CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

MAAGANG nagising si Victoria kaya sa hindi malamang dahilan, naisipan niyang magluto kahit hindi naman siya marunong. She aimed for cooking a perfect sunny side up egg pero nabasag ang yolk habang niluluto niya ang itlog. Kaya ngayon, nagmukhang scrambled ang "sunny side up" egg niya. Hindi lang egg ang niluto niya. Pati rin ang bacon at pancake.

Ano kaya ang paboritong ulam ni Noah? , she thought. Bigla-bigla nalang sumagi sa isip niya kung ano ang paboritong ulam ng asawa. It's not like she'll cook for him or anything. Nacucurious lang siya.

Patuloy sa pagluluto ng bacon si Victoria hanggang sa may makarinig siyang mahinang tawa mula sa likod. Mabilis siyang lumingon only to find Noah's mom. Nakasandal ito sa malapit na pader at mahinang tumatawa. "It's shocking to see you cook breakfast. Nasanay akong si Noah ang nagluluto ng agahan niyo."

Victoria shrugged. Bumalik siya sa pagluluto. "Nagkataon lang na nagising ako nang maaga. It's my first time cooking, though. Might as well experience how to cook."

"Are you in love?" Biglaang tanong ng ina ni Noah sa kaniya.

Nasamid sa sariling laway si Victoria dahil sa biglaang tanong. Really? Deretsahang tinatanong iyan? "Paano mo naman nasabi? I'm not!" She defended.

Lumapit sa kaniya ang ina ni Noah. "Well, we change when we're in love. Like for example, yung mga bagay na ayaw natin gawin noon, naaappreciate na natin ngayon kasi kapag natuto na tayong magmahal, madali nalang satin mahalin ang mga simpleng bagay."

Napabuntong hininga si Victoria. Bakit napunta sa ganitong topic? She's already confused in regards to her feelings. Lalo pa siyang nalito. Ano, mahal na ba niya si Noah o hindi?

"I'm not in love." Pamimilit niya.

Ngiti lang ang tugon ng ina ni Noah saka inagaw sa kaniya ang sandok na hawak. "Noah's favorite breakfast is crispy bacon. He can't refuse to eat if Bacon is our breakfast. Kahit late siya sa trabaho, kakain siya kung bacon ang breakfast."

Napalunok si Victoria. Why is she having this feeling that she wants to cook bacon for Noah? Parang gusto niyang agawin ang sandok mula sa ina ni Noah at siya mismo ang magluto ng bacon?

Victoria let out a deep sigh. Mahina niyang kinuha ang sandok mula sa kamay ng matanda. "Let me...cook for him." She whispered.

His mom grinned and voluntarily gave her the laddle.

When she finished cooking at naghahain na sila sa lamesa, saktong bumaba ng hagdan si Noah nakadamit trabaho na. Bigla namang nairita si Victoria. So after what happened yesterday, he'll go back to work like nothing happened? She really needs to talk to him.

"Noah! Kain ka na. Victoria cooked breakfast."

Gulat na napatingin sa kaniya si Noah. "You cooked breakfast? Why?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Victoria. "What do you mean why? Bawal ba ako magluto?"

Noah chuckled. "I mean, it's unlike you to cook. Usually you depend on the chefs".

Nagkibit balikat si Victoria at nagsimulang kumain. "I wanted for a change, I guess." She answered.

Nagpatuloy na sila kumain at sumabay na rin ang ama ni Noah na bagong gising lang. Tahimik kumain ang pamilya ni Noah kaya naiilang pa si Victoria dahil sa pamilya niya, hindi uso ang salitang "tahimik".

Victoria glanced at Noah who's in front of her. Magana itong kumakain na ikinatuwa ni Victoria. The thought of Noah eating actively makes her happy. Lalo na't masagana itong kumakain ng niluto niyang bacon at itlog.

She feels proud for cooking such a simple dish.

Hindi pa nagtatagal ay biglang dumating si Aqua, ang sekretarya niya. Hinihingal ito at napatigil nang makitang kumakain silang lahat. "Oh. I'm sorry. I'll just come back later—"

"No. It's okay. What is it?" Victoria assured.

Aqua was reluctant to say it. "Uhm...on the news...th-there's a rumor about Noah and Miss Vivienne."

Her mouth dropped. Vivienne and Noah? Again? And a rumor? Is it a dating rumor?

Nagmamadaling kinuha ni Vicoria ang phone na nasa bag niya at nagonline.

Tama nga siya. It was a dating rumor.

'Famous model Vivienne Salvador is reportedly dating an attorney.'

Sa headline palang, halatang tungkol ito sa kalatid niya at sa asawa niya. Binasa niya ang buong article. There were pictures taken of Vivienne and Noah together and people already assume that they are dating.

Tumingin si Victoria kay Noah na abala sa pagtingin sa phone. Mukhang binabasa rin nito ang mga article tungkol sa kaniya. Sino kaya ang naglabas ng news na 'to? She's mad for some reason. Bakit si Vivienne pa? She's seen with Noah too pero bakit walang dating rumors?

But wait, bakit siya umaasa ng dating rumors? She hated being on the headlines with Noah before. Why is she looking for it now? What changed?

Biglang tumayo si Noah sa upuan. "Late na ako sa trabaho. Aalis na ako." Sambit nito.

Mabilis na hinarangan ni Victoria si Noah. "Hey, you're not going anywhere." Pigil niya.

Pero namilit pa rin si Noah. "I need to go to work."

Marahas na umiling si Victoria at mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay ng asawa. "Hindi ka pupunta sa work. Do you even remember what happened yesterday? Pagkatapos ng nangyari, babalik ka na parang walang nangyari? Are you that dumb?"

"They took advantage of your kindness, insulted you and laughed at you. Talagang may lakas loob ka pa bumalik sa trabaho?" She can't help but shout. Naiinis siya sa asawa. Ayaw niyang bumalik na ito sa trabaho dahil tiyak ay mangyayari ulit ang nangyari kahapon. And this time, she won't be there to help him.

Malakas na napabuntong hininga si Noah at tumingin sa mga magulang niyang tahimik lang. "Ayokong makipag-away sayo ngayon, Victoria. Just let me be at work."

Kumuyom ang kamao ni Victoria at nilabas ang mga salitang kanina pa niya sabihin. "I'm your wife."

"Oo, pero sa papel lang." Ani Noah at naunang lumabas ng bahay.

Nakalimutan na niyang mag-asawa lang pala sila sa papel. Noah slapped her with that truth. Bakit ba kasi nagffeeling asawa talaga siya? Bakit hindi siya bumalik sa dating walang pakielam sa ginagawa ni Noah? The thought of him, coming back to work makes her anxious. Ayaw na naman niyang mainsulto ang asawa sa trabaho.

"Miss Victoria, Mr. Suarez called and needs you to come at his company." Ani Aqua.

Mahinang tumango si Victoria at tumungo sa kwarto para maghanda.

~~

DAHIL sa dating rumor ni Noah, nag-iba ang mood niya. Ito ang pinaka-ayaw niya sa lahat. Ang nagiging center of attention. Lalo na sa social media. Tinatawagan niya si Vivienne para iklaro ang balita pero hindi niya makontak ang dalaga.

"Alam kong hindi totoo ang balita. Pero okay ka lang ba?" Biglang sabat ni Aeign.

"Yeah. Nabadtrip lang ako dahil sa balita. Pati si Victoria nabuntungan ko ng galit."

Tumango-tango si Aeign. "Ano nang gagawin mo ngayon?"

"I'll let Vivienne handle these for a while. Kung mas lumala ang balita, aaksyonan ko na." Seryosong sambit ni Noah.

Napangiwi si Aeign. "Pwede bang huwag kang magseryoso? Nakakatakot ka kapag galit. Nasaan na yung tumatawang Noah?"

This time, Noah laughed. "Siya nga pala, Noah, sinabi sa akin ni boss yung tungkol sa resignation letter mo."

Tumango si Noah. "Yup. Kung ganito lang pala ang mangyayari sa akin sa trabaho, mas gugustuhin ko nalang magresign."

"Have you told your parents?"

Umiling-iling siya. "No. I don't have the guts to tell them. Kahit kay Victoria. I'm too ashamed to tell them that I'm jobless."

He continued, "and I have bad records from some of my clients' feedbacks. Baka mahirapan akong makahanap ulit ng law firm."

"So you're going to find another job?" Aeign asked.

Noah nodded. "Yeah. I have to."

Napabuntong hininga nalang si Aeign pati si Noah.

Nang magpaalam si Aeign na babalik siya sa front desk, mag-isa siyang nagmumukmok sa office niya. Ngayon lang niya narealize, maalikabok ang office niya. Walang pintura at lumang mga gamit pa. His boss really hates him.

Biglang sumagi sa isip niya ang pagcomfort sa kaniya ni Victoria. He's very thankful that she was there. He was so close to breaking down but good thing, his wife catched him.

He needs to apologize to her. Hindi maganda ang pagtrato niya rito kaninang umaga. Sadyang bad mood lang siya.

Nang hindi mapakali, kinuha ni Noah ang coat niya at tumayo para puntahan ang asawa.

~~

"I'M THINKING of opening up a small fashion event. What do you think?" Excited na tanong ni Asher sa kaniya.

Victoria's eyebrows furrowed. "I thought sa July pa? And that idea is terrible. Your company is small, Asher. You don't have any attracting modern fashions that will attract big sponsors."

Asher snorted. "Victoria, you alone can attract very big sponsors! We can have famous branded clothes come begging at us to release them at our fashion event. That's what you are capable of."

"You're too good at complimenting people. So, okay. You can open up a fashion event. Besides, kompanya mo 'to." Victoria answered.

Ngiting tumango lang si Asher. "Anyways, how are you and my friend, Noah? How's marriage life?"

"Terrible. Kung siya ulit ang magiging asawa ko sa next life ko, mas pipiliin kong tumandang dalaga." She answered.

Asher laughed. "You're too much. Mabait naman si Noah. He's very quiet and reserve. He doesn't know how to express his feelings well."

Victoria snorted. "Not really. He actually got mad at me awhile ago."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Asher. "Really? Are you okay?"

"What do you mean I'm okay?"

"Well, masamang magalit si Noah. He can be really scary when he's mad. But he gets mad once in a blue moon."

So hindi pa galit ang asawa kanina? O baka nairita lang ito?

Tumunog ang phone niya. Someone must've sent her a message. Nang tignan ang phone, it was Noah. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso siya. Just seeing the name Noah flutters her heart.

"I'm sorry. Are you at work? Pupuntahan kita."

Si Noah? Pupunta dito? Nakangiting tumitipa sa keyboard si Victoria. Knowing that she'll meet Noah agai excites her kahit nagkita sila kaninang umaga at parang bulang nawala ang inis niya rito.

"Is that Noah?" Asher asked.

"Yeah. Pupunta siya dito." She replied.

"Oh by the way, how are you both holding up? From his dating rumor? Hindi naman totoo iyon diba? He's not dating your sister?"

Umiling si Victoria. "It's not true. He's not dating anybody as long as he's married to me."

"Possessive, are we?" Asher teased.

Tinarayan lang ni Victoria si Asher at umupo sa malapit na sofa para hintayin ang asawa.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto, pumasok si Noah na pawang hinihingal. "Noah, my man!" Bati ni Asher sa kaibigan.

The moment she saw Noah, her heart beat insanely fast. Kanina pa tumitibok nang mabilis ang puso niya. May sakit ba siya? Bakit ganito palagi ang nararamdaman niya?

Lumapit sa kaniya si Noah. "Hey, I'm sorry. Mukhang nagalit ata kita kanina." He winced.

"Yeah. You made me mad. Bakit kasi hindi ka magresign sa work? You know what they are doing to you."

Sumipol naman si Asher. "Do you two need privacy?"

Victoria made a straigh face. "Duh." She replied.

"Pasensiya na ah. Office ko kasi 'to." Sarkasmong sambit ni Asher bago lumabas ng office niya.

Nang makalabas si Asher, nagsalita si Victoria. "Why are you here? You should be with Vivienne. Sorting out this nonsense dating rumor." She sounded bitter.

Umiling-iling si Noah. "Kakausapin ko pa siya mamaya."

"Bakit mamaya pa? Bakit hindi ngayon?"

She really sounded like a jealous wife but she doesn't care. Naiinis siya na may dating rumor ang asawa—at sa kapatid niya pa!

"Hindi ako mapakali kasi napagbuntungan kita ng galit kanina. I wanted to apologize to you before anything else."

Victoria crossed her arms. "Fine, I' forgive you but in one condition."

"Ano yun?"

"You hand in over your resignation and quit your job." Utos niya.

Noah scratched the back of his head. "I can't do that. Mahihirapan ako maghanap ng trabaho—"

"You can not find another law firm." She interrupted.

Kumunot ang noo ni Noah. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"I'll help you build your own law firm." She offered.