Behind Every Man (COMPLETED)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

I didn't understand why Archie was struggling more than usual.

It had been two weeks since we had that fight—or more appropriately, he had that fight because I had no intention to argue with him. We ended up going to his father's birthday lunch, but even then, he didn't bother to pretend that everything's fine with us. When I asked him about it, he said that what was the matter? It wasn't as if we had to pretend in front of his family. Hindi naman iyon publiko na kailangan naming magpanggap palagi na masaya kami.

I seriously didn't understand why he was being like this.

"Good morning," I greeted when he finally got out of the room. Gumising ako nang maaga para maghanda ng almusal. I made him fried rice, bacon, eggs, longganisa, and freshly brewed coffee. For the past few weeks, kape lang ang iniinom niya bago siya pumasok sa trabaho.

"Morning," he greeted back with a small nod.

"I made breakfast," I said kahit na halata naman dahil nakaayos na iyon sa lamesa. He just looked at it. "Let's have breakfast," I continued.

"I'm already running late," sabi niya kahit hindi naman siya tumingin sa relo niya. He was not running late.

"Then be late," I said. Bahagya siyang natawa. That was the first expression other than his forehead being creased that I had seen in weeks. "What?"

"Nothing," he replied. "It was just weird. You're the one who always told me that works come first all the time."

I pursed my lips and took a deep breath. The thing with marriage was, you can't be both mad at the same time. Obviously, he's pissed—still—kaya naman mas dapat kong habaan ang pasensya ko.

"Not all the time," I said.

"So, may exception?" he asked, taunting me.

"Archie, please," I said using the calmest tone I could muster. "Can we just have breakfast? Please?"

Nakatingin siya sa akin na para bang iniisip niya pa kung ano ang dapat niyang gawin. I was staring at him back. If we're indeed fighting, then this was me waving the white flag. I choose my battles, and this was definitely not one worth fighting for. Siya lang naman ang may problema sa akin.

"Fine," he said as he took the seat opposite to mine.

Tahimik siyang naglagay ng kanin at ulam sa plato niya. I was just watching him as he ate. Thankfully, hindi naman siya nagmamadaling kumain. Maybe that's a sign.

"Papanoorin mo lang ba ako?" he asked.

"Maybe," I said. "I hadn't had the chance to look at your face for the past weeks."

I saw how his ears began to redden. At least alam ko na apektado pa rin siya sa akin. "You see me all the time," he said, slightly scoffing.

"Barely," I replied. "Maybe for a minute in the morning as you pour yourself a cup of coffee and then immediately leave for work."

He shrugged. "Point still stands—nakikita mo ako araw-araw."

Tumingin ako sa kanya at bumuntong-hininga. "Aren't you getting tired of this?" I asked him. "Because I am tired of this."

Seconds passed and I saw him sigh.

"Fine," he said. "Truce."

Umiling ako. "No truce," I replied.

Mabilis na kumunot ang noo niya. "What do you want from me, then?"

"I don't want to fight," I said. "But I also don't want truce. That's just a pause. The issue is still there, lingering."