Mine. Mine alone

"ARE you ready?"

Hailey Demitri – Calimbao fixed my tie. We were inside our walk – in closet, getting ready for today's agenda. Aaminin ko, kinakabahan ako. Hindi ako mapakali at kanina pa ako pinagpapawisan nang napakalamig, and maybe Hailey knew that, kaya bigla na lang niya akong nilapitan. Ngiting – ngiti siya sa akin habang paulit – ulit na hinahaplos ang mga balikat ko.

"Baby, you look good." She told me. Napangiti naman ako. Oh, my wife really knows how to make me feel at ease. Yes, my wife. Hailey and I have been married for twelve years now. We have four beautiful children, three boys and a pretty girl, na madalas sabihin ni Hailey na paborito ko raw, hindi ko naman itatanggi iyon, our youngest is really my favorite, but I love them all equally – medyo mas marami nga lang sa bunso dahil siya ang nag-iisang babae.

"I know I look good. Kanina ka pa tingin nang tingin sa akin." Tumawa si Hailey pagkatapos ay hinagkan ako sa pisngi. Twelve years, hindi ako makapaniwala na labindalawnag taon na kaming magkasama. Hindi naman perkpeto ang relasyon naming dalawa, we have our moments, we fight, we make up, we make it work. Sinisiguro kong hindi kami natutulog nang magkaaway kaming dalawa, ganoon ko siya kamahal.

Hindi ko na matandaan kung kailan nagsimulang mag – iba ang nararamdaman ko para kay Hailey. Hindi naman kasi talaga kami magkaibigan noon. I was an introvert, pumapasok lang ako sa school noon para mag – aral. I don't really make friends. I am just civil to everyone, mabait raw ako, pero hindi naman ako palakibigan, isang bagay na kailangan kong ayusin, ayon kay Papa dahil kailangan ko ng botante.

But Hailey changed all that. I didn't know that by handing her a handkerchief that afternoon when I saw her crying in our homeroom will lead to this. Twelve years of blissful marriage, four children and a happy family? Who would've thought? I was once the voice of reason, the constant companion, the prom date, the instant driver, and now, the husband. I grinned.

"Baby, don't look at me like that." Sabi pa ni Hailey sa akin. Humawak ako sa baywang niya. She was wearing an a line cut sleeveless dress, she looked so regal and classy, but there is a hint of sexiness in her, it's a hint but it is oozing and I couldn't help but to absorb it all in, making me feel horny for her.

"Theo..." She gasped when I pulled her closer, she felt my hard – on. Napangisi ako nang mapansin kong nanlalaki ang mga mata niya habang namumula ang mukha. I kissed her neck, didn't bother kissing her lips because she's already wearing her make up and I didn't want to ruin it, but I really want her. "Baby, we'll be needed downstairs in half an hour, the reporters are here already, I don't want us to be late... hmmm... ohhh that's good..."

I licked that sensitive spot on her neck – that spot always makes Hailey lose control.

"Half an hour is all I need, Sweetheart." I licked her earlobe. Humigpit ang hawak ni Hailey sa magkabilang braso ko. She was grinding and the friction is only making me hotter.

"Baby, I know you're nervous, and I really want you now, but are we really doing this in the day of your senatorial candidacy announcement." Nang sabihin ni Hailey iyon ay para bang nawalan ako ng gana. She giggled and gave me a light peck on my lips. I sulked. Way to kill the mood. She wrapped her arms around me. "Later, Baby, I'll give you what you want, but now, you have to focus, okay? Independent Candidate ka, and we need all the support you can get and arriving late in your own interview, in your own house, isn't something good, alright?"

"Okay... but later, okay?" My wife nodded and gave me another kiss. Inayos na niyang muli ang suot ko, she even fixed my hair, nang pasado na ang lahat sa kanya ay lumabas ba kami ng silid para magpunta sa garden kung saan gaganapin ang interview para sa araw na iyon.

Ang desisyon para humabol ng senador ay mutual decision para sa aming mag-asawa. Alam kong napakarami nang isinakripisyon ni Hailey para sa political career ko. She wanted t live in the States right after our wedding, but when I told her that I wanted to run for Mayor in Lucena, she gave up her peace of mind and decided to come back here with me. Kasama siya sa pangangampanya, naglabas rin siya ng sarili niyang pera and she was always asking her father's support – mabuti nga at nagkaintindihan kami ni Mr. Demitri – ay Daddy na pala ngayon – kundi ay hindi ko siguro napakasalan ang asawa ko.

Hailey deserved the best wedding, but our decision was so sudden we got married in Vegas and that was it for her. Sinabi ko sa kanyang gusto ko siyang muling pakasalan, pero sabi niya sa akin ay ayos na siya sa ganoon, but I made it my life's mission to marry her again. Kasabwat ko ang pinsan niyang si Hyacinth, I'll make it possible for her.

"Baby, what are you thinking?" She touched my face.

"You. Naked." I joked. Hailey hit my arm. Natawa na lang ako. Nakarating kaming dalawa sa may garden kung saan nagse-set up na ang crew ng magazine show kung saan kami ipi-feature.

"Hi! My name is Pia Arandia, ako ang interviewer and host. Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Calimbao." Pia Arandia is a well-known reporter. Mataas ang ratings ng show niya kaya nga sila ang napili ni Hailey.

"You look prettier in person, Pia." Sabi ng asawa ko.

"Ikaw rin Miss Demitri, ang ganda – ganda ninyo po."

"Thank you." Ako ang sumagot. "I take care of my wife, that's why she's even more beautiful every day."

"Theo!" Namumula na naman ang mukha niya.

"Actually, ganyan rin ang sinasabi ng asawa ko. Kaya raw siya gwapo at malusog kasi alagang Pia siya. Anyway, we'll start in five minutes." Makahulugan akong tiningin ni Pia. Ngumisi naman ako.n

"Is everything ready, Miss Arandia?"

"Yes, Mr. Calimbao. Maupo na po tayo."

Pumwesto na kami. Palagay ko ay napansin ni Hailey ang kakaibang palitan naming ng tingin ni Pia Arandia – na kinasabwat rin ni Hyacinth para sa araw na ito – nag-iba kasi ang timpla ng asawa ko pero umaakto pa rin siyang professional, humigpit rin ang hawak niya sa kamay ko, na para bang ipinararating niya kay Pia. Hailey tends to be possessive most of the times. One time, I had to fire one of my assistant because my wife caught her dreamily looking at me.

"It's not that I don't trust you! You're my husband, Theo, I trust you! It's them that I don't trust!" Madalas niyang sinasabi sa akin iyon, pinagbigyan ko na, I fired her, but I transferred her to Mona's company, hanggang ngayon naroon siya, at alam ni Hailey iyon, wala naman raw kaso hangga't hindi ako nakikita at nalalapitan ng babaeng iyon. She was so angry at that woman.

Nagsimula na ang interview, kahit paano ay kumalma ang asawa ko.

"How long have you been married?" That was the first question. Hailey was the one who answered.

"Twelve years, but we were in a relationship for five years, pero bago iyon, mag-best friends muna kami nang mas mahabang panahon." Ngiting – ngiti ang asawa ko. I was only looking at her with so much love in my eyes.

"Classmates kami noong high school." Dugtong ko pa. "Hindi naman talaga kami magkaibigan noon, pero si Hailey, she's like... how do I describe this, I don't like chocolates..." I said. "And Hailey is like one, I had a taste, hindi ko gusto, pero habang tumatagal, ay hinahanap – hanap ko naman, hanggang sa naging paborito ko na."

"Really, Baby? Chocolate?" Napapailing siya. "He really has a way in his words." Sabin a lang ng asawa ko. Nagtawanan kaming dalawa. The interview went on, parang nakalimutan na nga ni Hailey ang ikinaiinis niya. Pia asked us about our life, we shared what we could, she asked about raising four beautiful children and Hailey gladly told her our children's unforgettable stories. Nagkakatawanan kami, I was always looking at my wife. Nakikita ko ang lahat pati ang pinakamaliit na expression niya.

It's always a wonder to me, why I didn't realize that I lover her earlier in my life, kung siguro, mas matagal na kaming nagkakasama, si Hailey ang tipo ng babaeng hindi pinakakawalan talaga.

"So, Theo..." Pia called my attention. Nakangiti akong bumaling sa kanya. Sa ganang ngiting iyon ni Pia ay alam kong heto na ang hinihintay ko. "What are your plans for this year?"

"Plans?" Humigpit na naman ang hawak ni Hailey sa kamay ko. She's expecting me to say something about politics, well now is not the time. I smiled at Pia and then to my wife. "I don't have any plans right now." Napakunot ang noo ni Hailey. "But I have one that's been in my mind for the longest time."

I looked at Pia again. "I married Hailey twelve years ago in Las Vegas, it was just a sudden decision, we wanted to be together forever, and at that time, it was so sudden. I wanted to give her everything that she deserves. Back then, when her father asked me about Hailey, sinabi ko talagang deserve ni Hailey ang lahat sa mundo kaya nga ginagawa ko lahat para ibigay sa kanya ang nararapat. She has been through so much and all I want is for her smile to never leave her face..."

"You've been making me smile for a long time, Theo..." Hinaplos pa ni Hailey ang pisngi ko.

"And you too, Sweetheart, but I want to make you smile even more."

Mula sa bulsa ng pantalon ko ay kinuha ko ang isang velvet box. Hailey's eyes widened, I got on my one knee, opened the box and looked at her with so much adoration.

"Now, Sweetheart, will you let me marry you in a church, you wearing your dream wedding gown, with the kids in the entourage, your parents will be there too, my parents too, but your side is more important. Will you marry me again, Sweetheart?"

Hailey was crying and laughing at the same time. Ilang beses niyang hinaplos ang mukha ko bago siya sumagot.

"Of course, baby, you're so silly to even ask. I love you so much, Theo!" She tugged my hand, I sat beside her and then we hugged. I kissed her a few time on her cheeks, and finally, on her lips, it wasn't long unlike earlier, but it was full of love.

Isinuot ko kay Hailey ang engagement ring na binili ko para sa kanya. I never had a chance to give her that, wedding ring agad kaya ibinili ko siya ngayon.

"I love you, Theo." Sabi ni Hailey. "Thank you for making me happy."

"I love you more..." Sagot ko naman. Hailey looked at the camera. Ang buong akala ko ay magpasalamat siya but then...

"And before I forget, we did this interview today to say that my husband is running for Senator next elections. So, please, support him, and don't edit out the proposal, I want all the women in the country to know that my husband is mine, and mine alone."

"Hals!"

Pia and the crew laughed really hard, I had to laugh too, it was too funny. I looked at Hailey again...

This is the life I thought I'd never have but look where we are now.

I cannot ask for anything more. I love her so much, and I know she loves me as much as I love her. 

C O N S U N J I L E G A C Y