42

"Are you really sure you're not coming with me? I can wait for you."

I smiled at my husband and continued tying his tie. After making a knot and pulling the hem of the tie down, I looked at his face and tiptoed to give him a kiss.

"Gusto ko man pero hindi pwede. Ngayong araw ang usapan namin ng may-ari ng lupa na bibilhin ko. Though I really wanted to see how you slay in that meeting, the circumstances are not letting me." Inayos ko ang coat nito at isang beses pang hinagod ito ng isang tingin. "You should go now. Baka mahuli ka pa."

Imbes na magpaalam ay hinapit ako ni Cholo sa bewang at niyakap. Itinukod nito ang baba sa balikat ko at ikiniskis ang ilong sa may leeg ko. Sinuklay ko naman ang buhok nito at pumikit. Itinatatak ko sa isip ang amoy nito dahil baka ito na ang huling pagkakataon na magiging ganito kami kalapit sa isa't isa.

"Parang ayoko nang magpunta sa meeting. Hindi naman iyon ganoon ka-importante. Whether I will attend or not, it's still a closed deal after all.  Sasamahan na lang kita sa lakad mo and then we'll go cruising the rest of the day. What do you think, wife?" Pabiro nitong kinagat ang leeg ko sinapo ang pang-upo ko.

Kinurot ko siya sa tagiliran dahilan para mapaigtad ito at mapalayo nang kaunti sa akin. Pinameywangan ko siya at tinaasan ng mga kilay.

"Mr. Gastrell, I never know you could be this unprofessional. Remember, it's the future of your company, your wife and your children that's at stake here. Isa pa, mas makabubuti para sa pinsan mo ang pagdalo mo sa meeting na iyon. I heard that a known political family will be there. Malay mo, baka hindi lang future mayor ng siyudad natin ang manggagaling sa pamilya niyo. Maybe we can also have the future president from here."

Nawala saglit ang kasiyahan sa mukha nito bago iyon pilit na ibinalik. "I see that my wife is really resourceful with her information."

Nabura rin ang ngiti ko na tulad niya ay sinubukan ko ring agad na ibalik. "Of course. What do you think of your wife, Cholo? I'm the most efficient woman you can meet in your lifetime." Nilagyan ko nang kaunting tawa ang dulo ng salita bago nilapitan uli ang asawa at inayos na naman ang necktie nito. "In order to win the war, you should be at least one step ahead with the enemy. That's what I learned from my family."

Tumingala ako sa asawa at humakbang paatras pero hinila niya ako palapit at sinapo ang aking pisngi para siilin ng halik. Instinctively, I gathered my arms around his neck and responded. Our toungues mated with hunger while his hands groped my butt.

"I should really just stay here with you," he said huskily before pulling me again to his kisses.

Nang aktong hihilahin na niya ang strap ng nightgown ko ay doon ko na naibalik ang kontrol sa sarili na bahagyang nawala. I pushed him away and retreated for a while. Tumalikod ako sandali para payapain ang sarili at pababain ang temperatura ng katawan na unti-unti na ring tumataas.

My hormones be really screaming for Cholo's skillful maneuver in bed which I need to keep in check. Kilala na ng katawan ko ang init ng asawa. Isang ningas lang at kaagad akong sisiklab. I can't possibly be a slave to his body again. Not when I know this will just be a temporary thing. Ayokong dumating ang panahon na magiging dependent na naman ako sa kaniya.

"You really need to go now. A good CEO should be a good example to his employees," ani ko nang maayos na ang sarili at nagawa nang makaharap dito.

Cholo just threw me a downcast look before gently tugging me forward and enveloping me back to his embrace. I breathed in his scent and let myself be drowned again in his inviting warmth.

"This will just be a quick one. Babalik din agad ako rito para sa iyo. Please don't turn off your phone. Halos mabaliw na ako kakahanap sa iyo noong isang araw dahil hindi mo sinasagot ang mga tawag mo."

I sighed and reminded myself never to get too used to being like this and hearing these words from him.

"Sorry again. My phone just ran out of battery and I got so busy with my business that day. Will you forgive me? Hmm?"

His arms got tighter around me and I heard him sigh in the air.

"You know I will always forgive you no matter what you do. Just... Just tell me why, Karina. I will always hear your side and be at your side no matter what happens."

May laman ang kaniyang mga salita. Iyan ang sigurado ako. Nakakahalata na ba siya sa mga pag-iwas ko sa kaniya nitong mga nakaraang araw sa tuwing sinusubukan niya akong kausapin?

"Oo na. I will remember that." Bumitaw ako sa yakap nito at marahang itinulak ito palabas sa pinto ng silid namin. "Umalis ka na. I'll just call you later when I'm done with my business, okay?"

Cholo just nodded while searching for something in my face. Nang hindi marahil makita ang hinahanap nito ay hinalikan niya ako sa noo at buhok bago ngumiti sa akin.

"I love you, wife," malamlam ang mga mata na pahabol nito nang nasa puno ng hagdan na ito.

Kumaway ako sa kaniya at sinagot ito ng isang ngiti na kaagad ding napalis nang nawala na sa paningin ko ang asawa.

When I heard the engines ramming and the speeding away of the car, I immediately reverted back to the initial plan. Dali-dali akong nag-ayos at lumabas ng bahay. Nagpahatid ako sa labasan ng subdivision at sumakay sa van na nakaantabay kung saan nakasakay na sina Vishen at Celeste.

We drove without direction for another couple of minutes just to buy time before changing into another car in the middle of the road.

"Vishen, did you already do what I instructed you to do?"

"Yes, Miss Karina. All are already in place."

Impressed, I leaned back to my seat and crossed my legs in anticipation of what's about to come, a sly grin playing on my lips.

"Good. You earned yourself a bonus."

Magkasunod lang ang pagdating ng mga sasakyan namin ni Cholo sa labas ng hotel na pag-aari ni Maverick sa Cerro Roca. Kita ko pa ang pagsalubong ni Elizabeth sa kaniya at ang pagkawit ng kamay nito sa braso ng binata na inalis naman ng asawa. I waited for another minute before entering the exit door and occupying the  room next to the convention area where the meeting will be held.

Binuksan ni Vishen ang monitoring television sa harap. Lumitaw ang silid sa kabila kung saan nagsisimula na ang mga pag-uusap. Present are Cholo, Elizabeth, Ymir, Secretary Benito, the youngest governor in the country and the rest of the stakeholders of the project. Sinalinan naman ako ni Celeste ng wine sa baso at dinulutan ng mga prutas. Inilabas ko naman ang cellphone at pahinamad na naupo sa recliner seat habang itinitipa ang numerong tatawagan.

"Hello, Ely," I said and popped some grapes into my mouth.

The woman did not speak but I can hear her fear just by hearing her breathing. Tiningnan ko ang monitor at ngumiti nang makitang hindi na mapakali sa upuan ang dalaga.

"Take it easy, will you? Breathe in breathe out. Listen, I will not go into much details. I just wanted you to do something for me. Now open your laptop," utos ko rito bago inabot ang kopita at uminom.

"Sorry but I'm so busy to talk about other business right now. Thank you."

"Oops! I think you should think twice before hanging up on me. Elizabeth, have you forgotten what I am capable of doing to you? Did you already forget that I know your pretty little nasty secret? Ano kaya kung tawagan ko ngayon din si Cholo at ipaalam sa kaniya ang krimen mo?"

Narinig ko ang paghugot nito ng hininga. "If it is that important then I'm listening."

"Good girl! Now open your laptop and don't put down your phone."

Nakita ko ang pagtayo ni Ymir at ang pagpunta nito sa harap para magsalita. Sinunod naman ako ni Elizabeth at binuksan ang laptop at napasinghap sa gulat.

"Yeah, I know Ely. The pictures are quite shocking but what can I do? You proudly did them so no shame intended." Ibinaba ko ang kopita sa katabing mesa at pinagkrus ang mga hita. "What I wanted for you to do is this. Tell the people in there that the owner of the land you're trying to get did not sign the deed of sale. Ikaw ang umasikaso sa lahat ng iyon kaya siguradong papaniwalaan ka nila. Kung paano, diskarte mo na iyan. Kung hindi mo ako susundin, I will send all these files you're seeing in your laptop to all the stakeholders of the project. I will send it to the media and make a chaos out of it. Masisira ang matagal nang sira na reputasyon ng inyong pamilya. Mabubunyag ang lahat ng lihim ninyo. At higit sa lahat, masasaktan si Cholo at ang kapatid mo dahil hindi nila makukuha ang proyektong ilang taon nilang pinangarap at pinaghirapan. The current administration is too allergic with scandals, Ely."

"I thought he is the reason for all of this. Why are you sacrificing him now?"

Inubos ko ang laman ng buong kopita at pabagsak na ipinatong sa mesa.

"Don't be too simple minded, Ely. Now do what I told you to do."

Sumulyap ito saglit sa kapatid na nakatayo pa rin at nakikipag-usap sa mga shareholders. I just grinned when I read the desperation in her eyes.

"Don't bother asking for your brother's help or any of your family member. Sa tingin mo ano ang dahilan kung bakit buhay pa ako ngayon? It's because your brother cannot make an enemy out of Cholo especially now that my husband is warming up on me. Power, wealth, and influence, Ely. Being the wife of Cholo made me an equal to an Asturia. Ngayon, kahit gaano ko man kagusto na pahabain pa ito kasi natutuwa talaga akong marinig ang nanginginig na boses mo, I'm afraid I have to cut off our friendly conversation. Tell them now the big news, Ely."

I relaxed to the backrest and patiently waited for her decision. Samu't saring emosyon ang nagtatalo sa mukha nito at nakakatuwa lang na panoorin ang kawalang magawa nito sa sitwasyon. It's just so satisfying to see how an old money like her lose her wits. Sa huli, tumikhim ito at kuyom ang mga kamao na nagsalita.

"E-excuse my interruption but I think we have a problem," kabado nitong simula.

Nagsitinginan naman sa kaniyang direksiyon ang lahat.

Amused na hinintay ko ang mga susunod nitong sasabihin para lusutan ang sitwasyon.

"Go on, Elizabeth," pagbibigay ng acknowledgement dito ni Ymir.

Tumayo naman si Elizabeth at huminga nang malalim.

"I know it's not really the news you wanted to hear but... I wanted to inform you that the owner of the land changed his mind. He doesn't want to sell it to us anymore."

I chuckled at her reason. Oh, this would be so interesting to watch.

There was a silence first before a series of disappointed and angry sentiments followed. Natutok ang paningin ko kay Cholo na tahimik lang sa gilid at magkasalikop ang mga kamay na nakapatong sa mesa. He doesn't even look a bit bothered by the news.

"Akala ba namin ay tapos na ang pirmahan? Mr. Gastrell, Mr. Asturia, I thought everything is already ironed? Ano naman itong panibagong problema ngayon?" ang maanghang na wika ng isang lalaki na katabi ni Secretary Benito.

"I think you owe us an explanation especially you, Ms. Asturia," ani naman ng gobernador.

"Gentlemen, I believe it's just a matter of miscommunication," salo ni Ymir sa kapatid. "I am positive that we will resolve it as soon as possible. Now, can we all return to the discussion?"

"Mr. Asturia is right," Cholo said dismissing the other statements about the matter. "We will handle it legally. Now may we go back to the presentation?"

Nagsinang-ayunan din ang lahat sa sinabi nito at bumalik sa pakikinig. Lumabi naman ako at buong paghangang tinitigan ang asawa. He sure knows how to handle pressure. Silly me. I almost forgot who Cholo is.

"Thank you, Ely. Consider it your initiation, dear."

Pinatay ko na ang cellphone at tumayo. Nagtataka naman na ninakawan ako ng sulyap ni Celeste.

"What's the look for, Celeste? I didn't impress you today? Well, it's just their first taste. Kailangan ko muna silang alugin ngayon nang kaunti. Patikim kumbaga. You can call it a foreshock before an earthquake, a foreplay before sex, a prelude of anything."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Karina," nakayuko nitong paghingi ng paumanhin.

"There's no reason for you to ask for forgiveness. I'll just make sure to do better next time." Bumaling ako kay Vishen. "Ikaw na ang bahala sa lahat. No trace in everything. I did not come here today, okay?"

Yumuko ito at sumagot. "Yes, Ms. Karina."

I glanced at the monitor to take a look at Cholo who is now in his restless self. No matter how he hides it, I know that he is equally as problematic as anyone in the room. The possibility of his decade-long dreams disappearing in an instant is not just a possibility. It can be his reality now.

Blangko ang mga mata na binawi ko ang tingin at tuluyan nang lumabas sa pinto. Mabigat ang dibdib ko na hindi ko naman dapat pang nararamdaman.

There's no point of dwelling in these feelings if I know that I will just need to left them behind together with the man I have come to love again.