The Savage Casanova [Published under LIB] had been a mini series on TV5

Chapter 16

Pangatlong araw nang nagigising si Ivo ng mas maaga sa alas nueve pero hindi niya maabutan ang asawa. Abala ito sa pagbili ng mga bagay para sa bahay niya at pagpunta kung saan saan. Minsan gusto niyang tanungin kung saan ito pumupunta pero di na lang niya tinatanong dahil ito nagpapaalam sa kanya.

Alam niyang umiiwas ito sa kanya dahil sa nangyari sa kanila may ilang araw na ang nakakaraan. She might have an idea what he is up to that is why she is staying away and avoiding any private encounters with him.

But he doesn't give up. Pero hindi niya alam kung paano niya magagawang akitin ang isang babaing bihira niyang makita at makausap. He is forcing himself to attend tedious parties with her, watch dragging plays and boring opera performances. He lets her display him in social gatherings and act like a doting husband on his beautiful wife.

To add to his confusion, he somehow enjoys this woman's company outside the bedroom.

This is his first time that he sets off to seduce a woman-and she is his wife. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit niya ginagawa ang ganito dahil pwede naman siyang maghanap ng iba. Pero hindi niya gusto ng iba. He wants Moira, his lawfully wedded wife-who treats him now like a trophy husband.

Tinititigan niya ang asawa habang nasa kotse at pauwi sa bahay nila. Kahit marami silang pinuntahan ng gabing yun, maganda pa din ito at hindi mukhang pagod. Naisip niya kung kagaya kaya siya ni Sir Nicholas, magagawa pa kaya siyang idisplay ng asawa niya?

"Bakit?" Naiiritang tanong ni Moira sa asawa.

"Wala," nakangiting sagot ni Ivo.

"Bakit kanina ka pa nakatitig sa akin?"

"Wala naisip ko lang kung kamukha ko si Sir Nicholas, magagawa mo pa kaya akong idisplay sa mga tao?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Moira at hindi ito makapaniwala sa narinig niya.

Napatitig sa kanya si Moira at napailing. "Papaano mo nalaman ang tungkol sa kanya? Don't tell me you read my story without my permission? Hindi ko alam na pakielamero ka pala?"

"Aksidente lang." palusot ni Ivo.

"At kailan naman nangyari ang aksidenteng yan?" Nakataas na ang kilay ni Moira kay Ivo.

"Noong nasa Santorini tayo. Nacurious kasi ako sa laman ng notebook na nasa desk mo noon. Pagbukas ko, doon ko nakita ang story nila."

"Don't you think it is bit impolite to rummage through stranger's things?" She shoots back at him.

"You are not a stranger. You are my wife," he smiles as he gives his response. She just rolls her eyes at him.

"Maganda ang umpisa ng kwento. Maganda ang pagkakadescribe mo ng settings at talagang ramdam ko na nandoon ako sa mga scenes. Pero..." Napatingin di Moira sa kanya at hinihintay ang sasabihin niyang mali sa kwento niya.

"Pero ano?" Kumunot ng kaunti ang noo ni Moira.

"The characters, they are a bit unusual, especially Sir Nicholas. Marami ka pang dapat malaman sa mga lalaki."

Irritation wins. She shoots him a sardonic glare. "And you base it on what? Do you have a literary expertise?"

"No. But I base it on being a man. There is no way that Sir Nicholas will allow her to live in his house without ravishing her. You wrote there that Alex is a beauty and he is haunted by her harebells eyes," he tries to defend his argument.

"But Sir Nicholas is noble. He respects Alex as his fiance," she shoots back.

"But he hadn't had a woman for years because of his scarred face. He is a man, Moira, not a damn eunuch. Maybe he is touching himself since he cannot lure her to his bed."