Unexpected

Lemuel's

I was late in the flag ceremony, but it didn't matter, because I realized that moment that having breakfast with Lia is a good way to start the morning. Ilang beses rin sinabi sa akin ng mga tao ko na kapansin – pansin ang ganda ng mood ko sa umagang iyon. Ngiti na lang ang sinasagot ko sa kanila. I did my morning routine. I met with the people and organizations that I needed to talk with – and just like that, my morning passed by. By lunch time, natagpuan ko ang sarili kong kumakain sa office ko habang pinanonood ang ilang interview ni Lia.

Naisip ko lang na panoorin ang isa sa mga suggested video sa youtube account ko. I have an hour to spend, maybe I could just look at some of her projects. Ang alam ko may bagong pelikula siya ngayon, hindi ko lang alam kung sino – sino ba ang mga kasama niya roon. Atlanta always makes sure that I have her schedule every week. Ang problema, hindi ko ito laging nabibigyan ng oras.

If Lia is a great wife – contract wife – I might be an asshole of a contract husband. Palagi kong nakakalimutang tanungin siya ng mga bagay na gusto niya. It's wrong, ako naman ang dahilan kung bakit nandito kami sa sitwasyong ito.

Gustong – gusto ko talagang manalong Mayor noong mga panahong iyon. I was born to win – iyon ang mantra ko and I am willing to do everything to win kaya nang sabihin ng political adviser ko na mas lalakas ang laban ko sa elections noon kung makikita ako ng mga botante bilang isang responsableng asawa, hindi ako nagdalawang isip – parang itinadhana naman noon na nakilala ko si Lia. She's something. Kulang ang sabihing nakuha niya ang atensyon ko. I remember seeing her that day of Diego's birthday almost five years ago, she seemed so innocent, I saw her looking at me, her eyes wide and yet it screams innocence. I liked her but I was too shy to ask for her number that time.

Naulit ang guesting doon at malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw na may chemistry kami sa screen. I really liked her that time, pero masyado akong abala to pursue her. But when my adviser laid out the plan of me being in a commitment to win the hearts of my constituents, isang tao lang ang pumasok sa isipan ko.

Si Lia.

Luckily, pumayag siya. Hindi ko pa nga siya natanong noon kung bakit siya pumayag, is it because of the fame that comes with tour fake marriage or is it because she liked me? Maybe she does like me, as a friend. Sa mga panahong magkasama kaming dalawa, Lia took care of me, kaya sinisiguro ko ring maayos siya – kahit na hindi naman kami palaging nagkikita sa bahay.

Napakaswerte ko kay Lia, she is the right woman for this job.

I focused on the interview. It was for a magazine photoshoot. Pinakikita ang mga behind the scenes para sa shoot na iyon. They showed Lia in a red gown – and she looked so stunning, then another clip was shown, si Lia ulit na nilalagyan ng make – up at inaayusan ng mga stylists niya. She was laughing with them, may isang babaeng nakatayo sa tabi niya na may hawak ng water bottle na may straw, she made Lia drink from it, and then she smiled and maybe mouthed thanks, that was when she smiled at the camera again, may kasama pang pagkaway iyon.

The next clip was Lia sitting on, a table was beside her with a box on it, sure akong may questions sa loob noon. Lia was smiling widely. I had always loved her smile.

"Hi, so, I'm here with Most Magazine to answer some of your questions. Start na ba?" She maybe asking the staff. Parang may nagsalita sa gilid, she, then smiled. "Okay, so first question. Is Mayor your ideal man?"

Lia looked at the camera. Kapansin – pansin na napapahagikgik siya. I could clearly see her doe eyes, parang nahihiya pa talaga siya.

"Well, I wouldn't marry him if he's not diba?" Sinabayan niya iyon ng tawa. "Next one, who cooks better, Mayor or you?" Lia shook her head while playing with the piece of paper in her hand. "Me? I guess. Hahaha! He doesn't cook much, busy iyon. Alright, next question."

I really admire how Lia does this thing. She sounds and looks so believable. Akong nanonood lang sa kanya ay paniwalang – paniwala. Her body language reflects the emotions in her eyes, even her smiles shine too bright that I could be blind by now.

"Who said I love you first?" That was the next question. I smiled while watching her. "Wait, puro ba tungkol sa amin ni Mayor ang tanong?" She was giggling again. "But anyway, it was him who said I love you first, we were in the car before going to that Synesthesia concert, and bago kami bumaba, he carefully grabbed my arm and made me look at him – wait, natatawa ako, I remember it like it happened yesterday eh." She laughed again. "Ayon nga, he suddenly said that he loves me, tapos sa concert mismo, hindi ko na napigilan iyong sarili ko, I kissed him. Yes, that famous photo taken by a fan of us kissing, it was initiated by me."

Napatango ako na para bang nasa harapan ko lang si Lia. She memorized that story so well, at habang sinasabi niya ay talagang kapani-paniwala.

There were another set of questions, some are about the kind of work that she does, about her last teleserye and the upcoming movie – all of it was answered with so much enthusiasm and gusto. Lia is a bubbly person, hindi siya mahirap magustuhan. But Lia is always careful. She clearly told me at our wedding night to not fall in love with her – na mas mabuting maging magkaibigan kaming dalawa para maging maayos ang working relationship namin. Whatever we have, whatever I see in Lia, it's just work... nothing more, nothing less.

"Yes, Atlanta?" I was pulled away from my thoughts when my phone rang and it showed Atlanta's name. I paused the video.

"Mayor, it's your anniversary. Pinadalhan mo na ba ng bulaklak si Lia?" It was just a gentle reminder. I had to sigh. Hindi pa ako nakakapagpadala ng kahit ano. Ni hindi ko nga naalalang anniversary namin ngayon. Salamat sa mga reporters na nasa labas ng bahay namin, I remembered it.

"Lanta..."

"Hindi pa? Oh no worried. I did already. Tulad last year, pink roses for your wife. You're welcome..." Hindi na ako pinagsalita ni Atlanta. I already know the narrative. Atlanta will send the flowers and then Lia will post it on her Instagram. It's always been like that. I sighed, suddenly, I want Lia to have flowers that's from me and now from Atlanta...

xxxx

Lia's

HE didn't remember the day and that's okay. Ano ba naman ang araw na ito para maalala ni Lemuel na anniversary naming dalawa ngayon. Kahit naman kasal kami, kasal lang kami para sa trabahi niya, it doesn't matter. Hindi naman ako nasaktan, bakit ako masasaktan, sanay na ako? At least, he ate earlier, kahit na kasama namin si Kim, kahit na si Kim lang ang kinakausap ko, masaya naman akong naroon siya at nakikita ko siyang kumakain. We don't eat together at all. Lemuel is always too busy. Uuwi siya ritong pagod na. Kahit na hinihintay ko siya, hindi ko naman masabi sa kanyang hindi pa ako kumakain kasi baka isipin niya pang kailangan niyang i-cater ang need ko na iyon. I just want him to rest and destress if he has time. I know how demanding his job is. Madalas naaawa ako sa kanya kasi nakikita ko siyang nakatulala. I sighed again.

Someone pressed the doorbell. Napatayo naman ako. Nakaramdam ako ng kaba. Baka mamaya reporters na naman iyon, hindi ako ready. I bit my lower lip and checked myself on the mirror before I answer the door. Kinakabahan pa ako dahil baka may reporters na naman sa labas, mabuti na lang at wala. Ang nasa labas ay isang delivery boy. He was holding a bouquet of pink roses. Alam ko na agad kung para saan iyon at kung kanino galing.

Atlanta remembered. I thanked the delivery boy and got inside our home immediately. Naupo ako sa isa sa mga couches sa living area, inilapag ko naman sa coffee table ang bulaklak. Bigla kong naalala iyong first year anniversary namin, tapos nakatanggap ako ng bulaklak na akala ko ay galing sa kanya. I felt so disappointed when I realized that he had no idea about the flowers. Hindi naman ako nasaktan noon, it's just that, I really thought that he would care enough to greet me kahit na ang lahat ng ito ay kunwari lamang.

I know what I had to do. I took a picture of the flowers that was sent to me, I posted it on my Instagram account with that sweet message of thanks and appreciation for my "husband". Hindi naman nagtagal ay kalat na kalat na iyon sa social media. I was reading the comments and it was all good. Nakakalungkot lang kasi kahit natutuwa sila para sa akin, wala naman akong maramdamang kahit anong kasiyahan.

I am tired, and sometimes, I just want to tell Atlanta and Lemuel that I don't want to do this anymore. Pero kapag naiisip kong hindi ko makikita si Lemuel, nasasaktan ako, nagbabago ang isipan ko. Maghihintay na lang akong matapos ang terminong ito, ayon naman sa kontratang pinirmahan namin, matapos ang dalawang termino ni Lemuel ay maaari na kaming maghiwalay. He won't be running for mayor anymore, I don't know about his plans, but the fact that after this, we'll have to part ways, pains me.

Mahal ko talaga siya.

Ipinilig ko na lamang ang aking ulo saka tiningnan muli ang mga komento sa IG ko.

cheska.romero: Happy anniversary sa favorite couple ko! H'wag kayong maghihiwalay please lang!

realalona: Ang sweet naman! Mayor namin iyan!

diegoarandia: Wow! Happy anniversary sa inyong dalawa. Saan tayo?

Arandialuis: Baduy talaga ni Lemuel kala mo pogi. Happy anniversary, hipag!

Lemlia4ever: Ang consistent ni Mayor! Congrats po!

Napakarami pang ganoong komento, napapangiti na lang ako pero ganoon pa rin. I feel so hollow inside.

"Happy Anniversary, Baby..." I said while looking at our wedding photo in my phone's gallery. Yes, I call him baby in my mind. Mabuti nga at hindi ako nadudulas. "I love you so much..."

The day passed by ordinarily. Nagpasya na lang akong matulog dahil pagod pa rin naman talaga ako mula sa shoot kagabi. The movie will come out next month, sana mailagay ni Atlanta sa sched ni Mayor ang movie premier ko. Gusto kong magkaroon ulit kami ng public appearance para naman mahawakan ko ulit ang kamay niya or maybe the reporters will humor us and it will end up in a kiss. I like kissing him. Lemuel's lips are soft and sweet. Ang gwapo niya kasi talaga.

In the middle of the day, I received a call from Atlanta. Sinagot ko naman agad iyon.

"Yes, Lanta?" I gave out a sigh.

"Anong balak mo today?" Her voice is full of amusement.

"Wala naman. I'm tired. I want to sleep all day."

"But it's your anniversary!" Medyo high pitched na wika niya. Medyo inilayo ko naman sa tainga ko ang phone. Ang sakit naman noon. "Diego and I celebrates our anniversary no. Kahit nga monthsary, nagce-celebrate pa kaming dalawa. Tapos ikaw, matutulog lang?"

"Good for you, Lanta, but then, the thing is, you are really married to Diego. What I have with Lemuel is work. And it's going great as of now." I even yawned just for her to realize that I really am sleepy.

"But still, dinner... magcelebrate kayo kasi it's been four years, at wala pang nakakaalam ng kalokohan ninyo, even Diego had no idea about it."

Ang nakakaalam lang nito ay ako, si Atlanta, si Lemuel at ang political advisers niya. Everyone in his family and in mine, think that we are in love and that we got married because of it. Madalas kong naiisip na kapag nagkaalaman na, hindi lang tao ang magagalit sa amin, pati na rin ang pamilya ko. I always wonder what my mom would tell me, madi-disappoint din si Daddy. Sa aming magkakapatid – we are four – ako lang ang walang college degree kasi mas pinili kong ipagpatuloy ang showbiz kaysa sa pag – aaral. He was so disappointed in me back then, but when he found out that I am about to marry a good man, naging masaya si Dad. Sobrang saya niya na napatawad na yata niya ako sa hindi ko pagsunod sa kanya. Natatakot akong malaman ni Daddy...

"He's busy." I said. "Anyway, I'll sleep now, bye, Lanta." May sinasabi pa siya pero binabaan ko na siya ng phone. Nanatili akong nakahiga sa couch na iyon. I was only looking at the ceiling.

"Ano raw plano ko? Nothing special. I want to cook dinner for him, made sure he eats a lot because he's always tired. Gusto ko siyang bigyan ng special massage. Madalas ko kasing napapansin na masakit ang likod niya. I want to bathe with, bubble bath is the best, tapos iinom kami ng wine sa tub habang sinasabi namin sa isa't isa ang nangyari sa mga buhay namin sa araw na ito... but then that's too far from my reality. He'd probably go home late tonight, pagod, stressed tapos gugustuhin niyang matulog kaagad. I used to cook for you every night, pero nasasayang lang kasi hindi ka naman kumakain—"

"Sinong kausap mo?"

Suddenly, Lemuel's face appeared near the top of my head. Sa sobrang gulat ko at napatayo ako agad – na naging dahilan ng pagtama ng noo ko sa baba niya, na naging dahilan ng pagkahulog ko sa sahig.

"Aray!" I whimpered. Napahawak pa ako sa bandang puwetan ko.

"Lia! Are you alright?!" Mabilis niya akong dinaluhan. He held my shoulders with both his hands. He was trying to soothe me. Nakangiwi ako, pero na-freeze iyon nang magkatinginan kaming dalawa. My mouth was a bit parted. Ang lapit – lapit ni Lemuel sa akin ngayon, sobrang lakas rin ng tibok ng puso ko at nag-aalala ako baka marinig niya ang dugudug sa dibdib ko. Napalunok ako.

"Does it hurt? Dadalhin na ba kita sa ospital?"

"Hi-hindi!" Agad akong lumayo sa kanya. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. Grabe, alas kwatro nang hapon na, pero ang bango – bango pa rin ni Lemuel, samantalang ako, kung anong hitsura ko nang iwanan niya ako kaninang umaga ay ganoon pa rin ako. Natamad kasi akong maligo.

"But you fell..." He said with a slight frown on his face.

"O-okay naman ako. Wait, ang agad pa, bakit nandito ka na? Luh, may nakalimutan ka ba?" Tumayo na ako habang hinahaplos – haplos pa rin ang puwetan ko. Medyo nabugbog lang siguro ako.

Lemuel stood up too. He smiled at me, but it faded immediately when he saw the flowers on the coffee table.

"I wanted to go home early."

"Ahhh, wow bago iyon!" I felt so awkward. Naalala ko kasi ang nililintanya ko habang nakahiga ako rito kanina. Baka narinig niya ako. Pabiro ko pang hinampas ang braso niya, para akong tangang tumatawa pero awkward na awkward ako.

"Do you have plans?" He asked again. Napanguso naman ako tapos ay tumawa na naman.

"Luh, wala nga akong ligo tapos plano pa? Plano kong maligo kanina pa." Sinabayan ko na naman ng tawa iyon. Lemuel chuckled a bit. He patted the top of my head. Ayon, nag-circus na naman ang puso ko.

"Then, get dressed. We'll have dinner."

My eyes almost fell out of the sockets.

"Gulat na gulat? It's our anniversary and we should really celebrate, Lia. So, get dressed. I'll wait for you." Kinindatan niya ako. Jusko, hihimatayin na yata ako.