The Unreachable Wife

41- Maybe A New Day

Nahiga sa tabi ko si Anya. She didn't talk much. Nakatalikod siya sa akin. I needed to turned around to see her back. I moved closer and hugged her from behind. Kumapit lang siya sa aking braso at marahan akong tinapik-tapik.

"Goodnight love," she murmured without looking at me.

"Goodnight," I whispered in her ear. I made wet kisses on the curves of her shoulder. Trying my luck to change her mood. Pero bigo ako. Walang bisa ang lambing ko. I gave up and gave her sometime to think deeply. Naiintindihan ko naman ang katamlayan niya. It wasn't a small thing that she lost. It was a dream that shaped her for who she is now.

I hugged her one last time. Dumantay ako sa kanya, cupped her breast and smelled her hair. Nang makuntento saka ko nilagyan ng kaunting distansya ang aming pagkakatabi. Umayos ako ng higa at hinayaang antukin ang sarili. I had no plan to return to Villa Rafael yet. Ang priority ko ay ayusin muna ang magiging bagong set up namin ni Anya.

I was excited on what tomorrow brings. Ang dami kong plano. Ang mga bagay na hindi pa namin nagagawa ni Anya. Kumain sa labas, mag-date, mamasyal, manood ng sine. Gusto ko siyang makasama sa mall, witness how she shops and feel how it is to have a professional designer wife. I could imagine how fussy she could be in choosing my clothes. Yung kahit magpabalik-balik ako sa dressing room ay di ako mapapagod, maipagmalaki ko lang sa mga salesladies kung paano ako asikasuhin ng asawa ko.

Napakaganda ng gising ko kinaumagahan ngunit di ko masyadong maipakita. I needed to weigh my wife's feeling. Di ko kayang ngumiti nang malaya habang ramdam kong nalulungkot pa rin siya. "Good morning love. Coffee?" I greeted her. Nauna ako sa kusina. Mas maaga akong gumising para maghanda ng almusal.

"Morning love," humihikab pang sagot niya. Her energy was still low. Ni hindi na nga nagawang magsuklay bago lumabas ng kuwarto. Pero kahit gusot-gusot ang buhok at di maghilamos, siya pa rin ang pinakamagandang bagong gising na babae sa mundo. "Ba't ikaw nagluto love? Dapat ginising mo ako," anas niya.

"You had to sleep longer at siguradong busy na naman ang araw mo." I gave her a cup of brewed coffee. Magkaharap kaming naupo sa mesa nang may hawak na tig-isang tasa. "Anong schedule mo ngayon?" natural na tanong ko.

"Shooting pero 9am pa naman ang calltime ko."

"Saan?"

"Sa Manila lang naman."

"I'll drive you there if you want."

Ngumiti siya nang tipid. Sipped her coffee. "Huwag na love." She swallowed hard. "Love, is it okay kung kakausapin ko muna yung buong production namin before we expose our relationship? I have to talk to the producers. I'm in contract with them so out of courtesy sila ang gusto kong unang makaalam before the public goes wild," malumanay na sabi niya.

"All right," I shrugged. I got her point. We still need to do things slowly. Marami pa ring irereconsider sa trabaho niya. "When are you planning to tell them?" I asked.

"Balak ko mamaya, after the shooting. Maybe I can request for a brief meeting."

I reached out for her hand and held it warmly. Bakas ko sa mga mata niya na kinakabahan siya sa mga pwedeng mangyari. "We can do this love. Don't be afraid, we're in this together."

Ngumiti siya nang matamlay. "I'm not worried about me. Ikaw ang inaalala ko. Are you sure you'll be fine? Hindi ka sanay sa magulong mundo ng showbiz."

"Kahit gaano pa kaingay at kagulo yan sasamahan kita dahil asawa kita. It's my responsibility to adjust," I answered amiably.

"Love I'm scared baka manibago ka masyado. Promise me you won't get hurt. Siguradong uulanin ka ng haters dahil sa loveteam namin ni Hayward. People will write negative things and many will attempt to destroy our relationship. Let's promise each other that nothing will change."