Forsaken Wife (Completed)

11: Scratches

JADE TALLIA

I pressed the doorbell and it rang. Ilang segundo lang ay bumukas na iyon at sinalubong ako ng ngiti ni Apollo.

"Hi!" Masayang saad nito. "I just took the chicken out of the oven."

Tinaas ko ang dalang box. "I bought cake."

Pumasok na kami sa loob at binaba ang aking gamit sa sofa. Ilang sandali lang ay may maliit at mainit na bagay ang kumikiskis sa aking binti.

"Rascal!" Binuhat ko ito at niyakap. "Happy birthday, baby!"

He meowed and licked my cheeks.

Lumapit sa akin si Apollo, nakasuot pa rin sa kanya ang itim na apron. Hinaplos nito ang malagong balahibo ni Rascal. "He misses you."

"I miss him too."

"How about me?" Napatingala ako sa kanya. "Did you miss me, too?"

Mapang-asar ko itong nginitian. "A little bit."

"Well, that's better than not at all." He chuckled. His put his hand on my back and guide me to the kitchen. "Dinner's ready."

Nguniti parehas kaming napahinto nang tumunog ang doorbell nito. Nakatinginan kami at parehas na nakakunot ang noo.

"Did you invite your mother to dine with us?" I beamed.

"I invite noone to celebrate with us."

I looked at him, confused. "Then who's that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Let's take a look."

Iniwanan niya ako sa aking puwesto at pumunta sa entrance door. Buhat ko pa rin si Rascal habang payapa itong natutulog sa braso ko. He is so fluffy and sweet. I'm glad Apollo treasures him so much and treated him with love.

"Good evening, wife."

Napatigil ako sa paglalaro kay Rascal at dahan-dahan lumingon. It was Zander. "What the.."

"Did I interrupt something?" Mapang-asar nitong tanong. "I came to celebrate with you. I heard your son is having a birthday party."

"Ate Saling told you?"

His cold eyes were looking down at me. "So, where is he? I want to take a look at him."

"He is asleep." Dahilan ko.

Hindi ko mabasa ang nasa isip niya ngunit sa tingin ko ay may misunderstanding dito. Ang iniisip ba nito ay may tinatago kaming anak ni Apollo?

"Wake him up. I want to take a look at him."

"Zander, you've got it---"

"Shut it, Apollo! Hindi ikaw ang kinakausap ko." Madiin ang kanyang mga salita. "Answer me, woman!"

Hinila ni Zander ang braso ko dahilan para magising si Rascal at tumalon. "Rascal!"

He meowed and hid behind the sofa. Matalim kong tiningnan si Zander. "You scared him!"

"Seriously, are you mad at me?"

"Yes! Hinuhusgahan mo na ako bago mo pa malaman ang buong sitwasyon." Binawi ko ang aking braso at paunti-unting lumapit kay Rascal.

"What?" He sound confused.

"Zander, it's Rascal's birthday. You've got it all wrong. Tallia and I have no offspring. So, chill, bro."

Buhat kong muli si Rascal habang papalapit sa dalawa ngunit nang ilang inches nalang ang layo ay tumalon muli ito ngunit papunta na kay Zander.

"Rascal!"

His nail scratched Zander's neck and I saw blood appeared. I rushed to him and put my clean hankerchief.

"That fvcker!" Galit na saad ni Zander.

"Oh no. I'm so sorry." I looked at Apollo. "Get the first aid kit."

"Damn it! This is supposed to be a joyful celebration if only you didn't interfered." Iritang sabi ni Apollo.

"I won't let you be alone with my wife. I don't trust you!"

Umupo kami sa sofa, hawak ko pa rin ang panyo na nasa leeg nito. "You jump into conclusion too fast, Zander."

"Yeah. Like a girl." Sabat ni Apollo at nilapag ang first aid kit sa center table.

I saw the muscles on his jaw moved and he didn't say a word. Kinuha ko ang alcohol at nilagay iyon sa cotton buds saka dinampi iyon sa scratches ni Zander.

He flinched.

I looked at him. "Does it hurt?"

"No. Nagulat lang ako."

Tumango ako tinuloy ang paggamot sa sugat nito. Narinig ko ang pagbuntong-hininga ni Apollo. "What a baby. I have to reheat the chicken, I'll call you once it's ready."

I smiled at him. "Thank you, Apollo."

"Celebrating a feline's birthday? What a simpleton." He smirked. Idiniin ko ang bulak sa sugat nito, lumayo ito at matalim akong tiningnan.

"Being happy with little things doesn't make a person stupid. Greatest moments in life are the simplest. Keep that in your mind, Sandoval."

He mockingly laughed.

Sumimangot ako. "If you think this is stupid, then better leave. Rascal is not comfortable with you anyway."

Pagkatapos kong lagyan ng gamot ang sugat nito ay umupo na ako ng maayos at niligpit ang kalat.

"I'll stay. I have nowhere to go."

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REVISED: MARCH 4, 2019

This chapter is dedicated to this sweet girl DarkAshGray ! Thank you for supporting me, sweetie!