WALANG ingay na itinulak pabukas ni Ivan ang pinto sa office ng Taverna. Sa ilang sandali ay nanatili siyang nakatayo roon at pinagmamasdan ang asawa habang ang buong atensiyon nito'y nakatuon sa pagkukuwenta at pagbabalanse ng mga kinita ng dalawang restaurant na pag-aari nila.
Nayumi took charge of all the accounting. At sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay natanto nitong nasa mga numero at pagtutuos ang hilig nito.
His heart swelled with love as he looked at his wife. Who could have believed that somebody like Nayumi would love him, then marry him and live with him here in Davao? And, god, she was happy. She was actually happy. They'd been married ten months ago, the happiest day of his life.
Ang bawat araw sa piling ni Nayumi ay tila isang pasimula ng bagong buhay. Oh, there had been arguments and misunderstandings. Only because he was an arrogant bastard. Old habits die hard. But his wife had never made him feel unloved despite the individual differences they had. Humaplos ang mga mata niya sa tiyan ng asawa. His throat constricted with unshed tears. She was eight months heavy with their child... hischild.
Nang mahalin at ibigin siya ni Nayumi ay natitiyak niyang wala nang hihigit pang kaligayahan doon. She made him complete. But the coming of a child overwhelmed him. He could hardly breathe the first day Nayumi told him she was pregnant.
The next day, niyaya niya ito sa mall upang mamili sila ng gamit ng mga bata. Nayumi burst out laughing but she indulged him. He chose the baby things himself and Nayumi watched him with happiness in her eyes. Ni hindi nito pinuna kung tama o hindi ang mga pinipili niya. She was just too happy loving him.
Since they married, it was a new ritual for himto see the sun rise. Sa bawat pagsikat ng araw ayhindi niya nalilimutang magpasalamat sa kaligayahang tinatamasa ngayon. Happiness that he didn't think he deserved.
"Tigilan mo ang kakatitig sa akin at baka ako maglaho," nakatawang sabi ni Nayumi. Binitiwan nito ang ginagawa at inikot ang swivel chair paharap sa kanya.
Humakbang siya patungo rito. "Paano mong nalaman? Hindi ako gumawa ng ingay at abala ka sa ginagawa mo."
Her smile was sweet. "I can always feel you, Ivan. Isa pa'y lagi mong ginagawa iyon." Hinawakan niya ito sa mga balikat at banayad na itinaas. He kissed the tip of her nose. "And you don't like it?"
Tumingala si Nayumi, she lovingly touched his lips with her thumb. "I'll dread the day when you didn't look at me anymore..."
"Hindi mangyayari iyon. I love you so damned much I'd take my last breath loving you, Naya." "I love you, too, Ivan. So f—king much..."
"Oh, god, you're dirty." He faked a shock. "At sinasabi nilang naririnig ng bata sa tiyan mo ang sinasabi mo."
Tumiyad ito at ikinawit ang mga braso sa leeg niya. Pagkatapos ay hinagkan siya, the kiss filled with passion and desire. "Sshh. Kiss me. Oh, god, I want to make love, Ivan. It's been months, darling..."
Agad na tumugon ang katawan niya. Katunayan, kanina pa tumutugon ang katawan niya. Just staring at his wife made his loin stir. But of course, he couldn't make love to his eight-month pregnant wife much as he wanted.
"But I never stopped giving you a lot of orgasms, honey."'
"Now who's talking dirty?" she murmured against his mouth. "I want the real thing, Ivan..." He groaned. "I want it, too, honey. But you know we can't. So please stop teasing me like this. It's pure hell, dammit!" He agonizingly crashed his mouth against hers. His hand cupped her tender breasts which he was sure now filled with milk. He wanted his wife, probably would never tire of wanting her even when he was eighty.
But right now, he had to refrain himself even if it killed him. He had to take control of his urges. And of hers, too.
Nayumi groaned as if in pain. Kumawala mula sa kanya. "Naya, I'm telling you now. Stop this or—"
"Ivan, sumasakit ang tiyan ko..." Sinapo nito ang puson, napapangiwi. "B-baka manganganak na ako."
He tensed. "No. The doctor said it has to be another two weeks yet." "B-baka nagkakamali ang doktor... baka gusto nang lumabas ng anak ko..." Muli itong napangiwi sa pagsalakay ng sakit.
Nataranta si Ivan, hindi malaman kung saan iuupo ang asawa. Yakap sa baywang, padarag na inabot ang intercom at pinindot. "Mama... pumasok kayo rito, dali!" Binalingan niya ang asawa, binuhat at inihiga sa leatherette bench sa nanginginig na mga tuhod. "We'll take you to the hospital, honey."
Ilang sandali pa'y naroon na si Adora na siyang manager ng Taverna. "Bakit, ano ang nangyayari kay Naya?"
"Mama, mahigit pa lang sa walong buwan ang tiyan ni Naya. Hindi pa siya manganganak. I am taking her to the hospital. Pakitingnan n'yo siya at ilalabas ko ang sasakyan." He was rumbling. Ibinubukas-sara ang mga drawer ng mesa.
"Huwag kang natataranta, Ivan. Manganganak lang ang asawa mo," naiiling na sabi ni Adora, nilapitan ang anak.
"Mama, ayon kay doktora ay dalawang linggo pa. Shit!" usal niya nang mahagip ang susi ng sasakyan na nasa harap lang niya.
Napapailing si Adora. "Hindi ko gustong naririnig ang mga pagmumurang ganyan kapag nailabas na ang anak mo, Ivan," babala nito. "Manganganak na ang asawa mo. Dahil nanganganay, take or give fifteen days. Ikalma mo ang sarili mo at baka hindi ka makapag-drive nang maayos. Worse comes to worse, I can deliver my grandchild right here in this room." Halos matanggal ang ulo ni Ivan sa mga balikat sa pag-iling. "Oh, no! No... I mean, of course, you're a nurse, Mama. Pero..."
"Siya... siya, ihanda mo na ang sasakyan," utos ni Adora na pinipigilang mapangiti sa anyo ng manugang. Niyuko ang anak. "Madalas na ba ang sakit?" "Malalayo pa naman ang interval, Mama, pero masakit..."
"Ihahanda ko ang kotse, hon." Nagmamadaling tinungo niya ang pinto. Bago tuluyang lumabas ay nag-aalalang nilingon ang asawa na pina-practice ang Lamaze method na pareho nilang dinadaluhan. "Are you all right, honey?"
"Minamadali na ng anak mo ang lumabas, Ivan," she said in between breaths. "Narinig niya ako kanina at alam niya kung gaano ako ka-desperate..." She let her voice trail off and winked at him wickedly.
"Shut up!" he hissed in between worry and amusement. "What was that all about?" nagtatakang tanong ni Adora.
Ivan glared at his wife and went out of the room. Nasa labas na siya ng pinto nang marinig ang malakas na tawa ng asawa.
Sa kabila ng pag-aalala, hindi niya napigilan ang pagguhit ng ngiti sa mga labi. Then he remembered he had to call his father-in-law. Nangako siyang tatawagan ito sa sandaling sumasakit na ang tiyan ni Nayumi.
His filthy rich of a father-in-law would surely arrive with a flair in FNC jet along with the Navarros. At ayon kay Kurt, malaki ang utang niya rito sa pagtatagpo nila ni Nayumi.
Ivan's heart swelled with love and happiness. Ilang minuto mula ngayon ay tatanggapin ni Alvaro ang unang installment ng pagbabayad niya—ang masilayan ang apo nito.
WAKAS
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