If I have Nothing (Absinthe Series 5)

Kabanata 26

Kabanata 26

If I Have Nothing

I roamed my eyes around the place. It looks like a typical house but it was a condo unit. Malaki kumpara sa condo ni Kuya Bo.

I held on to the handle of my luggage when I heard heavy footsteps coming from the hallway. Mula sa paglilibot ng aking mga mata sa sala ay dumapo iyon sa taong kalalabas lang ng pasilyo.

Our eyes met in an instant. Pansin kong bagong paligo siya. He looked fresh in his wet hair and a matching color of shirt and shorts. May gray na towel na nakasabit din sa kaniyang leeg.

Bahagya akong humarap kay Rhett. It has been weeks since I last saw him. We don't really talk much, I just answered and asked what was necessary.

Months of being cold to him was convenient for me to forget about my feelings. Mas natabunan iyon ng pag-iisip na ginagawa lang naman namin ito dahil napagkasunduan at napilitan lamang. I focused more on studies. Gusto ko lang ibaling ang pansin ko sa ibang bagay.

Nagtapos na ako ng Senior High School. Dalawang buwan na ang nakalilipas. Now, I am also officially enrolled in college taking up BS in Medical Technology. Sabay kami ni Marriam na nag-enroll sa ibang university na nag-ooffer nang ganoong course. Darwin, on the other hand, took up engineering in UDM. Hindi naman nalalayo ang eskwelahan namin ni Marriam, SFU is just a few minutes away from it.

"Who dropped you off here?" iyon ang tanong ni Rhett matapos akong pasadahan ng tingin. Nasa sahig ang isa ko pang bagahe habang ang maleta ay hawak ko pa rin.

Inalis ko ang tingin sa kaniya. "Dad did."

Bumaling ako sa ibang direksyon. "Nasaan ang kwarto ko?" Kapagkuwan ay tanong ko sa kaniya. As much as I want to stay long in the receiving room, I rather stay in my room. Baka dito siya madalas tumambay, ayaw ko lang makaistorbo.

Seeing my face might make him hate me more. Buti nga at natiis niya pa ang paghatid sa akin sa bahay sa makalipas na buwan.

We're married, yes, but I don't want him doing all those things all over again. Parang ipinapaalala niya sa akin lahat ng pagpapanggap niya.

He sighed. Humakbang siya patungo sa akin kaya naalarma ako. My eyes narrowed at him. "What are you doing?"

"I'm getting your stuff." Aniya at yumuko upang kunin ang aking isa pang bag na medyo may kabigatan. I subtly watched as his arms flexed. Agad kong iniwas ang tingin at ibinaling iyon sa isang abstract portrait na nasa pader.

Sumunod ako sa kaniya nang pumasok siya sa pasilyo. The rolling of the wheels made by my luggage echoed as we walked. May tatlon pintong nandoon. Tumigil siya sa pinakadulo at binuksan ang pinto.

The room was painted in white with a touch of warm blue motif. Pumasok si Rhett kaya sumunod ako. Inilapag niya ang aking bag sa sahig at napalingon sa akin.

"This is our room."  He stared at me.

Lumawak ang aking mata. "Our?"

His brows raised a bit. "Yes, unless you want to sleep in the office."

"What about the other room?"

"There are still...stuff inside."

Sumimangot ako. Sandaling tinapunan siya ng tingin bago lumabas at tiningnan ang mga kwarto.

I don't trust his words anymore lalo na kung ipagpipilitan niyang magkasama kami sa iisang kwarto lamang.

The first room was filled with things that I don't even know about. May mga malalaking boxes na nagpatong-patong at maliit lang ang kwarto. I could barely even breathe.