Chapter 2 - Grappa

The whole party was a mess. I decided to be free. Sinulit ko na ang huling araw ko sa Pilipinas. I got along with my college friends that are also architects, and of course, my family.

My parents and I talked. Galit pa rin ako pero I couldn't just ignore them before I leave for Italy. They promised to take care of the company because they said that they realized how big of a sacrifice is this. Pinangako ko rin naman sa kanila na magiging maayos at masaya ako sa Italy, kahit pa wala akong kakilala roon.

It's just six hours after the party and now we're on the ride papuntang airport. It's 5 A.M., pero hindi man lang ako makaramdam ng antok.

Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko kay Mikhail na malayo ang tingin. "Sinong makakasama ko sa bahay?"

"Ako," sagot niya. "Maliit lang ang bahay natin, enough for the two of us."

Pabor naman sa akin, kaso nga lang ay baka mabaliw ako kung wala talaga akong makakausap sa lugar na 'yon.

"Pero magtatrabaho ka, hindi ba?" tanong ko ulit.

Ngayon ay napunta na sa akin ang tingin niya. "Just tell me if you want a maid, we'll get one."

"Hindi naman sa gano'n. Sa tingin mo ba mabubuhay ako nang tatlong taon na puro ikaw lang kausap sa araw-araw?" laban ko rito.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Seah, you'll work at home. Hawak mo ang oras ng trabaho mo, bukod ro'n ay hindi naman kita pinipigilang lumabas basta't uuwi ka sa'kin."

"Bakit ba laging pagalit ang tono mo sa akin? Kahapon ka pa!" sambit ko sa kaniya.

"Bakit din ba palagi na lang masama ang tingin mo sa akin? 'Di mo ba kayang kontrolin 'yang mukha mo tuwing kausap mo 'ko?"

Ilang segundo akong nahinto. Hindi naman kasi masama ang pagtingin ko sa kaniya, I'm just frustrated.

"Pasensya na. Hindi ko naman alam na masungit pala akong tignan para sa'yo."

The whole ride remained silent. Wala nang umimik sa aming dalawa at baka magkaroon lang ng away. Ang sama namang tignan kung aawayin ko siya sa unang araw ng kasal namin.

Pagdating namin sa airport ay hindi na namin kinailangang magtiis sa mahabang pila. Mikhail owns a private plane, iyon ang nagpadali sa pagpasok namin sa airport.

Dumiretso ang kotse sa loob ng runway kung saan naghihintay ang private plane ni Mikhail. Hindi na namin kinailangang bumaba sa entrance dahil may access naman na ang asawa ko rito. We got out of the car snd went straight inside the plane. I'm used to this private plane thing, it's just that his plane is much more bigger than my family's.

Pagpasok ng eroplano ay binati kami ng dalawang stewardess. Deretsong naglakad si Mikhail patungo sa dulo ng eroplano, nakita ko kung paano niya isinara ang pinto nang makapasok siya sa dulong silid. I'm aware of planes having rooms, but this is my first time being in one.

"Do you have any alcohol?" I asked the stewardess.

"Yes, Mrs. De Luca. We have Campari, Cynar, Strega, Limoncello, and Grappa. All from Italy," aniya.

"Just give me the strongest one." Naglakada ako papunta sa isang seat. I sat there and looked out of the window. Malapit nang lumabas ang araw, bukod ro'n ay malapit na rin akong makaalis ng Pilipinas.

After some minutes, the stewardess gave me the bottle of alcohol along with a glass that I asked for. "Here's your alcohol, Mrs. De Luca. This is Grappa, one of the strongest from Italy," ipinatong niya 'yon sa table na nasa harap ko, "the captain said that we will be leaving in a few minutes."

I thanked her and she left immediately. I minded my own business and poured myself some alcohol. Maya-maya lang ay naramdaman ko na ang paggalaw ng eroplano at nakita ko na rin mula sa bintana na paalis na nga kami.

I took a sip from my glass while looking outside. Sa eroplano pa lang, mag-isa na 'ko. Paano pa kaya sa Italy? Oo, nabigyan ako ng trabaho ni Mikhail, pero dahil hindi pa 'ko bihasa sa Italian ay napilitan akong mag-work from home. Sa tingin ko nga ay magiging pampalipas oras lang 'yon para sa akin.

Again, I poured myself a drink. I am now thinking on how I can be a wife. I had flings, but never a serious relationship. Wala nga ata sa isip ko ang mag-asawa, so being a wife is indeed a big question mark for me.

But most of all, how do you survive three years with a person you barely know?

I finished my glass because of the bitterness that I felt. Ang magpakasal sa isang mayaman na Italyano at makaalis ng Pilipinas ay isang malaking pantasiya para sa ibang tao, pero para sa akin ay hindi. I used to have the means to do anything with my life, pero nawala ang lahat ng 'yon dahil sa sarili kong pamilya.

Hindi isang bagay na dapat pagkasiyahan ang pagiging asawa ni Mikhail dahil wala naman sa plano ko ang maging asawa niya.

I had a dream, that was to stand alone and make my own name at such a young age. Alam ko sa sarili ko na malaki ang kakayahan ko bilang isang arkitekto kahit pa freshly graduate pa lang ako, but now, it's all ruined.

Nangalahati agad ang bote ng Grappa dahil sa dami kong nainom. Wala pang isang oras na makaalis kami sa airport, ngunit parang nanghihina na ang katawan ko. Nanlalabo na rin ang paningin ko kaya hininto ko na ang pag-inom.

I removed my cardigan and placed it on the table. I felt my face burning while my body went hot. I closed my eyes. Alam kong lasing ako, and it's better than dealing with a lonely morning in this plane.

Mikhail's Point of View

I've been thinking for almost an hour now. I couldn't sleep earlier, all I can do is stare at the ceiling of this plane.

"Fuck!" I cursed.

Can I really live with her in three years? I got a feeling that she's going to be a big headache to me. I should've spent some time with her before marrying her, but Papa seemed so sure of her.

I rolled out of my bed and went out of the room. This whole ride home will just bore the shit out of me. I saw Seah in one the seats, so I walked towards her.

"Tulog pala," I said to myself.

I saw a bottle of Grappa in her table. Kaunti na lang ang laman no'n at mukhang siya lang ang umubos.

Ayoko namang hayaan siya na matulog sa seat na 'to nang hindi komportable, kaya naman binuhat ko siya papunta sa kuwarto. Ibinaba ko siya sa kama, pero nang hahayaan ko na sana siyang matulog ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ko.

"You're leaving again, Mr. De Luca?" Tumawa lang ito at muling huminahon maya-maya lang. "Come here with me," utos nito.

Tulad ng inuutos niya ay nahiga ako sa tabi niya. I can smell my favorite alcohol from her, and it was somehow appealing to me.

"Guwapo ka sana, eh! Palagi ka lang galit, alam mo 'yon?"

I couldn't hide my smile. "Maganda ka rin sana, hindi ka lang marunong ngumiti."

She frowned. "It's better not to fake a smile."

I didn't respond. She's right, but sometimes, you just have to.

I felt her face getting closer to mine, but I stopped her. "Lasing ka lang, Seah."

Dumilat siya at pinagmasdan ang mukha ko. "I'm still your wife."

"This is just a business marriage contract. Besides, you're not-"

She slammed her lips on mine. I couldn't help but kiss her back. Her lips taste like Grappa, and it felt seductive.

I moved above her and forced her to stop for a while. "Do you know what you're doing, Seah?"

Binigyan niya 'ko ng nakakalokong ngiti. "Four months ago, you told me that I have to be a loyal wife to you."

Yet, that didn't felt like an enough reason to continue this. "Do you want this?"

"Kasama naman 'to sa kasal, 'di ba?" She wrapped her arms around my neck and slowly gave me kisses.

She was able to cling on me and plant kisses in my lips until it reached my neck. I didn't know that she would be giving herself to me. I didn't know that she could be tamed.

I took charge and kissed her roughly while she moaned softly as an exchange. "Remove my clothes," she commanded.

Dahan-dahan kong tinaggal ang damit na suot niya hanggang sa panloob na lang ang natira. She allowed me to touch her body, but she flinch everytime I come near her sensitive spots.

Seah started touching herself until she just lost every piece of clothing without my help. I just watched each move she made.

"Do you mind helping me?"

Hindi ko alam kung lasing lang ba siya o talagang gusto niyang gawin 'to, but I still accepted her invite. I helped her with what she wanted, I gave in to her.

"Make love to me like you really do love me," she said.