The Unreachable Wife

40- Surprise Decision

I stayed in a hotel. Hindi ako pwedeng tumuloy sa condo ni Anya for precautionary measures lalo pa't kinabukasan na ang hearing namin. Walong araw matapos ang surpresang pagbisita niya sa Villa Rafael na tila dumaang panaginip lamang.

That night, I was planning to make love with her over and over again to make up with the time we didn't spend together. Pero dahil sa pesteng alak na iyan, nakatulog ako isang round pa lamang. When I opened my eyes, wala na si Anya sa tabi ko. Pabalik na pala ng Maynila. Hinayang na hinayang ako at sa kabilang banda ay nag-alala ng sobra. She didn't have enough rest yet to have another long drive. Nakahinga lang ako nang maluwag when she told me she'd meet Violet at the local airport and she would drive for her.

I was bored being alone in the hotel. Maaga pa ang gabi. Anya was busy as usual and eventhough she wasn't, I couln't meet her. Sana araw-araw na lang ang hearing para makita ko siya lagi.

'What r u doing?' She texted. A non stop monitoring na medyo nakakapagod din dahil bawat galaw ay dapat nakareport. Nevertheless I couldn't complain because I knew she was doing anything she could for me to feel her presence.

'Lying in bed. Thinking of you.' I texted back.

'How do you find the suite room?'

Nababagot na tumingin ako sa paligid. 'The view is perfect. Pero masyadong malaki para sa mag-isa lang na gaya ko.' I put a sad emoticon.

'Bored?'

'Yes.'

'Watch TV, games or matulog ka na lang ng maaga so you can have a good rest.'

'Love pwede ba akong lumabas? Meet my college friends perhaps?'

'NOOOOO!!!!'  Ngumiwi ako at napalayo sa phone. Saglit ata akong nabingi dun.

'I guess I have no choice but to stay in this lonely room.'  Nagpapakonsensiyang sagot ko.

'Take ko na. Mamaya ulit.'  Hindi siya tinablan.

I wasn't sleepy yet and there were no good games to watch. Naisipan kong pumunta ng lobby. Have coffee and read papers or perhaps listen to performers at the lounge.

'What are you doing?' Panibagong text pagkalabas na pagkalabas ko ng kuwarto.

'Nag-aabang ng elevator.' I shrugged.

'Saan ka pupunta?' she replied with an angry emoji.

I chuckled. 'Sa lobby lang magkakape. Magpapalipas ng oras.'

'Don't dare to go anywhere else!'

'Yes ma'am.'

Sa lounge humanap ako ng pwesto kung saan hindi crowded. Malayo sa performer pero dinig pa ring mabuti ang kanta. I ordered a cup of brewed coffee. Kumonekta ako sa wifi at ginoogle lahat ng mga article tungkol kay Anya. Sinamantala ko ang aking libreng oras para maging updated tungkol sa trabaho ng asawa ko.

"Lander is that you?!"

Nag-angat ako ng mga paningin at tumambad sa akin ang maaliwalas na mukha ni Fatima. She looked formal in her business suit. Ngumiti ako at inilapag ang cellphone sa mesa. "Hey Fatima! Good to see you again!" I greeted.

"Sabi ko na nga ba it's you! What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I'll stay here for the night. Ikaw?"

"I just had a client meeting." She gestured her hand to the empty chair in front of me. "Can I?"

"Sure," ngiti ko. I ordered her a cup of americano.