When Day 32 Starts...

Special Chapter: Gentleman

"Ano, hindi ka pa tatayo?"

Nakabukas ang pintuan ng driver's seat, nakasilip sya sa loob. I crossed my arms against my chest, seatbelt still buckled. I refuse to get up.

"Jazz..."

Hindi ko sya pinansin.

"Ano ba'ng problema mo?" pikon nyang tanong.

Ano'ng problema? Siya! Siya ang problema ko! He can't even open the car's door for me! Maggo-grocery na naman kami ngayon tapos hindi nya ako tutulungang magbuhat? Tapos pag-uwi namin sa bahay, mauuna syang pumasok sa pintuan.

Ano ba 'yan. Napaka-ungentleman nya.

"Fine. Just wait here."

He slammed the door shut. Naiwan ako sa loob. The engine's still running. Ano 'to, mag-uubos sya ng gas?

Maya-maya'y bumukas ang pintuan sa gilid ko.

"Ano, ayaw mo talagang bumaba?"

Grunting, I unbuckled the seatbelt and got down the car. He closed the door and headed off to the supermarket, expecting me to follow behind. Why was I angry? E kasi, I thought that when I married him, he'll be more... husband-like. Yung kahit gaano kagaspang ang ugali nya, kapag nakasal na sya, he would somehow compromise.

But no. I expected too much. Hindi ko naman sinasabing magpaka-gentleman sya araw-araw e. Sana man lang kahit thrice a week. Dalasan nya man lang.

Kumuha sya ng push cart sa gilid ng entrance ng supermarket. I tailed behind him. Pumunta kami sa dairy section. Next to it is the cheese section. Kumuha ako ng cheddar cheese saka mozzarella. I placed them both on the cart.

"What do you need them for?" he asked.

Sinamaan ko lang sya ng tingin.

Masarap magpapak ng keso. Tapos yung mozzarella, trip na trip kong ilagay sa tinapay then ito-toast. Simple lang pero masarap. At least hindi regular cheese spread na madalas kong ipampalaman sa tinapay.

When I didn't answer, ibinalik nya ang mga 'yon sa shelf. I wanted to say something and he was waiting for me to say it. But I ended up stomping my foot and walking out on him. And he didn't even bother following me.

Kumuha ako ng sarili kong cart and then I filled it with food that I know he wouldn't approve of. Instant noodles, de lata, chichiria. Mga bagay na gusto kong kainin pero ayaw nyang ipakain sa 'kin kasi buntis ako.

Nagkita kami sa counter. He raised an eyebrow when he saw my cart full of junk.

"May pambayad ka nyan?" tanong nya.

Wala nga pala akong pambayad. Kaya mangiyak-ngiyak ako nang kinailangan kong ibalik lahat ng pinamili ko.

Hindi ko sya kinausap hanggang makauwi kami. Hindi rin sya nagsasalita. Alam nya kasing galit ako sa kanya pero hindi nya alam kung bakit. Men are so clueless.

Gusto ko sanang pumunta kina tatay kaso alam kong pagagalitan nila ako. Tuwing nagtatampo ako kay Kent, pumupunta ako sa bahay namin. Minsan nga, natanong na ako ng tatay ko kung bakit ko raw ba kasi pinakasalanan si Kent.

Alam ko naman daw na hindi sya katulad ng ibang lalaki. E kagaya ng ibang lalaki ang gusto ko ngayon. Yung mabait. Yung may konsiderasyon.

Ilang buwan pa lang daw kaming kasal, nagkakaganito na ako. Paano kami tatagal?

Kaya sa park na lang ng subdivision ako pumunta.

Naupo ako dun sa swing, nag-iisip.

I wasn't hoping for someone princely. All I want is to feel special sometimes. Siguro na rin dahil buntis ako kaya ang bilis kong magdamdam, mainis o magalit sa kanya.

The phone on my hand started ringing. Mukhang hinahanap na ako sa bahay. I didn't answer it. Hinayaan ko lang na matapos ang tawag.

I wish Kent could be more like Toby, but in his own way. Ganun naman sya kay Kiele dati. Why can't he be like that with me? Is she more special than I am?

"There you are."

I looked up to find him staring down at me. Nasa likuran ko sya. He was holding the chains of the swing, steadying it.

"Buti na lang hindi ka nagti-turn off ng GPS mo."

I groaned inwardly. Right, there's GPS nga pala.

"What's wrong? Buong araw mo na 'kong hindi kinakausap," tanong nya.

"Wala," sagot ko.

"Magkakaganyan ka ba kung wala?"

"Forget about it. It's petty." It really is. But still...

"May nagawa na naman ba akong hindi maganda?"

"Meron. Pero huwag mo nang intindihin."

He frowned. "You'd expect me to just let it go when it's obviously eating you up?"

"Ang petty nga kasi e."

"Ano nga?" pangungulit nya.

I sighed. "Wala nga."

"Hindi ka magtatampo ng ganyan kung wala."

"Gusto mo talagang malaman?"

"Oo."

"Hindi ka magagalit?"

"Depende."

Lumipat sya sa harap ko. He bent down on one knee. Grabe, parang magpo-propose lang.

"Ano nga?" tanong nya ulit.

Sumimangot ako. "Ang ungentleman mo kasi."

He didn't react at first. Tiningnan nya lang ako ng mataman. Hinihintay yatang bawiin ko yung sinabi ko.

"Galit ka na, 'no?" I asked, worried.

"Sorry. Old habits die hard," he said with a smile.

"I knew you'd say that. Alam ko naman e. That's just not you and you don't want to just do it because it's expected of you."

He cupped my face.

"I don't want to get you upset. I'll be more mindful next time."

"Sorry. Am I asking for too much?"

Umiling sya. "No."

"Kahit minsanan lang naman e. Yung madalas na minsan. Mga three times a week or once a day," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Okay."

He stood up and pulled me up. Pinagdaop nya ang mga palad namin.

"Where are we going?" I asked when we got out of the mini park.

"May nakita akong nagtitinda ng ice cream sa kanto. Gusto mo ng ice cream?"

Agad akong tumango.