Wild Spices Series | Ashton

Chapter 1

TASH

Six years. I have been avoiding him like a plague for six years and I had enough of it. Madali naman n'ya akong mahahanap kung gugustuhin n'ya. I was just in California. Doon ako lumaki. Alam n'ya kung nasaan ako. Unfortunately, s'ya na nga itong may kasalanan ay ako pa gustong maunang lumapit. Well, it ends tomorrow. Gusto ko ng magsimula uli. Magkaroon ng sariling pamilya. Anak. I'm twenty eight for Pete's sake. Binuro ko ang sarili ko sa trabaho at hindi ko na namalayan ang oras. Bente otso anyos na pala ako.

Dinampot ko ang dokumento mula sa mesa. It was the divorce papers I requested from my lawyer last week. Kahapon ako dumating dito sa New York kasama ni Ashley. Naghotel lang kami dahil wala akong balak tumigil ng matagal dito.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Dumating na pala ang magaling kong kapatid. Sa aming dalawa ay s'ya ang napakalayas. Kaya siguro naging flight attendant ito kahit nagtapos ng medisina. Hindi pa n'ya tapos ang residency n'ya at may dalawang taon pang bubunuin. Ashley is only twenty five and on sabbatical right now.

"How was your night out with your friends?"

"It was fun. Bakit gising ka pa? Ala una y media na," tanong n'ya sa akin.

"I couldn't sleep."

Tumawa s'ya ng bahagya. "Excited kang makita si Kuya Ash?"

Umasim ang mukha ko. "Quit it. Bukas, hihingin ko lang ang pirma n'ya at uuwi na tayo."

Umiling iling ito. "Good luck with that. I don't think he will let you go that easily."

"Hindi naman s'ya nauubusan ng babae. Parati nga s'yang laman ng society pages with his friends."

"Who do you think is cuter? Kayden or Mason?"

"None."

"Uyy! Si Kuya Ashton lang ang cute para sa kanya."

Ikinapula ko ang sinabi n'ya. Napakaukit talaga nito. "Ashley Grace Costales!"

Humalakhak lang ito at nagtungo sa banyo. Mayamaya ay narinig ko ang lagaslas ng tubig mula sa shower. Nauna na akong humiga sa kanya. I don't have an appointment with him tomorrow. Hindi ko na kailangan 'yon. Asawa n'ya pa rin ako. Although, not for long.

Ang alam ko sa Midnight Spices Tavern ay alas singko pa ng hapon nagbubukas and they close right at midnight. Dinadayo ng tao dahil masarap ang mga pagkain and the place is very cozy. If people want to eat there, they need to book a table in advance at hindi sila nababakante. It is owned by six chefs and my husband is the Chef Owner.

Matagal ko ng inihanda ang sarili ko sa pagkikita namin. Kayang kaya ko na ito. Pero bakit dinadaga ako? S'ya pa din ang laman ng isip ko hanggang tuluyan akong igupo ng antok.

The next morning, Ashley and I had a nice breakfast at Waffles & Co. Paborito namin itong kainan kapag dinadalaw n'ya ako dito sa New York noon.

"Tash?"

I looked up and saw a familiar face. Slightly older but good looking just the same. It was Duke, my first boyfriend back in high school.

"Duke. How are you?"

'Yon pa rin ang ngiti n'ya. He looked better as we aged. Pero ang pesteng puso ko, si Ashton lang ang kilala. This man maybe good looking but he is nothing compared to my husband.. soon to be ex-husband, I mean.

"I'm fine," binalingan nito ang kapatid ko. "You're Ashley, am I right?"

My sister smiled. "You remembered."

"Of course. The beautiful Costales sisters," he even chuckled.

"Grabe. Hindi naman," that made me blush.

"It's true. Anyway, how long will you guys be here? I have a meeting in an hour but I'd like to treat you both for dinner."

Nagkatinginan kaming magkapatid. The thing is I am still married at hindi magandang tingnan kung sasama akong mag-dinner sa isang ex. Kahit pa ba ex from high school. I felt like someone is staring at me kaya napalingon ako. He looked familiar.

Nang tumingin ako sa kanya ay nag-iwas na ito ng tingin at kinausap ang kasamang babae. He pulled out his phone at tumipa. Sending a text message perhaps. He looked like Devin or Dylan — ang kambal ay bunsong kapatid ni Ashton but the last time I saw them was six years ago. High school pa lang sila noon. They would be twenty two by now. Baka naman kahawig lang.

"Actually we are flying out tonight after my business is done and unfortunately, mamaya pahapon ang appointment ko. Sorry but we can't join you for dinner," apologetic kong sabi sa kanya.

Nanlumo ang mukha ni Duke pero ngumiti pa rin. "That's okay. I'll see you guys in California anyway. You live in the same house still, right?"

Tumango ako. Hindi nagtagal at nagpaalam na rin s'ya. Hindi ko na sinabi na nakabukod ako sa mga magulang ko ng tirahan at si Ashley lang ang kasama ng parents ko. I don't think he needs to know that. Ashley and I continued eating at nang tumingin ako sa kabilang table ay wala na doon ang lalake kanina. After breakfast, nagshopping kami saglit ng kapatid ko at kumain rin ng tanghalian. I didn't realize how much I missed New York until now. Six years is a long time. Madami ng nangyari sa loob ng mahabang taon. I am sure Ashton has moved on as well.

Nang bumalik kami sa hotel ay mabilis akong nagshower at nagtuyo ng buhok. Hindi na ako nag-effort magpaganda pero si Ashley ay ayaw pumayag na lumabas akong hindi nakaayos. I am not here to impress Ashton -- I want the opposite. Gusto ko mawalan s'ya ng interes sa akin para pirmahan na n'ya ang divorce papers namin. But Ashley did her magic on me -- tight skinny jeans, caramel coloured halter top and nude high heels. She even curled the ends of my hair.

"Ate! Mukha kang model ng Vogue!"

Nginisian ko s'ya. "Hayan ka na naman sa kalokohan mo," umumis ako sa kanya. "But thanks for fixing me up, sasama ka ba?"

"Of course! I won't miss it for the world. Gustong makita kung paano makipagbalikan si Kuya sa 'yo," tatawa tawang sabi nito.

"Gaga. Nandito tayo para sa divorce ko hindi para magbalikan kami."

Sa kabila ng lahat ng nangyari, my sister is still rooting for my husband and I to get back together. Sabi n'ya kasi, hind ko man lang daw kinompronta. She even asked me what's the worst thing that could happen if I asked him? Maybe I'm just afraid to hear the truth. Ang makumpirma sa kanya na niloko n'ya ako sa mismong bahay namin.. that they did the nasty sa mismong kama namin na ilang beses naming pinagsaluhan ng maiinit na sandali -- ay baka hindi ko kayanin. Kaya mas mabuti na ang ganito. Alam naman n'ya ang nangyari pero hindi n'ya sinabi sa akin. Ayaw n'yang malaman ko. He made his choice and I just need to make peace with it. Good luck sa akin mamaya.