KELLYI WAS too stunned to speak. Hindi ko alam kung lalabas ba ako para bigyan sila ng privacy o susugod para kalbuhin silang dalawa. Damn it. I’m his wife. I should stand my ground and face them head on. Pakikinggan ko si Brandon kung magpapaliwanag siya, but it better be good. “Kel,” gulat na sambit ni Brandon. Something crossed his eyes. Was it guilt? O baka naman guniguni ko lang dahil nakita ko silang magkayakap. Ang babae ay parang nahiya at kiming ngumiti sa akin. Nakuha pa talagang ngumiti?“It’s not what you think. She’s a f-friend. Siya ’yong tumulong sa akin sa pag-transfer kay Ate dito. May branch ang company ng family niya rito at ipinahiram niya ’yong chopper nila—”“It’s okay. I understand. What’s her name?” Naglakad ang babae palapit sa amin at mas lalo siyang maganda sa malapitan. Hindi ko alam kung glowing siya dahil sa pagbubuntis niya o talagang maganda lang ang makeup na gamit niya. “I’m Vina. You must be Kelly, Brandon’s wife.” She extended her hand to me at

KELLYEVEN though I didn’t see Brandon since that night, he sends me a message every day. He calls but I never answer them just like his messages I never replied on. Wala naman akong gustong sabihin. At sa ipinapahiwatig ng sender sa litratong ’yon, gusto kong maniwala na hindi ’yon magagawa sa akin ni Brandon. He was in a hurry to marry me because he loves me. Iyon ang sabi niya. He went through all the trouble of staying here and taking a leave from work. Brandon did everything to make me fall in love with him all over again even though there was no need for that. Mahal ko siya noon at ngayon. But with all the things happening in less than a week of marriage, parang gusto ko nang umayaw. Gusto kong isipin na nagkamali ako. It was almost as if I waited for the right one to come along for so long, and yet sa huli ay bigo pa rin ako. And now a baby? Hindi. Hindi niya magagawa ’yon sa akin. Whoever sent that fucking photo just wants us to go on our separate ways. That person wants our

KELLYI COULD barely eat dinner at my parents’ house nang makabalik kami roon. Kung ano-ano’ng pumapasok sa isip ko. And every time I would meet Bran’s eyes, it’s like falling into a deep abyss and I feel my pussy quiver. Kaya naman nang sabihin nina Tatay na umuwi na kami sa bahay namin para makapagpahinga ay hindi na ako umapila pa. Bran laced his fingers with mine at sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa sasakyan niya. Uminom sila ng tag-isang beer nina Tatay at David, pero bukod roon ay tubig na ang ininom niya. He told me before going to my parent’s home that he dooesn’t want to be drunk on our first night together. Mas gusto ko naman ’yon. Kaya lang sa nerbiyos ko, ako ang nakadalawang kopita ng red wine. Iyon ang ininom namin ni Nanay at para akong sinisilaban ngayon. These days, mahina ang tolerance ko sa alak. I am not drunk, but just tiny bit tipsy. Nang buksan niya ang gate at ipasok ang sasakyan ay iniabot niya sa akin ang susi para buksan ang front door. I opened it pero hin

BRANDON AFTER Kelly and I made love, I picked her up and took her to the bathroom. Warm water would help ease her discomfort. At gusto ko man na umulit katulad ng plano ko kanina, gusto ko siyang makapagpahinga. We have a lifetime to make love anyway and not just tonight.Mahimbing na ang tulog niya habang nakaunan sa dibdib ko. Pareho kaming walang-saplot at tanging manipis na kumot lang ang nakatakip sa hubad naming katawan.She looked so happy. And I am too. I am the happiest because I have her in my life. Although ayaw ko ng mga nangyari noong nakaraan, it made our Christmas special. It’s our first as a married couple at ang unang gabi ng pag-iisa namin ay ngayong Pasko rin naganap. I think that’s rare for a lot of people and I am glad we waited. But this is also the first Christmas that I did not spend with my parents and sister. Hindi ko maiwasan na malungkot sa parteng ’yon. At kahit alam kong madalas ay pinaghahatian ng mag-asawa kung kaninong side ng pamilya idadaos ang mga

BRANDONNAGISING akong wala sa tabi ko ang asawa ko. Bumalikwas ako ng bangon at hinagip ang boxer shorts ko sa paanan ng kama. I glanced at the bathroom and no one was there. Kitchen. She must be starving.Nang buksan ko ang pinto ay naamoy ko ang bacon at toast. Dali-dali akong bumaba ng hagdan at tinungo ang kusina. Naroon siya at nagluluto. Saka lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag. The fear that she left me vanished. Nakakapraning naman talaga lalo at hindi pa kami nag-uusap. I was about to give her a hug but she moves so gracefully in the kitchen so I stayed behind and watched her for a bit. She has always wanted an all-white kitchen, malinis daw tingnan at madaling bagayan ng accessories. Kahit hindi siya makalat, babae pa rin siya kaya may ilang display roon. Lahat ng gamit dito sa bahay, pinili ko na siya ang nasa isip ko. The thing she would buy if we were together minus the price tag. Si Kelly kasi, kahit gustong-gusto na ang isang bagay ’tapos nalaman ang presyo, ibinabalik