Parallel

Fifth Parallel: Con Te Partirò II

Why so clingy! Lahat na lang gusto nya kasama ako. This is irritating. You are seven years late, Greggy.

"No. Baka may lessons ako nyan. Ikaw na lang."
'Hatid mo ako sa hangar? Please? Sa makalawa na yun. May time ka ba?'

"Can't commit. Wala pa sakin schedule from Techie. Anyways, kaya mo naman na yan. I pag pa-pack pa ba kita?"
'No need na. Baka busy ka.'
"Okay."

Ang arte. Ano akala nya? I insist ko? Edi wag. Mag pack ka mag isa mo. By the looks of it, mukha naman na he's waiting na i insist ko nga. No way! Kung hindi mo kaya, come ask for help.

'Pasok na ako. I'll be home by three siguro? Dinner tayo?'

In all fairness to Greggy, he really has been consistent naman in trying to reach out to me. Pero what's three months compare to seven years?

"Mag ma-mass ako."
'I'll join you. Saan? Anung oras?'

I know I can just block him from doing so, pero mass naman. That's okay, right?

"Pag uwi mo na lang. Kahit yung pang six siguro. Sa Manila Cathedral."
'Okay. Alis na ako.'
"Ingat."

I bow my head and continue typing for the message I have to send to Techie. That's when I noticed that Greggy's still here.

"Akala ko aalis ka na?"
'Can I get a hug?' Shit. I don't think I am quite ready for that. Greggy took my silence as a rejection to his request. I'm not sure if I can do that, yet.. to be honest.

'It's okay. Later na lang. Finish your food. I love you, Irene.'

I just nod in acknowledgment.

Greggy's POV:

I don't want her to go back to teaching. Because Irene is the type of person that when she puts her heart into something, there's no way she's letting it fail.

That would mean she'll be spending a great deal of her time for it. Bumabawi pa lang ako sa asawa ko, hindi pwede na awayin ko siya. Even if that would mean, na possible na wala siya sa bahay kapag uuwi ako.

Yesterday was my birthday. I don't know if she forgot lang talaga, or she skipped it in her mind deliberately. Nevertheless, it hurts.

I only wanted to spend it with her, pero hindi siya sa kwarto natulog. It's either Alfonso's room o kay Amari. Luis' room kase is the nearest sa kwarto namin, which is why I think, she's not using it.

I miss her. I miss her a lot. I don't know if we could ever go back to how things were, pero I can only hope and pray for the best. After all, ako naman ang may kasalanan.

I was able to go home couple of minutes past three. Where's my wife? Wala sa kitchen, wala rin sa garden. It's too early naman kung nag aayos na siya. Where is she?

I badly needed to take a shower because I just finished the ocular for the new offices I have to acquire. So I stripped off my clothes as soon as I enter our room. I went straight to the bathroom, opening the shower door making Irene jump on me.

'Shit! Greggy ano ba!!!'
"What? Hindi ko naman alam na nasa loob ka. Bakit ang tahimik mo kase."
'How loud one should be when taking a shower?'

I know this is such a bad timing.. but fuck. It has been four years. Four long years since I last saw my wife naked. Her body is still as amazing as the day we got married, or even better pa nga.

'Pervert. Get out!'
"Naka hubad na ako, ano gusto mo? Just move to the side."
'Sasabay ka sakin?'
"Why? we used to do this all the time naman. You need my help?"
'Ewan nga. Dream on Gregorio.'
"I am dreaming, sexy."