WIFE CORPORATION: MIA KASSIDY BORROMEO

Chapter 24

Alexus was stunned to see Mia lying on the slippery road, but wasn't adamant to carry her and brought her to the nearest hospital. Her head was oozing with fresh blood that awakened his fear.

As they were waiting outside the operating room, Alexus couldn't contain himself to calm down. He's too worried and scared with what happened.

Although, he didn't blame Iuhence for bumping her accidentally. Despite that, he was grateful that he bumped her. Because if he didn't, they wouldn't be able to find her.

Retracting her posture of Mia from earlier, gusot-gusot at nagkapunit-punit ang damit nito. Naka-paa pa ito at walang suot na tsinelas. Napaka-dumi ng binti, paa at mga braso. 'Yung buhok ay gulong-gulo na. Halos hindi na niya itow mamukhaan, kung hindi lang sa mukha nito na nababalot ng pawis ay hindi niya ito makilala.

"Bro, pasensya na talaga. Kasalanan ko." Ilang beses ng humihingi ng pasensya sa kaniya si Iuhence. Mukhang nagui-guilty talaga ito, kahit na sinabi niyang ayus lang at huwag na nitong alalahanin ay hindi pa rin nito magawang sundin ang nais niya. "Kung nag-iingat lang sana ako ay hindi 'to mangyari, tama ka. Napaka-careless ko. Siguro ay kinailangan ko ng mag-practice ng safe driving."

Naiiling nalang si Alexus na inakbayan ito at siya pa ang tumulong na patahanin ito mula sa kaka-sisi sa sarili. "I f*****g told you that it's not your f*****g fault. I know how much guilt you felt, but let it aside for now. Because of that f*****g accident, we found my wife." Tinapik niya ang balikat nito ng tatlong beses. "It's all thanks to you. Right after she wakes up, we'll know everything and will get the f*****g p*****t that you and my wife deserves." Marahan lang na tumango si Iuhence at kapagkuwa'y napatitig sa naka-saradong pintuan ng O.R.

"Will she be fine?" nalulungkot na tanong ni Iuhence.

Alexus just sighs and rises himself from sitting on the bench. "She should. She has to."

Iuhence leaned his gaze to his friend who looked anxious and sickly worried but still has the guts to console him. "Can you be honest this time, bro?"

Alexus refrained from walking back and forth and gazes back at Iuhence. "Honest for what?" Alexus has been honest ever since, so what pushes Iuhence to ask him such indefinite question?

Iuhence carried himself from sitting on the bench, walking coolly towards Alexus, "I know you since we were in college, you don't know how to lie to us, but don't you notice it? You're too naive and fool yourself many times."

Alexus frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Well, may isang tanong lang naman ako. Gusto mo na ba ang asawa mo sa kabila ng pagiging hired wife mo?" Alexus didn't expect Iuhence to ask him a difficult question. It was the only question that messed his mind over his worries until it left like a mark in his mind.

Gusto na nga ba niya si Mia?

Normal pa ba itong ginagawa niyang pag-aalala dito?

O kaya, normal ba ang trato niya rito dati at naging malapit dito?

"Mia is a good girl, a jolly partner and a friend. She might be weird at times, but she can make you laugh and could make you happy in a way that she knows. Every man would be willing to crawl on their knees just to get her. Lastly, she's not hard to love." Dagdag ni Iuhence saka tinapik sa balikat si Alexus, "If I were you, be true to yourself. Show her who you are and what you have for her."

Napayuko si Alexus at pinaglalaruan ang mga kamay, bago humilig sa dingding. "I'm not sure about that, Iuhence. I'm also confused." He admit. "And I don't believe in love-"

Iuhence felt hopeless for Alexus, "Dude, it's not that you don't believe. Ikaw lang ang may gawa niyan sa'yo dahil isinarado mo ang puso mo para sa ibang tao. Like how you treated Denise back then, it's not love. But a responsibility that you feel off doing without love. Ni minsan ba ay tumibok 'yang puso mo? O kaya hindi man lang ba tumibok ang puso mo kay Mia? Be accurate. Quit hiding in your shell and be true to yourself. Kailan ka kikilos? Kung kailan may mahal ng iba ang asawa mo? You know, three months is too f*****g short! Pagkatapos niyan, boom! She will be gone from your life for good."

It was such a big challenge for Alexus, he doesn't even know how to answer his friends predicament. "Gusto mo bang makita si Mia na may ibang mahal? Gusto mo bang makita muna na ipagluluto ang ibang lalake ng masarap na pagkain na kagaya ng ginaws niya sa'yo? Or, hinihintay mo pang makita siya na pagsisilbihan ang ibang lalake kagaya ng pagsisilbi na ginawa niya sa'yo?" But upon imagining Iuhence's question was making him clenched his fist and claimed the face of the devil who was ready to kill someone.

Napangisi lang si Iuhence nang makita niya ang naging reaksyon nito. Sa tingin ni Iuhence ay nakuha niya rin ang sagot mula dito kahit na hindi naman talaga ito sumagot. "I wish you good luck, bro. I'll leave first, I have to inform the others." Saka siya umalis at iniwan si Alexus.

TWO hours later, the operation has announced successful. Mia was wheeled to the Presidential room that he booked. It almost looked like a hotel with a real home queen size bed. Komplet din ang amenities, may sala, may dining at may banyo. Maliban nalang sa kusina na bawal sa hospital.

Right after the nurses finished the set-up, they pardon their departure and left the room.

He sat on the side of the bed, holding her hand and squeezed it gently. She had a cast in her head and a bandage in her ankle. Unlike earlier, she looked clean and decent.

He's just silent as Iuhence's words kept on lurking amidst his brain. However, looking at Mia right now is easing his anxiety. He doesn't know how she was able to help him feel lighter. But he's happy to know that she's fine.

Akala niya ay hindi na niya ito makikita pa, sa iilang araw na hindi niya ito kasama o nakikita ay para siyang mababaliw kakahanap nito. Saksi ang mga kaibigan niya sa paiba-iba niyang mood. Nagiging impatient pa nga siya kahit natural naman na mataas ang pasensiya niya. Pero dahil sa absence ni Mia ay nagkakagulo ang organisado niyang sistema.

Isang buwan pa lang naman niyang kilala ito, pero bakit para sa kaniya ay matagal na niya itong kilala? Bakit gano'n nalang ka-kaiba ang epekto nito sa kaniya sa tuwing malapit sila sa isa't-isa? Sa tuwing yumayakap siya dito, she could make his heartbeat go wild, and whenever he kissed her, he could awakened the desire which he never felt ever since the accident has been done.

The reason why Alexus couldn't f**k was that he couldn't get a hard on. His maleness won't get hard whenever he felt like f*****g. It annoys him and irritate him as well because it is also a shame of him that couldn't jerk anymore.

Two years ago, he got involved in a car accident which hit the symbol of his humanity which causes a certain case that needs surgical assistance. It was a hard circumstances that he couldn't open to anyone except his friends who had witness his misery.

After all, it's not just a simple case of impotence. Much worst from that.

Takot na siyang makikipag-isa dahil sa hindi siya tinitigasan at hindi na nilalabasan. But then the first time that he kissed Mia, that feeling came back.

Naalala pa niya ang sinabi sa kaniya ng doktor na tumingin sa kaniya ay malabong hindi na siya magkaka-abilidad sa gano'ng paksa, or someone could only fill his heart and mind has the possession to sweep off the depression he had bringing all the time.

Kaya no'n na gustong-gusto siya ni Denise ay hindi niya ito mapagbibigyan at ipinagpapalagay niya nalang na isa siyang traditional na tao at hindi nakikipag-isa sa taong gusto niya kapag hindi sila kasal.

And Denise actually buy his foolish reason. Ngayon ay hindi niya rin ito masisisi kung kumabit man ito sa iba. Pero sa kaibigan niya? That'll be hardcore punch to his pride. Buti nga't tuwid pa ang isipan niya at hindi ito pinatay. Bagkus ay binigyan pa ng pagkakataon na mabuhay at magsama sa lugar kung saan mapayapa at magandang gawan ng pamilya.

Alexus is holding her hand until he fell asleep beside her. The bed is huge so he had the space to sleep sideway. Hindi naman siya magalaw at hindi napano si Mia.

SUMAPIT ang umaga, alas singko pa lang ay tahimik na pumanhik ang magkakaibigan at nakita ang naging posisyon ni Alexus sa tabi ni Mia. Hawak nito ang isang kamay ni Mia at pinagsiklop 'yun ng maigi. Nakatagilod at peaceful na natutulog. Sa kabila ng pagod nila mula sa trabaho nila kagabi ay nagawa silang napapangiti ni Alexus.

Dinakip lang naman nila si Irish Collins na nagpapanggap bilang si Arielle Mendoza. Pinakulong nila ito sa gamit ang kaso ng Fraud at Slander. Napag-alaman nilang kinulong nito si Mia sa loob ng apat na araw, walang kain o tubig man lang. Pagkatapos ay nalaman din nila ang dahilan kung bakit ito nabangga ni Iuhence, hinahabol ito ng mga tauhan ni Zamora na kanila rinh sinampahan ng kaso bilang Mastermind sa naturang kidnapping. May ebidensya sila rito at 'yun ang kuha sa CCTV camera ng clothing store na ni-retrieve ni Raven.

Tiyaka magpunta rin ang mga pulis mamaya para kompirmahin mula kay Mia ang nangyari.

---

Alas otso ng umaga, nagising si Mia mula sa mahimbing na pahinga. Mabigat ang kaniyang pakiramdam dahil na rin sa ulo niyang kumikirot. Napapatakip pa siya sa kaniyang mga mata nang masilawan siya ng araw.

Napansin naman ng lahat ang pag galaw niya, na kahit tulog ang iba ay napapagising ito para lang lapitan siya.

"Kamusta ka, Mia?"

"Ayus na ba ang pakiramdam mo?"

"Alalang-alala kami sa'yo..."

"Tama, akala nga namin ay hindi ka na namin makikita pa."

Sunod-sunod na tanong ng mga ito sa isang pabulong na boses dahil sa takot silang magising si Alexus na natutulog sa tabi ni Mia.

"Ayus lang ako--" napatigil sa kaniyang pagsagot si Mia nang maramdaman niyang may nakahawak sa kamay niya. Wala sa sariling napalingon siya sa kaliwang bahagi niya at kumabog ang puso niya sa kaba or gulat nang masilayan si Alexus na mahimbing na natutulog sa tabi niya.

"Hayaan mo na si Alexus na ganiyan, Mia. He lacked rest dahil sa pag-aalala at paghahanap sa'yo." Makahulogang pahayag ni Adam at umakbay kay Xerxes.

Sumang-ayon naman ang lahat sa magkasabay na pag-tango. "Ngayon lang 'yan nakakatulog ng matagal at mahimbing, kaya pagbigyan mo na muna siya." Ang mga baliw na nakilala niya ay biglang tumino at naging mabait.

Mia was surprised to know from Alexus's friends that he actually spent sleepless nights and zone off from rest just to look after her. Hearing from them that he was worried for her make her feel important and grateful. She's happy nevertheless scared. Napaka-late na bago siya nakaramdam ng takot kahit na sa kabila ng iilang araw niyang pamamalagi doon sa madilim na silid na 'yun.

Mabuti nalang talaga at nakalabas siya.

Maingat na tumagilid si Mia at tiningnan ng maayos ang asawa niyang tulog at mukhang na-drained ng pagod. Hinawi pa niya ang iilang gahibla ng buhok nito para lang hindi matabingan ang makapal nitong kilay na natural ng maldito at suplado.

Pero ang paraan talaga nito sa paghawak ng kamay niya ay siyang nakakapagpa-ngiti sa kaniya. Hindi niya pansin 'yun Pero aktuwal siyang napangiti at nakita 'yun ng madla na nakatingin sa kanila. Tahimik lang din ang mga ito na ngumiti. Marahil ay natutuwa para sa kaibigan nila.

Mia looked incredibly lovely while combing Alexus's hair, the care and longingness is evident in her face. Hindi naman bulag ang mga ito sa nakita, kaya't kahit e-deny ni Mia ay hindi ang mga ito maniniwala. Siguro ay kinailangan nilang kumbinsihin ang kuponan nilang si Alexus na gumawa ng paraan. Just like what Iuhence did.

Kung kailan nagsibalik ang mga kaibigan ni Alexus sa sala at nagsitulog ulit, saka lang dumilat si Alexus at lumapit kay Mia. Napakurap-kurap pa si Mia nang makita itong gising na.

She gasped when Alexus plant a kiss at the back of her hand before caging her in his embrace. She's undoubtedly helpless and was out of order when he already pressed her body to his.

"I missed you, wife."