THE SHATTERED WIFE

I AM OPEN TO KNOWING YOU

Alexis's pov

Pagkatapos ng Isang kabado na hapunan ay nag-excuse si Elijah sa kaniyang pamilya at niyaya akong umakyat na sa second floor. Agad akong umuo dahil ang totoo , iyon lang naman ang hinihintay ko. Hindi ko na kayang sikmurain at hindi ko na matagalan pa ang galit na pagsulyap ni Vangie sa Akin, actually, sa aming dalawa ni Elijah. Hindi ko na rin kayang tapatan ang mga malagkit na tingin ni Benji sa akin.

Habang umakyat kami ng hagdan ay naramdaman ko pa rin ang mainit na tingin ni Benji. Bagama't tahimik siya kanina ay ramdam ko naman na marami siyang gustong sabihin sa akin.

Parang natatakot na tuloy ako mag-isa sa Manor. I'm glad that my father in law offered me to work in the company. Ngayon, may bago na akong iisipin at pagkaabalahan. At the same time, maiwasan ko na si Benji, hanggang sa darating ang araw na tantanan Niya ako.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ko rin naman sure Kung ano talaga ang tunay na damdamin Niya sa akin. Habang napadaan kami sa hallway kung saan hinalikan ako ni Benji and worse nagawa Kong gumanti..napailing ako sa tagpo kanina. I hate to think about it, kaya agad Kong winaksi ito sa aking isipan.

Sa silid namin, "Thank you.."

"What for?" nagtaka ako sa sinabi ni Elijah. His sudden gratitude took me by surprise.

"I heard your remarks about me.." he smiled. "The looks of Vangie's face are satisfying. She didn't hear it everyday, the comeback is well deserved." Elijah laugh.

"You mean, you're not angry with me?" I asked him.

"Angry, Bakit naman ako magagalit? Im thankful for your support." Elijah regarded me intently. Natutuwa pa nga ako sa ginawa mo." he said softly.

Hindi na nakapagbihis kanina si Elijah dahil sinundan Niya ang kaniyang ama at si Benji sa study. Hindi nakatiis si Elijah dahil sa pangbabastos ng kaniyang kapatid .

"It was nothing..."I smiled at him. "I did it because it's the right thing to do.."I said looking at him. Again a smile crept on his lip. I wanted to look away but it seems that I was glued to his beautiful black eye. My heart skipped a beat.

"Besides, it's my way of thanking you back..una mo akong ipinagtanggol.." I hastily added.

"Hmn, did you mean it?"

"Mean what?" Ewan ko ba, pero ang lakas naman ng t***k ng traydor Kong puso. Hindi ko alam Kong bakit nag somersault ang puso Kong ito. Alam naman namin pareho ni Elijah kung bakit kami kasal.

"Na bagay tayong dalawa?" Nanlaki naman ang aking mata at hindi ako nakasagot sa kaniyang tanong.

But he was waiting for my answer..the way he look at me, he seems to be waiting for me to say something. He's impossible, paano ko naman sasagutin ang tanong Niya, knowing that we are forced to marry each other. However, now that we're in this together...I'm open to knowing him, honestly.

"I.." I open and closed my mouth. Undecided on what to say.

I was about to say that I'm open for knowing him when he burst into laughter.

I widen my eye even more. "What?" I could feel the heat on my cheeks.

"I'm just kidding.."he grinned. "I'm sorry.." nakangiti pa rin ito. "I'm just messing with you.. mukha ka kasing seryoso."

So, hindi siya seryoso sa kaniyang sinabi? Binibiro lang Niya ako? Muntik pa naman akong aamin na open ako in getting to know each other.

Hmp!" inikutan ko siya ng mata. Mas lalo namang tumawa ang kumag. "Alam mo, you look cute with your reaction.."

Cute..?

"But seriously though, I am open to knowing you, Alexis. I want to give us a try.." he was now leaning on the wall. Habang ako naman ay nakaupo sa harapan ng vanity mirror. Nakatingin siya sa reflection ko sa salamin at ganon din ako sa kaniya. I saw his serious expression.

"B-but, but what about your girlfriend?" I stuttered. Ang hindi ko maintindihan talaga ay ang walang tigil na pag-tumbling ng aking puso. Nanibago lang siguro ang puso ko. O baka naman, naaalala ng puso Kong ito ang wet dream..

Iniwas ko ang aking tingin Kay Elijah. Nahihiya ako sa panaginip Kong iyon. Wala siyang kaalam-alam na siya ang laman ng wet dream ko on the first night of our wedding. But hey, it was a dream. Hindi ko naman kayang kontrolin ang panaginip ko.

Elijah shrugged his shoulders. " Bago pa man tayo ikinasal ay naghiwalay na kami.." he said blinking his eyes. I see a hint of frustration in those beautiful dark eyes.

I dropped my jaw, I couldn't believe his confession since he was so angry when he approached me before we signed the marriage certificate.

"But you were so angry.." I remember pretty well his expression while talking to me. Galit na galit siya sa akin.

"I'm sorry, about it. I had to find someone to vent with my anger. I don't want to get married, at least not yet. And yes, at that time I had a girlfriend, and while it was true that I truly loved her..."

Bakit kaya biglang tumigil sa pag-tumbling ang puso ko ng marinig niya ang sinabi ni Elijah na mahal Niya ang kaniyang girlfriend?

"Naintindihan kita Elijah, I'm sorry if I put you into this situation.."

Of course, what was I thinking, natural na mahal ni Elijah ang kaniyang girlfriend.

Ako nga mahal ko si Benji kahit hindi ko boyfriend.

But now, na unti -unti ng lumabas ang kulay ng kaniyang pagkatao, parang nawalan na rin ako ng gana sa kaniya. Mukhang mapapabilis ang paglimot ko Kay Benji. Nagsisisi ako at nadarang ako sandali na humalik sa kaniya .

Nakakawalang gana na rin ang kaniyang ina, si Vangie. Kulang na lang sabihin Niya sa akin na ayaw Niya ako para Kay Benji.

"It's not your FAULT Alexis, pareho lang naman tayong napipilitan na sumunod sa ating mga magulang." he cut me off.

Gustong kong itanong kung bakit sila naghiwalay ng kaniyang girlfriend. But I was thinking, maybe I'm the reason. Maaring nagseselos ang girlfriend ni Elijah sa akin. I'm a woman myself, kahit hindi pa ako nagkaroon ng relasyon. Alam ko ang pakiramdam ng babaeng nagseselos. Lalo na sa part ng kaniyang girlfriend. Imagine her pain, knowing that her boyfriend is getting married with another woman.

I wanted to remind Elijah the contract that he said during the signing of the certificate. He told me that he's going to annul our wedding. But now that he broke up with his girlfriend. I'll admit, parang ayoko muna ng annulment. Gusto ko munang kilalanin si Elijah.

Kinikilabutan ako sa aking iniisip, but yes I am open to knowing Elijah. Gusto ko rin siyang makilala pa, kaya hindi ko na lang itatanong ang dahilan ng kanilang hiwalayan.

"So, what can you say about my suggestion.." Elijah is still staring in the mirror. Ako rin, nakatingin pa rin ako sa salamin, kung saan malinaw Kong nakikita si Elijah. His biceps are prominent as he is crossing his arms, still leaning on the wall.

Ayan na naman nagsimula na naman ang luksong tinik ng puso ko, mukha talaga akong tinutukso nito. Nag -iwas ako ng tingin. Kinuha ko ang brush ng aking buhok and I started brushing my hair.

"I-I am open to knowing you Elijah" I quickly said as I looked back at him in the mirror. I saw him nodding his head. "Very well, let us try to make this marriage work.." he smiled and walked towards the bathroom.

Saka lang ako n@kahinga ng maluwag ng wala na siya sa paningin ko. Inisip ko pa naman na magtapat sa kaniya tungkol s@ nangyari kanina sa hallway. Gusto Kong maging honest Kay Elijah. Lalo na ngayon na siya mismo ang nag open about us getting to know EACH OTHER.

But I don't know how to start, telling him about it will lead to telling more and I'm afraid that will only ruin our relationship. Lalo na ngayon na may mabuti na kaming plano usapan ukol sa aming sitwasyon.