Keeping marriage is not all about financial stability but more so emotional maturity. –jazlykdat

Aubrey

"Aub, where are you going?" habol sa kanya ni Vander nang papunta na siya sa sasakyan niya. Nasa garahe sila ng mansion.

"Sa opisina." Nagtataka siyang napalingon sa asawa.

"I'll just drop you off and Dirran. Would that be okay?"

She almost gasped when Vander smiled.

"How would it not be?" nakangiti niyang balik-tanong.

"I think so, too."

Sabay pa silang napatawa sa takbo ng usapan nila. They only stopped when Dirran came with his nanny.

"Here's your new space, son." Nakangiting saad ni Vander sa anak habang iginigiya ito sa may backseat.

"Sure, daddy!" Dirran answered that made them both smile. Marunong na itong makipag-usap ng maayos nang paunti-unti.

"Halika na misis!" Napaigtad siya nang dumaan ang kamay ng asawa sa baywang niya at marahang pinisil. Napatawa pa ito nang makita ang reaksyon niya. Mabilis siya nitong pinagbuksan ng pintuan ng kotse.

"Stop, teasing me, Vand." She said smiling. Naalala kasi niya ang sinabi nito kagabi, makabawi man lang. Hehe!

Vander just shrugged and chuckled.

Kumindat pa ito nang papasok na ito ng driver's seat.

He was about to drive out from the garage when Desiry and Ayder knocked on the window beside her. Ibinaba niya ang bintana ng sasakyan.

"What is it?" she asked the two.

"May paghatid na talagang nagaganap ngayon?" Desiry said giggling. Ayder also laughed.

"So you disturbed us just to say that?" Vander asked shaking his head.

"Aba, distorbo na kami ngayon, dad?" Desiry chuckled. Napatawa siya sa panunudyo ng anak. Vander glared at Desiry.

"Bakit noon kapag nambabae ka at sinusundan kita never mong sinabi na istorbo ako?" natatawa nitong biro sa ama.

"Nambababae?" Kunot-noo niyang sambit.

"Ate's just kidding mom. We're going!" Sabad ni Ayder bago hinila ang kapatid palayo sa sasakyan.

She saw Vander shrugging while starting the engine.

"Anong ibig sabihin ni Desiry?" baling niya sa asawa. Napatikhim naman ito.

"Si Daddy may babae." Dirran answered innocently.

Napatingin siya sa anak. She was surprised to hear na nakakaintindi na talaga ito ng usapan at nasasabi na ang nasa isip. He even volunteered to answer the question na ayon sa pagkakaintindi nito.

"Tingin mo may babae is Daddy?" natatawa niyang tanong sa anak.

"Babae? Uhm, Mommy babae, ate –babae, Mee-babae." Tugon nito. Napatingin pa siya kay Vander at napangiti dahil sa pagsagot ng anak sa tanong niya.

"Lahat sila babae, 'no? Very good, son!" Kindat ni Vander sa anak mula sa rearview mirror.

"Thank you, daddy!" Dirran answered.

"Wow, ang galing naman ng baby ko!" nasisiyahan niyang saad sa anak. She can't help but feel glad.

"Thank you, mommy." Tugon ulit nito na nakapagpatawa sa kanya.

Hinatid nila ang bata sa therapist nito.

"Ano 'yong sinabi ni Desiry kanina?" Pagbubukas niya sa usapan nang sila na lang ang nasa sasakyan.

"That was a long time ago, Aub." Tugon naman nito. Nakatuon ang atensyon nito sa daan.

Ayaw sana niyang ituloy ang pagtatanong pero mas mabuting bukas sila sa isa't-isa ngayong nag-uumpisa ulit sila.

"Vander, hindi ko naman kinu-question kung nambabae ka noon o kung nakailang babae ka." Malumanay niyang saad. Vander glanced at her and waited for her next sentence.

"I was away. I could never blame you if you've found comfort from other women but why do you have to tell Desiry about your women?" She said inhaling deeply.

"I never told her. She's just too nosy like mom." Vander answered.

Huminga siya ng malalim. Ano ba talaga ang issue niya? Ang totoo lang naman talaga nasaktan siya sa narinig kanina pero wala din naman siyang karapatang magreklamo o magalit o magtampo man lang dahil siya ang umalis.

"I see." Tugon na lamang niya.

"Wala naman akong inuwi sa bahay ni isa. Madalas lang talaga siyang tumakas para sundan ako dati." He explained further.

Napatango na lang siya sa sinabi ng asawa.

"Flings yes I had lots of them after you left pero yung steady relationship. I never had one except you." Dagdag ulit nito.

"Huwag ka nang mag-explain. That's good enough as long as there will be no other women starting now." She said calmly cutting the conversation off. Ang importante naman talaga ay ngayon. They should stop dwelling on the past.

"Yes, of course." Vander held her hand and kissed it. Napangiti siya. Alam niyang isa lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit nambababae ang isang lalaki, kapag hindi ito satisfied.

_____

She looked at Vander walking out of the bathroom. Nakaputing t-shirt ito at boxers. He's drying his hair using a towel. Nauna na siya kaninang naligo sumunod naman ito sa kanya.

"Let me," she said smiling as she took the towel. Umupo naman ito sa kama at hinayaan siyang tuyuin ang buhok nito.

"I missed this," Vander said chuckling. Naalala niya noon lagi nitong pinapatuyo ang buhok sa kanya. Kapag tumatanggi siya ay pinagpagpag nito ang buhok para matalsikan siya hanggang sa mainis siya at mapipilitan na lang para tumigil na ito.

They were really very childish then. Bata pa naman kasi sila talaga noon. Para silang nagbabahay-bahayan lang. They thought keeping marriage would be as easy as that. Akala nila dahil financially supported sila ng mga magulang nito ay magiging okay na ang pagiging buhay mag-asawa nila.

Keeping marriage isn't at all about financial stability but more so emotional maturity.

"Where are the kids?" tanong nito nang matapos siya.

"Doon daw muna sila sa kuwarto nina mom at dad matutulog." Tugon niya.

Vander stared at her with a creased forehead.

"Dalawa lang tayo dito," kindat niya sa asawa.

"Don't ever think of that, Aub." Vander said turning away.

What? Siya talaga nagsasabi ng ganoon?

"Huwag ka ngang OA. Pakipot ka pa kasi eh. I know you Vander, gusto mo rin." Natatawa niyang niyakap ang asawa. She tiptoed to kiss him. Umiwas naman ito.

Hinila niya ang tali ng silk robe niya at inilaglag ito sa sahig. Vander groaned. Hinawakan nito ang mga kamay niya at tinanggal sa pagkakayakap. Pinulot nito ang robe at ibinalik sa pagkakasuot sa kanya bago pumunta sa kama at humiga na.

She felt insulted. She was trying to understand him but she doesn't think she'll be able to hold her emotion this time.

Nang tingnan niya ito ay nakatakip na ang braso nito sa mga mata.

Nasaktan siya sa ginawa nito. Tinanggihan siya ng harap-harapan sa pangalawang pagkakataon.

"Vander, what's wrong with us?" She tried hard not to cry.

"Let's sleep, Aubrey." Walang emosyong tugon nito. Ni hindi ito tumingin sa kanya.

That hurts her even more. Hindi na niya napigilang mapaluha. She sat on the bed. She was trying to control her tears. Pero mas lalo lang siyang napahikbi.

"Aub, are you crying?"

Mas lalo siyang napaluha sa tanong nito. She could no longer hold back her sobs.

"N-napipilitan ka lang bang m-makipag-ayos sa akin para sa mga b-bata?" She asked sobbing.

"What are you saying?" Vander asked as he sat next to her.

"Gumaganti ka ba sa mga pasakit na ginawa ko noon sa 'yo?" Hindi niya napigilang maging emosyonal. Thinking that Vander don't love her at all pains her.

"Why would you think of that? If there is someone here na dapat gumanti. It should be you. Ang laki ng naging kasalanan ko sa 'yo." Tugon nito. Kinabig siya nito at mahigpit na niyakap.

"Is there somebody else satisfying you?" She asked bravely.

"What??" Vander held her face and looked at her.

"Ilang beses mo na akong tinanggihan. Ayaw mo na ba sa akin?" She said averting her gaze pero ipinaharap pa rin siya nito.

She would have sobbed again if Vander didn't seal her mouth with his lips. She wasn't able to move.

She remained static and tried to calm herself down. It was that instant when he moved his lips in rythmn. It felt like the first time. He nibbled her lower lip gently. Napasinghap siya. Vander stopped and smiled at her.

"I have never learned how to dislike you, Aubrey." He whispered wiping her tears gently using his thumb.

"Then take me now," she mumbled. Another tear escape her eye. Vander smiled before he slowly sealed their lips. His right hand clasped her waist while his left hand is holding the back of hear head.

She moved her lips slowly chasing his kisses.

[P.S. Mamaya daw 'yong SPG part, masyado pang maaga. Kain muna kayo. Hehe!]