My Classmate, My Wife (Revised & Complete)

THREE: Wife

EUNICE GRACE TAN

I can't stand being in one place with Andrew. Ayaw ko nga sana sumama kanina sa bahay nila pero may respeto ako sa mga magulang niya. Samantalang siya, walang respeto! Manyak!

Siguro kung hindi ako nagising kanina, tuluyan niya na akong nahalikan! Ghad! Magmumumog talaga ako ng mouthwash buong araw kung nangyari iyon!

Sakto ang dating ko sa mall dahil kakabukas lang nito. Ayaw ko sabihin sakanya na dito ako pupunta. There's no other reason why. Basta ayaw ko lang. Bibili lang naman ako ng mga notebooks dahil puno na ang notebook ko.

Pero sa mga teen fiction books ako dumiretso. Natapos ko na yung librong binabasa ko kaya naman kailangan ko ng bago. I hope I'll find a good one today.

"Okay I'll settle with this one." Saad ko nang makapag decide na ako. Tumingin ako sa relo ko para i-check ang oras. Ghad! Mag e-eleven thirty na! It took me an hour bago ako makapili ng libro!

Dali-dali akong pumunta sa section ng mga notebooks. I carefully chose which to buy and settle with three spiral notebooks with a quotation written on its cover.

"Baby ayun yung hinahanap ko oh. Can you get that for me?" Naagaw ng malanding boses na iyon ang atensyon ko. I swear ang landi ng pagkakasabi niya.

And because of my curiosity, sinilip ko kung sino ang nagmamay-ari ng boses na iyon. Then may nakita akong lalaki na nakatingkayad at may inaabot na libro. Katabi niya ang isang babae na nakasuot ng loose crop top na damit at leggings.

"Yan nga baby!" When she spoke again with the same tone, I recognized it was her. Yung malandi magsalita. Bigla niyang pinasok yung kamay niya sa loob nang t-shit nung lalaki. Ghad!

Tinignan ko ang reaction ng lalaki na sakto namang nakatingin dun sa babae. He's grinning na para bang gustong-gusto ang ginawa nung babae. Then suddenly anger rushed into my blood when the guy stood properly.

Andrew.

Agad akong tumalikod para umalis kaso hindi ko alam na may tao pala sa likod ko kaya ayun nabuggo ko siya. I lost my balance and expecting a bad landing so I closed my eyes. But suddenly I felt something wrapped my waist.

I opened my eyes and a face greeted my sight. A man was smiling showing his perfect set of white teeth.

"Sorry. It was my fault." He said and effortlessly helped me stand straight. He bent his knees and began picking up my things.

"Here." Inabot niya sakin yung mga notebook at libro na nalaglag.

"T-thank you." Gosh! Why am I stammering?!

Aabutin ko na sana yungga notebook at libro mg biglang may kumuha nito sa kamay niya. Dalawa kaming nagulat sa mabilis na pangyayari. Andrew appeared beside me with his jaw clenched, throwing looks like dagger at the man I bumped into.

"A-andrew." Suddenly I felt guilty. Feeling ko nahuli ako ng boyfriend ko na may kasamang ibang lalaki.

"Let's go." He grabbed my wrist and started dragging me towards the cashier. I looked at the man and mouthed sorry. He just smiled at me and made a peace sign.

He paid the bill and dragged me out of the bookstore. Sumasakit na yung pulsuhan ko dahil sa higpit nang pagkakahawak niya. Inipon ko ang lakas ko at biglaan kong binawi ang kamay ko sakanya. That made him stop from walking.

"I am not your dog to drag." Reklamo ko. Hinawakan ko ang pulsuhan ko na namumula na.

Lumapit siya sakin na ikinabigla ko. Pero hindi na ako nakaatras pa para lumayo sakanya.

"Kung lalandi ka wag dito. But then again, you're not allowed to flirt with any guy." He said in a low pitch voice but the tone of anger, irritation and warning was there. His words hit a nerve. Especially the term flirt.

"Wag mo ako igaya sayo. I am not a flirt. It's you who are!" I gritted my teeth. Binawi ko sakanya ang paper bag at iniwan siya.

Umalis ako bago pa man tuluyang malaglag ang mga luha ko. Ang kapal ng mukha niya! Ako pa ang malandi?! Ako pa?! Wala akong ginagawang masama. Nakita niya lang ako na may kausap na lalaki malandi na agad?! Fuck him!

Lumabas ako ng mall at pumara ng taxi. Sasakay na sana ako nang biglang may pumigil sa akin. Napatingin ako sakanya and it Andrew.

"You're going home with me." He said with his authoritative tone. Just like his father. Sorry but I am not his employee. Not his servant. So that tone can't scare me.

Binawi ko ang kamay ko.

"I am not going to hell where you live." I told him emphasizing the word hell. 

Mabilis akong pumasok ng taxi at isinara ito. I didn't look back. Hindi pa nakakalayo ang taxi ay nag unahan na ang mga luha ko sa pagpatak.

Ang sakit-sakit lang na na-judge agad ako. Especially from him! Of most people, siya ang mas nakakakilala sa akin. Alam niyang hindi ako malandi kagaya ng sinabi niya kanina. Kung may malandi man sa aming dalawa, siya 'yon!

Oo hindi ako masaya sa sitwasyon namin ngayon na kasal pero arranged lang. Pero hindi rin naman iyon dahilan para lumandi ako. Dahil hindi naman talaga ako malandi in the first place! I never wanted this marriage. Pero I respect my parents, his parents...and...him.

I can't do the thing he's accusing me. May respeto ako sa kasal na 'to kahit na alam ko naman na sa papel lang kami kasal.

We were both deprived to live our youths. Pero siya, nabubuhay na parang binata. Getting drunk, going home late and flirting with other girls. Pero wala naman siyang narinig sa akin. Hindi ko siya sinumbatan kasi alam ko naman na ayaw niya rin ng kasalan na nangyari.

"Ma'am nandito na po tayo." Anunsyo ng driver. Tumingin ako sa labas para kumpirmahin ang sinabi niya.

"Thank you po." Isinara ko ang pinto ng kotse.

I'll be staying  here for now. Kahit magkahiwalay kami ng kwarto ni Andrew, I can't stand seeing him. Masyadong masakit yung mga sinabi niya kanina. I need time and space to cool down.

Dumiretso ako sa floor kung nasaan ang unit ko. I went to my room, buried my face to the pillow and cried my self to sleep.

Nagising ako nang makaramdam ako ng gutom. Madilim na ang loob ng kwarto ko dahil malamang sa malamang ay gabi na. I did not turn on the lights when I arrived earlier.

I settled with a cup noodles and sandwich. Tinatamad akong magluto at ang pinakamabilis na lutuin ay yung cup noodles. And before I went back to my room, I grabbed a chocolate from the fridge.

It feels better now. Somehow gumaan na ang pakiramdam ko after crying. But I'll be firm with my decision-- to stay here for the night.

Biglang nag vibrate yung night stand ko kung saan nandun ang sling bag na dala ko. Oh my! I forgot my phone!

"Ghad!" I exclaimed the moment I saw how many missed calls I've got from dad, mom and even from Andrew's parents.

I was about to dial dad's number when his number appeared. He's calling. I answered it immediately.

"Dad!"

"Finally you answered you gad damn phone!" Frustration was evident from his voice. I feel sorry. I didn't mean to ignore their calls.

"I'm so sorry dad. I fell asleep!" Paliwanag ko.

"I swear kung hindi mo sinagot itong tawag na 'to pupunta na kami sa mga pulis para magpatulong. You made us so worried Eunice!" He said from the other line. Then I heard someone sobbing. It must be mom.

"Dad I am so sorry. Nakatulog lang po talaga ako. I am safe and sound. Let me talk to mom." He sighed.

"Eunice? Is that you?! Thank God you're safe." I was right, mom's crying.

"I am mom. Stop crying now."

But why were they even looking for me? Di naman ako nawawala ah? Wait. There could be only one person behind this. And that was no other than...

"Is that my wife?" I froze upon hearing his voice from the phone.