The Desperate Ex-Wife

Book 1: 6b

HELGA woke up to Keith's snoring. Matagal na niyang alam na naghihilik si Keith pero masyadong malakas ngayon. Marahil dahil pagod at puyat. Maga-ala-una na din kasi natapos ang reception kagabi.

Inabot niya ang alarm clock sa night stand. It was five o'clock in the morning.

Sinulyapan ni Helga si Keith. Nasa gilid ito ng malaking kama, halos nahuhulog na yata. He was on his back.

For a brief moment, she considered waking him up but she quickly decided against it. Kung mahuhulog si Keith, kanina pa iyon nangyari.

Muli na sanang tatalikod si Helga nang may mapansin siya. May unan sa pagitan nila ni Keith. Kung kailan iyon inilagay ni Keith, wala siyang ideya.

It was something though that she did not really expect. Dahil kagabi, sa wedding reception, ay halos hindi siya binibitawan ni Keith. Ni hindi ito lumalayo sa kanya ng isang dangkal. How ironic that in bed, he was miles away from her. Literally and figuratively.

Okay, miles was an exaggeration. Ilang metro lang naman ang pagitan nila. But Keith really seemed distant the moment they walked inside the bridal suite. Halatang-halata niya. Halos isang tanong isang sagot lang ito.

Isang malaking patunay na palabas lang talaga ang nangyari sa wedding reception kanina. Keith acted like he was inlove. At kung hindi lang alam ni Helga ang totoo, baka naniwala na rin siya.

Tumagilid siya at humarap kay Keith.

Dahil nakapikit ito ay kitang-kita ni Helga ang mahahabang pilikmata nito. Ngayon lang napansin iyon ni Helga. Kung sabagay, hindi naman talaga niya tinitigan si Keith. She had no reason to. Ngayon lang. At kung bakit niya tinititigan ngayon, hindi niya alam.

But Keith really had long eyelashes. Had it not been for his strong facial features he would have been so pretty.

And the guy could surely kiss. Sa naisip na 'kiss the bride moment' nila kanina ay napangiti si Helga.

Noong una ay idinampi lang ni Keith ang mga labi nito sa mga ni Helga. It was a sweet, gentle kiss. They were booed by the guests. They both laughed. Then Keith cupped her face and kissed her properly. No tongue but deep. Not that she was comparing but if her memory served her right, that was the very first time that Helga was kissed without feeling like a tongue was being shoved down her throat. Pero nang bitawan siya ni Keith, habol niya ang hininga niya. And yes, her heart was beating wildly. Walang mag-iisip na iyon ang kanilang first kiss.

Tumigil sa paghilik si Keith.

Napapitlag si Helga. Bigla siyang pumikit. Kung bakit niya ginawa iyon, na para bang ilang na ilang siyang mahuli siya ni Keith na nakatitig, hindi niya alam. Dati naman ay wala siyang nararamdamang pagkailang kapag niyayakap niya ito. Humahalik pa siya sa pisngi nito. Madalas pa niyang sabihin na mahal niya ito. At totoo naman talaga 'yon.

Nang muli niyang marinig na maghilik si Keith, tumalikod na si Helga.

Mukhang may mga bagay nga yatang magbabago dahil sa pagpayag nilang magpakasal. Dahil tanggapin man nila o hindi, hindi na lang sila magkaibigan ngayon. They were now man and wife. Kahit pa sa papel lang iyon. And she was feeling a bit uncomfortable because, at the back of her mind, she knew what husbands and wives do behind closed doors. 

Pero dahil kasal lang naman sila ni Keith sa papel, hindi nila gagawin ang mga bagay na ginagawa ng totoong mga mag-asawa. Siya, kaya niya. But Keith? She knew he was a very sexual person. At twenty-three he still had raging hormones.  

Pinigilan ni Helga ang mapahugot ng malalim na hininga.

Ah, we really need to lay down some ground rules, Keith.

Bukas, kukulitin na lang uli niya ito. 

Pero ang ilalagay nila sa ground rules? No sex?

Napalunok siya. Kawawa naman si Keith.