Substitute Bride [Long Version] [Tagalog]

Chapter Four

AFTER ONE YEAR...

Martin

"SHE ACTUALLY THINKS she can command me, or that she's stronger than me. There's this one night, matapos sa trabaho, she's snoring in the sofa and I kinda just sat there to look at her. Hindi naman pala siya tulog! Then she started to throw malicious assumptions!"

"Hey, I said, that we had the deal but I'm not the person whose gonna break your rules and that truth is I'm a gentleman!" nagpatuloy sa pagkukwento si Martin kay Drew, matalik niyang kaibigan may mga ilang taon na. 

Parehong kolehiyo ang pinasukan nila sa Amerika, ngunit Psychology lamang ang kinuha nito, nagawa narin nito minsang mag-publish ng libro sa pag-analisa ng iba't-ibang aspeto ng pag-ibig.

"But maybe I did! I think I wanted to, because sleeping there, she seemed so delicate and hell, she's so lovely... Then one day, I thought, I'll really gonna show this tigress whose the man and the boss! I mean Drew, hindi ba't gusto naman talaga natin yun? We fixated our whole lives wanting girls to look up on us, it's normal. Then I told her to cook one night, I thought she can't, wala sa ugali niyang naglalagi siya sa kusina. I thought she's only good at fighting."

"Ang buong akala ko magwawala siya, or she'll order from a fastfood, or she'll get the misty look in her eye, I'll beat her by showing whose more skilled! I'm ging to show her my chef-like skills. At pag-uwi ko sa bahay, binulungan ako ng katiwala namin na nagluto nga si Sandy, it was perfect, the meal was sumptuous and my belly was filled.Impossible. Matapos kung kumain, she started teasing what a weakling I am, not even lifting a finger for the kitchen. Pinaliwanag kong may mga katiwala, then, she challenged me if I can wash the dishes. Then I said, 'What do you think of me?!"

"In the end, I was in the sink, I'm actually washing the dishes while she was laughing at my back. She was so proud that she commanded a CEO to wash the dishes then I realized over and over again that she tricked me!"

Matapos ng kanyang pagpapalabas ng hinaing ay tinungga niya ang laman ng maliit na kopita. Beethoven played a hymn in the air of that bar. He looked at Drew and his friend was grinning wide.

"What?" kunot ng noo niya.

Napakibit-balikat ito, still grinning, "I bet that the most perfect gamble you have ever made is turning your supposed to be sister-in-law as your wife. She's proving to be a perfect match for you Miguel, as what I am hearing now. Well, what I can say? Congratulations for having the perfectly normal married life!"

Napatanga siya, "No. No, wait, pare, I believe you have just written a book entitled 'The Existence of Love'? Talaga bang kinakausap ko ngayon ang sumulat ng libro?!"

"Exactly!" napatawa na si Drew, "The Existence of Love. Love exists, and it comes in many palettes, and facets. Sometimes, it comes like an arrow, piercing you forward, slowly, and sometimes like a stray bullet, you will never know when and where it will hit you. Sometimes, you have to be attracted first before stepping into love, or some people would claim that love comes first before they realize that the blossoms of attraction have started to bud. Sometimes, its like the seasons, may spring, may summer feel..."

"Summer. Summer love yung sa i-inyo ni Mina ba yun?" segway niya, upang tumigil na si Drew sa pagpapaliwanag.

Napamulagat ang kaibigan, tinuro siya.

"Oy, huwag mong i-deviate ang topic pare!" ngisi nito, "Look at you, I've never heared you talk exuberantly about anyone before as you are doing with this Sandy. Not even with Belle-"napatigil ito, napatingin sa kanya, "I mean, no offense pare. Maybe, it has come to this point because Belle was the comfortable opposite of you, which you think was suitable for you. You're the CEO type, responsible, dependable, intelihente, and your type would want girls who would succumb to you, would depend for you. The feline type, but the cat, not the tigress. I really wonder Martin, if you have ever loved Belle for that past five years o napipilitan ka lang tanggapin na siguro mahal mo siya dahil kung kayo hindi naman kumplikado, and that you had no other option but her..."

He did. Actually, minsan ay naisipan na niyang tuluyang lumabas sa animo'y akala niyang perpekto para sa pangangailangan niyang relasyon nila ni Belle. Magkasundong pamilya, magandang girlfriend, may mga pag-aaway nga but...then his eyes started to watch this other girl in the sideline...

Alam niyang mali at hindi swak sa kanya ang kaluluwang iyon...But he can't stop...at mabuti na lamang ay napigilan ng panahon ang tuluyang interes niya sa babaeng yun, it was stopped before he could say he was falling...But of course, may sariling plano ang tadhana at ewan ba niya kung sinunggaban lang niya ang tadhana, o inayunan, and right here one year after, hindi niya alam kung pinili niyang dugtungan ang naudlot niyang interes sa babaeng iyon.

At ang babaeng tinutukoy niya ay si Sandy...

"Sorry to interject pare but if you really did love Belle, love forgives pare! Noong una pa lang, and you don't have to do the deal with her sister. I'm actually shocked ng malaman ang ginawa mo. You're just screaming for revenge! I don't personally know this gal, pero kawawa rin siya, she's young, she's blackmailed and she's pushed by a deal, and maybe the only thing that makes her feel strong is by resisting you..."

Naitaliwas niya ang ulo. He checked his watch at napatayo na. "Alam mo Drew, i-revise mo na iyang libro mo dahil anytime soon, chances will be that 'The Extinction of Love' na ang magiging titulo niyan!"

He tapped his friend's shoulder at pagka'y napatalikod na. Maglalakad na sana siya ng sipulan siya nito, he glanced back.

"Hey, Martin, hindi mo man sabihin, alam kong natamaan ka na, daplis lang muna yan, pero nakaka-inspeksyon rin. Ang mabuti niyan, ipaalam mo sa shooter na natamaan ka niya para magamot ka!" He stared back confused but amused.Napangisi ito,and acted to fire a gun at him.

**********************

Sandy

ASINTADO ANG TARGET, SANDY furrowed her brow, at seryosong pinagtuunan ang natitira pang target, she smiled shrewdly, at ini-umang ang .45 caliber ngayon, hindi sa gitna kundi sa ibabang porsyon ng dummy, she wanted to hit the center of the pants of the male dummy! 

Another gun fire escaped and piercingly shot throught the air. Asintado na naman niya. Bukod sa martial arts ay A-list shooter din siya.

Martin, how could I explain to you that I have this crazy ideal of making love, of giving my body to the man who loves me back? Pero iba ang gusto mo, you just wanted two bodies intertwining over nothing. Sa mga nakaraang araw na nakakasama kita, I was starting to see the real you, and I'm everyday surprised by who you are.

You're human, you had faults. Minsan, galit ka sa akin, you feel like I'm a stubborn soul, who do nothing but command you, pero hindi mo ba naisip? I have lowered myself for your account too, pumayag ako sa deal, when you said in a grim tone na: 'Sandy, you have to act as my wife too, sa ayaw mo o sa gusto, maninirahan ka muna sa amin habang kasal tayo, in that way, maybe it will be easier to be more comfortable with each other, in nothing but the physical way of course', pumayag rin ako! Ano pa bang gusto mo?

Minsan, noong nasiraan tayo ng kotse, because you insisted to drive me from work, I was happy in a giddy way, gusto kong sampalin ang sarili ko, but maybe you did that just to show off, that you're manly...And then the tires bursted. Maybe, you were mighty tired you can't even lift the tires, kaya inagaw ko yung tire at ako na mismo ang nagpalit, then you were mad at me!

You see, Martin, I do all these things without any second thought. I do things I don't usually do over a guy, pero ginagawa ko yun dahil siguro nakatatak sakin na asawa mo nako, or I don't know...

I can't understand myself anymore, this is not me! Minsan tumatayo ako sa labas ng pintuan mo tuwing gabi, pag alam kong tulog ka, naiisip kong kumatok at pag pinagbuksan mo nako sasabihin kong 'Alright, I'm ready. You can throw me in your bed. I'm willing to give myself' Pero umaatras ako, lihim na bumabalik sakin yung eksena sa kotse may ilang taon na ang nakakaraan, then I realized, that maybe, all you could see in me was that young sixteen years old who always end up embarrassing you. And you have no intention other than to use me, and secretly...

I wished that there was something else...Isang paghahangad na hindi ko alam kung ba't umuusbong?! Hindi ko man kayang aminin, but I think I'm damned. It hurts to even go trying to love someone na alam mo namang sa huli ay hindi ka matututunang mahalin pabalik...

Napukaw ang pagmumuni-muni ni Sandy at parang tsunga lang niyang pakikipag-usap sa sarili ng malaman niyang tapos na ang routine niya. Oras na para sa pagsalo ng dinner na pinangako niya sa ama niya. Tinanggal na niya ang ear mufflers, ini-unload ang baril at kinalaunan ay napaayos sa lounge. Ng abutin niya ang bag, napukaw siya sa pagtunog ng cellphone niya.

"Sorry boss, pero kelangan ko po talaga kayong tawagan. Actually, nandito yung asawa niyo ngayon. Closing time na po ng center at sinabi kong wala kayo, pero nagpumilit. Ang sabi'y hindi ka naman hinahanap, magpapa-enlist lang siya. Natawa pa nga ako Bossing, pero mukhang seryoso eh!"

"Judo ang pinili, tapos hindi pumayag na mapasali sa normal o weekend classes. Tinanong ko kung ano ba talagang schedule ang kukunin niya, ang sabi'y hindi daw siya dito mag-te-training siyaka anytime daw sa bahay niyo, kukunin daw niya si Sandy Valencia bilang trainor, para masunod yung unang kondisyon ng asawa niya, eh' diba boss ikaw din naman asawa niya?!"

Ibinaba niya ang cellphone and she stared grimly in the wall!

IPINASOK NA NIYA ANG BULTO niya sa bahay, theirs was a beautiful mezzine-modern fusion mansion, pinalilibutan ng salamin. Ipinagawa iyon ni Martin bilang bahay sana nila ni Belle, sayang naman kung hindi magagamit, kaya't tinirhan muna nila, with the intention of him for the deal to fasten up. Pag annulled na sila, hindi niya alam kung anong gagawin ni Lucas sa bahay, napakaganda at cozy kasi ng ambiance. May isang taon na siyang namamalagi dito, at napamahal na sa kanya ang bahay. Nang iangat niya ang mukha, sa isang corner ng salas, naroon ang isang malaking picture nila ni Lucas mula sa kasal, it was framed at bigay ng mommy nito. Kapansin-pansin ang mga peke nilang ngiti doon. She was twenty-three then, and a quick year has passed and now, she was twenty four..hanggang kelan kaya ang pagsasama nila?

Pag wala si Martin, everything was quiet, naririnig na niya kahit ang pag-chirp ng ibon mula sa mansiyon. The only really time na nag-aabot sila ay tuwing hapunan, kung maaga itong napapauwi, at tuwing umaga, pag nagkakasabay sila ng alis.

"Finally, you're here..." bulong ng isang boses sa likuran ng mapasalampak na siya sa sofa. Muntik na siyang mapalukso! Napangiti ito sa kanya. "I've fixed the gym room, may tatami mat na doon, I've also bought some stuffs. Have you eaten?" anito.

She was at loss for words. Napamaang siya. Kanina, ng mag-usap sila ng ama niya, sinabi nitong napatawag ang ate niya dito, maikli lamang, sinabi nitong huwag mag-alala at patawad. Naputol daw agad ang linya.

"Hey..."anito, "Hindi ba sinabi ng tauhan mo na pumunta ako ng center niyo kanina? You know, I sort of hired you. It's been agonizing, this waiting stuff. So to deal with it and fasten things up, as you set, I have to beat you once." Pagpapatuloy ng lalaki, he was wearing a sando and a khaki pants, his face gleamed.

Pumait ang panlasa niya. After all those one month, hanggang ngayon ang madaling pagpapalayas nito sa kanya sa buhay nito ang siya parin bang umuukopa sa isip nito? And here she is, hindi rin malaman kung bakit may parang kumukurot sa dibdib na naman niya ngayon.

"Fine," aniya, "this would have been easier kung ibang babae ang inasawa mo. But since it's me, you'll gonna wait since time eternal! Hinding-hindi mo lang ako basta maguguyod sa kama mo, not until I permit it and not until I've come to the point when I'm so sick of acting as your virtual wife!"

Ginantihan siya nito ng isang mapanuring titig. "So, this means you're not still sick acting as my wife from this very second?"

Natahimik siya. Looking at him, even in his most comfy household attire was sending flutters within her belly, making her heart skip, and it kept her unsick, dahil animo'y nabubuhay siya sa harap ng presensiya nito. She wanted to escape the feeling but it was unenscapable, parang ayaw niyang makulong pero hinahayaan niyang magpakulong! Damn this Martin Palanca!

"I'll gonna get dressed, hintayin mo ako sa gym. When you lose, after a week of training you, then you'll gonna give up, or you have to find another trainer!" Minatahan niya ito bago siya napatalikod, narinig niya ang isang nakapagtatakang amused na tawa mula dito.

SUOT-SUOT ANG PUTING JUDO-GI AT bughaw naman kay Martin, nakaharap sila sa isa't-isa. "Ganito ang tamang posisyon," she craned her legs and relaxed her back, hindi iniinda ang titig ni Martin.

"Bend, yeah, yeah that's it..." napatayo siya ulit. "For starters, I will first teach you how to fall properly bago pa kita turuan ng randori o mga techniques. Throws, groundwork like joint-locks and striking tulad ng punching, yan ang tatlong bumubuo sa kabuuang sangay ng judo. Some coined this the Gentle Art, ngunit ang totoo, walang 'gentle' sa sport na ito, force is used upon itself and not resisted."

Naglakad siya sa gitna ng mat. "I know matalino ka, you're a bit sporty too, so you'll gonna learn fast. Ganito ang pagbagsak dapat-" she awkwardly tucked her chin, "when you fall, you keep your head off the mat, dapat likod mo lang ang tatama."

Pinosisyon niya ang sarili niya, habang nakikinig parin ang lalaki. He was so serious, gusto ata niyang matawa! "Okay, I'll let you see the correct fall, tapos ikaw naman ang titingnan ko." Para siyang baliw, bakit niya tinuturuan ng judo si Martin ngayon?She must be out of her mind, again!

She let her self slip, napatumba siya patalikod, only for the sole attempt for demonstration. Hindi lingid sa kanya ang naka-ambang panganib! In an instant, sa isang segundong pagkahulog niya sa mat, mabilis na dinaluhan siya ni Martin. Bago pa man siya makatakas, naipit na ang dalawang balikat niya sa mga bisig nito. She was pinned down!

Napamulagat siya, panic crept in. Ginalaw niya ang hita niya at paa, i-uumang sana sa hita nito para sa isang lock-in, madali lamang iyon, at pagka'y ihahagis na niya ang katawan nito patalikod sa mat. Ngunit hindi niya mahanap ang hita nito, dahil naunahan na siya nito, naipit narin ang sariling hita niya sa mga hita nito.

"Si-since when?!" maang niya, unti-unti ay may nabubuong realisasyon. He didn't want a lecture, may kaunting alam na ito sa judo, and he just demonstrated a perfect lock-in!

"You still don't know me very well Sandy," anas nito, his face was relaxed, animo'y napakakumpidante nitong hindi siya makakawala. Oh well, nadarama na niya ang bigat nito, and they're bodies were glued like more than any closeness could afford to! "I may look like a typical boring CEO husband for you, you may think I'm weak long enough. But, I've been learning judo too, long before I was in States and before I met you under that mango, remember?"

She blew and gulped a big amount of air.

Hindi makapaniwala sa narinig, alam niyang may sporty side rin si Martin, he jogged, went to the gym, but that was all. She didn't knew they were in the same league...Ini-ambang niya ang balikat, nakahandang itulak ng isang puwersahan ito ng bigla na lamang nitong ibaba ang mukha. She was caught off-guard. Hindi lang katawan niya ang nakakulong, but he locked her lips as well.

Hindi siya nakagalaw, naka-pin ang ulo niya, at sa ngayon, alam na ni Martin ang ginagawa nito, so he was in full control, he moved deftly, walang pagmamadali, teasing her. Oh god! This isn't near from being so right! Alam na alam niya ang motibo nito...he was weakening her, making her soft, making her succumb to his needs, to his power. He was doing this because he wanted revenge! But the man he secretly liked was kissing her, and he was kissing her like he knew only he, could have a license to kiss her...

She did not respond even if she was in the verge of wanting to...At ng lumanghap ito ng hangin, at lumuwang ang hawak nito sa kanya, na ang buong akala'y kontrolado na siya nito ay naikawala niya ang isa niyang balikat. 

She landed one quick slap in his cheeks!