My Husband Beside Me (PREVIEW ONLY)

Part 18

HINDI makapaniwala si Sloane sa regalong natanggap mula sa kanyang asawa. It was a Steinway and Sons grand piano, the Black Diamond limited edition in Macassar Ebony.

"This is too..."

Hindi niya alam kung paano magre-react. Kanina pa siya walang imik habang isinasaayos ang piano sa salas ng bahay ni Helga.

"Expensive?" anang babae. "Oh, it's nothing. Besides, this is a good investment, too."

"No, no. Not that." Umupo siya sa bench sa harapan ng piano. "This is for artists, you know? I mean, real artists, musicians."

"Ah, so may rule pala sa pagbili ng grand piano?" mataray na sabi ni Helga. "Besides, artist ka namang matatawag since you can sing and play the piano. You can dance pa nga."

Tumawa si Sloane. "Babe, don't get me wrong. I am very thankful for this gift, ni hindi ito ang naisip kong ibibigay mo sa akin para sa birthday ko."

"Ayaw mo naman kasing magsabi kung ano ang gusto mo. Actually, hindi lang iyan ang gift ko sa iyo. I want to give you more."

"More?" Hinila niya ang babae palapit sa kanya at pinaupo sa kandungan. "Huwag na. Ikaw lang, sapat na."

"Corny mo!" Siniko siya nito sa tagiliran. "Pero wala ka ba talagang ibang gusto? I'm not really good at giving gifts, Sloane. 'Yung mga binibigay ko sa ibang tao, madalas I consult Chelsea. I need to know what you want."

"I'm serious, ikaw lang gusto ko. I'm not that hard to please, you should know that by now."

He didn't know if he was even appreciating them the right way— everything that Helga had been doing for him lately. Alam niyang binabawasan nito ang pagpunta sa opisina upang magkaroon sila ng oras sa isa't-isa lalo kung wala siyang trabaho. Just last week, she went to Hong Kong with him when he was doing a pictorial for a magazine.

"I know that. But I still want to give you gifts. Ikaw, palagi kang may bigay sa akin kahit walang okasyon."

"Well, you're my girl." Humalik siya sa sintido nito. "I want to give you everything."

Helga let out a soft and embarrassed giggle. She was so cute.

"Kinilig ka doon, aminin mo," tukso dito ni Sloane.

"Hmp! Oo na nga." Tumayo ito matapos siyang halikan sa pisngi. "Hey, play me a song!" excited nitong sabi saka pumuwesto sa tabi ng piano.

"Bakit parang mas nanenerbiyos ako na ikaw lang ang audience ko?" natatawang biro niya naman.

"C'mon, please?" lambing ng asawa.

Mahihindian niya ba ito? Si Helga ang pangunahing inspirasyon niya noong nag-guest siya sa concert ni Alina. He overcame his nervousness because of her. Basta napapatingin siya sa kinauupuan nito ay ngumingiti ito sa kanya, kumakaway. Her face was gleaming with pride and joy whenever the audience would applaud.

Sloane was not expecting that the audience would love him that much, so much that after Alina did her final number, they were cheering for his name. Gusto niyang mahiya noon sa babae, lalo pa't pinagbigyan na niya ang unang request ng audience na kumanta siya ng extra sa kalagitnaan ng concert. Ngunit masaya naman ito para sa kanya at nagpasalamat pa ito dahil nakapagpahinga daw ito habang nagpi-perform siya nang solo. The audience also enjoyed his humurous improv, parang nag-stand up comedy nga daw siya. When the concert director asked him to sing more at the end, pumayag siya. Sabi niya na lang sa audience na kakanta siya habang papaalis na ang mga ito sa venue. But they sat still and asked for more. Naka-tatlong kanta tuloy siya at nagbiro pa siya, "Umuwi na po kayo, parang awa n'yo na, malaki na ang babayaran nila sa kuryente, baka wala nang pang-TF sa akin." How they loved his humor. They stayed until he finally said goodbye. His wife and his family were very proud of him. Niyakap pa siya ng kanyang ama bago sila umuwi nang gabing iyon.