Chapter 02:

WWYM02

I woke up when I felt Nick's tight hug around my stomach. He's still sleeping. I immediately looked for my bag and checked my phone for the time. It's already quarter to 9:00 am. I looked around and saw our clothes scattered on the ground from the door to the bed.

I smiled as I slowly caressed his face. Ang guwapo naman ng asawa ko. There are times when I can't believe that he's really my husband. 

He's not only handsome, but he's also intelligent, he's gentlemen, funny, and he's God sent. An answered prayer.

I really am lucky to have him. 

"Quit staring, I know I'm handsome, but your stares are weird." sabi nya, kaya naman pinisil ko ang pisngi nya.

"Ang feeling mo talaga! Tanghali na, bangon na tayo. You still have work, Architect Ojales." I said and then planted little kisses on his face.

He kissed me on the lips. "Maybe I'll consider absenting today and just do you." binigyan nya ako ng nakaka akit na ngiti.

'Wag kang marupok, Arthia Violette!

I sighed. "I need to be in the gallery, aasikasuhin ko iyong paintings, remember?" I reminded him.

"They can wait, just give them discounts. Let's just stay home today, please?" he said and then gave me puppy eyes.

This man knows me so damn well. Alam nyang marupok ako sa ganyan nya e.

"Stand up na, let's clean up para maka uwi na tayo ng condo. We have so much to do, maglilipat pa tayo." I said and then grinned before trying to drag him out of bed, but he was too heavy.

"Pag nahila mo 'ko, fine." sabi nya tapos mas lalo nyang binigatan iyong katawan nya.

At dahil pagod ako at walang lakas para hilain sya, sumuko na ako agad. "Aba, hala sige bahala ka dyan." sabi ko at tinalikuran na sya at nag umpisang pulutin iyong damit ko sa lapag.

Tinali ko na iyong buhok ko. Isusuot ko na sana iyong damit kaso napansin kong punit na sa may bandang likod.

Nakangisi naman si Nick habang nakatingin sa akin. Hindi nya talaga pinalagpas kahit itong Givenchy dress ko. Mas mahal pa 'to sa tuition ko nung college!

"Sorry, I'll just buy you a new one. Why don't we just go shopping today? And maybe, buy me Play Station," he said while he was wearing his dress shirt.

Maybe I should try to tear them also, one of these days. I smiled at the thought.

And Play Station, still no Play Station.

"I'll still have to figure out the things we need first bago mag shopping at saka may gagawin ako today and I'm sure kailangan ka na rin sa office. Next time nalang, okay love? And still no Play Station for you." sabi ko at lumapit sakanya para humalik. Hindi nanaman sya matutulog at magpupuyat nanaman kalalaro. Nintendo Switch was already too much!

"May house blessing pa." sabi ko nang nakangiti.

"I already talked to Mom about that, sya na raw bahala." sabi nya, kaya tumango naman ako.

Everything's totally settled kapag sinabi ng nanay nya na sya na ang bahala. You won't even need to lift a finger, nasanay na rin ako.

"One last?" he said before kissing me and laid me to bed again. And began on our fourth round.

I should assume this as my fee for being his special client.

* * * 

After our early lunch, Nick drove me going to my gallery before he went to work. I also contacted my manager in the art workshop center that I'll be not around today since I think I will be busy in the gallery today. 

"Miss Av, galing si Sir Kurt dito kanina pero sabi ko wala ka pa." sabi ni Nina, iyong empleyado ko.

"Ah ganoon ba, sige, salamat."

Ako:

Anong kailangan mo? Ba't nagpunta ka rito kanina?

Nagulat ako dahil mabilis syang nag reply.

Kurt:

It's my flight today going to Europe. I just wanna personally bid goodbye. Did you forget?

Agad na nanlaki ang mata ko. Oo nga pala! Mag babakasyon nga pala sya. At saka kung maka bid good bye naman 'to parang 'di na sya babalik!

Ako:

Nasa airport ka na? Sorry! Ba't di mo pinaalala sa akin kahapon? Parang tanga naman 'to.

Kurt:

Few minutes before my departure, Tams is back. She'll just probably appear in front of you today.

Ako:

Loka loka talaga 'di nagsabi. Anw, ingat ka sa lipad mo. Pasalubong ko ha? Ayusin mo Cortis Ismael.

Kurt:

Blah blah blah. Watch Lia for me pls.

Ako:

Oo 'tay. Ingat ho kayo 'tay. 'Wag tatanga tanga sa Europe, 'tay ha?

Natawa ako habang nagtitipa nun. Alam ko naman na mas memorize nya pa ang mapa ng Europe kesa sa Pilipinas.

Kurt:

Whatever, Av. See you in a month.

"Nabalot na namin iyong mga paintings na gustong kuhanin nina Dra. Gomez, secured na rin." sabi ni Nina, tumango ako at sumunod sakanya.

Dra. Gomez is a very good friend of Nick's mother, I onced attended a medical mission with her hosted by Mama Leonore. Also met his son, Carlos, who is Tam's cousin's boyfriend. 

"What's up bruha?!" halos mapatalon ako sa gulat. Pag lingon ko ay ang baliw ko pala na kaibigan, si Tams. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. 

"Pota ka talaga. Naka uwi ka na pala?" tiningnan nya ako nang masama.

"Wow pota ka rin ha—at oo, welcome back to me. Tara, lunch?" masaya nyang sabi. Mukhang may healing power yata ang New Zealand dahil ang saya saya nya.

"Nag lunch na ako...pero pwede naman umulit kaya tara na." sabi ko at nag lakad na papuntang table para kunin ang bag ko.

"Gaga na miss kita. Could've been nicer if you were with me in New Zealand, bakit kasi nag asawa ka na e." sabi nya, ang niyakap ako. 

Here we go with the bakit-kasi-nag asawa-ka-na- lines of Thamia Isobel. 

"Missed you too, Tams. Mag asawa ka na rin." biro ko at tumawa. Tinarayan nya naman ako. 

Ayaw nya na raw mag asawa.

We just went to our usual Filipino cuisine dine-in resto. Na miss nya siguro iyong lutong pinoy kaya ang dami nyang kinuhang putahe.

"Ubusin mo 'yan ha, 'di kita matutulungan dyan." inirapan nya naman ako.

"Akin naman talaga lahat 'to, we don't need help here." tumawa sya.

"How's your vacay? Akala ko ba isang buwan? Dalawang linggo pa lang ah."

"Ayos naman. New Zealand is such a beautiful country. But I felt kinda home sick kaya umuwi na ako." sabi nya at nilapit iyong toyo sa harap nya.

"Si Kurt naman ang wala, ano 'to, palitan kayo?" ginawa na yata nilang hobby ang pag babakasyon out of the country.

"Ayan ang sinasabi ko, bakit kasi nag asawa ka na e. Hindi ka tuloy makapag bakasyon." sabi nya bago isubo iyong gabundok na kanin sa kutsara nya.

"Grabe, hindi naman. Pwede naman kaso busy lang talaga ako. At saka sayang 'di ka umabot kahapon, kahapon iyong exhibit ko."

"Girl, I swear I really tried. Kaso fully booked na talaga iyong mga flight pauwi kahapon. Nakakainis nga e, balak ko pa naman sanang mag grand entrance sa exhibit mo." sabi nya at uminom ng tubig while I'm just eating my puto at kutsinta.

"May bahay na kami," masaya kong balita sakanya, nanlaki naman ang mata nya.

"You mean bahay as in bahay, hindi na sa condo? Where na?" tumango naman ako.

"Wow, congrats! Papasyal ako ah, pagamit ng jacuzzi." masaya nyang sabi,

"Sa Forbes. Nick surprised me last night—well, I already had a feeling about it, but I was still surprised. You know, we rarely talk about having a big house kasi okay naman kami sa condo. But yeah, we have a house now." sabi ko bago uminom ng tubig.

"Forbes? That's nice. Maybe he wants kids na? 'Di ka pa ba buntis?" umiling ako.

"Not yet. Besides, maaga pa naman, we're not talking about having kids...yet."

"I can't believe you're really married. I mean, that's literally your dream. I remember teasing you everytime sinasabi mong gusto mo nang mag asawa dati, when we're still in college pa." sabi nya at parehas kaming natawa. 

Good old days.

"And I can't believe you went to New Zealand without a boyfriend. Sa ating dalawa ikaw iyong laging may boyfriend, tapos ngayon ano na? Anong nangyari?" sabi ko sakanya at  bahagyang tumawa, she finished eating the pinakbet.

Grabe talaga 'to pag dating sa pagkain.

"Well, I don't really need jowa right now." she said and sipped on her water, "I need inaanak, kaya bilisan nyo na ni Nick." she added.

"Lipat bahay muna bago anak. Don't worry, ikaw naman ang unang makakaalam 'pag buntis na 'ko." I assured her.

"I better be! Ako lang naman ang pinaka best friend mo, unless may iba na? Well... maliban kay Kurt. Umayos ka Arthia." sabi nya at itinuro sa akin iyong tinidor nya.

"Ikaw lang naman ang nakakapag tyaga sa akin at ako lang din ang nakakapag tyaga sa iyo, Thamia. We're stuck on each other, forever." I told her and she gave me a smile.

I don't know how Kurt managed to have patience with both of us. Sanay na sanay na nga yata talaga kami sa topak ng isa't isa.

"Better. And I love you for that. Kahit hindi na ako ang kahati mo sa twin pack dahil may asawa ka na." sabi nya kaya parehas kaming natawa.

My phone rang, and I saw Nick's name on the screen. Tams motioned me to answer it.

"Love? Hi!" masaya kong sabi.

"I told you we're not busy here today, my team is dealing with their job well. We should've stayed at home." he sounded so frustrated. Pinilit ko kasi syang pumasok na lang sa trabaho kahit na sabi nya sa bahay na lang daw kami mag hapon.

"Kasama ko si Tams, naka uwi na sya." sabi ko kaya naman tumingin si Tams sa akin.

"Nice. Tell her, her ex is one of the people who engineered our house. And he's very single." sabi nya at tumawa. Nakangiti naman akong tumingin kay Tams at nagtatanong sya kung bakit. Umiling lang ako.

"Which one?" I asked as if there's been a lot of engineer-ex in Tams life, e there's only one lang naman.

"Zacharious," he answered,

"Wow, haha! What a coincidence!" I said and then laughed in pretense. Tams was clueless. 

"I can tell him to meet Tams para makuha na kita at maka uwi na tayo." sabi nya, gusto nya talagang umuwi 'no?

"You're so bad! That's not a good idea. Fetch me na lang, 2pm. Sinasamahan ko pa kasing mag lunch si Tams." narinig ko syang bahagyang tumawa, 

"Okay, okay, see you."

"Okay. I'll hang up now. I'll just text you when we're back na sa gallery. Love you."

"Okay, I love you," he said before I hang up.

Ang sama naman nang tingin sa akin ni Tams kaya napawi agad iyong ngiti ko.

"Really? Napaka landi nyo talaga!"

She continued eating her food and she wasn't joking when she said na kaya nya iyon ubusin ang mga iyon lahat. Few minutes after she finished eating, we decided to head back to the gallery, panay kuwento nya tungkol sa naging bakasyon nya sa New Zealand.

"Gusto ko na mag trabaho. Hindi pwedeng puro na lang pagsasayang ng pera ang gawin ko." sabi nya out of nowhere pagkatapos tumulaka ng ilang minuto.

Spending money on what makes you happy and what you love isn't wasting money entirely. But spend your money wisely though. It's hard to earn money these days. 

"I thought you said you're trying your luck in law school?" I reminded her because that was supposed to be her plan after college.

"My God, halos 'di ko na nga kinaya iyong course ko nung college. So, no, I'm not trying law school, 'di ko na kayang igapang iyon."

"I don't wanna waste my time. 'Tsaka marami na ang abogado sa pamilya namin. Kaya na nila 'yun. Kriminal na lang naman ang kulang sa pamilya," dugtong nya pa tapos ngumiti nang parang tanga.

"Gaga, sige subukan mo at nang ma-testing natin kung ilalabas ka ba ng pamilya mo sa kulungan."

"But seriously though, I'm trying modeling or photography or just whatever the universe can offer me."

"Go girl, you have my support. Do whatever makes you happy, except the criminal part—hindi ko alam paano ka ilalabas ng kulungan. I'll just watch you rot there," parehas kaming natawa.

Nicholas:

I'll be there in a few.

Ako:

Ingat, love <3

"Ang bastos naman, ako iyong nasa harap pero nasa ibang iyong atensyon mo."

"Sorry." sabi ko na lang at ngumisi. 

"Kailan ako pwedeng pumasyal sa mansion nyo? I'm bringing my pasalubongs."

"The house is still messy, marami pang kailangan ayusin. Tinitingnan ko pa lang, sumasakit na ulo ko sa dami at laki ng lilinisin. Maglilipat pa lang kami e. Can your pasalubongs wait ba or no?"

"It can wait naman, after house blessing ko na lang dadalhin sainyo." sabi nya at saka tumayo.

"Mauuna na ako, seems like I can't drag you out to stroll today. Text text na lang ha?" sabi nya at humalik sa pisngi ko.

"Ingat ka, text me when you need anything ah." tumango sya.

"Yep." sabi nya bago sya tumalikod at nag lakad palabas.

While waiting for Nick to come to fetch me, I was busy looking around.

I can't believe I own this place. I mean, I only wrote this in my journal before. Ang hirap din kaya ng college dati.

Grabe, sobrang hindi talaga ako makapaniwala.

Akala ko nga hindi na ako makaka graduate on time e. Kaya nga hindi ako makapaniwala na nag cum laude pa ako!

Akala ko rin hindi ko na maa-accomplish iyong mga lifegoals ko. But looking at where I am now.

It was all worth it.

I smiled as I saw my husband smiling while walking towards me. Isa pa 'to, sya talaga iyong pinaka worth it sa lahat e.

Hinalikan nya ako sa pisngi, "Let's go?" tanong nya, kinuha ko naman iyong bag ko.

Pagdating namin sa condo ay agad syang nag punta sa kwarto para mag palit habang sa kusina naman ako dumiretso para mag handa ng meryenda.

"That smells nice," sabi nya pag punta nya ng kusina, he's now wearing his pambahay clothes. And he has a towel hanging on his shoulder.

"It's done, kain ka na. Do you want apple or lemon?" ngumiti sya at lumapit sa akin,

"Sit, ako na mag titimpla." sabi nya, umupo ako sa may lamesa gaya ng sabi nya. Pinagmamasdan ko lang syang abala sa ginagawa.

"I'm gonna miss your condo, lalo na 'tong kitchen." sabi ko, nilagay nya naman ang pitsel ng apple juice sa lamesa at umupo na rin.

"Our

condo." pag tama nya sa akin, ngumiti naman ako. He always tells me na I should consider mine everything that's his.

"I'm going to miss here too, but it's not like we'll sell this or something. We'd still visit here if there's time." tumango naman ako,

Huminga ako nang malalim, " Almost 3 years ago this was just your condo, but we lived together and it became our home. Ang dami nating memories dito, grabe."

I sighed.

"Yes, and I'd be pleased to do the honor of telling them to our future kids, especially your first time here." tumawa sya, naalala ko tuloy!

"Happy ka?" sarcastic kong tanong, "It's funny! I can still vividly remember." sabi nya pa, tss!

Thinking about moving out of this place really makes me emotional, kasi ang daming mga bagay na nangyari sa condo na 'to. I didn't expect that we'd eventually move out, but I'd gladly go anywhere and start a new life, as long as I'm with him.

I can't wait to move into our new home.