Breaking the Rocks (Provincia de Marina Series #1)

I. Wakas

EXODUS FELISARTA

I. WAKAS

I softly pulled my wife inside the manor as we were both soaking wet. Ayaw niya pang pumasok dahil ayaw niyang mabasa ang foyer ng manor.

"Baka mapagalitan tayo ni Mama!" Her eyes widened on me as she whisper-yelled. Pinigilan ko ang mapangiti sa kaniyang mukha ngayon. Her nostrils flaring and her eyes bulging, how cute.

"Hindi 'yan, come on." Hinila ko siya. I carried her, bridal style, with my arms around her back and the back of her legs. Agad siyang kumapit sa akin nang mahigpit.

Moving on my two feet, I stepped inside the foyer of the manor. Umuulan pa rin sa labas. The shoes that I was wearing also became heavier than usual because of the water.

"Exodus? Wha-—why are you both wet?!" Galit ang tono ni Mama nang magtanong. From her sitting position, she stood up immediately.

Nakakapit nang mahigpit sa akin ang asawa ko. When I took a glimpse, her cheeks were as red as tomato and her eyes were as wide as the sea.

"Naulanan kami, Ma. My wife's at the airport and she 'tried' leaving the airport empty handed," I explained.

Totoo naman. When I found her outside, she looks like a wet chick trying to find the line of her siblings. Hindi pa nakatulong na pula ang bra na kaniyang suot!

"Go get some towel, Myrna," utos agad ni Mama roon sa kasambahay. Agaran ko iyong inilingan.

"Huwag na, Ma. Didiretso na lang kami sa kwarto at dito na matutulog." My mother reluctantly nodded as her eyes glided over from me to my wife.

"Magandang gabi, Mama," nahihiyang sabi ng asawa ko at sinubukang bumaba mula sa akin. I tightened my hold on her.

Hindi iyon pinansin ng Mama ko. I scowled visibly. Wala na akong ideya kung ano pa ba ang ikinasusungit niya.

Natatandaan ko pa ang pag-uusap namin nang dumating din ako kahapon na hindi kasama ang asawa ko mula Maynila. Maybe that's why Mama's still sulking.

"Where is your wife, Exodus? Bakit ikaw lang ang umuwi ngayon?" She asked me as I entered my own home. Hindi ko alam na bibisita si Mama sa bahay ko.

"She got some important things to do, Mama. Susunod din naman siya rito bukas. She won't miss the election."

How I hope so.

Muriel and I had a fight...or was it even a fight? I left Manila with a heavy heart because my wife's not with me. More so...she chose to stay where her first love was. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit sa ilang buwang magkasama kami ay hindi niya ako magawang mahalin pabalik.

I held on to her words that night when she told me that she likes me and that she was hoping someday she would love me eventually.

Muriel is not a liar...but could she ever lie to her feelings? Iniisip ko kung sinabi niya lang ba iyon dahil umamin akong mahal ko siya at handa naman akong patunayan iyon. I told her I was willing to wait for her.

"Why do you want to be there so bad, huh, Muriel?" I followed her outside of our room. Bihis na bihis na siya at mukhang balak ng umalis at hindi na ako hihintayin pa.