THE ABDUCTED WIFE

KABANATA 5

Kabanata 5

CALICK

I almost lost count for how many times I wring the neck of that crone who's born in primeval times inside my brain.

That Joséfa crone is unquestionably got on my nerves. There! We're almost there. I almost have my way inside Eleanor but that old woman was stupidly ruined the moment.

So here I am inside my bathroom, having a chilly shower like I want to stand here under the shower for the rest of my life. And only my palm would be my dearest acquaintance for a moment like this.

Ugh! Blame it to that crone. I swear, I'm going to take her life one of these days. Remind me that!

Ngunit ang siste ngayon ay kahit ano pang subok ko na bigyang kaginhawaan na mag-isa ang sarili ko ay hindi ko magawa. Mas lalo ko pang pinapahirapan ang sarili ko dahil hindi mabura-bura sa isipan ko ang mukha ni Eleanor habang nasa ilalim ko siya kanina at naghihintay sa pag-atake ko but then..

Be damned!

I should save myself from this calamity, misery rather.

And my petty desire was quickly answered when I received a call from one of my previous fling right after the longest shower of my life.

I exhaled so deeply before I slide the answer button.

“Calick, want some actions in your bed tonight, Your Highness? I am just one knock away, you know.” The woman's voice was soft and filled with so much erotic pines.

Oh, this one is the local music icon who also happens to be my neighbor. Great!

“Perfect. I badly need it right now.” I said casually then I gave her the pass code of my pad.

“Wishing you'll be quick, Cal. I've miss—”

Clingy b***h! Pero wala akong choice kundi ang umalis at ibaling sa iba ang iritasyon ko. I gave up! Naisip ko na rin na hindi ko nga dapat galawin ang babaeng iyon kahit pa sabihing kasal kami. She's just nineteen and so pure. How could she even manage my vengeful gestures in bed kung halik pa nga lang ay nangangapa na siya?

But what can I do? By mistake or not, I found Eleanor a certified temptress in bed. She's too hard to resist.

I better get going now before I pathetically landed inside her room again.

Nagmadali na akong magbihis para makaalis na ako bago pa man dumilim. Kumakalam na rin ang sikmura ko dahil naalala ko na hindi pa pala ako nakakakain magmula pa kaninang umaga nang lumabas ako sa kuwarto ni Eleanor.

Sandali kong sinulyapan ang pinto ng kuwarto ni Eleanor. The silence wrapping around the whole hallway is making me cringed mentally.

I should get a break from you and from the temptation, Binibini.

Mabilis kong pinasibad ang aking Pagani Huayra BC at halos mainip na naman ako sa tagal ng biyahe pauwi sa pad ko. Blame it to Hera and her Dream Fortress. Sa dami ng puwedeng pagtayuan ng palasyo niya ay sa kagubatan pa niya naisipang tumira. Good thing I have my own short cut to it.

I silently parked my car to my designated parking space and went straight inside the building where my bachelor pad is located.

“Cazzo!” Nasa loob na ako ng lobby nang mapansin kong naiwan ko ang cellphone ko sa kotse.

I am about to make my way out when I noticed that one of the security guard of the building is now entangled with a trouble with a woman.

Wala na sana akong pakialam sa iringan ng kung sino man pero..

“Aking uulitin saiyo ng mahusay at as malinaw, Ginoo na nariyan sa loob ng inyong magarang palasyo ang aking Ginoong asawa.”

As if on cue, I automatically felt a raging headache when I finally got a glimpse at the woman who is now theatrically arguing with the security guard.

Hell? How did she come here? Paano niya nalaman ang lugar na 'to?

“Miss, saang mental hospital ka ba nanggaling at nang maibalik ka na namin? Buang ka, Eneng! Sinong asawa ba ang tinutukoy mo?”

“Ang kanyang pangalan ay Calick. Mayroon siyang paris na kulay-kastanyong mga mata na kapag iyong tititigan ay ibig mo na lamang na tumira habang-buhay sa ilalim ng kanyang matatalim na titig. Ang katawan naman niya ay kasing-tigas ng asero ngunit, subali’t datapuwa’t ay hindi ka makakaramdam ng ano mang panimdim kapag ito ay inyong hawakan..”

I was stunned silence upon hearing those lines directly coming from her. I am used to hear an scandalous praises like that from any women I  bedded or anybody who meet me along the process but what makes it different is when my heart appreciate Eleanor's compliment.

I am in deep trouble, I could say that now.

“Dios por Santo, Eneng! Sa police headquarter na lang kita dadalhin. Tara na!” The impatient security guard starting to drag Eleanor away and that's my cue to stepped on the scene.

Mabilis na kumulo ang dugo ko nang mapansin ko ang pamimilipit ni Eleanor sa ilalim ng napakahigpit na hawak sa braso niya ng security guard. It only took me less than a second to land my fist into his damn face. Nabalot ng singhap ang buong paligid dahil may iilang nakasaksi sa ginawa ko.

“Sod off, poor one! You're going to regret for being an arse towards my wife. I swear, hell will hunt you down any minutes now!” I steadily barked at the guard who's having an ass-f**k with the ground before I pulled Eleanor up to my pad.

This woman!

Halos ibalibag ko na si Eleanor sa couch nang tuluyan na kaming nakarating sa pad ko. I am sure as hell that she also could see the sticky red from the line of my vision.

“Just what the hell, Eleanor? Paano ka nakarating dito? Bakit nakalabas ka sa bahay ni Hera?” I shouted at her scared face. Ramdam ko na ang pamimintig ng mga ugat ko sa ulo.

How could Hera been this careless for the record? Paano siya nalusutan ng babaeng 'to? Ng isang babaeng walang kaalam-alam kung anong impyernong mayroon sa labas ng bahay ni Hera? Damn! I really want to wring her pretty neck as of the moment.

Sumikdo ang dibdib niya sa tuluy-tuloy kong pagsigaw. Bakas sa mukha ni Eleanor ang sobrang takot. But she shouldn't be out of Dream Fortress. She shouldn't be here where Noriss can possibly find her.

Loosen up, man! Hindi ba iyan naman ang plano mo? Ang malaman ni Norris na nasa iyo ang nag-iisang tagapagmana niya at ipaalam dito na ikaw ang asawa niya? My subconscious mind barked which only worsen my instant headache.

Para akong humaharap sa napakatinding dilemma ng buhay habang nagpapabalik-balik akong maglakad sa harapan ni Eleanor.

“Paano ka ba nakarating dito, ha? Paano?” I shout at her once again. I could clearly see the distress that swirling in her beautiful eyes.

“S—sumabay—” Kabubuka pa lamang ng bibig ni Eleanor nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng kuwarto ko. Mula roon ay lumabas ang isang babaeng nakatapis lang ng itim na tuwalya.

Fѷck it! Additional headache.

“Calick, babe, who's this..” Ang naguguluhan niyang ekspresyon kanina ay napalitan ng pandidiri habang ini-examine ang kabuuan ng tahimik na si Eleanor. “Who's this ugly, old-fashioned hooker here? Don't tell me you are up for a threesome?” My neighbor perfectly rolled her eyes with a disgust painted in her stoic face.

I removed my eyes from the annoying w***e and brought it back to Eleanor who is now in the verge of crying. She's hardly looking at me with a visible accusations in her pretty eyes.

Bullshit!

That's my cue to approach the woman and kick her out of my pad. Wala na akong pakialam kung maiskandalo man siya labas. Tangina!

“Calick, babe, ano ba? Dapat iyang manang na babaeng iyan ang palayasin mo! Isn't it obvious that I am better catch in bed than her?”

“If I were you, I wouldn't call her names cause let's say that I can be a murderer in times when someone's insulting my wife.” The woman's eyes grew gazillion times in size when she heard my declaration.

“W—wife? What a laugh? You're a certified manwhore then how come that you have a wife?”

I impatiently smirk at her at my doorstep. “None of your goddamn business. Get out!” I said before shutting the door behind me forcefully.

Matalim na tingin ang sinalubong sa akin ni Eleanor pagbalik ko sa entertainment room kung saan ko siya iniwan. My chest felt like in deep trouble by the sight of her dark face.

“Gaano na kayo katagal na nagsasama ng ibang babae mo rito?” I was stunned by her direct imputation towards me.

Damn! Of course, Eleanor might be uneducated one but that doesn't mean na mangmang pa rin siya pagkatapos ng nakita niya kanina.

Then why do I feel like I owe her a bloody explanation?

I quickly look away when tears starting to sprout up from her eyes. I've hurt her again. What's new? That's my main role in her life then I don't have to be guilty about it. Heck!

“Kahit sabihin natin na ako ay isang iliterato at walang matinong pinag-aralan, mahina ang pag-iisip at maulap ang pananaw, hindi ako matalino at iisang lenggwahe lamang ang alam ko ngunit hindi naman ako bulag at estupida upang hindi maintindihan ang mga kaganapan kani-kanina lamang. Ang babaeng iyon ay iyong querida.”

I blinked for a couple of times. Dapat ko nga palang tandaan na isang Norris itong kaharap ko. Itong babaeng harap-harapan kong niloloko.

I was like a predator who fell in my own trap.

“Shut up! Ang tanong ko ang sagutin mo. Paano ka nakarating dito? Ano ang ginagawa mo rito?” I stood up with pride.

“Nandirito ako upang sana ay himukin kang gumawa na tayo ng supling..” She dryly utters like she is just discussing the weather outside.

But what the fѷck?

She wants us to make a what? A baby? A baby for Pete's sake?

I looked at her in horror. This woman is really impossible.

“Eleanor..” I trailed off.

“Subali’t nagbago na ang pasya ko.” She continued, causing me to gape at her. “Ibabaon ko na lamang sa limot ang aking kahibangan at pagnanais na magkaroon tayo ng supling, Ginoong asawa. Ayon kay Ginang Joséfa, ang tunay na lalaki ay marunong makuntento sa iisang babae lamang at ngayon ay napatunayan ko nang hindi ka isang tunay na lalaki, Ginoong asawa. Nababakas ko mula saiyong mga kilos na hindi ka nararapat na maging isang Ama.”

What the..

Did she really spat that out in my face? Damned woman! She has no idea that I can effortlessly divide her body into pieces any minutes now.

“Careful with your words, dammit! Tumahimik ka!” I completely lost my patience with this woman. Truthfully.

“Ako ay hahayo na. Maiwan na kita, Ginoong asawa.”

“Are you out of your mind? Aalis ka? Baliw ka ba? Ano bang alam mo sa mundong nasa labas ng bahay ni Hera, ha? At saan ka pupunta?”

Her expression remained in its darkness. “Balak kong maglakbay patungo sa kaharian ng Berbanya o patungo sa bundok ng Tabor upang hanapin ang Ibong Adarna. Siya’y aking dadalhin dito upang dumi niya ay mapunta sa iyong katawan nang sa gano'n ay tuluyan ka nang maging bato.”

Eleanor's forehead crumpled up when I bursted out in laughter.

God! This innocent woman has her own way to humor the s**t out of me.

“Sa tingin ko ay walang dahilan upang ako ay iyong pagtawanan, Ginoong asawa. Ang lahat ng aking binitawang pahayag ay pawang katotohanan lamang.” She scowled at me.

I tried to minimize my laughter and dragged her towards the kitchen.

“Sit down and stay under my stares, Binibini. Gutom lang iyan. Ipagluluto na lang kita.” I cheerfully announced and kissed her forehead.

Strange that she has her own way to pulled me out of myself. And it's so good to be true that I am in great pleasure having her this close.

But until when, Calick?

©MaribelleVerzosa