Their first monthsary was not quite what Celine expected. Instead of going to dinner or watching a movie, they redecorated his condo. Then, they went out to buy groceries. Kelvin told her that they're going to cook their dinner. Para raw tipid, because he knows how frugal she could be.
Matutuwa na sana siya kung hindi lang sa mamahaling grocery store sila pumunta. Kakaunti lang ang namimili roon at halos lahat ng tinda, imported. Para na silang mag-asawa kung umasta. Kelvin's left hand is on the push cart's handle. The other one's on her waist. Nakahawak ang dalawa niyang kamay sa handle. Hindi siya makakuha ng kahit ano mula sa shelves dahil hindi naman niya alam kung ano ang lulutuin. Saka mamahalin ang mga nandoon.
"Pwede namang sa hypermarket na lang tayo mamili," she told him.
"But it's too crowded there." He stopped and picked a large bottle of Nutella from the shelf. "I'll make you Nutella fudge brownies," he said with a smile.
"Mahal 'yan!"
She attempted to return the jar pero inilayo nito iyon sa kanya.
"Mas mahal kita so stop complaining."
That shut her up. He kept on piling expensive things on the cart pero hindi na lamang siya umimik. Nang magbabayad na sila, hindi man lang ito kumurap nang makita kung magkano ang lahat ng nabili nila. He simply gave the lady at the counter his card to pay for all the stuff.
--
She knew that he could turn heads wherever he goes. It was evident when they got out of the store. People, especially women, would look at him and sigh dreamily and then they would frown when their gazes land on her, as if she's the flaw to his perfection. It made her feel insecure again.
Dahil sa lalim ng iniisip niya, hindi niya namalayang napatigil na pala siya. Napatunghay na lamang siya when Kelvin tugged at her hand.
"Hey, why did you stop?"
Her gaze dropped to their intertwined hands. Kumalas siya sa pagkakahawak nito.
"Tulungan na kita." Itinuro niya ang mga dala nito. May hawak itong isang malaking paper bag tapos may bitbit pang isang malaking plastic. Siya naman ay isang maliit na plastic lamang ang bitbit sa isang kamay.
"Kaya ko na," sabi nito sa kanya. Kinuha nitong muli ang kamay niya. She pulled away again. "What's wrong?" he asked, frowning.
Umiling siya. "Wala."
Inilayo niya ang kamay nang akmang aabutin nito iyon.
"Celine..."
She forced a smile. "Tulungan na kasi kitang magdala."
"But I want to hold your hand."
"Huwag na kasi."
"Bakit ba? May problema ba?"
Tumabi siya dahil nakahaharang na sila sa daan. He then followed.
"Pinagtitinginan kasi tayo," sabi niya rito.
"So?"
"Hindi kasi tayo bagay. Mukha akong katulong mo."
Napamaang ito sa kanya. "Who told you that?"
"Wala. Naisip ko lang. Feeling ko gano'n ang iniisip nila kaya ang sama nilang makatingin sa 'kin."
"Sino?"
"Sila."
She motioned at no one in particular.
Napabuntong-hininga si Kelvin.
"They're probably just jealous."
"Kasi naman, hindi kapani-paniwalang pinatulan mo 'ko."
Mukhang nainis ito bigla sa sinabi niya. "Will you stop that? Stop thinking that you don't deserve me kasi nakakainsulto. Here I am, thinking that I'm so lucky to have you and yet you think so lowly of yourself."
