A Flower for Alice

7

DARIO

For this day, we just watch a romantic movie dahil ayoko pa pumasok sa opisina ko because I am figuring out of what is happening in me. Because I really can't believe that we are married because as far as I can recall, we are in Batanes for the PREPARATION of our wedding.

"Are you really okay, Emmanuel?" nag-aalalang tanong sa akin ni Alice. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatingin pala ako sa kawalan.

I smirk at her. "I am handsome, I know."

"I am not joking, you looked bothered simula pa kanina." sagot niya.

"I am just thinking, don't worry. Hindi naman sobrang halaga nun." pagpapakalma ko sa kaniya. Hindu niya na ako pinilit at nagpatuloy na lang kami sa panonood.

Our day is just like that, we watched Action, Romantic Comedy movies, we cuddled and talked about our plans since we are married. Ganun lang umikot ang araw namin at nakalimutan ko na ang iniisip ko kanina.

"... pinagluto na kita ng pagkain mo for lunch. I know you have the cafeteria there, but I made it with love. You have a microwave in your office so initin mo na lang para mas masarap" Alice handed me the paper bag containing my lunch.

"Kagaya ng init ng pagmamahal ko sayo." biro ko na tinawanan niya lang.

Hinampas niya ako ng pabiro. "You are really lame. Now get out of my house at pumunta ka na sa trabaho mo.

"Are you pushing me away? You don't love me anymore?" I said and I puppy eyed her. She just pinch my nose.

"Yes, I am pushing you away but I love you so much, so get out now and stop flirting with me." sabi niya habang tinutulak ako palabas.

"But I don't want to leave your side." biro ko pero kinurot niya lang ako sa tagiliran.

"Get out Emmanuel, I am serious now. Male-late ka na sa trabaho mo. Hannah said you will have a very engage day." she answered using her serious voice then she looked at me with her stoic face.

"Okay, I know you will be angry so I'm out of here. Goodbye my love, I love you so much." paalam ko na nginitian niya lang

Pinaghanda niya ako sa pagpasok sa kompanya ko kaya ganito kami ngayon.

Nilapitan niya ako at inayos ang neck tie ko. She is the sweetest wife for me.

"Be careful while driving. Huwag ka ding sobrang magtrabaho at mag-isip and if there's something that is bothering you or stressing you out, you can always tell me. I love you." paalala niya, napangiti ako.

"And I love you very much. Mag-ingat ka din dito." sagot ko at hinalikan ang labi niya.

She sent me out to the garage. I just waved my hand to her and she give me a flying kiss.

My phone rings while I am driving so I connect it to my wireless headphone.

"Darius' speaking." seryoso kong bungad.

"Sir, good morning po. Papunta na ba po kayo dito sa opisina?" sagot ng nasa kabilang linya na siyang sekretarya ko.

"Yes, is there any problem?" I asked.

"Wala naman po Sir, but Mrs. Santiago is here po. She is waiting inside your office because she wants to talk to you, Sir." paliwanag niya.

Nagtaka ako kung ano ang pag-uusapan namin ni Mommy.

"Okay, sabihin mo papunta na ako." sagot ko pagkatapos ay nagpaalam na.

Pagka- park na pagka- park ko ng sasakyan sa parking lot ay lumabas agad ako dahil baka importante ang sasabihin niya. Sinalubong ako ni Hannah, my secretary.

Bumati siya sa akin at sinamahan na ako pataas.

"Sir for today's schedule, you will have a meeting with the international entrepreneur for his stocks. At may meeting po kayo with the Graphics Team for the completion of the new game that we are going to launch." banggit ng sekretarya ko habang naglalakad kami.

There are greetings from the employees na tinanguan ko lang at nginitian.

Nang makarating kami sa opisina ko ay nakita ko si Mommy na umiinom ng tsaa. Nang nakita niya ako ay sinalubong niya ako ng yakap.

"Good morning son, how are you and Alice?" salubong niya.

"We're okay po. Bakit pala kayo nandito?" tanong ko dahil madami pala akong meetings for this day.

"Well, aside from asking you how is your marriage life doing, ipapaalam ko din na uuwi sila Tito Andrius at Tita Lita mo kasama ang pinsan mong si Kervin. Since they didn't made to go to your wedding because they are all busy, ngayon lang sila nagka-time kaya uuwi sila." nakangiting paliwanag ni Mommy sa akin. She is excited for this, huh?

"That's great. I know you missed them. Sasabihin ko kay Alice ito para makapaghanda kami." sagot ko sa kaniya.

"Yes, magkakaroon tayo ng dinner. They will be here in 2 days time so I should be ready. I know you are busy, yun lang naman ang gusto kong sabihin. I will take my leave na." paalam ni Mommy sa akin.

"You can just call me Mom, right? Why did you come here?" nagtataka kong tanong. Nagdilim ang mukha ni Mommy.

"I just want to see if my son is doing well, ayaw mo na ba makita ang Mommy mo? Even though you have Alice now, you will never be complete without me." nagtatampo niyang saad kaya natawa ako at nilapitan siya.

"This handsome son of yours is just curious Mom, you know you can visit me and Alice anytime." I said to her.

"I know I can, now I will really take my leave. Sabihin mo na din kay Alice ito, for your cousin to realize that he is out of the calendar na so he should settle down." sabi ni Mommy na ikinatawa ko. Hinalikan ko na ang noo niya para makaalis na siya. Not that I don't want her here, I am just really busy. Kung hindi ako busy, baka nasabi ko na sa kaniya ang gumugulo sa utak ko ngayon.

Hinatid ko na si Mommy palabas at sakto na mag-sisimula na pala ang meeting ko.

While I am in the meeting, bumalik na naman ang iniisip ko. I don't how the hell this happened but I am glad that we are married. But my memories and the happenings today sucks kaya hindi ako nakapag- focus ng ayos sa meetings pero naayos naman lahat.

Nang dumating ang lunch, kahit na may lunch meeting ako ay kinain ko pa din ang luto ng mahal ko.

This is a hectic day kaya pagod na pagod ako. Pero kailangan pa rin asikasuhin ang launching ng bagong laro kaya hindi ko na namalayan ang oras. Pagkatingin ko sa orasan ay seven- thirty na kaya agad kong tinawagan si Alice.

"Yes?" bungad niya.

"I will be late today my love kasi inaayos pa namin yung laro na ila-launch namin kaya magpahinga ka na, huwag mo na akong hintayin." paliwanag ko.

"Okay, may pagkain dito pagkauwi mo. Kumain ka muna bago ka matulog, huh? Take care always. I love you." she answered at pinatay niya na ang tawag.