Chapter 4

After the wedding we all went to the reception area. Some reporters approached us and initiates an interview, but we didn't allow them, and just promised to do an interview the next day.

Gabi na at nagsimula nang mag-uwian ang ibang bisita. I saw Landon walking towards us. Jerk. He's like a mushroom, appears after the rain. 

"Hi Jade. Congrats," he said with a mischief smile pasted on his lips. "And to your newly husband." 

"Thank you," saad ko na lamang. Halatang nakainom siya at mukhang may nais ipahiwatig. 

"I guess you were serious now. I mean, after a lot men of that linked to your name, here you are, ready to settle down."

From my peripheral vision, I could see how Gran't grip on the wine glass tightened. 

"Landon, you're drunk, just go home..."

"How about you, Mr. Sarcilla? Where are you good at?" singit ni Grant, di pa man ako nakakatapos sa pagsasalita. He play with a glass between of his fingers. The side of his lips raised and said, "Ah right, you're good at running away." 

"You son of a bitch!" galit na sigaw ni Landon. 

"Landon!" saway ni Cecille at agad pumagitna. Maging si Saxson ay nilapitan si Grant. 

Huminto ang ibang tao sa kani-kanilang ginagawa.

"You didn't know her, stupid. You don't even know how many men she's slept with."

What he said repeatedly echoed inside my head. My whole body shivering in anger, eyes brimming in tears. How could he? 

"You fucking coward!" dumagundong ang malakas na sigaw ni Grant sa hall ng hotel. Kasabay nang pagbulagta ni Landon sa sahig. "I know her. She's my wife, you heard it? She's my heart's other half, piece of this string that binds us," he said. Jaw tightens and fist clenched. 

"Dude, calm down," awat ni Saxson. Si Cecille naman ay tinutulungan tumayo si Landon. 

"Go home, Landon. Don't make a scene here."

Lumapit ang isang guard at inalalayan si Landon paalis. 

"You dumbass, what are you crying at huh? Don't you know how to fight back?" baling niya sa akin. Seryoso pa rin ang mukha.

Pinahid ko ang luhang naglalandas sa aking pisngi. Dinampot ko 'yong bote ng whiskey sa ibabaw ng lamesa, at tinungga iyon. Gumuhit ang init sa aking lalamunan, pero wala akong pake. 

"Let's celebrate," sigaw ko. Nakatingin lang silang lahat sa akin.

"Stop it," saway sa akin ni Grant, pilit inaagaw ang bote ng alak. "Come here." Kinabig niya ako at sinubsob ang aking mukha sa kanyang dibdib. 

"Let me go." Tinutulak ko siya palayo sa akin. Alam kong ginagawa lang niya ito, dahil may mga nakakakita. Pero sigurado ako na isa rin siya sa nanghuhusga sa akin.

"Just cry. I'll cover you up, they won't see you crying," bulong niya. Hinahaplos ng kanyang palad ang aking buhok. And I would be lying if I said that it doesn't soothe my heart. 

I can't feel my body. It was as if I'm floating in the air. But I am moving. What happen? Nasa space ba ako? 

"Don't weigh yourself down, will you?" rinig kong asik ng kung sino." Such a headache. I said don't drink too much, yet you still did." 

May kung ano pa siyang sinasabi kaso di ko na maintindihan. And the next thing I know, I was already lying in the bed. 

"Don't go." I pulled his hand and hold it tight. 

"Sleep."

"Oh my fake husband is here. Come here, babe. Hug me please, I want a hug." Tila ba may sariling utak lahat ng parte ng katawan ko. Gumagalaw ito ng kusa. "It's our honeymoon, right." 

Muli kong hinila ang kanyang kamay. Bakit hindi man lang siya gumagalaw? Ayaw ba niya?

"C'mon, don't act like you don't want to. Inside your head, you judge me too." 

"Idiot. I will never judge you. Sleep and take time off."

My eyelids became heavy. Until darkness devoured everything.

It's been a week since my wedding. And here I am, staring at the man in front of me. He's busy arranging his things. Putting them inside his duffle bag. Disgusted I messed up my hair. 

Cecille gave me a temporary vacation. Sabi niya pag bumalik agad ako, lalong hindi maniniwala ang mga tao na totoo ang kasal ko. So I have no choice, but to go with Grant in our province. 

"Pack your things, Jade," utos nito nang mapansing hindi pa rin ako gumagalaw. "I kept my promise, so do the same." 

"But we still have an interview tomorrow," katwiran ko. Ayoko na talagang bumalik sa probisnya. 

"Didiretso na tayo after the interview. Stop making an excuse." 

Kinuha na niya ang bag sa closet ko at siya na ang nag-impake. 

Like what he said, after the interview, bumyahe na kami pauwi. Hindi ako mapakali sa passenger seat. Fifteen years old when I last saw that place where I was grew up. I'm twenty four now. Imagine, nine years. For fucking nine years hindi ako umuuwi sa province na 'yon.

"Tumigil ka nga sa kakabuntong-hininga mo! Hindi ako makapag-focus sa pagda-drive." Matalim ang tingin na nilingon ako nito. "I'll throw you out of my car once you don't stop," banta pa niya. 

"What do you want me to do? Tumigil sa paghinga?" Gago ba siya? Paano ko pipigilan ang sarili kong huminga. Eh di patay ako no'n.

"Kapag humihinga ba kailangan para kang manganganak? Stupid Jade should be your name." 

Nanggagalaiti ko itong nilingon. "Ha! Name Grant doesn't suits you either!" angil ko rito. Ano mang oras ay tila magpapatayan na kami sa sasakyan. 

"You look like a dog." Talaga bang hindi pa rin siya titigil!

"You look like a monkey!" 

"When you were a kid you look like a whale." Pinalobo pa niya ang pisngi. "Whenever I saw you peeking through the fence of our hacienda back then, I thought a whale had come out of the sea," patuloy niya sa pang-aasar sa akin.

Nagsimula nang mag-init ang aking pisngi. Lahat ata ng dugo ko ay umakyat papunta sa aking ulo. 'Yong mga ugat ko sa sentido ay tila puputok. 

Padabog na siniksik ko ang sarili sa upuan, at tumalikod sa kanya. Fuck you Grant Pierson Samonte!

"Hey wake up. Stupid Jade, wake up."

"I want to sleep." Tinabig ko ang kamay ng kung sino mang tumatapik sa pisngi ko. 

"Idiot, we're here." 

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon nang marinig iyon. Sumalubong sa akin ang malawak na lupain. Nagtataasang puno sa palibot noon. Humampas sa akin ang simoy ng hangin na matagal ko nang hindi nalalanghap. At ang mansion na nakatayo sa gitna ng malaking hacienda.