CHAPTER 5

"Anong balita?" Hope asked from the other line.

Napabuntong-hininga ako at nilibot ang tingin sa buong city. Matataas na buildings, restaurants. Magagarang sasakyan ang dumadaan sa kalsada. Kung iisipin ay para kang nasa ibang bansa... Sa sobrang linis ng environment.

"Tatawag nalang daw sila kapag tanggap na ako." i pouted. Naghahanap kasi ako ng trabaho dahil nag resign na ako sa kumpanya nila Mama.

I heard Hope sigh heavily from the other line.

"You know what, bakit hindi ka nalang mag trabaho sa asawa mo? After all, he is the reason why you resigned. I can't just stand here knowing that you're walking in the middle of the blazing sun just to find a job, Lovinia. Hindi mo pa naman ako kasama ngayon."

I can't help but smile. She was so worried about me, I felt so special.

At the same time... Naisip kong mag trabaho nalang kaya ako kay Sergio? Pero paano ko naman sasabihin 'yon sa kaniya?  Pag-iisipan ko dapat iyon ng mabuti. I need to practice what I have to say.

Hope and I exchanged a few conversations before she said goodbye. Limang kumpanya na rin ang napuntahan ko, sapat na siguro 'yon para sa unang araw kong paghahanap.

Pero wala namang mali sa sinabi ni Hope. I will try to tell that to Sergio. I need a job, as his wife he should give me one. After all, he is the reason why I am jobless.

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad sa gilid ng kalsada nang mag-ingay ang cellphone ko. When I read the caller’s name I answered right away.. It was Sergio.

"Wala ka sa bahay." He stated.

Hindi nga pala ako nagpaalam. Balak ko naman sana kaya lang kanina ay nag away kami bago siya pumasok ng trabaho kaya sa sobrang inis ko ay hindi ko siyang kinausap.

Nasa bahay na kaya siya? Ang aga naman ng uwi niya. It's still 3:28pm at noon. Usually, 6:00-7:30pm pa ng gabi ang uwi niya. Minsan ay overtime pa kapagkailangan.

"Where are you?"

"Nakauwi ka na?" tanong ko.

"Obviously," sarkastiko niyang sagot. "Where are you, Lovinia?"

"Bakit?" tanong ko ulit.

"Don't answer me with a question either, Lovinia." He sounds pissed.

"Ha?" tinanong ko ulit.

I want to frustrate him in return for his annoyance with me this morning. Mag tatanong ulit sana ako nang bigla niyang tinapos ang tawag. Nakarinig nalang ako ng tutut sound effects. Tss! Pikon din naman pala siya, e.

I feel like I won while walking. There was a smile on my lips and my eyes were glowing crazy. Matapang ako kasi hindi ko siya kaharap, hehehe!

Instead of going straight home I went to the Dunkin' donut store. I suddenly craved because of the scent of the smell of their coffee that reached outside the store.

Pumila ako habang pinagmamasdan ang iba't ibang flavor ng donut, halos lahat ay mukhang masarap at nakakatakam. Pero sa huli ay double chocolate at caramel macchiato coffee ang napili ko. Nang Matapos makapag order ng nasa unahan ko ay nakangiti kong hinarap ang babae sa counter.

"What's your order, ma'am?" The woman smiled at me.

"Double chocate and one caramel macchiato coffee, please..."

"Anything else, ma'am?" she asked again after typing in front of the computer.

I was about to answer with nothing but a light hand rested on my waist from my back and spoke.

"Just give us 2 bundles of donuts, miss." at the same time he reached for his cellphone to scan on the payment monitor.

The woman was momentarily stunned and exchanged staring at the two of us before returning to her senses. She just smiled softly at us and nodded before returning the phone to Sergio. We went to the receiving area to wait for our order.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"Fetching my wife? Yes, i am."

"Paano mo nalaman na nandito ako?" tumaas ang kilay ko.

He smirked. "I have my ways..."

Umirap nalang ako nang wala akong makuhang matinong sagot mula sa kaniya. Ngumiti ako ng matamis sa lalaking nag abot ng donut sa akin bago nilagpasan si Sergio na hindi maipinta ang mukha sa hindi malamang dahilan. Well, i don't care naman..

"Where have you been? Why are you wearing so formal?" He asked when we were finally inside the car.

Kumagat ako sa isang pirasong donut. Nakalapag sa hita ko ang isang box ng donut at nasa cup board naman ang kape. Sergio started to drive the car away.

"Naghanap ako ng trabaho," kaswal kong sagot.

Shock and astonishment enveloped his face. He glanced at me curiously for a moment and asked irritably.

"Why do you even need to look for a job? Lovi, I can provide for us— "

"Bakit ba kayong mga lalaki masiyadong mataas ang tingin niyo sa sarili niyo? Kapag ba wife kailangan nasa bahay lang? Sergio, wala na tayo sa 1800's. Walang masama kung magtra-trabaho ang babae." ngumunguya kong paliwanag. "So stop insisting that you can provide for us because I have long imprinted that in my freaking brain, okay?"

"Okay... I get it, but why— "

I cut him off with my palm which I placed in front of his face. He immediately fell silent and sighed.

"Let me eat peacefully first, okay? I'm hungry." saad ko.

He stared at me narrowly before nodding softly and focusing on driving.

"Okay, go on..."

Annoyingly I smiled at him and he just rolled his eyes back at me.

To reduce his annoyance with me, I give him a donut from time to time and make him drink my coffee... he let me do that. We arrived peacefully at the house without fighting.

"So why didn't you let me know about this plan of yours, hmm?"

Oh .. I thought it would be peaceful but he still hasn't moved on yet and he still has a follow up question.

"If I told you, where is my privacy there?" walang kuwenta kong dahilan.

Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig ito sa 'kin. Nag iwas ako ng tingin at dumeretso sa sala... Binuksan ko ang TV para magkaroon ng ingay. Umupo nalang ako at kunwaring busy sa panunood.

He rolled the white sleeve around his arm to elbow. He loosened the neck tie around his neck.

"Lovinia, I am your husband and I have the right to know even a small part of your plan. That little bit information won't hurt your privacy." he said sternly but calmly.

I know that I am becoming unreasonable again with my actions pero naiirita ako sa kaniya. Gusto kong baliwalain lahat ng magaganda at effortless niyang pinapakita. Kahit wala o meron pa 'yong intensiyon.

"Oh, talaga? Edi wow!" binuksan ko ang pangalawang kahon ng donut.

"We're still talking, Lovinia. Act your age, stop being brat here." napipikon na sabi nito.

"Want to know my plans?" I smirked. Nagkaroon ng pagdududa ang mga mata niya nang ngumisi ako ng nakakaloko.

Umayos ako ng upo at humarap sa direksyon niya. Well, there's probably nothing wrong with trying Hope's suggestion. Work for him...

"Hire me... Hire me as your secretary." and I smiled at him sweetly.

Bakas ang gulat at hindi makapaniwala ang naging reakasyon niya. Gusto ko sanang matawa kaya lang ay pinigilan ko, baka kasi gawin niyang katawa-tawa ang sinabi ko.

"Come again?" his forehead furrowed.

I sighed. "I said, hire me as your secretary. I don't have a job, give me a job" aniya ko na parang napakadali lang ng sinabi ko.

"Lovinia, hindi puwede 'yang gusto mong mangyari— "

"At bakit hindi?" i cut him off. "Doon mo siguro dinadala mga babae mo, tama ako? Ayaw mo lang makita ko, e... "

His face was even more unpaintable. Mukha siyang problemado sa 'kin. He frustrated combed his hair with his finger and took a deep breath. He tries to be as calm as he can.

Ang sama ng tingin ang iginawad niya sa 'kin ng hindi ko mapigilang matawa sa kaniya. Imbes na mag-iwas ng tingin ay nanatili ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Well, I love making him mad...

His cellphone rang so he took it from his pocket for a moment. He gave me a warning look so I just giggled and focused on watching TV while eating Donut.

"What?" bakas ang gulat niya.

Hindi naman ako tsismosa pero parang nakaka-intriga ang gulat niya. I pretended to be watching TV but my attention was really on them of the person he was talking to from the other line.

"Are you now okay?" nag aalala ang tinig nito.

Sino ba 'yon? Babae niya? Really, in front of me? What a gago!

Then he laugh a little while scratching the tip of his nose. So that woman is able to make him laugh? I'm not jealous. I am... Really.

He stood up and went straight to the kitchen causing me to follow him with my eyes. Hindi ko na tuloy narinig pa kung ano ang pinag uusapan nila. Suddenly I was irritated by what I said about privacy!

In a few moments he returned with a smile on his face, which was annoying! When he sat back in his chair earlier, the aura on his face returned to serious.

"Sino 'yon? Babae mo?" hindi ko napigilang magtanong.

His thick eyebrows met, his forehead furrowed. He adjusted his seat and estimated my gape.

"I thought we need some privacy?" his lips pursed. I know immediately what he's thinking!

"It’s not about privacy, Sergio. I just want you to know that as long as you are married to me you cannot have another woman." dahilan ko.

Well, I know my worth, I don’t deserve to be a martyr wife or goofy. I don’t tolerate cheating even if our marriage is just for a show, it’s disgusting.

Nakita kong dumaan ang iritasyon sa kaniyang mga mata. Mukhang hindi nagustuhan ang ipinaratang ko sa kaniya. Well, Sergio is everything. He can get and seduce any women of any age, shamelessly. I know that very well...

"I don't bring women in my office, Lovi. I respect our marriage especially you." mariin niyang sinabi.

Hindi nalang ako nagsalita at nagkabit-balikat na lamang kahit ang totoo ay tumiklop ang bibig ko. Because in fact, I know that even if he is the person now who can easily get what he wants, he will never forget his dignity and self -principles.

"If you're still thinking the person I'm talking to... She's my secretary for several years. She was rushed to the hospital because she was bleeding. She’s 33 years old, and she’s pregnant." he explains. "Pag-iisipan ko muna 'yong offer mo." tumayo na siya.

Nag angat ako ng tingin at kunot noong tinaasan siya ng kilay.

"Pag-iisipan mo pa? Sergio, I can do the job as your secretary. Don't you trust your wife?" dumaan ang iritasyon sa boses ko.

Sumilay ang ngisi sa kanyang labi. Napapailing na tila may nakakatuwa siyang iniisip, pakiramdam ko ay pinag-tatawanan niya ako! Dimwit!

"Baka bumaliktad ang lamesa, knowing you." he accused.

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. Anong gusto niyang sabihin? Iritable rin akong tumayo at tinapatan ang tindig niya. Nagsukatan kami pareho ng tingin, walang nagpapatalo at walang aawat.

"What do you mean by that? Am I not capable of that job?" mariin kong tanong.

"I'm the boss but if you're going to be my secretary you might just order me. You're bossy, baby." He, then smirked.

"Try me, Sergio. You might give me the best secretary award when you have satisfied with my work." kunwaring inayos ko ang kuwelyo ng polo niya habang hindi tinatanggal ang titig sa kaniyang kulay asul na mga mata.

Admiration passed through his eyes. A smile flashed on his lips. Without hesitation he wrapped his stiff arm around my waist to press me on his body that made me shocked a little.

With his free hand, he placed the strand of my hair behind my ear without breaking our stares on each other. Damn!

"Okay, if that's the case, wife. I'm rooting for the job you're offering, make me satisfied." he said softly with his deep voice.

Kinakabahan man ay taas noo akong tumango. Kaya ko 'yon!

"I can... I can make you satisfied, really..."

To be continued...