WHEN Nez arrived at their home that afternoon, she didn't saw Tyler on the sofa like he always does. "That's odd." She muttered.
Nasanay na siyang lagi siyang sinalubong ni Tyler pag-uwi niya ng hapon. At nasanay na siyang lagi itong nasa sofa at natutulog.
But then, Nez lip's broke into a smile when she smelled pancakes coming out from the kitchen. Ibinaba niya ang gamit niya sa sofa, tinanggal niya rin ang suot niyang wedge heels dahil masakit na ang paa niya. Dumeretso siya sa kusina at agad niyang nakita ang asawa niya na nakaharap sa kalan. Nilapitan niya ito at niyakap mula sa likuran.
Natigilan naman si Rowan dahil sa pagyakap sa kaniya ni Nez pero hinayaan niya lang ito. "Welcome home." He said gently as he flipped the pancake in the pan.
Nez buried her face on her husband's back. Since the kiss on the parking lot, they have been become closer now. Actually, she's been thinking if she could give it a go about her relationship with Rowan. Kasi sa totoo lang, Rowan was so genuine to her and he's sincere when he asks if they can make it real.
"Ro."
"Hmm?"
Humigpit ang yakap ni Nez sa asawa. "Iniisip ko ang mga sinabi mo sa akin sa parking lot noong nakaraang araw."
Bahagyang natigilan si Rowan. Am I going to get an answer now? "And?
Ngumiti si Nez. "I think I like you."
Rowan dropped the frying ladle, fortunately, it fell down on the pan. "Damn!" He cussed and immediately picked up the frying ladle. Tumikhim siya. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng kaniyang puso at nabigla siya sa pag-confess ng asawa niya.
Natawa naman si Nez. "Were you that shocked?"
"Y-you like me? For real?" Rowan asked. He turned off the gas stove. Umikot siya paharap kay Nez and he noticed something. At doon na natuon ang atensiyon niya. "You're not wearing sleepers. Papasukin ng lamig ang katawan mo." Binuhat niya ang asawa na parang bata.
Nez wrapped her thighs on her husband's waist.
Dinala ni Rowan ang asawa sa counter at pinaupo ito doon. Kumuha siya ng tsinelas at pinasuot rito.
"Thanks." Nez smiled.
"So, you like me?" Rowan huskily asked as he went in between Nez parted thighs. Humawak siya sa beywang ng asawa.
Ipinatong naman ni Nez ang braso sa balikat ni Rowan at tumango. "We've been together for almost four months now and you never did anything inappropriate to me. You never hurt me. You're genuine and nice to me."
"So..." Rowan trailed.
"So," pinagdikit ni Nez ang nuo nilang dalawa ni Rowan saka ito nginitian, "yes, we can make our relationship real."
Rowan eyes widen but he didn't miss the opportunity. Kinabig niya ang batok ng asawa saka ito hinalikan sa labi. Ipinikit naman ni Nez ang mata at tinugon ang halik ni Rowan.
He sucked Nez' lower lip and deepened their kiss.
"Hmm..."
Rowan encircled his arms to her wife's small frame and kissed her fervently. Until his hand started to roam around her body. His hand slid inside her uniform and caressed her stomach.
Nez felt a tingling sensation to Rowan's touch and wanted more.
Bumaba ang halik ni Rowan sa leeg ng asawa. He licked her neck earning a moaned from his wife.
"Ro..." Napasabunot si Nez sa buhok ni Rowan.
Nez' breath became hitched and titled her head to give her husband more access to lick her neck.
Napadaing si Nez dahil sensasyong nararamdaman. "Rowan..." she moaned her husband's name.
Not until Rowan started to unbutton her blouse. Parang doon nabalik si Nez sa katinuan at mabilis na pinigilan ang kamay ni Rowan. "No, please."
Agad namang tumigil si Rowan. Nagmulat siya ng mata, Nez saw the desire and lust in Rowan's eyes. She gulped. "C-can we not do it for now?" She asked embarrassed.
"Why?" Rowan asked.
"I'm not ready for it."
Akala niya magrereklamo si Rowan pero ngumiti ito at hinalikan siya sa nuo. "Okay. Let's just do it when you're ready."
Namula si Nez at isinubsob ang mukha sa leeg ni Rowan.
Rowan chuckled and caressed Nez' hair. "So, we're now officially together?"
Tumango si Nez habang nakasubsob pa rin ang mukha sa leeg ni Rowan. "Ang bango mo." Inamoy niya ang leeg ni Rowan.
"Hmm...Love, if you won't stop, we probably will end on the bed."
Mas mabilis pa sa alas kwarto na tumigil si Nez saka bumaba sa counter. "Magpapalit lang ako ng damit." Nagmamadali itong lumabas ng kusina na ikinatawa naman ni Rowan.
Napailing siya saka itinuloy ang pagluluto na may ngiti sa labi.
'Ang saya ng kilala ko.' Biglang sabi ni Tyler.
"Yeah, I'm happy. At alam kong ikaw din."
'Of course, I'm happy.'
Rowan smiled.
While Nez, reaching her room, she touched her chest, her heart was beating so fast. She touched her cheeks and it was hot. Tinignan niya ang mukha niya sa salamin at talagang namumula siya. "Nakakahiya talaga. Halata bang wala akong karanasan sa ganun?"
Napabuga na lang ng hangin si Nez saka nagbihis. Pagkatapos niyang nagbihis, lumabas siya ng kwarto at bumaba sa kusina.
Bigla na lang pumasok ang malakas na hangin sa loob ng bahay. Bukas ang mga bintana kaya naman nakapasok ang hangin. Hindi na lang pinansin ni Nez ang pagpasok ng malakas na hangin sa loob ng bahay pero napansin niya ang isang bagay na nahulog mula sa itaas ng istante at tatamaan nito ang vase na nasa ibaba. Pero bago pa man tumama ang matigas na bagay sa vase, nasalo ito ni Rowan.
Nagulat si Nez dahil biglaang naroon si Rowan. Samantalang ang layo ng kinaroroonan nito sa istante. Nasa gilid ng kusina ang istante at si Rowan naman ay nasa harapan ng refrigerator. How did he...
Nez was confused. Nakatitig lang siya kay Rowan habang ibinabalik nito ang nahulog na bagay sa istante saka ito bumalik sa harapan ng refrigerator. Napakurap si Nez dahil parang hangin lang na bumalik si Rowan sa harapan ng refrigerator.
Anong – ...
"Come on, Love. Let's eat pancake." Sabi ni Rowan hindi pa man nakakapasok si Nez sa kusina.
Natigilan si Nez. Kumunot ang nuo niya. Paano niya nalaman na nandito ako sa labas ng kusina? Hindi naman malakas ang yabag ko?
Nagtataka si Nez habang papasok siya sa loob ng kusina.
"What's the matter?" Rowan asked when he saw Nez' confused expression.
Napakurap si Nez at napatitig kay Rowan. Tinignan niya ito mula ulo hanggang paa.
"What?" Natatawang tanong ni Rowan dahil sa uri ng tingin sa kaniya ni Nez.
Umiling si Nez saka natuon ang atensiyon niya sa pancake. "Pancake. Yumm!" Excited niyang nilapitan ang pancake pero kahit natatakam siya sa pancake, laman pa rin ng isipan niya ang nasaksihan niya kanina.
Nez put a chocolate syrup on the pancake.
"I'll feed you." Sabi ni Rowan saka inagaw mula kay Nez ang hawak na kutsara at tinidor.
"I have my own hands, Ro."
"I insist. Sit." Rowan said firmly but softly.
Umupo si Nez sa stool paharap sa counter. Tumayo naman si Rowan sa tabi niya. Inilapag niya ang kutsara at tinidor. He rolled the pancakes with chocolate syrup and fed it to Nez. Nez took a bite. Kumagat rin si Rowan pagkatapos sa may kinagatan ni Nez.
"Rowan, that's my pancake."
"And so?" Rowan said nonchalantly. "What mine is yours and what yours is mine. Fair enough."
Umirap si Nez. "That's my pancake."
"Okay. Take it back." Hinalikan ni Rowan si Nez.
Mabilis namang inilayo ni Nez ang mukha kay Rowan. "Huwag mong ipasa sa akin 'yang kinakain mo. That's disgusting."
Rowan just laughed. "Really? Disgusting? How about I'll kiss you again?"
Tinignan ni Nez ng masama si Rowan. "Do you want me to write a schedule kung kailan mo lang ako pwedeng halikan?" Banta niya.
Kumunot ang nuo ni Rowan. "Schedule? Mayroon ba nun?"
Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Nez. "Mayroon kung gugustuhin ko. Ano gusto mo? Mamili ka?"
Rowan sighed in defeat. "Of course, I'll kiss you whenever I want."
Ngumiti si Nez. "Then behave while eating. Huwag mong haluan ng kung anu-ano."
Rowan pouted. "Love, pareho lang 'yon. Hahalikan kita ngayon at hahalikan kita kung kailan ko gusto...hindi ba pareho lang 'yon."
Umirap si Nez. "Not when I'm eating." Maydiin niyang sabi.
"Oh, okay." Kumagat si Rowan ng pancake.
Nez grabbed the chocolate syrup. Nilagyan niya ang mga pancake na niluto ni Rowan. Then she used spoon and fork to eat.
"Love."
"Hmm?"
"I need a date. Are you willing?" Rowan asked.
"Date for what?"
Napakamot sa batok si Rowan. "I'm going to a gathering." Tumikhim siya. "It's from a friend. It's a wedding anniversary. So, yeah, I need a date."
"You're friend? May mga kaibigan ka?" Tanong ni Nez.
Rowan looked flatly at Nez. "Anong tingin mo sa akin walang kaibigan?"
Nez just shrugged. "Anong malay ko." Natawa siya.
Napailing na lang si Rowan. "So, want to come?"
"Kailan ba?"
"Saturday evening. It's just a casual wedding anniversary since my friend's wife just wanted to be it simple. She just wanted to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Of course, my friend was ecstatic." It was the First Rank Alpha wedding anniversary.
Tumango si Nez. "Okay. I'll go with you."
Niyakap ni Rowan ang asawa. "Thank you, Love."
Ngumiti si Nez saka hinalikan sa pisngi si Rowan. "No problem. Feed me again."
"Sure."
Pero hindi talaga mawala sa isipan ni Nez ang mga nasaksihan niya kay Rowan. So, she decided to be an undercover. She will uncover her husband's secret because she knew after seeing what he did earlier, he had his secrets, which everyone has, but Rowan was different.
And Nez knew something weird is happening to her husband.