Switch Bride

CHAPTER 4

Nakita ko naman ang pagkabigla ng mga mukha nito lalo na iyong si Thelmarie. Tiningnan pa si Tyler nito na parang hinihintay bawiin ang sinabi nito. 

"Let's talk another time. I am busy with my wife." Tinalikuran niya ito pero agad naman din lumingon pabalik. "By the way, Thelmarie, my wife is still beautiful even when she is dressed simply. She doesn't need make-up or an elegant dress to look stunning. She has natural beauty that everyone desires." He said it to Thelmarie before we left them and went to our table.

Medyo nagulat pa ako sa mga sinabi niya. Hindi ko akalain gagawin niya iyon. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang mukha ni Thelmarie kanina. Kahit mga kasama nitong lalaki ay nabigla at hindi nakapagsalita. 

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala kung paano ako ipagtanggol nito sa mga kaibiga. Tahimik lang ako hanggang sa makarating kami sa private room. May pumasok na waiter upang kunin ang aming order.

"I'm sorry for what happened a while ago." 

Binaba ko ang menu at tiningnan ito. Nahihiya pa rin ako sa nangyari. Hindi naman ako gaano nasaktan dahil alam ko sa aking sarili hindi naman ako kagandahan. Sanay na ako minsan tawaging manang noong highschool.

"Don't apologize. They are right." Nginitian ko ito.

"They didn't see what I see. You're so simple, but you're so beautiful, love." He gives me a warm smile. The way he looks at me indicates that he did not lie and was telling the truth.

Napayuko na lang ako dahil nararamdaman ko ang pag-init ng aking mukha. Sigurado ako namumula ito at nahihiya akong makita niya ito. Hindi naman ito ang first time nasabihan ako ng maganda. Kahit papaano may ilan din nakaka-appreciate sa beauty ko. Pero iba ang epekto sa bawat sinabi ni Tyler sa akin. Hindi ko maipaliwanag.

Kaya nang tanungin ako nito kung ano order ko ay hindi ko alam kung ano isasagot ko. Nauutal pa ako at agad tingin sa menu. Panay lang ang tingin ko sa menu at hindi ito pumapasok sa aking utak. Nang medyo tumagal at nahihiya na ako sa waiter. Sinabi ko na lang kung ano ang order ni Tyler ay ganoon din.

Tinanong pa ako ni Tyler kung sigurado ba ako. Pero tanging tango lang ag ginawa ko. Habang tinitingnan ko siya ay naalala ko ang nangyari kanina. He was so proud to tell them that I was his wife. This man is a golden treasure. Perfect husband!

"Let's eat." When he said that, I looked at him. I notice there is already food on the table. I hadn't noticed that our order had already arrived. I nodded and smiled at him. 

"The food is good." He said so, and I looked at him.

"We always eat here." Pag-amin ko dito at binalik ang tingin sa pagkain.

"Who?" Iba ang tono ang kanyang boses.

"With my father. We go here every time he comes to see me," I said without looking at him.

"That's good. You are really close to your family."  Saad nito. Nag-iba ang tono ng boses nito. Napatigil naman ako sa pagkain  at pilit ngumiti.

I hope so. I keep hoping for it. But it's extremely difficult, especially for my mother. Hindi ko naman puwede sabihin ito sa kanya. Kahit sa mga kaibigan ko sa school ay hindi alam. They always say that I was lucky to be born with a silver spoon. I don't have to work to pay for my studies. I can buy whatever I want.

They wish they could have my life. My mother is a successful businesswoman. They are aware that my family owns a big business. That's why they like what my life is like. But they are unaware of the truth.

I pay my tuition without working but hear all of my mother's hurtful words. I cry alone at times and wonder why she blames everything on us. I don't have financial problems, but I'm stressed out about getting the highest grade to please my mother.