CHAPTER 40
SETTLED
Sab's POV
"Hubby!!!" malakas na sigaw ko nang makita ko siya sa 'di kalayuan. He's wearing his usual varsity jacket, his one hand holding the strap of his backpack.
Natigilan sila ng mga ka-teammates niya sa paglalakad nang marinig ang boses ko. I giggled and ran as fast as I could to wrap my arms around his neck. I didn't care if the whole school would see us. Sobrang saya ko kaya hindi ko na mapigilan ang emosyon ko.
"Hey love," malambing na bati niya sabay yakap sa'kin pabalik. "What's up?"
"Look at my grades!!!" Dali-dali akong kumalas sa pagkakayakap upang ipakita sa kanya ang papel na hawak ko. "I didn't get high scores like you but atleast I passed on all my subjects!!! Ahhhh!"
Nagtatalon pa ako sa saya kaya naman natawa ang mga kasamahan niya. They all congratulated me and they even clapped their hands. Mas lalo tuloy kaming pinagtinginan ng mga tao.
"I'm so proud of you," Russell smiled and kissed the top of my head before handing me back the paper.
"Thank you so much, hubby! Dahil sa pagtuturo mo sa'kin, naiintindihan ko na karamihan sa mga lessons ko. Ayun nga lang, nakakalimutan ko pa rin madalas ang mga sagot pero kumpara nung unang pasok ko dito sa Brooklyn High, masasabi kong hindi na talaga ako kulelat!"
I'm also starting to excel in all my subjects lately. Napakasipag kasi nitong nagtuturo sa akin. He never stops until I understand each lesson I have to study. And what I really love about Russell being my tutor is that he's really patient with me. Never siyang napikon sa bagal kong makaintindi.
Akala tuloy ng ilang mga prof ko ay nangongopya ako o 'di kaya ay pinagagawa ko kay Russ ang mga assignments ko pero na-prove ko naman sa kanilang, kaya kong sagutan lahat kahit ipaulit pa nila sa akin.
Russell caressed my cheek. "I didn't do much. It's all you. You worked hard for it."
I smiled widely while staring at my grades again. I just couldn't contain my happiness! For sure, matutuwa si Papa nito!
"Cap, coach is waiting for us."
Russell automatically held my hand. "Okay, let's go."
"Ay, wait lang hubby. Puntahan ko muna si Marina para masabi ko sa kanya ang good news. Habol na lang ako."
Tumango lang siya at pinaalala sa aking doon sila sa pool magpa-practice ngayon. Nakangisi ko namang pinanuod ang paglalakad niya palayo sa akin.
After his sweet post on Instagram, everything seemed to be going perfectly for the two of us. The rumor about Agatha being Russell's real girlfriend immediately died. Also, the hate comments on my social media accounts lessened day by day. Syempre mayroon pa ring mga bitter at hindi matanggap na taken ko na ang crush nila pero mas marami naman ang sumuporta sa amin.
I officially have my own group of fans!!! Sabaliw gang! Short for Sab-baliw! Hehe.
Si Lily pa nga ang isa sa mga head admins ko kaya tawang tawa ako. Kala mo 'di kami nagaway noon, hehehe.
Ang peaceful na talaga ng buhay ko lately. Kulang na lang singsing sa kamay tsaka cute babies HAHAHA charot. 'Di pa 'ko ready maging mommy. Gusto ko maging baby muna ni Russell, hehehe.
"Taray! Baka maging cum laude ka na niyan," asar ni Marina kahit na halata namang masayang masaya siya para sa akin.
"Next year na M, chill ka lang. Medyo pumalya na ako nung mga unang buwan," tatawa-tawang biro ko. I can always dream about it but I know I should work harder to achieve that.
We talked for a bit before I bid goodbye to her and Lucas. Baka kasi hinihintay na ako ni Russell kaya pupuntahan ko na siya.
I walked back quietly towards the swimming team building. I was even humming to a random song stuck on my mind when I saw Agatha from afar. Namukhaan ko kaagad siya dahil pinagigitnaan siya ng mga kapwa cheerleaders niya.
I pretended I did not see them. Dire-diretso lang ako sa paglalakad nang bigla siyang magsalita.
"Sab..." Tumigil ako at tiningnan siya. Nag-excuse siya sa mga kasamahan niya upang malapitan ako. "How's Russell?"
Nagtaka ako sa tanong niya kaya tinitigan ko siya. Bakit kinakamusta niya sa akin si hubby? Hindi na ba sila naguusap?
"How is he?" paguulit niya. Napansin ko kaagad na may kakaiba sa mukha niya. She doesn't look good. Nangingitim ang ilalim ng mga mata niya at mukhang nabawasan pa ng timbang. It's easy to presume that she's going through something right now.
"Is he doing great at both of his teams? Has he been acing his grades? How about his meals? Has he been eating on time?"
My mouth slightly fell open. Oh my gosh. Wala na silang communication? Since when?!
Pansin ko nga hindi ko na sila nakikitang magkasama ni hubby lately pero akala ko ay dahil lang sa palaging sa akin dumidikit si Russell. I never thought there was more to it.
"Was he avoiding you?" I asked in shock.
"He didn't tell you how he ended our friendship for your benefit?"
"N-no, he didn't."
Umiwas ng tingin si Agatha. Saglit siyang tumahimik bago tumingin ulit sa akin.
"Russell cares about you so much that he would rather not have me in his life than see you get hurt."
Hindi ako nakaimik dahil hindi ko inakalang magagawa nga iyon ni hubby. Alam niyang ilang beses akong naapektuhan sa presensya ni Agatha sa buhay namin kaya gumawa na siya ng paraan para hindi na ako magselos o magduda pa.
At kahit sinabi kong may tiwala naman ako sa kanya, talagang pinutol niya pa rin ang pagkakaibigan nila. I'm speechless. It must have been hard for him to do that...
"You must be so happy and contented now that he disregarded me," She commented with a bitter tone.
Medyo nainis ako sa sinabi niya dahil parang nangaaway pa siya.
"I'm not like you, Agatha. I don't get satisfaction when people around me are having a tough time."
Tiningnan ko saglit ang mga kaibigan niyang nakikinig sa amin. Masama ang loob ko sa kanilang lahat dahil kahit wala akong ginagawang masama sa kanila, sinakyan nila ang mga kalokohan ni Agatha.
"If you're waiting for an apology, you won't have it. I don't regret any of the things that I did to you. I did it because I love Russell. I love him more than you do." Iko-correct ko sana siya pero nagpatuloy siya kaagad sa pagsasalita. "But don't worry, I won't be on your way anymore. Russ asked me to leave you alone so I will. I don't want him to hate me forever."
She sighed and gazed at me as if she still doesn't get why Russell loves me. "You better treat him right because the moment he leaves you, I'll be there, ready to catch him."
Very kontrabida naman ng mga linyahan nito.
I nod my head. "Do whatever you want. Go ahead and wait until your hair turns white. I can assure you right now that I will never let go of Russell."
Ngumiti na ako at kumaway pa sa buong squad niya. "Thanks for the nice talk. I need to go now. My BOYFRIEND's waiting for me. He just can't live without me." I emphasized the word boyfriend as my way of slapping her in the face.
After all, that's all that I can ever do. I am trying to be a better person for myself and for my partner.
Russell's POV
"Your new record," bungad ni coach pagahon na pagahon ko sa pool. I looked at his timer and frowned.
"I can do better than that."
Tumawa siya ng malakas. "And that is why you're the captain of the team."
Ngumiti lang ako at kumuha na ng twalya upang malapitan si Sab na nakaupo sa gilid. Kanina ko pa napapansing hindi niya ako pinapanuod. Tahimik lang siyang nagbabasa ng mga papel na na hawak niya.
When I reached her, I was expecting her to look up but she continued to ignore me. I bit my lower lip and shook my head so she'd get a little wet from the water dripping off my hair. Agad niyang sinara ang folder at tinulak ang tiyan ko.
"Hubby naman!" pagsita niya sabay irap sa akin. I chuckled and sat beside her. Lumayo kaagad siya nang kaunti, takot na mabasa.
"Why are you so serious?"
"Binabasa ko lang itong mga offers para sa inyo. Grabe ang galing din ni Manager Lee para makakuha ng mga ganitong endorsements. Tingnan mo ito hubby, sponsored pati mga sapatos niyong lahat kapag pumirma ka ng kontrata nila. Medyo malaki pa bayad. You can also be the ambassador of these famous sports brands!"
I watched my team while Sab kept going about the offers. She sounded excited as if she was one hundred percent sure I'd grab all of it.
"Huy hubby, nakikinig ka ba?"
I finally gazed at her. Tumango ako ngunit hindi ako nagsalita. I don't want to ruin her excitement just yet. Ang saya saya niya pa naman...
"Bakit? May problema ba?" pangungulit niya. Sinarado niya na ulit ang folder at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Halatang worried siya na ang tahi-tahimik ko na naman.
"I'm not really fond of those. Ang daming demands na kailangang gawin."
She pursed her lips and thought about it for a few moments. "I saw your IG posts before. You accept some, minsan nga lang. Why not do it again? Sayang naman ito hubby, ang daming advantages nito para sa inyo..."
"I'll think about it, okay? I already have too much on my plate. Ayoko rin mawalan ng oras sa'yo."
She nodded and went back to reading the contracts. Pagaaralan niya daw kung ano sa mga iyon ang maaari ko lang tanggapin na hindi makakaapekto masyado sa oras ko. Napailing na lang ako habang nakangiti dahil kina-career niya talaga ang pagiging assistant ko.
After practice, we both decided to eat dinner at the cafeteria. Parehas kaming tinatamad lumabas ng campus at alam niyang pagod na ako kaya ayaw niyang magda-drive pa ako pabalik para lang maihatid siya sa dorm niya.
"I'll have the beef! You?" Nilingon niya ako kaya sinilip ko ang mga ulam.
"Fried chicken for me."
Nag-order pa si Sab ng gulay para sa aming dalawa at mixed fruits since maghe-healthy living na daw siya. Minsan natatawa na lang ako sa mga random things na naiisip niyang gawin. Sure naman akong bukas ay kakain rin siya ng chichirya kapag nag-crave siya.
"Hubby, pwede magtanong?"
"Sure. What is it?" Pinunasan ko ang bibig ko gamit ng tissue upang maayos ko siyang maharap. I wanted to show her she has my full attention.
"Uhm...kanina kasi...nakasalubong ko si Agatha."
"What did she do this time?"
"Nothing! We just talked!" She immediately clarified. "Nabanggit niya sa'kin na hindi na pala kayo naguusap."
Tumango ako at pinagmasdan ang mukha niya. She seemed troubled. Nakakapagtaka naman. Akala ko matutuwa siya kapag lumayo ako kay Agatha...
"Why? Because of me?"
"Ginawa ko 'yon dahil 'yon ang nararapat. She was causing both of us huge problems."
She sighed. Ngumuso pa siya at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "But she was with you half of your life. Hindi ka ba nalulungkot man lang?"
"Of course I feel sad that she ended up toxic. However, I don't regret cutting her off. It's better that way."
I kissed her hand and urged her to finish her food. She stared at me for a few seconds before smiling. Halatang sinigurado niyang ayos nga ako bago siya nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
We hung out around the campus until the sky becomes dark. We were holding hands as we made our way towards her dorm building. Occasionally, she hops and dances. Tawa tuloy ako ng tawa dahil ang energetic na naman siya.
"Love, do you have plans tomorrow night?"
"Hmmm. Wala naman. It's the weekend so I'm all free."
"Great." Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at ngumiti sa kanya. "My mom's inviting you over dinner. Can you join us?"
Nawala ang ngisi sa labi at kitang kita ko ang paglaki ng mga mata niya. Napalunok pa nga siya at tila natulala. I chuckled and placed a strand of her hair behind her ear to catch her attention.
"She knows how much I love you. There is nothing to worry about."
"Your mother gives me the chills. Parang anytime, bibigyan niya ako ng milyon para lumayo sa'yo. Okay lang naman, basta ten million and up ang offer..."
I rolled my eyes. "Should l take that as a yes?"
Sab sighed and rested her forehead on my chest. "Do I have a choice? Can't we just stay at your apartment and watch some movie?" she whined.
"No, I believe we can't," natatawang sambit ko.
She groaned. "Okay. I guess I have to meet her then."
"Make sure to get her approval. You need that if you want to be my wife someday," biro ko para mas lalo siyang kabahan.
Tumayo siya ng maayos at sinimangutan ako. "Wow Russell ha. Ang laki mong tulong!"
Humalakhak ako at hahawakan sana ulit ang kamay niya nang maglakad na siya. Halatang nainis sa pangaasar ko.
"Hey, come on!" I shouted, chuckling at her cute glares.
"Shut up!" Hala, nagtampo na! HAHAHA!
"Isa pang irap, hahalikan talaga kita sa labi," I whispered, knowing very well that she can't hear me.
Tumigil siya at hinarap ako. Her eyes are sharp as she frowns at me.
Let's see if you can still keep that attitude after we locked lips.
*End of Chapter 40*