The Unreachable Wife

44- The Place Where My Heart Belongs

"Love why don't you wear sunglasses?" I told Lander when we arrived at our local airport and waiting beside the conveyor.

"Para saan?" sabi niya habang nakatingin lang sa mga dumadaang bagahe.

"Don't you feel awkward na pinagtitinginan ka lagi? People won't stop taking pictures too," pabulong na sabi ko habang kapit na kapit ako sa braso niya. I was wearing smile since almost all eyes were on us pero hindi nakakaligtas sa mga mata ko ang mga babaeng pasimpleng pumipicture kuno but for all I know ang asawa ko lang ang nililitratuhan nila.

He chuckled. "Mababago ba ang mukha ko kapag nagsalamin ako?" pilosopo niyang sagot. "Let them look as much as they want. I can't do anything about it dahil sikat ang asawa ko," tatawa-tawa lang tugon niya na sabay dampot sa isang malaking maleta ko.

I checked facebook everytime I was pretending to be busy on the phone kapag napapagod na akong ngumiti sa mga tao. Lander's pictures were everywhere. There were pictures of us together pero konti lang ito kumpara sa mga solo pictures niya. And as I suspected, mostly girls were the one sharing it. Nakakabingi ang mga tili sa kani-kanilang status. Meron pa ngang mga ginawang polls between him and Hayward. And guess what? My man surprisingly won. Many were wishing they were in my shoes. Proud naman ako but at the same time a bit irked. Medyo umiinit ang mga tenga ko kapag naiisip kong pinagpapantasyahan na ng mga babae ang asawa ko.

Also, in just a short period of time of my revelation, naglitawan na agad ang mga throwback pictures niya. Of course coming from those people who knew him from the old days. Now that he became an overnight sensation, kanya-kanya na silang paraan ng pagmamalaki. Indeed social media is the easiest yet the best way of digging people's lives nowadays.

"Finally, naubos din," he said then breathed deeply. Pag-angat ko ng mukha nasa tabi na naman lahat ng mga bagahe ko. He looked tired after picking up those giant luggages. Three porters helped us. Habang lumalabas ng arrival area, I continued waving to everyone. Ang kasama ko naman ay parang walang pakialam lang. Only minding me and our luggages. He wasn't uncomfortable about the overwhelming attentions pero sa kabilang banda ay di rin naman namamansin.

Nagulat ako sa dami ng taong nakaabang sa labas. For such a short period of time, how could they manage to gather there? Maraming reporters pero mas maraming babae and mostly were teenagers. They were screaming my name pero mas malakas ang sigaw at tili nila sa pangalan ni Lander.

They began swarming us and Lander quickly covered me. He looked around while wrapping his arms around me na tila may hinahanap. Hindi ko inintindi ang pagsugod ng mga tagahanga my eyes were widely open to the girls who were crazily touching my man.

"Huwag kang nagpapahawak," gigil na bulong ko sa kanya nang may masamang tingin.

Tumawa lang siya. "Iba ka rin you still have time to get jealous on a situation like this."

Umirap ako at di nakatiis na tinanggal ang mga kamay na pilit humahawak sa aking asawa. I pulled him closer kahit pa magkadikit na nga kami. At time like that, I wouldn't mind being called snob. Kaya kong magplaster ng ngiti for a longest time huwag lang may magtatangkang dumikit kay Lander.

"Anya kelan pa kayo nagpakasal?" umpisang tanong ng mga pursigidong reporters.

"Anya dito ka na ba titira?"

"Anya tuluyan mo na bang igigive up ang career mo?"

"Anya paano kayo nagkakilala?"

"Buntis ka na ba kaya ibinulgar mo na ang inyong relasyon?"

"Lander anong masasabi mo na pinagkakaguluhan ka na rin ng mga tao?"

"Bakit ngayon niyo ibinunyag ang relasyon niyo kung kelan may ipapalabas na pelikula si Anya?"