THE NEXT DAY, Russel came home very late. Gising pa siya nang dumating ito dahil sadyang hindi siya makatulog. She couldn’t sleep with the fact that her husband was not at home. Nangangamba rin siyang baka hindi ito umuwi.Bahagyang napawi ang pangamba niya nang dumating ito. “How’s your day? You did not come home last night.”“I was busy.”Too busy to at least accompany your new wife on your wedding night? Iyon ang gusto niyang itanong dito pero hindi niya magawa. Alam niyang galit pa rin si Russel sa kanya sa mga ginawa niya.“Nakilala ko si Ate Judith kanina. I like her,” aniya. Judith was the stay-out househelper of Russel. Ito ang naglilinis ng bahay, nagluluto at naglalaba noon pamang bagong lipat ni Russel doon. The house was a bungalow at nag-iisa lang si Russel na nakatira doon noon kaya hindi kailangan ng maraming katulong para maglinis. There were only two rooms, a bedroom and a mini-library that was also his office. There was no maid’s quarters kaya stay-out si Judith.“G
NAALIMPUNGATAN SI Ruby Rose nang marinig ang tunog nang humintong sasakyan sa kanilang garahe. Hindi niya namalayang nakatulog siya sa sofa sa may sala habang naghihintay sa kanyang asawa. Sinulyapan niya ang may kalakihang wall clock na nakasabit sa dingding. It was almost two in the morning, the last time she checked the time, it was ten in the evening, she slept for nearly four hours.Tumayo siya at lumakad patungo sa pinto upang pagbuksan ang asawa. “Welcome home,” bati niya rito nang nakangiti. She could immediately smell the alcohol from him, the stench was too strong that she wanted to throw up.He walked pass her without saying anything and entered their room without looking back. Ni hindi man lang siya nito tinapunan ng tingin kahit sandali man lang.Isinarado niya ang pinto at nagmamadaling tumungo sa sink upang ilabas ang mga kinain. She felt sick when she smelt the strong scent of alcohol. She drank water after she throw up, her stomach felt so empty and she was famished.
“ROSY, ARE YOU still there?” Mula sa pagkakatingin sa labas ng café ay nabalik ang pansin ni Ruby Rose sa kausap sa kanyang cellphone. “Are you sure you’re okay? How’s the baby.”She sighed silently before answering, “Yes, you don’t have to worry about me, I’m a little bit underweight but it’s nothing serious.”“You should eat often. You don’t need to be conscious with your weight right now. You should eat for your baby.”“I know. Thanks, Leny. And I’m sorry for leaving abruptly.”“It’s true that I am a disappointed when you announced that you will stop modeling when you are at the peak of your career. But everything happens for a reason, and you could always come back whenever you are ready. For now, just focus on yourself, and the baby,” Leny said from the other line.Nang dumating ang kanyang inorder na cake ay nagpaalam siya kay Leny. She was craving for sweets, so she stopped by at that café after she went to her OB.Mag-isa siyang pumunta sa kanyang doctor kanina, hindi siya n
SHE WOKE UP WITH an unfamiliar white ceiling. She was disoriented at first while staring at the ceiling until a familiar voice finally registered in her mind. Someone’s calling her name.“Ruby Rose, are you okay?”Napatingin si Ruby Rose sa kanyang mommy na nasa tabi ng kanyang kinahihigaan. Naroon din si Marigold, ang nakababata niyang kapatid na babae. Nakatunghay ang dalawa sa kanya habang puno ng pag-aalala ang mga mukha.She glanced at her mother’s hand that was holding her own hand. Hindi agad maproseso sa kanyang isipan ang dahilan kung bakit ganoon ang reaksiyon ng mga ito.Sinubukan niyang igalaw ang katawan upang hawakan ang kanyang mommy ngunit agad na sumigid ang sakit. Doon niya naalala ang nangyari sa kanya sa kanilang bahay.“H-How long… was I asleep?” she asked in a raspy voice. Her throat felt dry and rough.“You slept for nearly twelve hours,” her mother answered.“M-My baby…. W-what hap… pened?”Kinabahan siya nang makitang nagtinginan ang kanyang mommy at kapatid.
“MA’AM RUBY.”“Ha?” napatingin si Ruby Rose sa katulong na lumapit pa sa kanya at iwinagayway ang kamay sa harap ng kanyang mukha.“Okay ka lang ba? Kanina ka pa nakatulala. Hindi mo ba nagustuhan ang pagkain? Gusto mong maghanda ako ng iba ng iba, ma’am?”“Busong na po ako, ate Judith,” aniya, pagkatapos ay iniligpit ang kanyang pinagkainan.She spaced out again. Napapansin niyang napapadalas ang kanyang pagkatulala. Hindi niya maalala kung ano ang iniisip niya kanina bago siya pukawin ni Judith. She was just… lost.“Umuulan na naman sa labas,” ani ni Judith habang nakatingin sa may veranda.“Puwede na po kayong umuwi baka abutan pa kayo ng baha.” Madilim na sa labas ngunit naroon pa rin ang house helper. Recently, she had been staying later than her usual schedule. Siguro’y sinabihan ito ni Russel para may makasama siya sa bahay. “Russel will be here any minute from now.”Judith was hesitant but Ruby Rose smiled at her and urge her to go home.Napabuntung-hininga si Ruby Rose at nap
MABILIS NA TUMAKBO ang batang si Ruby Rose habang nagbibilang ang kanyang yaya. She was giggling while running away to find some place to hide. Napangisi si Ruby Rose nang makitang nakabukas ang pinto ng storage room. Mabilis siyang pumasok sa loob at isinarado ang pinto. Ang tanging ilaw na tumatanglaw sa loob ay ang sinag ng papalubog na araw mula sa maliit na bintana.Umupo siya sa sahig at sumandig sa may pinto, napahagikhik siya habang iniisip ang paghahanap ng kanyang yaya sa kanya. She waited for how many minutes, but her nanny couldn’t find her. Ruby Rose did not notice that she was starting to fall asleep. Hanggang sa tuluyan siyang makatulog. Pagmulat niya ng mga mata ay sinaniban siya ng takot nang walang makita kung ‘di kadiliman. Wala nang araw na pumapasok sa bintana ng storage room. Agad siyang tumayo at pinihit ang seradura ng pinto ngunit hindi iyon bumubukas. Kinalampag niya ang pinto at sumigaw, baka sakaling marinig siya ng kung sinumang nasa labas. “I’m here,
“WHAT DO YOU want for dinner, Rosa?”Nginitian ni Rose ang kanilang guide na si Jose na sumungaw sa loob ng floating cottage, he was a Dominican in his early thirties, with a charming personality. He asked her earlier if he could call her Rosa, and she said yes.“I could eat anything edible, Jose.”“Excelente!” Jose exclaimed in Spanish.Napatingin siya sa kanyang asawa na kausap na ngayon ni Jose. She was amazed hearing Russel conversing in Spanish. She was reminded that she had a genius husband.Russel was a multilingual. Noon pa man ay inaral na nito ang iba’t ibang lengguwahe. When she was a teenager, she asked him why he was learning different languages and Russel said that it could be an advantage in dealing with clients or investors with different nationalities. Noon pa man ay gusto na ni Russel na magtrabaho sa kompanya ng daddy niya. Gusto nitong makatulong sa kanyang daddy sa pagpapatakbo ng kompanya. Siguro ay ito ang paraan nito upang makapagbayad, kahit na wala naman iton
SHE WAS HOLDING her phone and scrolling at random stuff when she heard a knock on the door. Mabilis siyang tumayo at binuksan ang pinto ng floating cottage nila. Bumungad sa kanya ang dalawang pamilyar na mukha.They were part of the group they saw during the day when they were island hopping.“We are having a campfire by the beach, why don’t you and your husband join us?” the black woman said to her. She had a beautiful smile on her face.Ruby Rose could stare at her face for a long time. She was really beautiful. She had a curly untamed her, it was framing her small face. What was her name again? Hindi niya maalala ang pangalan nito kahit na nagpakilala ang grupo na kinabibilangan nito kaninang nag island hopping sila.If she remembered it clearly, the woman beside her was her wife, who looked life European. The couple were travelling from one country to another.“Thank you, ahm…” she trailed off while trying to remember their names. But her efforts were futile.“Jessie, that’s my n