Special Chapter
Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Zadriel habang naka-indian sit sa kama at nakakrus ang mga braso.
"You're impossible." Naiiling na wika niya.
"How did it become impossible? You'll just shave your beard and voila!"
"You know how I keep on maintaining this, Tate. What are you thinking this time that you even want me to shave my beard?"
Inirapan ko siyang muli. Umalis ako ng kama at aastang bubuksan na ang pintuan palabas ng kwarto nang maramdaman ko ang bisig niya na pumulupot sa aking tiyan. Hahagikhik na sana ako pero baka mahuli niya ako at isiping pinagtitripan ko siya.
Tinikom ko ang bibig ko at taas kilay siyang nilingon. "Ano? Maghahabol ka kasi dinadala ko ang anak mo? Sabihin mo nga sa akin, pinakasalan mo lang ba ako dahil sa gusto mo ng anak? Para makuha mo ang yaman na ipapamana sa'yo ni Papá?"
Kumunot ang noo niya, salubong ang makakapal na kilay na habang titig na titig sa akin. He seems confused of everything I said. Pakiramdam ko pa nga ay gusto niya na akong bigwasan.
Hihi.
"Whose line is that from?" he fired back.
Humagikhik ako. Kilala na talaga ako ng asawa ko. Hindi na umuubra ang pang best actress acting ko.
"Hindi ko kilala. Narinig ko lang kanina na pinapanood ni Manang Ruby. Pero maganda siya, Zad. Sobrang luma na nga lang ng mukha, parang ikaw."
He glared at me. "Are you tripping me, woman?"
"No. But I want to fu... oops, censored! Baka marinig ni baby."
Pumikit siya ng mariin, tila napipikon na sa akin dahil mula kaninang umaga ko pa siya pinagtitripan. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Simula nang tumungtong ako sa limang buwan na pagbubuntis, gusto ko lagi inaasar si Zadriel. Sabi nga ng kapatid niya, siguradong kamukha daw ito ni Zadriel. Magmumukha din daw unggoy ang pamangkin niya.
Sobra naman si Mareng Ania. Pero ano bang klaseng unggoy? Gorilla, o chimpanzee?
"What's going on inside that wicked head of yours, hmm?" it's Zadriel.
"Zadriel, ano mas trip mo? Gorilla o Chimpanzee?" seryosong tanong ko sa kaniya.
Kumunot ang noo niya. "Bakit na naman ba?"
"Pili ka kasi!"
"They're both ugly so none!"
"You have to choose! Pero sige, chimpanzee ka na lang. Gorilla's face is too hard and scary—"
"Am I fucking what, Tatiana Faith?"
Kumurap-kurap ako. Hindi kalaunan ay bumungisngis. "A Chimpanzee, Zad. You are my chimpanzee."
Mas lalong tumalim ang tingin sa akin ni Zadriel. I winked at him and made a peace sign.
"You're unbelievable..." he shook his head and turned around.
Naglakad siya palayo, sumunod ako habang hinihimas ang bilog na tiyan... alangan namang triangle.
"But you still love me." I shrugged my shoulders.
Naupo siya sa dulo ng kama saka nag-angat ng tingin sa akin.
"Unfortunately," he said and opened his arms as if he wanted me to sit on his lap. And so I did. I snaked my arms around his neck and stared into his eyes. "I couldn't love you more than I do right now. Even if you think I look like a fucking chimpanzee."
I laughed. I brought my hand on his cheek and caressed his facial hair there.
"And in order for you to not look like a chimpanzee, you must shave this beard right now."
He groaned, back to being frustrated now.
"Fine. As if I could say no to you."
A giggle came out of my throat. "Try to say no and you'll use you hand for the rest of your life."
His laugh roared like a thunder. "I'm fucking shivering."
Tumayo na ako, natatawa sa kalokohan naming dalawa. Ever since we got married, our relationship became even more strong and exciting. We seldom fight, we don't even argue about petty things. We always make sure that things are always under control. Kahit na minsan ay alam kong naiinis na siya sa akin, hindi niya iyon ipinapahalata at sa halip ay yayakapin pa ako.
Sumama ako kay Zadriel nang pumasok siya sa loob ng banyo. I sat on the toilet bowl as he prepare his face. Pumangalumbaba ako. After putting some shaving foam, he took his black electric shaver and released a deep sigh.
"Pasalamat ka at patay na patay ako sa'yo..." busangot na aniya.
Ngumisi ako, nakapangalumbaba pa rin habang tamad na nakatingin sa kaniya.
"Love you, german size."
He exhaled. "Love you, baby."
He started shaving the left side of his jaw. Natuwa ako nang makitang nagsisimula nang maging makinis ang itsura nito. Wala ng buhok ang kaliwang bahagi ng mukha niya nang biglang manglaki ang mga mata ko.
"Hala, Zad! Stop!"
He's about to shave the right side when he moved his eyes on me without even moving his face. Lalo tuloy siyang nagmukhang suplado.
"What?" he asked while raising his brow up.
Tumayo ako. "Stop right now, thank you very much. I need somebody with the human touch. Hey you—"
"Tatiana!" he called out.
Huminto ako sa pagkanta at humagikhik. "Ehe. Joke lang. Tama na 'yan, huwag mo na ipagpatuloy. Mas okay na sa akin ang kabila lang ang inahit mo—"
"What the fucking fuck?" he blurted out as if he couldn't believe what I have just said.
Niyakap ko siya mula sa likuran at tiningnan siya sa repleksyon namin sa salamin. He also looked at me, brows furrowed and eyes squinted in pure annoyance.
"Don't shave the other part, Zad. Please?"
Hilaw siyang natawa, tumungo saka itinuon ang mga kamay sa marbled sink habang nakayakap pa rin ako sa likuran niya. Nag-angat siya ng tingin, may nakakalokong ngisi sa labi niya habang madilim ang mga mata.
I batted my eyelashes and smiled at him. His expression didn't change at all. His eyes were still dark and perilous.
"Are you really tripping on me?"
"No!" I yelled defensively. "Bagay naman kasi talaga sa'yo—"
"Get out, wife."
Ngumuso ako. Inalis ko ang pagkakapulupot sa ka bewang niya at bagsak ang balikat na tumalikod. I heard him sigh as I went out of the door and close it. Nang makalabas ng banyo at mahiga sa kama ay mahina akong natawa.
I can sense that he's starting to get pissed but I still want to see his annoyed face. Mas lalo siyang gumagwapo sa paningin ko. Pero minsan naman ay ang pangit niya. Ewan ko ba, hindi ko maintindhan sa anak namin kung bakit ganito ang pakiramdam ko.
I lay down and decided to scroll on my Instagram. Bumukas ang pintuan ng banyo. Hindi ako nag-angat ng tingin at nagpatuloy sa pag-scroll. Nahagip ng mga mata ko ang litrato ni Dashiel, bagong upload.
He's lying flat on his stomach, a white sheet was rolling across his waist. Ang mga braso niya ay parehas na nakadipa sa unan. He's looking at the camera sideways, smirking and looking really handsome.
Pakiramdam ko ay lumabas ang mga puso sa mga mata ko. I heart-ed his picture and typed a comment.
TateFMonasterio: Hi, baby! Dreya, peram ako ng asawa mo isang gabi lang. Harhar! 😋
Sigurado akong si Dreya ang kumuha sa kaniya ng litrato. Minsan talaga ay naiisip ko kung bakit una kong nakilala itong si Zadriel at hindi si Dashiel. Charot!
Humagikhik ako sa naisip. I was about to type another comment when my phone suddenly snatched from my hands. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakitang kunot na kunot ang noo ni Zadriel habang nakatingin sa cellphone ko.
My lips seperated when I saw his cleanly shaven face. Ever since the two of us became a thing, hindi ko pa siya nakikitang walang bigote at balbas.
"You..." I whispered. "You are fucking handsome, Monasterio."
He shot his brow up. "And you dared to say that after calling my cousin your baby?"
Humagikhik ako. "It's just a joke. Are you still jealous of him? Kasal na nga siya kay Dreya, e. At saka hindi naman marupok 'yung pinsan mo na 'yon. Unlike you."
His eyes narrowed into slits. He threw my phone on the bed and walked towards the door. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin, dire-diretso ito hanggang sa tuluyan nang makalabas ng pintuan. He even slammed the door and that made me flich.
Ano, galit siya?
Ngumuso ako at napabango ng kama. Am I being insensitive? Hindi, ah. Lagi na lang siya nagseselos kay Dashiel samantalang alam naman niyang kasal na ito. We're even going to have a baby soon so what's the point of getting jealous?
Nanghuhumaba ang nguso, bumaba ako ng kama at naglakad patungong pintuan. I walked out of the it and went straight to the stairs. Natanaw ko si Zadriel sa couch ng living room, nakahiga roon at nakapikit. Nag-eemote ata.
An idea suddenly popped out of my head. Hinawakan ko ang tiyan ko habang ang isang kamay ay nakahawak sa handrail.
"Ah, Zad. I t-think I'm gonna give birth now..." I groaned, making sure that my voice sounded like in pain.
Patuloy ako sa pagbaba ng hagdanan. Zadriel didn't move on his position. His eyes stay close as if he didn't hear me talking.
"Zad, manganganak na ako—"
"You're just five months pregnant, Tate. Don't use that kind of trick on me."
Nang marinig ko ang sinabi niyang iyon ay bagsak ang balikat akong bumaba ng hagdanan.
"Oo nga, no? Hihi. Excited lang bebecuh!"
Diretso akong naglakad sa gawi niya. Naupo ako sa kaniyang tiyan dahil wala naman ng espasyo sa paanan niya. Nasakop niya na ang buong couch.
"Bakit ka ba nagseselos? Wala ka bang tiwala sa akin? Sa'yo na nga ako lumuluhod gabi-gabi. Hindi rin naman kita ginugutom at palaging pinapakain ng sariwang petsay.* Ngumuso ako.
Hindi siya umimik, deadma pa rin ako. Dinala ko ang kamay sa ibabaw ng zipper niya. I cupped his hardness and stroked it gently. Zadriel opened his eyes in a half and stared at me.
"Stop tempting me. It won't work."
I smirked. "Really? Kailan pa ako hindi umubra sa'yo?"
His jaw clenched tight. I pulled the zipper down that revealed his white boxer brief. Mas lalong umigting ang panga niya habang titig na titig sa akin.
"If you would still continue acting like a jealous puppy, then I have no choice but to move far away from you. Itatago ko ang anak natin kagaya ng palaging suhestyon ni Mareng Ania."
"My sister is sometimes a bad influence, huh?"
I giggled. "Trending kaya ang taguan ng anak, Zadriel. Try natin?"
"Try my fucking ass. I'd still find you wherever part of the world you hide. Kadugtong ka na ng buhay ko, Tate."
My lips protruded and sighed. "I know. Then stop getting mad at me—"
"I'm not mad at you. Nagseselos lang ako." he sighed.
Bumangon siya dahilan para umalis ako sa pagkakaupo sa tiyan niya. He sat down and pulled me gently on his lap. He wrapped his arms around my protruding belly and nuzzled my neck.
"The only disadvantage of being so in love with you, huh?" he whispered as he planted a soft kiss there. "Fuck it, this conversation is making me damn horny."
I giggled. "Let's do it?"
"It's not safe."
I pouted. "Dahan-dahan lang kasi ang pasok—"
He groaned against my neck. "Let's call your doctor first. Wanna make sure that I'm allowed to do you."
I squealed in excitement. "Three rounds, huh?"
He chuckled huskily. "Damn you."