Chapter 6

Geli and I stared at each other. She looked at me like she was seeing a ghost. Her eyes were wide and her lips were parted. I was also reflecting the same reaction. Pareho kaming naistatuwa sa kinatatayuan at walang nagtangkang basagin ang nakaiilang na katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa. Ilang segundong biglang naging blanko ang utak ko. I couldn’t even utter a word.

“Yumi? W-What are you… doing h-here?” Geli’s soft voice stuttered after a moment of a deafening silence. Nakatitig pa rin siya sa akin na parang sinisiguradong ako nga ang kaharap niya. Umiwas ako ng tingin nang hindi ko na kayang salubungin ang mga mata niya. Sa paraan pa lang kasi ng pagkakatitig niya sa ‘kin ay para nang sasabog ang puso ko dahil sa labis na kaba.

Gavin’s still in the shower, clueless of what’s going on here. My mind suddenly became clouded that thinking for an immediate alibi was impossible. Siguro ito na ‘yung pinaka-kinatatakutan kong mangyari. Napapikit nalang ako nang maisip na hindi ako handa para rito.

Kasabay ng pagbilis ng kabog ng dibdib ko ay ang panginginig ng katawan ko. Ilang beses na rin akong napapalunok dahil sa biglaang panunuyo ng lalamunan. I feel like I’m about to collapse right at this instant. I haven’t been scared like this before!

“Why are you here, Yumi?” Geli sternly asked. It seems like she had concluded something in her mind.

“G-Geli--”

“Angeli?”

Sabay kaming napalingon kay Gavin na kalalabas lang ng kwarto niya. A sigh of slight relief escaped from my mouth when he went out with his clothes on. Ano nalang ang mangyayari kung hubad siyang lumabas doon?

“Babe, you’re here!” sabi ni Gavin nang makalapit sa amin. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko nang marinig kung gaano ka-kalmado ang boses niya. His arm draped on Geli’s shoulder as he gave her a kiss on her temple. I couldn’t believe how he remained calm in this situation while I was trying so hard to hide my nervousness! Kung pwede lang sana akong kumaripas ng takbo palayo ay ginawa ko na!

I took a few steps back just to create a little distance from them. Sinundan ako ng tingin ni Geli ngunit hindi iyon nagtagal nang muli niyang ibalik ang nagtatanong na mga mata sa asawa.

“I-I was planning to s-surprise you… but…” Geli looked at me again. Halatang naguguluhan pa rin sa nangyayari. I pursed my lips and looked down, silently wishing for the ground to swallow me right at this moment. I was not prepared for this! I will never be prepared for this!

“Really? And I was supposed to surprise you too! I was just about to call you, but you… came.” Gavin uttered acting astounded. Kung hindi ko alam na nagpapanggap lang siya ay talagang mapapaniwala niya ako sa galing niyang umarte! I wonder if it’s because he’s used to be like this in his field of work. Sanay na siyang makipag-plastikan.

Nanatili pa rin akong tahimik. I don’t know if I should butt in and try to give Geli an explanation, or not. Hindi makapag-isip nang maayos ang utak ko dahil sa pinaghalong takot at kaba.

“Ah, I asked for Mayumi’s help. You know I don’t know how to cook and I’m not really fond of these… stuff. That’s why she’s here.” I awkwardly shifted my gaze at him who’s still casually talking to his wife without any hint of nervousness. “I hope you don’t mind?” At nagawa niya pa talagang ngumiti! I wish I can do that, too!

“Well…” Narinig kong bumuntong-hininga si Geli dahilan para sa kaniya naman nabaling ang tingin ko. Nagtama ang mga mata namin kaya muli na namang kumalabog ang dibdib ko. Nang binigyan niya ako ng maliit na ngiti ay saka lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag. Pakiramdam ko ay nabunutan ako ng tinik sa dibdib! “I thought something’s wrong. I’m sorry.” Bumaba ang tingin niya sa cake na nasa sahig. “Oh, no. I think I ruined the cake,” she worriedly muttered.

“It’s okay, love. Don’t worry about it. We can just buy a new one. I’ll call the cleaning staff to clean it.” Hinawakan niya ang kamay ng asawa at bahagya hinila para mas mapalapit sa kaniya. “Yumi’s still cooking. She’s helping me prepare for our dinner. You didn’t inform me you’re planning something the same, too.” Nang banggitin niya ang pangalan ko ay muli na naman akong napatingin sa kanila. Para na akong baliw na hindi mapakali kung anong dapat kong gawin. So when Gavin gave me a meaningful glance, I took it as a sign to exit.

I also flashed a smile to Geli, hoping she wouldn’t notice how fake it was. Agad akong bumalik sa kusina para tapusin ang niluluto ko. Nanginginig pa ang mga kamay ko habang sinasalba ang muntik nang masunog na karne. Wala sa sarili kong pinagpatuloy ang paggawa ng beef steak. I didn’t even know if it taste good or not. Nawala na rin ang excitement ko para sa gabing ito. Our dinner date was ruined hindi pa man nasisimulan.

Minadali ko nang tapusin ang pagluluto para makaalis na. Hindi ko na kayang magtagal pa rito!

“Hey.”

Muntik ko nang mabitawan ang hinuhugasang pinggan nang marinig ko ang boses ni Geli. I was in deep thoughts that I didn’t noticed her presence. “B-Bakit ka naman nanggugulat?!” Napasapo pa ako sa dibdib at napasandal sa counter island.

She just gave me an apologetic smile. Umupo siya sa high stool kaharap sa ‘kin. She rested her chin on her palm as she watched me. The awkward silence is making me nervous again! Hindi ko alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isip niya ngayon. 

“I didn’t know you’re getting along with Gavin. Hindi mo nabanggit sa ‘kin,” aniya makalipas ang ilang sandali.

I tightened my grip on the plate and kept my eyes on it, afraid that she might see the lies through my eyes if I dare look at her. “Ah, ngayon lang… N-Nag… nagkita kasi kami sa DLRE no’ng pumunta siya ro’n kanina. Ayun, tinanong niya ‘ko kung pwede ko raw ba siyang tulungan dito sa p-plano niya…”

Hindi ko na alam kung tama pa ba ‘yong mga lumalabas sa bibig ko. Sana lang ay hindi niya natanong si Gavin tungkol dito dahil malamang hindi magkakatugma ang mga dahilan namin. Sobrang random lang ng naisip kong palusot!

Hindi siya muling nagsalita kaya naglakas-loob akong lingunin siya. Her brows were furrowed while biting her lower lip like she always do whenever she’s thinking over something. I tried to calm my nerves and finished washing the dishes. I dried my hands then purposely cleared my throat to call her attention. “Uh, tapos na akong magluto. U-Uuwi na ako.”

“Agad? Why don’t you stay and eat with us?” parang wala pa rin sa sariling sabi niya.

Mabilis akong umiling. “Hindi na. Kailangan ko na rin kasing umuwi. Alam mo naman si Mama, nagagalit kapag hindi ako nakapagpaalam na gagabihin ako ng uwi.”

Tumayo na siya at sinabayan ako papuntang sala para kunin ang bag ko. Iuuwi ko na rin ang regalo ko dapat kay Gavin. Mahirap na at baka makita pa ni Geli. “Nasaan ang asawa mo?” tanong ko nang mapansin na wala rito si Gavin.

“Bedroom. He’s answering an urgent call.”

Napalingon ako sa saradong pinto ng kwarto niya at pasimpleng bumuntong-hininga. I turned to face Geli and gave her a small smile. “Sige, alis na ‘ko, Geli.”

Tahimik niya akong sinundan hanggang sa pinto. I was still conscious of her silence. I know something’s really bothering her and I was just waiting for her to lash out, but it didn’t happen. She remained silent, instead, which made me more anxious.

Palabas na ako ng unit nang tawagin niya ako.

“Mayumi.” Agad akong natigilan. Her voice was like a command making me instantly turn to her direction. She was looking straight at me with those serious eyes. It was frustrating that I couldn’t read her mind. Ano ba kasing iniisip niya? Alam niya na ba?

I stiffened when she took a step closer to me. I closed my eyes and anticipated her hand on my cheek, but I felt her arms embracing me, instead.

“Thank you for helping my husband prepare his little surprise,” she mumbled. Hindi ako nakagalaw. Nanatili lang ako sa posisyon ko habang yakap niya ako. “You’re really the best.”

Ilang segundo pa kaming nanatili sa ganoong posisyon hanggang sa kumalas na siya sa pagkakayakap sa ‘kin. “Ingat ka pauwi.” She smiled before closing the door, leaving me speechless.