Chapter 19
Shaila
"Love."
"Hmm?" Sagot ko. We were in our bed cuddling. He buried his face on my neck and he started giving me soft kisses.
"Are you sleepy?" He asked.
Umiling ako. "I'm tired but not yet sleepy. Why?"
"Meron pa akong hindi nakukwento sa'yo."
"What is that?"
"Promise me you won't get mad." Sabi niya. He looked at me in the eyes. His eyes are full of worry at doon ako kinabahan. Ito na ba yung sinasabi nilang seven-year itch? 6 years na kaming kasal but we are together for seven years plus kung isasali mo iyong nasa ospital ako at buntis ako kay Shan, malapit na ngang mag-eight kasi two months na lang anniversary na namin at birthday na ni Shan.
May babae ba siya? Anger rushed through my veins. I'm very annoyed because of that thought kaya ang ginawa ko lumayo ako sa kaniya at kinubabawan siya. Pinagtatampal ko siya.
"Ayusin mo, Hunter Lockwood! Huwag na huwag kong malalaman na nambabae ka sa London kundi ipapatapon kita doon kasama ang babae mo pero bago 'yon ipapalapa ko kayo sa buwayang alaga ni Fenix!"
"Aw, Love! Stop it." Sinalo niya ang mga kamay ko para patigilin ako. "Wala akong babae! Hinding-hindi ako mambababae." Aniya. "You know how much I love you." He said softly that made my anger melts.
Napalabi ako. "Ano ba kasi yung hindi mo pa nakukwento?"
"Well..." Bahagya siyang gumalaw at sumandal sa headboard dahilan para mag-init ang pisngi ko. I felt my cheeks burnt because I am now sitting on my husband's crotch. Aalis sana ako pero pinigilan niya ako. My husband's lips formed a smirk.
"Yung ikukwento mo!" Irap ko. Baka magkalimutan eh!
"Oo nga pala." Sabi niya na sinabayan ng tawa.
"Magkwento ka na!" Medyo high pitched ang boses ko para pagtakpan ang hiya. We've been together for several years pero hindi pa rin pumapalya ang puso ko sa pagtibok ng mabilis para sa asawa ko.
"Before I start, mangako ka muna na patatapusin mo muna akong magkwento bago ka magreact. You can be mad, frustrated or annoyed after that. Tatanggapin ko pero hayaan mo muna akong matapos magkwento."
Tumango ako at nag-umpisa na siyang magkwento. "Remember when I didn't call the seventh night I was in London?"
"Yes." That was also the time na isusugod ko dapat sa ospital si Shan pero nastranded kami.
"There's a woman who---"
"Woman?!!! Bak---" Napatigil ako when he gives me that look. Iyong remember your promise look. "Go on." Sabi ko kahit na naiinis na ko. Bakit may babae kasi?!
"So as I was saying, there's a woman who keeps pestering me. Actually from the second we met, nag-umpisa na siya magparamdam sa akin. She even invited me to her room pero tumanggi ako."
Aba't!!!
"I told her that I am married and I love my wife."
"Did she stop then?" Di ko napigilang tanong.
"No, she still keeps pestering me despite the fact that I rejected her and told her that I have a wife until...well I think she drugged me. After one shot of tequila, I suddenly felt dizzy and hot kaya mabilis akong bumalik sa kwarto ko but she followed me..."
Sobrang pagtitimpi ang ginagawa ko. Pero di ko mapigilang hindi maiyak kaya napatigil siya sa pagkukwento. May nangyari ba sa kanila nung babae? He was drugged kaya siguradong may nangyari sa kanila noong babae. Baka nabuntis niya 'yon! Tapos naghahabol tapos ititira ni Hunter dito kasi baliw yung babae, need bantayan. Tapos...tapos...kung ano-anong pumapasok sa isip ko, mga scenario na ang ending maghihiwalay kami ni Hunter.
"Love...no. Walang nangyari samin." Aniya na parang nababasa niya kung anong nasa isip ko. "Tinulak ko siya tapos nagkulong ako sa banyo. I swear walang nangyari samin." He held my face then he brushed away my tears using his thumbs. "She actually pretended to be you but I know my wife. I know you. Drugged or not. That's how smitten I am to you." He hugged me. "I'm telling you this not because I want to make you cry but because of the reason that I want to be honest with you as much as possible." Mas humigpit ang yakap niya sa akin. "I'm not clean, love. I have secrets that I'm not ready to tell you but my love for you is pure."
"Secrets?" I asked.
"Yes. But can you please still give me some time? I will come out clean."
Napalunok ako dahil sa ekspresyon na nababasa ko sa mukha niya. He is guilty of something. "Will that secret of yours...c-can it ruin what we have?" My voice are shaking.
He smiled sadly. "That depends on you, my love."
"Hunter..." Ano ba 'yong secret niya na pwedeng makasira sa pagsasama namin?
He smiled at me. Iyong malungkot na ngiti. "But rest assured. Wala akong babae o anak sa iba. Please wait for me to be ready, ok?"
Hunter
"Bye, mommy!" Shanaia waved at her mom. Shaila waved back. After that talk last night she's been silent. Kahit kaninang umaga. I know that she's very curious about the secret. I want to tell her...Oh f*ck! Of course, I don't want to tell her that! That can ruin our marriage but I want to come out clean.
"Shan."
"Yes po?"
"What do you want for your birthday? Two months na lang birthday mo na."
"Except from baby brother...Can we go to the beach, daddy? Kasama po sila Mamita, Mamu, Lolo, Popsi at Uncle Fenix." Masigla niyang sabi. "And oh! Can we invite Dark? He's my friend, daddy and he is so pogi! He told me he is going to ligaw me."
"Shanaia Artemis!! Anong ligaw?? You're just six!"
"I don't know, daddy. He said he will ligaw me though I don't know what that means." She said innocently.
"Ligaw is bad. If a boy said he will 'ligaw' you, ignore him."
"Ignore him?"
"Yes because ligaw is bad." Sino ba 'yong batang 'yon?! I bet he's not handsome, not even cute! Dark, Dark Baka anak 'yon ng dilim kaya ganon ang pangalan! Liligawan niya ang anak ko? Eh kung iligaw ko siya?
"You trust daddy, right?"
"Yes po."
"Then do what I said."
"Hmm...I'll just tell him na bad po 'yong ligaw so that we can still friends."
"Ok, do that. But be mindful. If that boy tries to hug you, itulak mo and if that boy tries to kiss you, punch him. Ok?"
"Ok po, daddy. I love you."
"I love you too, my baby princess."
Ano pa bang magagawa ko? My daughter is pretty just like her mother. Hindi ko rin naman masisisi lahat doon sa bata kasi sobrang ganda naman kasi ng anak ko kaya ang magagawa ko na lang ay turuan ng self defense si Shan. I should enroll her to a taekwondo class. Yes, that's right. I should teach her how avoid boys.
I parked my car to the school's parking lot, ihahatid ko ang anak ko sa classroom nila at para makita ko na rin 'yong anak ng dilim. Tatakutin ko lang ng konti.
"Daddy, susunduin mo po ba ako mamayang pag-uwi or si mommy magsusundo sa akin?" Tanong si Shan habang naglalakad kami sa corridor, hawak ko ang isa niyang kamay.
"Baka ang mommy mo ang sumundo sa'yo mamaya but I will try."
"Ok po. Sana daddy ikaw sumundo sakin tapos let's go to the arcade." She saif with a cheeky smile.
"I will try, baby." I told her while looking at her.
We are almost at her classroom's door nang matigilan ako. I saw a familiar face. A face that I can never forget. A face that can bring nightmare.
"Teacher Rogue!!" Tawag ng anak ko. I looked at my daughter. She's waving at that man.
"Daddy, that's my teacher!" She said.