The Pain Of Loving You

Chapter 11 Feeling Jealous?

Jaden

It's Friday night kaya lahat kaming magkaibigan ay magkasama. We do hang out either sa bar ni Lyle or sa club ni Zero. We mostly see each other after work just to kill the time pero di kami kompleto unlike Friday it's our night out schedule, lahat obligadong dumalo.

Dalawa pa lang kaming married sa grupo kaya most of the boys wants to hang out sa bar kasama na dun ang pakipagflirt sa mga babae who wants to have some fun with us.

Lahat ng mga kabarkada ko ay game sa lahat ng bagay kasama na ako dun but lately I find myself not interested in flirting with anyone who approaches me. Suddenly I don't find them attractive anymore.

I can still remember Zero's word last get together namin.

"Bro, you seems distracted lately. Ni di kana nakipagflirt sa mga babaeng lumalapit sayo. What's wrong? Don't tell me sineryoso mo na ang pagiging married guy ngayon?"

"I don't know Bro, I just don't find them interesting enough para pag-aksayahan ko pa ng oras." Sagot ko nalang sa kanya while drinking my beer. Alam kong di lang siya ang nakapansin sa mga kilos ko lately.

"Guys kain muna tayo before heading to Lyle's bar para kahit marami tayong mainum tonight di magrereklamo ang sikmura natin." Wika ni Mike as we head out sa kanyang office. We had a meeting while ago regarding sa investment namin kaya kami magkasama lahat.

"Sige punta tayo sa aking restaurant, I'll ask my staff to prepare rooms for us;" yaya ko sa kanila.

"Nah Bro this time sa ibang lugar naman tayo. Nakakasawa na din ang place mo. How about we'll try other cuisine or new restaurant perhaps. My girlfriend recommended this restaurant na bagong nadiscover nila with her friends. She said the food was great." Lahat sumang-ayon sa suggestion ni Rig.

Convoy kami patungo sa lugar. Pagdating namin sa lokasyon maraming sasakyang nakaparada. So it means totoo na masarap ang pagkain nila para dayuhin ng mga tao. Buti nalang they got a good parking space sa aming sasakyan.

As we came inside, puno ang lugar, halos okupado ang bawat table. Buti nalang there's a group of people who goes out kaya kami ang pumalit sa pwesto nila.

Somebody attended on us as soon as we settled down. I look around the whole area, the staff are efficient, mabilis kumilos.

"Man, how's your married life lately? Are you two okay? I heard you always hang out with the boys, is there any problem? Tanong naman ni William, ang naunang nag-asawa sa amin. He only present kapag Friday. He is very dedicated sa kanyang pamilya.

"Ahhmm okay naman. She is good actually. I'm still trying to get to know her." Yun nalang ang rason ko pero ang totoo iniiwasan ko si Anya baka di ko mapigilan ang sarili na angkinin siya uli.

"Jaden look Man, is that your wife?" Napapatingin ako bigla kay Billy when he says wife. I followed the direction of his eyes at lahat ng aking kaibigan napapatingin din.

"What the hell, anong ginagawa niya dito? Is she working here?" I'm really shock seeing here. All I know may trabaho siya at nag-aaral. I hardly payed attention to her.

"Does she works here?" Magkasabay sabi din ng aking mga kaibigan.

"I don't know." I utter it lowly like a whisper. Maski ako napatanga.

"Why you don't know? She is your wife and why she's working in a different restaurant when she can manage yours?" Sa totoo lang napahiya ako sa sinabi ni Billy.

Ganun na ba ako ka walang kwentang tao para walang alam sa sarili kong asawa? Inaamin ko di ko siya pinagtuunan ng pansin since we got married. I'm busy hiding from her.

"Come on mga Brad, Jaden and her are technically stranger. They are not in a real relationship, kaya wala silang pakialaman sa isa't isa." Bawi naman ni Rig sa usapan namin. He knows napahiya ako.

I look at how Anya interacted with her customers. She is smiling with them and working with ease. Halata na sanay na sa trabaho.

"You know Bro I admired her dahil sa kabila ng yaman nyo she doesn't take advantage of it. She works an odd jobs to support herself kahit di naman kailangan." Sabat naman ni Lyle na di palaging nagsasalita. And everyone is agreeing with him.

Our order came, tatanungin ko sana ang waiter about Anya but I see her na kasunod ng waiter at dala ang order namin.

I feel guilty sa aking nakikita. How can I allow her to work in this place yet alone working at night na delikado sa gabi?

"Anya, why are you here? Di ba nagtatrabaho ka sa ibang restaurant?" I just remember nong kinausap ko siya dati, it was a different restaurant base sa report ng aking bodyguard.

"Ah dito talaga ako nagtatrabaho kapag Friday to Sunday night. Sa ibang restaurant naman kapag weekdays." So totoo ang sinabi niya noon that she's busy working at sa school kaya wala siyang time for bar hopping or going out sa club.

"So you mean to say you're working 2 jobs at nag-aaral ka din?" Hangang sabi ni Billy. Anya just nods as a response.

Pinakilala ko siya sa lahat uli kasi last time sa club yun, ang iba lasing na kaya di siya kilala masyado.

"Hello everyone, nice meeting you all again. Sorry di ako pwedeng magtagal kasi nasa trabaho pa ako. Just enjoyed your meal at tawagin nyo lang ako kapag may kailangan kayo, okay?" She said it in demure manner na parang nahihiya.

"Can you joined us here para kumain?" It's awkward kasi narito ako nag-eenjoy samantalang siya nagtatrabaho at di alam kung nakakain na ba.

"No, nasa oras pa ako ng trabaho di kami allowed to mingle with customers unless it's work related. Kaya never mind me guys. Have a good meal." She is graceful in her words and manner.

I guess wala akong magagawa sa sitwasyon nya. She is at work.

"Bro, I never thought na ganun pala kaganda ang iyong asawa and a lady-like. Base sa aking nakikita di siya gold digger coz she works for herself and no gold diggers work in this kind of job. You are one lucky bastard to find such gem." Wika pa ni Luke.

It's his first time seeing Anya dahil wala siya sa club noon. And everyone is agreeing sa sinabi niya.

"Have you two consummated your marriage already?" Interested na tanong ni Mike out of the blue while eating.

"No, I haven't touch her since we got married. We are in a contractual marriage, it's not fair to her na galawin ko siya ulit or paasahin if maghihiwalay lang din kami."

"So you are really serious about divorcing her after the contract ended?" Tumango ako but deep within di ko rin alam kong mapanindigan ko ang aking salita.

"I thought you would give it a chance and know her better?" Follow up ni Mike.

"Yeah I'm thinking of that but I wouldn't touch her unless I'm sure of myself. Ayokong paasahin siya if it doesn't work para alam din niya kung nasaan lang siya sa buhay ko." Explain ko sa lahat na parang ginigisa na ako.

"Can you really handle it, with that beauty? Not touching her when she is just close to you? She is so young and pretty, remember." Challenge sa akin ni Billy. I didn't answer him coz I myself is doubting sa mga binitawan kong salita.

The whole dinner time. I keep glancing at Anya's direction. I don't know why but my eyes are magneted to her direction.

I ask her friend kung anong oras siya mag-out and if nakakain na ba. I worry baka nagutom na siya. She is working non-stop at physical ang trabaho. I saw her lifting heavy things.

Goodness, I can't let her work again this way. She is smart para lang sa ganitong trabaho. And it feels awful that here I am enjoying samantalang siya nagtatrabaho.

"Bro, are you okay? Your seems distracted, wala sa amin ang iyong attention."

"Of course Will, he's busy eyeing on his wife. Baka masulot pa ng iba. Marami pa naman ang nagpapansin sa kanya ma customers man or colleagues." Natatawang saad ni Luke.

Fuck, Luke is right. Kanina pa ako naiinis kasi maraming nanghihingi ng number sa kanya, ang iba klaro na nagpiflirt at mas lalo akong nainis looking at her laughing with her guy friend.

"Ako sayo Bro, markahan mo na baka maunahan ka pa ng iba. Marami kang kalaban oh." I know my friends are just taunting me and enjoying my misery.

When did I act as a jealous husband? I am not a jealous type nor naghahabol ng babae, except Mara of course but I never acted jealous to her friends.

Napagkasunduan nila na di na tutuloy sa bar ni Lyle. They will stay with me dahil di ko rin kayang umalis at iwanan siya dito.

"Bro are you sure di ka pa in love sa lagay na yan? Kaya mo kayang panindigan ang kontrata na yan? Ngayon pa lang halata na sa kilos mo Bro." Nakangising wika pa ni Rig and my friends are laughing with him pero di ko sila pinansin.

I'm busy looking at her. At mas naiinis ako sa payatot na lalaking palaging nakadikit sa kanya. They seems so close and that guy is interested in Anya.

"No, I don't like she is attending to that guy. I want her smile and attention just for me." Ukilkil ng aking isipan.

What? Why would I think this way. I'm getting weird lately. I'm not a territorial type of a person, of course not.

My fury rise up again when I heard na ihahatid siya ng lalaking yun. Does he really do this often, offering her na ihatid? The thought na magkasama sila palagi doesn't sets well with me. Kaya binara ko na sila agad when I got a chance.

I pulled her towards my car. Lahat ng kanyang kasama nagtataka at curious to know about my involvement with her. Sa aking tingin no one knows she is married already kaya malayang nakipagflirt sa kanya ang payatot na yun.

But I'm caught offguard when she fired back at me. Alam kong below the belt na ang aking mga sinasabi.

"Jaden, saan patungo ang usapang ito? Am I allowed to shout sa lahat ng tao tungkol sa relasyon natin? Di ba sabi mo we're just in a contract and that contract will end after 2 years? Sa tingin mo sino ang mas mapapahiya sa ating dalawa kapag pinagkalat ko? Will you like the idea that someone will know that a kind of me entangled with you? Di ba di mo ako gusto?"

Napatanga ako upon hearing her response. It's simple yet it marks my heart. Am I that asshole to make her felt that way? As much as I don't want to accept it but it's true. I made her felt less of a woman in the relationship.

Ang dami kong di alam sa kanya. I made accusations base on my first impression, ni di ko inaalam ang kanyang buong pagkatao.

Maski ako nagtataka sa aking sarili kung bakit ako ganito sa kanya. I believe I'm a fair man coz Dad always thought us to be fair and not being judgmental. But I guess this time I am wrong. I made a mistake.

I look her side again when the atmosphere becomes quiet. I found her sleeping in the car. She must be very tired from work.

"Don't worry from now on I'll treat you better. I'll give myself a chance to know you closely and start over."