picnic. It's funny to think that even though what I was carrying in my heart was heavy, just seeing this somehow makes me feel better. I slowly looked at my hand with dripping sweat from my forehead, before I wiped it with my face towel tucked in my jacket pocket.

Napalingon ako nang mapansing may tumabi ng upo sa akin sa bench na kinauupuan.

"Hello," bati ng isang estranghero sa akin.

Nginitian ko lang ito at sinagot ng, "Married."

"Where's the ring?" tanong nito na ikinapahiya ko. Really? Bakit ko ba sinagot iyon? Dapat talaga nag-iingat ako sa mga sinasabi ko.

"Arranged," hindi ako makatingin sa katabi. Pero teka, sino ba 'to? Bakit bigla-bigla nalang siyang tumatabi sa akin?

"Oh, you just signed a marriage contract, right?" I just nodded so that the conversation would end and so that he wouldn't ask any more questions.

That’s not a big deal for me anymore. Maybe because of what happened last night between me and Russel. I restrained myself from remembering that because my tears were shallow. I don't want the person next to me to see that I was about to cry.

"By the way, I'm Vince and you are?" he held out his hand to me perhaps to shake hands, but I hesitated if I will take it or not. He must have noticed that.

"It's okay if you're not comfortable accepting my handshake," I saw that he was sincere in his introduction, and I saw that there was pain across his eyes although I wasn't sure about what I saw. I just accepted his handshake.

"Sinag," pakilala ko.

He looked surprised when I said my name. I also saw amusement in his eyes.

"Really? Like Sunshine?" He asked me curiously.

"Yes, that's my English name," I just laughed at his reaction because he really couldn't believe it.

"Well, your name is unique. Honestly, I really couldn't believe it when you said that," he shook his head with a small smile on his lips.