Chapter Thirteen
C LARIA woke up the next morning without Cleevan on her side. She felt a hole in her heart as she lay in bed alone. Did Cleevan wake up early or did he leave her bed to sleep in his own room?
I really have to clarify what I feel for my husband.
This was not healthy for her. Nasasaktan kasi siya sa simpleng pag-iwan sa kanya ni Cleevan sa higaan. How weird was that?
Wala sa sariling napahawak siya sa leeg. Her eyes widened when she felt the necklace his husband had given her last night. All the pain she was feeling disappeared and it was replaced by an unexplainable joy.
If she wanted to be happy and wanted to know if Cleevan felt the same way for her, then, she had to do something. If Cleevan had any feelings for her, she would not wait for him to confess it voluntarily. She would be the one who would make everyhting fall into place.
Hindi siya puwedeng umasa na lang sa destiny—kung mayroon man. Kailangan kumilos siya para maging masaya at para makasama ang lalaking unti-unti nang pumapasok sa puso niya.
Mabilis siyang bumangon at hinanap ang asawa. Nakita niya si Cleevan sa kuwarto nito na inilalagay ang mga damit sa closet.
“Good morning!” nakangiting bati niya sa asawa na nakatalikod sa kanya.
He looked at her and smiled then went back to putting his clothes in the closet. “Oh, gising ka na pala. How’s your sleep?”
“I sleep like a baby.” She yawned then threw herself on Cleevan’s bed. “Bakit ang aga mong magising?” tanong niya.
“I don’t want you to kick me out or push me away. So, I wake up early to avoid that.”
Sineryoso ng lalaki ang sinabi niya? She felt awful. “I didn’t mean that.”
Nakita niyang natigilan ito at tumingin sa kanya. “You didn’t ... mean it?” His voice was somewhat hopeful.
She sighed then sat on the bed. She extended her arms at him like she was welcoming him. “Come here, please?”
He cautiously crawled into the bed then sat next to her. “May kailangan ka?”
Nakaluhod na humarap si Claria sa asawa. Sinapo niya ang mukha nito at ngumiti. “I have a birthday request. Would you grant it?”
Kumunot ang noo ni Cleevan. “Ano? Ayaw mo akong makasama? Sure, I can do that. Birthday mo naman ngayon. I can make an exception—”
“That’s not what I’m going to request.” She gave him a small smile. “My request is, today, let’s forget our forced marriage, let’s forget our arguments, and let’s forget about our nonsense banters. Today is my birthday and I want us to be together as husband and wife.”
Please, say yes. Ito lang ang naisip kong paraan para makasama kita ngayong araw na ito na hindi mo mahahalata ang nararamdaman ko para sa `yo.
Ayaw niyang mag-away sila. Gusto niya itong makasama sa birthday niya.
“Sure. I like that,” sagot ng asawa na ikinangiti niya nang maluwang.
“Great!” she exclaimed then pressed her lips on his.
Natigilan siya sa kanyang ginawa. She quickly pulled away and nodded down.
She could feel her cheeks burning. Sinabi pa lang niya sa sarili kagabi na itatago ang nararamdaman, pero mukhang mahihirapan siya.
Mukhang hindi lang siya ang nagulat sa ginawa niya. Cleevan was looking at her like she had lost her head.
“What?” she demanded at him.
“Nothing,” mabilis na sagot nito.
“Hmp!” Umalis siya sa kama at lumabas sa kuwarto ng asawa.
Naramdaman niya na sinundan siya ni Cleevan sa kanyang kuwarto.
She faced him. “May kailangan ka?”
He stared at her like he was memorizing every inch of her face. “Hindi tama `yon.”
Nag-isang linya ang mga kilay niya. “Anong hindi tama?”
“The kiss.”
A needle pierced her heart. He did not like the kiss? Hindi ba tama na halikan niya ang sariling asawa? “Oh, sorry kung hindi mo nagustuhan ang—”
“The kiss ... it’s not the proper way to kiss your husband.”
Ipinalibot ni Cleevan ang braso sa baywang niya at hinapit siya palapit dito. Saka walang sabi-sabing tinawid nito ang pagitan ng mga labi nila.
Claria closed her eyes when Cleevan’s lips touched hers. She wanted to savor the decadent taste that was Cleevan. Parang may sariling isip ang mga braso niya at pumalibot iyon sa leeg ng asawa at tinugon ang mainit nitong halik.
Mahina siyang napaungol nang bahagyang kagatin ni Cleevan ang ibabang labi niya na parang nanggigigil ito. He groaned when he heard her moan in pleasure. Then his hand started to touch her... started to pleasure her.
She squeezed her eyes shut when Cleevan started massaging her breast. Napakapit siya sa braso nito nang maramdaman ang isang kamay nito na dahan-dahang pumapasok sa loob ng pajama na suot niya. She could feel her body responding to Cleevan’s touch. She could feel her mound tingling in anticipation, making her body burn for him.
“Cleevan...” she moaned his name when Cleevan left her lips to paint kisses from her chin down to her collarbone.
He nipped and licked her neck, leaving scorching sensation on her skin. Then, he returned to her lips and dropped three sweet little kisses on her slightly parted lips.
“That’s how you kiss your husband, Nett. Not just a simple peck on the lips…” he whispered over her lips.
She nodded; still dazed about the scorching hot kiss they just shared.
Cleevan smiled, making her heart skips a beat. “I better go to my room to take a bath before I do something that will make you mad at me.”
“Okay.” She was still dazed.
“Okay.” He gave her a peck on the lips before leaving her room.
A smile made its way to her lips. That was a mind-blowing kiss. Hindi siya makapaniwala na ganoon ang pakiramdam na halikan nang buong puso ang asawa. She was feeling happy and contented.
Hanggang sa naligo siya at nagbihis, hindi pa rin mapuknat ang ngiti sa mga labi niya.
“Ready?” tanong ni Cleevan mula sa nakabukas na pinto ng kuwarto niya.
Humarap siya sa asawa habang sinusuklay ang buhok. “Not yet,” sagot niya at ibinalik ang atensiyon sa salamin na nasa harap niya.
Naramdaman niya na lumapit si Cleevan at niyakap siya mula sa likuran. Napatigil siya sa pagsuklay sa buhok nang makita ang repleksiyon nilang dalawa sa salamin. Her heart hammered inside her chest when he stared at her through the mirror.
“Can I comb you hair?” tanong nito mayamaya.
Tumango siya habang magkahulagpong pa rin ang mga mata nila. “Yeah,” she answered but she did not make the move to give him the comb.
He smiled as he slid his hands seductively—from her shoulder down to her hand. Then, he slowly snatched the comb from her hold. “Let me brush your hair,” sabi nito. “Would you let me?” he asked again while looking at her reflection on the mirror.
Claria was captivated by Cleevan’s eyes. She could not look away. It was like he was reading her soul the way he looked at her.
“Would you let me?” ulit nito nang hindi siya sumagot.
Tumango siya. “Yeah…” her voice came as a whisper.
He smiled then began combing her long hair. Napapikit siya nang magsimula itong suklayin ang kanyang buhok. It felt so good.
Her eyes snapped open when she felt his lips touch the side of her neck, making her gasp. “Cleevan...”
He looked up, staring at their reflections in the mirror then he grinned mischievously. “Sorry. I can’t resist.”
Sinupil niya ang ngiti na gustong kumawala sa mga labi. “Ako na nga lang ang magsusuklay. Baka saan pa mapunta `yang pagsusuklay mo sa akin.”
Ngumito nang pilyo ang asawa. “Yeah. That’s a better idea. “ Ibinalik nito ang suklay pero hindi naman umalis sa likuran niya.
Naiilang na tinapos niya ang pagsusuklay at hinarap ito. “Saan tayo pupunta?”
Biglang natawa si Cleevan na parang may naalalang nakakatawa. “Iyan ang palaging tanong mo sa akin nitong nakaraang mga araw.”
Natawa rin siya. “Yeah, pansin ko nga.”
Naiiling na pinagsiklop nito ang mga kamay nila. “Kung saan tayo pupunta? That would be a surprise.”
“Whatever,” sabi niya. Pero sa totoo lang, excited na siya sa sorpresa nito.
Lumabas sila ng kuwarto. They walked side by side towards the elevator.
Habang naghihintay na bumukas ang elevator, may isang boses-babae na tumawag sa pangalan ni Cleevan. Sabay silang napalingon sa tumawag.
Agad na kinain ng selos ang puso niya nang makita ang isang magandang babae na nakangiti nang malapad sa asawa.
“Hey, handsome,” the woman purred. “What are you doing here?”
Her jaw tightened as she waited for his reply.
“Mona, ikaw pala,” bati ni Cleevan sa pormal na boses.
“Yeah.” The woman smiled seductively. “Mind if you join me for a drink?”
“Sorry, Mona, but I’m with my wife,” tanggi ng asawa at tumingin sa kanya.
Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ng babae at napatingin din sa kanya. Kahit labag sa kalooban niya, nginitian niya ito.
“Hi,” bati niya na nakangiti ng peke.
“Hello. I’m sorry,” said the woman named Mona. “I thought Cleevan was still available—”
“Well he’s not … available anymore.” She cut her words off. “Please excuse us.”
Pumasok siya sa nakabukas na elevator, hila-hila ang walang imik na asawa.
Naghari ang katahimikan sa loob ng elevator habang bumababa iyon papunta sa lobby ng hotel. Hindi siya makapagsalita.
Claria knew that what she did was rude. But she could not stop herself from doing so. Nagseselos siya at kahit pa noon, nagkakaroon talaga siya ng sungay kapag nagseselos. Pero mali pa rin ang ginawa niya.
“Mona was more than a friend to me,” narinig niyang sabi ni Cleevan.
“Why are you explaining?”
“I don’t want this day to be ruined just because of my past. It’s behind me now and I’m not planning on looking back.”
Tumango-tango siya. “Okay.”
“Look, Nett, Mona is nothing to me—”
“I don’t care about her,” putol niya sa iba pa nitong sasabihin. “I’m sorry,” she blurted out. “I should have not said that to her.”
She heard him sigh before answering. “It’s okay.”
Humarap siya kay Cleevan para alamin kung galit ito o kung ano ang ekspresyon ng mukha. Pero laking gulat niya nang makita na may sinusupil na ngiti ang asawa.
“Bakit ka nangingiti diyan?” usisa niya.
Cleevan let out his smile. “Ikaw.” He chuckled. “Ang cute mo pala kapag nagseselos ka.”
Inirapan niya ito. “I’m not jealous!” Humalukipkip siya. “I’m just guarding what’s mine.”
Huli na para ma-realize niya ang lumabas sa bibig. Napakagat-labi siya. “That didn’t come out right.”
He let out a deep chuckle. “I’m yours, Nett. Then and now, and nothing can change that.”
She looked up at him, her eyes are confused. “What do you mean?” Does he like me too?
Bumuka ang mga labi ng asawa para sumagot nang biglang bumukas ang elevator.
He smiled at her. “Maybe later,” sabi nito na ang tinutukoy ay ang sagot sa tanong niya.
Magkahawak-kamay silang lumabas ng hotel at sumakay sa kaparehong pajero na sinakyan nila kahapon mula sa airport.
NANLAKI ang mga mata ni Claria nang makita ang swan boat. Nasa Burnham Park sila ni Cleevan at kanina pa ito niyayang sumakay sa swan boat. Pero ngayon lang pumayag ang asawa.
Isang malapag na ngiti ang kumawala sa mga labi niya. “Oh, my God!” she exclaimed in amazement. “The last time I’d been here was when I was a kid. I always wanted to ride a swan boat. But Mommy wouldn’t let me because it’s dangerous, she said.”
He did not say anything. He just pulled her towards the swan boat.
Claria giggled giddily as they rode the boat habang si Cleevan naman ay panay ang iling sa reaksiyon niya. Magkaharap silang umupo sa swan boat at dahan-dahan silang nag-umpisang sumagwan.
She was giggling to herself as they rowed. Then a moment later, he was chuckling, too. They both stopped rowing when they reached the center of the lake.
“This is nice,” komento ng asawa.
She smiled then leaned in to Cleevan. “Lumapit ka.”
Sinunod naman nito ang sinabi niya.
When he leaned in, she dropped her knees on the floor of the boat, making the boat wiggle. Mabilis na napahawak ang lalaki sa gilid ng Bangka para ibalanse iyon. She laughed at his reaction then she pressed her lips on her husband’s slightly parted lips.
She was about to pull away when he cupped her face then deepened the kiss. He smiled against her lips when she kissed him back with the same ferocity.
“I’m happy,” pag-amin nito nang maghiwalay ang mga labi nila.
“Me, too,” nakangiting sabi niya at inilapat uli ang mga labi sa mga labi nito.
Para siyang naaadik na sa halik nito. She wanted more than a kiss from him. She wanted him to touch her. Pero alam niya na hindi iyon puwede sa asawa.
Pinakawalan niya ang mga labi ni Cleevan. “Gusto kong pumunta sa Our Lady of Lourdes grotto,” sabi niya. “The last time na pumunta ako do’n, kasama ko si Lance. It was an educational fieldtrip, tumakas lang kami para makapunta do’n.”
Claria saw how the expression on Cleevan’s face changed—it became grim.
“Sorry,” hinging-paumanhin niya. Mukhang hindi kasi nito nagustuhan ang pagbanggit niya sa pangalan ni Lance. “I just want to go there with you.”
Cleevan smiled but it did not reach his eyes. “Okay, will go there after were through here,” sabi nito at nag-iwas ng tingin.
She felt her heart tighten inside her chest. She cupped Cleevan’s face then, she forced him to look at her. “Please, don’t be mad at me. Pasensiya na kung nabanggit ko ang pangalan ni Lance. I wasn’t thinking right.”
“I’m not mad at you, Nett. I’m just jealous.” He looked at her eyes. “Can’t you see how crazy in love I am with you?”
Napanganga siya sa narinig. “What?”
“I’m in love with you, Nett. Can’t you feel it?”