Balik trabaho na ang mag-asawa pagkatapos ng isang linggong bakasyon nila sa Cebu. Greggy left early in the morning for a sudden meeting in his office, while Irene had to miss work due to fever and headache. Hindi alam ni Greggy na hindi pumasok si Irene sapagkat natutulog pa ito nang umalis siya.
Greggy went on with his day whilst Irene's father, Ferdinand, was worried about his daughter. Hindi ugali ni Irene ang hindi pumasok sa trabaho, she was always present and early. Ferdinand thought that Irene was running late kaya hindi na siya nag-abala na isipin kung anong nangyari sa anak.
Ferdinand started to be bothered by his daughter's absence when lunch came. Pinuntahan niya ang opisina ni Irene at nakitang wala pa rin ang anak. He texted Greggy but his son in law was not responding.
To: Greggy
Bakit hindi pumasok si Irene? She's not answering my calls and texts.
Hindi na napigilan ni Ferdinand at tinawagan na ang balae niya. He told Don Luis the exact details and told him to check if Irene was at their company or inform Greggy.
In Araneta Consortium building, pinuntahan ni Don Luis ang opisina ng anak . He waited for his son to finish its meeting before barging inside the office.
"Nagpunta ba dito ang asawa ng boss mo?" tanong ni Don Luis sa baritonong boses.
"Hindi po, Don Luis. Maaga po si Sir Greggy kanina dahil may maagang meeting po siya, hindi ko naman po napansin na nagpunta dito si Ma'am Irene." sagot ng sekretarya ni Greggy.
Tumango si Don Luis at tumayo sa inuupuan nang makitang lumabas na ang ka-meeting ng anak. He barged inside Greggy's office, nakasandal si Greggy sa headrest ng swivel chair nito at mariin na nakapikit ang mata. His son looked tired and drained.
"Gregorio." Don Luis called.
Agad napatayo si Greggy para batiin ang ama, "Dad." He walked closer to his father and greeted him with kiss on the cheek. "What brought you here?"
Don Luis sat on the couch, Greggy remained standing. "Where's your wife?"
Greggy's forehead creased. "Si Irene?"
"May iba ka pa bang asawa?"
"No, I mean- Nasa opisina niya. I left the penthouse early because I have an early meeting."
"Hindi pumasok si Irene, tumawag si Ferdinand nagbabakasakali na nandito si Irene."
Napakunot ang noo ni Greggy. Don Luis checked his phone, Ferdinand texted him.
From: Ferdinand Marcos
Irene called me. Hindi pumasok dahil may lagnat at masama ang pakiramdam. Pakisabi na lang kay Greggy, salamat.
"Oh. Nag-text ang biyenan mo." Ipinakita ni Don Luis ang mensahe sa anak. "You didn't check up on your wife before leaving? Nasa iisang kwarto na nga kayo, iisang kama pa! Hindi mo man lang napansin na masama ang pakiramdam ng asawa mo?!" singhal ni Don Luis kay Greggy.
"I didn't know, okay?" sabi ni Greggy. "I am so busy today, Dad. Hindi na sumagi sa isip ko, sorry."
"Umuwi ka. Transfer all your clients for today to my secretary, ako na ang makikipagkita sa kanila. I want you to go home, to your wife. Alagaan mo ang asawa mo." bilin ni Don Luis.
"Bakit parang mas anak mo pa si Irene kesa sa akin?"
Don Luis smirked. "Irene is the kind of son that... I will never get in you. Go take care of your wife, pabayang asawa."
"Edi nagmana lang pala ako sayo," bulong ni Greggy sa hangin.
"May sinasabi ka?" sita ni Don Luis.
Tumuwid ng tayo si Greggy nang sinita ng ama. "Wala, Dad, I'll transfer the clients tapos uuwi na po ako." Don Luis left his son's office shortly.
Meanwhile at the Marcos-Araneta's penthouse, Irene was badly sick. Nakatalukbong ito sa kumot at hinang-hina sa kama. She had to stand up when someone rang the doorbell. Who could this be? Alam naman ni Greggy ang passcode ng condo nila. She weakly walked to the door and opened it. Sumalubong sa kanya ang isang magandang babae na nakadilaw na bestida. The girl looked like a pure angel.
Maamo ang mukha, matangos ang ilong, mapupulang labi, maputi at matangkad, mahaba rin ang buhok nito. While Irene looked like a mess, a hot mess.
"Yes?"
"Is Greggy here? I'm Isabelle." pagpapakilala nito, kahit ang boses ng babae ay napakahinhin.
"Wala pa siya 'e. But you can come in," bahid sa boses ni Irene na masama ang pakiramdam nito.
She opened the door widely and made Isabelle come inside their condo. Isabelle looked around the place, maaliwalas ang paligid nito. Maayos ang pagkakalagay ng mga bagay.
"You're the wife." Isabelle uttered.
"And... you're the girlfriend." sabi ni Irene.
Unti-unting tumango si Isabelle at bumuntong-hininga. "Unfortunately, yes. Girlfriend..." humina ang boses nito.
Tumikhim si Irene pagkatapos ng ilang segundong katahimikan. "Upo ka muna. Do you want anything to drink? Habang nag-aantay kay Greggy,"
Isabelle sat on the couch. "Huwag na, okay lang. If I may ask, where's Greggy's bedroom?"
Natahimik si Irene at napakagat ng pang-ibabang labi. She pointed at the biggest room at the corner.
Tumango si Isabelle, "How about yours?" Irene sighed and smiled awkwardly. "You share the same room?" nawala bigla ang ngiti ni Isabelle.
Irene slowly nodded. "Our parents arranged this for us, I hope you understand. But don't worry, magkaiba ang kama namin. Greggy bought aother one. Malaki naman ang kwarto, magkalayo ang kama namin." Irene smiled a little, feeling a little dizzy.
They were both stunned when someone opened the door. Nagulat si Greggy nang makita ang dalawa na magka-usap. Irene, his wife, with Isabelle, his girlfriend. How ironic could that be.
"Hon?" ani Greggy.
"Thank God you're here... Uhm Greggy, ikaw na ang bahala sa girlfriend mo. I'm not feeling well, nahihilo ako... Nice meeting you, Isabelle." Irene smiled weakly.
"Ako na ang bahala. I'll bring you medicine in a bit." sabi ni Greggy.
"Huwag na, I can manage." Irene smiled for the last time before going back inside their room.
Agad siyang sumampa sa kama at nagtalukbong sa comforter. She immediately went to sleep. Greggy and Isabelle went out to dine, a simple way to make it up to Isabelle after months of no communications. It's also time to explain to her everything about their set up.
"So... Hindi mo naikwento na magkasama pala kayo sa iisang kwarto." Isabelle started when their food arrived.
"Hon... I promise you, ang mga magulang namin ang bumili ng penthouse. It wasn't my fault neither Irene. They arranged it, and we don't have a choice. We bought another bed instead, kasi ayaw naman naming magtabi sa iisang kama."
Greggy tried so hard to explain just so Isabelle could properly understand and not conclude things.
Isabelle scoffed. "How about your honeymoon in Cebu? I doubt that you had a choice to not sleep on the same bed for a week... Ano? You also booked another room or bed?" sarkastiko niyang sabi.
Natahimik ng ilang segundo si Greggy. He cleared his throat before speaking, "Well that... We had to, okay? We actually asked for another room or bed when we arrived but they're fully booked, it was packed. We had no choice, Isa. So, we just placed a pillow between us, the bed is wide. Never did once our skin touched."
Isabelle still looked unconvinced. Tahimik na itong kumakain pero halata pa rin sa mukha nito na hindi naniniwala sa sinasabi ng nobyo. It looks like Greggy was uttering empty words, blabbering words that is nonsense.
"Please believe me... I am telling the truth." pagsusumamo ni Greggy.
"Whatever. Finish your food, you have a wife to take care of." she emphasized the word. Hindi na niya pinansin si Greggy at nagsimula ng magpindot-pindot sa telepono.
Greggy continued eating. They paid the bill and left the restaurant after. Habang nasa sasakyan sila, he asked Isabelle.
"Ice cream tayo, hon?" malambing nitong sabi at hinaplos ang hita ng nobya.
Biglang nagpa-cute si Greggy sa harap ni Isabelle habang iritado pa rin ang itsura nito.
"Please, my honey?" he even pouted.
Hindi na napigilan ni Isabelle ang pagngiti dahil sa kapilyohan ni Greggy. She rolled her eyes at napangisi na.
"Yon! That's my favorite smile."
"Silly! Let's go get ice cream!" mahinang hinampas ni Isabelle ang braso ng binata at natawa.
They drove around to find the nearest convinience store. Nanatili lamang sa sasakyan si Isabelle habang si Greggy ay bumili ng ice cream sa loob. She waited for a couple of minutes until Greggy came back holding a plastic with the ice cream inside. May napansin si Isabelle na may iba pang dinadala si Greggy. It's a little brown paper bag.
"Ano 'yan?" tanong niya.
"Ah. Wala lang, hon. Gamot lang." Greggy smiled.
Isabelle just nodded and opened her ice cream. Greggy prepared and opened the water bottle for Isabelle to drink.
"You like it, hon?" malambing na tanong ni Greggy.
Isabelle smiled and nodded. "Yes, honey. Thank you!"
She leaned in to kiss him, ginawaran naman siya ni Greggy ng halik sa labi.
"I'm sorry if I was in a bad mood during dinner... I was just upset that I didn't know. It won't happen again, sa susunod magtatanong na ako para hindi tayo mag-away." ani Isabelle.
Tumango si Greggy at matamis na ngumiti. "Thank you, honey. I'm sorry too, hindi ko nasabi sayo. I'm at fault... Mahal pa rin kita, hon."
Greggy lovingly caressed his girlfriend's cheek. He looked at her eyes and can't help to differentiate it with Irene's. Isabelle's eyes were round and light brown. Kumikinang ito sa tuwing nakatitig sa kanya. Habang kay Irene ay medyo singkit na madilim ang pagka-kulay kayumanggi. Kumikinang iyon sa inis sa tuwing nakikita siya.
He drove his girlfriend home after their date, at umuwi na rin siya pagkatapos. Irene was still wrapped around her sheets when he arrived at their room. Natutulog pa rin ito pero halatang nanginginig. He touched her forehead with the back of his palm and it was scorching hot.
Agad niyang ginising si Irene.
"Irene... I'm here." Irene groaned painly. It looked like she was very sick and in pain. "Kumain ka na ba?"
Pinilit na umupo ni Irene at sumandal sa headboard. She sighed painly.
"Have you eaten? May dala akong gamot." umiling ito. "Giniginaw ka ba? You want me to turn the aircon off?" tumango ito.
Agad niyang pinatay ang aircon at dinagdagan ang kumot ni Irene. "I'll cook you porridge para makainom ka na ng gamot."
Lumabas siya sa kwarto nila at naghanap sa mga stocks kung anong pwedeng gamitin para makagawa ng lugaw. Thankfully, there was enough condiments and ingredients.
While waiting for it to be cooked, naghanda rin siya ng bimpo at malamig na tubig para mapababa ang lagnat ni Irene. He also looked to their kit if there was a thermometer.
Bumalik na siya sa kwarto nang nakahanda na ang lahat. Nakapikit si Irene habang nakasandal sa headboard na naabutan niya. He woke her up and sat on her bed in front of her to feed her.
"Ayaw ko... Wala akong panlasa." she cried like a child.
"You have to eat, sige na... Kahit konti lang para makainom ka na ng gamot. Ang init mo, Irene. Sige na..." he wiped her tears at sinubuan ulit ang asawa.
She took at least twelve bites until she refused. Greggy took her temperature with the thermometer. Mataas ang lagnat nito. Pinainom na niya ang asawa ng gamot at pinunasan ang ulo, mukha, leeg at braso nito.
"You have to change clothes, you're damp in sweat. I'll get you something to change, wait."
Kumuha siya sa closet ni Irene ng daster at pinasuot ito sa kanya. It's easier for her to wear at siguradong presko ito sa pakiramdam.
"Turn around..." mahinang sabi ni Irene habang naghahanda para magpalit.
Greggy sighed and turned around. He waited for Irene to speak para makaharap na siya.
"Don't look or even try to peek, Araneta." she bossily said. Even when sick, maldita pa rin ito.
"I won't and I'm not even planning to." sabi ni Greggy.
Seconds later, "Okay na."
Sinamahan niya si Irene hanggang makatulog ito. He continued monitoring her and wiping her with cold damp towel. He stared at her while she was asleep.
"Mas mukha ka pa lang anghel pag tulog... Mabait lang pag tulog 'e, nagiging tigre ulit pag gising." natawa siya sa sarili niyang pagbubulong.
He didn't even notice that he dozed off to sleep beside her, still holding the cold and damp towel. He'll be surely startled seeing their position if the alarm rings, for her to drink her medicine.