KAKAUWI lang ni Jeva galing sa bahay ng kanyang pumanaw na kaibigan na si Shylane. She leaned her back on the wall caressed her her tummy.
Akala niya hindi na siya ma-stress kapag nailayo na niya ang sarili niya sa kanyang asawa ngunit, nagkamali pala siya. Missing him makes her more stressed. Gusto niyang bumalik sa Pilipinas at bawiin lahat ng kanyang sinabi. She made a mistake. She made a very big mistake.
Isang buwan mula noong umalis siya ng Pilipinas ay sinundan siya ni Janus. At first, akala niya pinuntahan siya nito para guluhin na naman siya at mas lalong sirain ang kanyang relasyon sa asawa ngunit, mali na naman siya. Janus told her everything. Sinabi nito kung bakit kailangan niyang gawin ang kanyang ginawa. Sinabi nito na hindi niya talaga intensyon na sirain ang kanilang relasyon. Janus begged for her forgiveness for someone paid him to do what he did. He apologized to her that he stopped Champ in telling the public about their relationship.
At ngayo'y, nagsisisi siya dahil mahina ang kanyang tiwala sa asawa. Malaki man ang nasira ni Janus pero naiintindihan naman niya ang rason nito. He also endured a lot of things and she also felt sorry that he lose his job because of that fucking person.
She took a deep breath. Hindi niya dapat iniwan ang asawa. Hindi niya dapat hinayaan na makalapit ang lintang iyon sa asawa niya. Unang-una palang alam na niyang walang mabuting maidudulot ang taong iyon sa kanila. She let that person ruined her marriage. She let that person took her happiness.
Jeva dried her tears when someone rang the doorbell. Sino na naman kaya ito. Sino namang baliw ang bumisita sa kanya sa kanyang bahay dito sa Spain sa kalagitnaan ng gabi?
She scratched her head in irritation when the person didn't stop ringing the doorbell.
She opened the door harshly. "Why on earth are you---?!" - her jaw dropped and tears formed on her eyes as she recognized the person in front of her. She can't move and could hardly breath. Natulala lang siya habang nakatingin sa lalaking nasa harapan niya. Hindi niya naisip na susundan siya ng asawa niya rito sa Spain. "H-how? W-why? Did--" - she can't construct a sentence because she is so dazed and confused.
Champ can't explain the joy that he is feeling right now. After two months of playing hide and seek with his wife, at last, she's already in front of him. He can't control himself and closed the gap between them and drew her near to him and gave her a very tight embrace. He buried his face on his favorite part of her body and that's her neck.
Jeva heard him sniffs multiple times. "I missed you so much. Please, don't leave me again." - he said between his sobs.
She blinked her eyes. He is real! Jeva was about to hug him back when Champ pushed her lightly and cupped her face and gave her a long passionate yearning kiss. Through his kisses she could definitely say that her husband longed for her as much as she is to him. She felt him stilled when she answered his kisses.
"Did you just-" Champ didn't expect her to respond to his kisses but it sent joy to his heart. Sobrang laki ng ngiti niya sa kanyang mga labi.
But his smile fades when he noticed her baby bump. Nagtataka at kinabahan naman si Jeva sa naging reaksyon nito. Is he not happy? Anong klaseng reaksyon yan?
"Are you pregnant?" - he said in shock.
"Yes---"
"Why?" - his question made her feel plastered. "Why? How?"
Her brows wrinkled. "What are you saying?"
He rolled his tongue on his inside cheeks while looking at her implausibly. "You answered my kisses and yet you are already pregnant? Why? And how?! Paano ka nabuntis gayong dalawang buwan pa lang mula nang iniwan mo ako? Bakit? May iba ka ba kaya iniwan mo ako? You just used Suella and my career to cover your---"
Malakas na sampal ang ibinigay ni Jeva sa lalaki. "Don't you ever accuse me of having an affair towards another man. You knew that you are my first and you knew how devastated I was when the public said that you have a relationship with that woman!"
Tinalikuran ni Jeva ang lalaki. Sobrang nasaktan siya sa sinabi nito. Anong klaseng babae ba siya sa tingin nito? She maybe wore sexy and revealing clothes but she would never cheat on her husband. Okay lang na masabihan siya ng malandi ng ibang tao dahil hindi nila alam kung sino talaga siya pero, masakit kung galing ito sa bibig ng taong minamahal mo.
Champ gave her a hug from behind. "I'm sorry it's just that-- pero okay lang naman sa akin eh. I will accept the child just love me and never leave me again."
She gasped. Pinihit ni Jeva ang kaniyang sarili at binigyan na lakas na batok ang lalaki. Akala niya na narealize na nito ang ibig niyang sabihin. She never thought that her husband could be this dense.
"ANG BOBO MO!" - padabog na umakyat si Jeva sa hagdanan.
Bukas-sara ang bibig ni Champ nang unti-unting nagsink-in sa kanyang utak ang gustong sabihin ng asawa niya. "What are you-- OH MY-- Hey! Is he mine?"
"EWAN KO SAYONG BOBO KA!" - she said and entered her room immediately and slammed the door.
She laid herself on her bed while her back was facing the door. She bawled. Hindi niya matanggap na ganun ang iisipin ng asawa niya sa kanya. She thought that Champ already knew her.
Sinapak ni Champ ang kanyang sarili. Why are you so dense, Vladimir? Gusto niyang bugbugin ang sarili niya. He indirectly told his wife that she's a promiscuous woman. Ano ba kasi ang pumasok sa isipan niya at hindi man lang niya naisip na maaring magbunga ang mga panahong may nangyari sa kanila. But then, he jumped and danced in joy because he's going to be a father.
He immediately followed her upstairs and luckily his wife didn't lock the door. He smirked. He knew that she purposely didn't lock the door.
He laid himself carefully beside her. He hugged her from the back. His heart sank when he heard her sobs. "I'm so sorry sweetheart for what I've said. I'm so dense."
Pinihit ni Jeva ang kaniyang sarili paharap sa lalaki. She wiped her tears away and smiled at him but in a blink her smile fade away. Uh-oh! Someone's doomed.
She put all her strength on her feet and kicked her husband off the bed. "Buti alam mong gago ka! Ang tagal mong nakarealize." - she said sarcastically while her eyes were burning.
Champ groaned in pain. Nakonsensya naman si Jeva sa kanyang ginawa. Sapo-sapo nito ang kanyang tiyan habang paakyat na ibinalik ang kanyang sarili sa kama.
"I'm sorry. It's that-- yeah, you're right. Gago nga ako." - niyakap niya ang kanyang asawa. "Pero, ang gagong ito ay mahal na mahal ka." - sabi niya ng buong puso. "I'm sorry for causing you a lot of pain. I'm sorry for being a jerk. And I'm sorry for being selfish to ask you not to leave me, again."
Jeva pats his back. "It's okay. What's done is done. We can't undo what happened. What matters is now."
"Really? Are you--"
She nods. "Te amo, cariño."
"Yo te amo más."
They slept together that night on Jeva's room. The next morning, the two joyfully climbed down on the stairs but both stilled when they saw Gavin and Maribel, Jeva's parents.
Matalim ang mga mata ni Gavin habang nakatingin sa lalaki at si Maribel naman ay hindi maitatangging nagulat nang makitang magkasama ang dalawa at magkahawak pa ng mga kamay. Maribel smiled inwardly. Botong-boto siya kay Champ wala na siyang ibang lalaking makikita na babagay sa anak niya. She could see the happiness in her daughter's eyes whenever she's with her husband.
"What are you doing her? And why are you holding my daughter's hand?" - Gavin asked between his gritted teeth. Hindi pa rin nawawala sa utak nito ang pananakit sa kanyang unica hija.
"Good morning, Ma'am and Sir." - Gavin bowed his head to them.
"Ano ka ba naman, Vlad. I told you to call us mom and dad, didn't I?" - Maribel said sweetly.
"Did I agreed to that?" - supladong saad ng ama ni Jeva.
Jeva bit her lower lip. Her father is really intimidating.
"Dad, okay na kami ni Champ." - sabi niya at mas lalong hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa kamay ng asawa niya.
"Que rapido?" That fast? - nakataas ang kilay nito habang nakatingin sa lalaki. "No recuerdas lo que te hizo este idiota desvergonzado?" Don't you remember what this shameless jerk did to you? - walang emosyong tanong ng kanyang ama sa kanya.
"Yo hice." I did. - she looked at his father straight to his eyes. "But, I am partly to blame. I also told him not to tell anyone about our relationship and I was the one who broke his heart. I was the one who left him."
"Still." - his father said firmly. "I--"
"Are you happy?" - her mother cuts her father's words. "Are you happy to be with him?" - tanong ng kanyang ina sa kanya.
"What are you--" - siniko ni Maribel ang kanyang asawa para tumahimik.
"Yes. I am happy with him, mamá." - Jeva answered with no hesitations. Her father snorted with her answer.
Maribel faced her husband. "We promised our ONLY child to give whatever that makes her happy, right?" - she smirked. Ito rin ang mga salitang ginamit niya noong hinarap sila ni Champ. "Give what makes her happy and, that is your blessing."
Gavin rolled his eyes. "It is against my will but, for my daughter, okay. I'll give this punk another chance."
Maribel, Jeva and Champ smiled widely but it immediately disappeared when Gavin spoke again. "But--"
"What is it again, Gavin?" - nakakunot ang noo ni Maribel habang nakatingin sa asawa.
"You need to do all the house chores without the help of the maids while you're courting my daughter."
Their jaws dropped. Villaflor's house here in Spain is undeniably huge. Tapos si Champ pa ang gagawa ng lahat ng gawain dito.
"Okay, sir. I will do what you said." - Jeva was about to stop her father pero naunahan siya ng kanyang asawa. Naguguluhang tumingin si Jeva sa kanyang asawa. Bakit siya pumayag? He doesn't know how to do house chores, kahit nga paghuhugas ng plato ay hindi niya magawa ng tama. Champ gave her an assuring smile. "I will do whatever you want me to do, if that will help me prove that I am serious with your daughter."- he bowed at her parents.
Gavin smirked devilishly while his wife was glaring at him. Jeva is talking to her father using her pleading eyes but her father seems not to care.
Nagsimula sa araw na iyon ay nagsimula na ang paghihirap ni Champ para makuha muli ang kamay ng kanyang asawa. His wife's father was really an old-school. He didn't let them sleep together. But it was okay with him at least he knew that after his struggles he will eventually have his wife again. Okay lang din sa kanya na liligawan niya ang kanyang asawa dahil isa ito sa mga hindi niya nagawa para rito.
"NOOOO!!" - Jeva stopped reminiscing when Kyza suddenly shout, kaya lahat ay napatingin sa kaniya. "Anong kasal?! Don't you dare, Jeva Leyn! Ako muna! Ako ang mauunang ikakasal. Sa akin muna ang spotlight ngayon, gaga ka!"
Lahat sila ay napangiwi akala nila kung ano na ang dahilan sa biglaang pagsigaw nito.
"Don't worry, Kyza. Hindi ka uunahan ni Jeva. Dahil ako ang mauuna sayo." - Mari grinned at her. Kyza threw a pillow at her. "Ano ba?! Kanina pa kayo, ah? Baka nakakalimutan niyong nandito kayo sa bahay ko?! Palayasin ko na lang kaya kayo, eh no?" - she growled.
"Ay? Bahay pala ito? Akala ko kasi bahay ampunan." - Kyza smirked at her.
"You--"
"Enough, you're not a good example to the kid." - saway ni Beatrice sa kanila. Tapos na pa lang gamutin ni Pietro ang mga sugat niya.
Mari tsked. "Kahit naman maging good example kami sa batang yan wala din namang kwenta dahil manang-mana yan sa kanyang ina."- Mari rolled her eyes.
Natatawang napahalukipkip si Jeva nang maalala ang ginawa ng kaniyang anak sa kaibigan niya. Mari glared at her.
"Anyways, ano ang plano niyo?" - Tanong ni Alvin.
"Magpapakasal." -simpleng sagot ni Champ.
"Sabing ako muna ang magpapakasal eh!" - Kyza.
Gwyn gave her an irritating smile. "Sigurado ka bang sisiputin ka ng fianceé mo sa kasal niyo? Baka mabagok ang ulo nun at marealize niyang hindi ka pala mahal." - she mocked giving her a fake sad face.
"Perra!" Bitch! - Kyza shouted furiously.
"Arrghh!! Pwede ba tumahimik kayo. Baka gusto niyong pagbuhulin ko kayo?!" - naiiritang saad ni Nerize. Her friends are giving her a headache.
"Aside sa pagpapakasal ano pa ang plano niyo. Ikaw, Beatrice? Anong plano mo? Hindi ba iyon lang naman ang pinunta mo dito sa Pilipinas? Iyon ang pagbayarin ang may sala sa kakambal mo?" - tanong ni Alvin kay Beatrice.
Trice eyes were like fire on ice. Malamig ang mga mata nito pero nagliliyab sa galit. Ayaw na ayaw niyang marinig ang tungkol sa kanyang kakambal. Ayaw na ayaw niyang maaalala na wala siyang nagawa para iligtas ito sa nakaraan. "Uuwi na." - tanging sagot ng babae.
Jeva noticed Pietro looked away. Napakunot ang kanyang noo. Hindi kaya? She shrugged her thoughts wala siya sa lugar para makialam.
"Are you sure? Hindi ka ba magstay muna dito? Like, be on my wedding?" - tanong ni Kyza kay Beatrice.
She chuckled. "Silly! Of course, I will be at your wedding. After all, I was the one who designed your dress." - she smiled at her.
Kyza clapped her hands. "That's great!"
"Dahil ikakasal na rin naman kayo. Why not treat us at Nanay Maria's street food house?" - Dane said while grinning.
Jeva raised her right brow at Dane. "Bakit noong naengage ka ba pinaglibre ka namin?" - dahil sa tanong ni Jeva ay nag-iba ang timpla ng mukha nito. "Oopsiee! I forgot. Wala ka na palang fianceé." - she said mockingly.
Dane and Chandria broke up for unknown reason. Ayaw naman ipagsabi ng lalaki ang nangyari kaya hinayaan na lang nila. They knew in time Dane will ask their help. Ito pa ba? Alam nila kung gaano ka mahal ng lalaking yan ang dating fianceé. Hindi lang nila maintindihan kung bakit hinayaan nito na maghiwalay sila.
Dane glared at Jeva. "Sweetheart, oh?" - sumbong ng babae sa kanyang asawa. Champ put Jeva behind her while the latter stuck her tongue out at her friend. Dane rolled his eyes in defeat. Oh, edi siya na single.
Jeva noticed Beatrice walked out. Nagpaalam siya sa asawa niya upang sundan ang kaibigan. Champ nodded at her kay mabilis naman tumalima.
"Trice?" - tawag niya rito. Agad namang lumingon sa kanya ang babae. She smiled at her. "Are you satisfied?" - she asked her directly.
"Yeah." - she answered honestly.
"Nahanap mo na ba ang kapayapaan ng puso mo?"
Her smile faded. Kaya naman napatitig sa kanya si Jeva.
"I don't know, Jeva. Nagawa ko na ang gusto kong gawin pero hindi ko masasabing masaya na nga talaga ako. I don't know, Jeva. I don't know." - she is shaking her head while saying those words. Jeva felt pity on her. "I really wanted to take my heart again but, I don't know I will be able to--"
"You can and you will." - she gave her an assuring smile.
"You think so?"
"Of course! I'm positive." - Jeva pulled her friend and gave her a tight hug. "I believe in you, Trice and you are worth it." - she said heartily.
She knew that Beatrice wanted someone back in her arms but she could say that her friend has a huge doubt in herself.
She heard her sniffs. "It's okay, Trice. It's okay." - she caressed her back while trying to comfort her.
They had another small talk before they went back inside Mari's house again.
"Are you sure you're fine?" - she asked again.
Beatrice hummed. "I am."
"Okay, if you say so." - sabi niya at hindi na pinilit ang kaibigan.
She just observed what is happening inside her friends house. Nagbabangayan si Kyza at Mari habang si Gwyn naman ay nagmamasahe sa balikat ni Mari at ganun din ang ginagawa ni Alvin kay Kyza. Natatawa na lang siya sa kanyang mga kaibigan. Mga isip bata.
"Mamaaaa." - Way wrapped her hands on her mother's waist. "Give me phone, ma." - her jaw dropped with what her daughter asked her. "Mom, phone." - ulit nito.
"That's not the right way to say, Victory." - she told her daughter with a warning voice. "Say, please."
"Please, ma."
"Please, what Way?"
"Phone."
"What phone?"
"Give me a phone."
She raised her brow at her daughter. "Wrong. Say, please let me borrow your phone, ma."
"Please. Phone. Borrow."
"Make it right, Victory."
Victory sighed. For a kid, she doesn't like saying please and thank you. "Please, ma. Let me borrow your phone."
"Good." -she pats her daugther's head. "What are you going to watch?" -tanong niya sa kanyang anak.
"Masha and the bear."
She sighed. She really doesn't like her daughter watching Masha and the bear because her daughter does things like masha. Masyadong makulit ang bata at sobrang sakit sa ulo.
"No. Not Masha and the Bear. Just watch Babybus."
"Nooo!! Masha only!" - pamimilit nito.
"I said no Masha just Babybus." - umikot siya paharap dito ngunit tinamaan ng kanyang siko ang ulo ng kanyang anak. "OMG! OMG! OMG! I'm so sorry. I'm sorry love. Does it hurt?" - she checked her daughter's head. Nakahinga naman siya ng maluwag ng hindi niya nakitaan ng bukol ang ulo nito. "Mamá lo siente mucho." Mama is really sorry. - she said worried to her daughter.
"Esta bien, mamá. Estoy bien." It's okay, mama. I'm okay. - her daughter gave her an assuring smile.
"Okay here, just watch masha." - she said in defeat and handed her phone to her child. Ito lang tanging paraan to make things up for her daughter kahit na ayaw niyang nanonood ito ng masha and the bear.
She carried her daughter and made her sit on her lap. Later on, her husband came towards them and sat beside her.
Her husband leaned his head on her shoulder. And whispered something on her.
"I think, it's already the right time for you and Way to live with me in our house."