Craving For Sulyka

Pabagsak na humiga si Sulyka sa kama niya. Naghikab siya habang nakapikit ang mga mata. Pagod na pagod siya galing sa ospital mula sa 20 hours shift niya bilang isang nurse. May naka-leave kasi siyang co-worker at isa siya sa kailangang umatupag sa pasyente nito. Sa loob ng halos tatlong taong pagseserbisyo ay nasanay na naman siya kung kaya't hindi na ito bago sa kanya. Ang kailangan lang niyang gawin ay ang matulog ng matulog, kahit wala na siyang oras gumala ay ayos lang sa kanya. Ang importante ay lahat ng bakanteng oras niya ay itutulog niya. She was about to fall asleep deeply but her phone suddenly rang. Nakapikit na kinapa niya ang cellphone sa bedside table at inaantok na sinagot ang tumatawag. “Hello?” inaantok na sabi niya. “May I speak to Sulyka Marie Guevarra?” Kumunot ang noo niya ng marinig ang boses ng isang matandang lalaki mula sa kabilang linya. “Yes, it's Sulyka speaking. Sino Po sila?” she answered. “I’m glad it's you, Sulyka. I'm Atty. Rex Caruana. I hope you still remember me,” masiglang sabi nito. Mabilis niyang idinilat ang mga mata niya nang marinig ang pangalan nito. Pamilyar sa kanya ito dahil narinig na niya ito noon. Sumandal siya sa headboard ng kama niya. “Atty. Rex?.... I-I'm sorry, Sir, mukhang hindi pa tayo nagkita noon? But your name sounds familiar to me,” walang siguradong sabi niya. “It's fine, Sulyka. Matagal na rin simula noong huli tayong nagkita. It's been eight years if I'm not mistaken.” Nawala ang antok niya dahil sa sinabi nito. Eight years? Sino kaya ang lalaking ito? Bakit kaya siya kilala nito? “Kung 17 years old pa lang ako noong huli kitang nakita ay siguradong nakalimutan ko na siguro, Sir,” sabi niya habang pinipilit na alalahanin ang nakaraan. “Yes, iha. You were just 17 years old at that time. I was there when you signed the marriage contract.” Tila biglang nanigas ang buong katawan niya nang marinig ang sinabi nito. Saka lang biglang bumalik sa alaala niya ang nangyari walong taon na ang nakaraan. She has been married for eight years now. She got married on her 17th birthday, and no one knew about it except her, her parents, and her auntie. She didn't even tell her best friends because it was a secret and no one else had to know. Her parents made her sign the marriage contract, and she signed it without even asking anything. In those eight years, she has only seen her husband once, even though they had lived under the same roof for a few months. Matagal na siyang kasal at isang beses lang niyang nakita ang asawa niya pero hindi niya nakita ang mukha nito. Anino na lamang nito ang naaalala niya ngayon. Hindi niya alam kung bakit ito pumerma sa marriage contract eh wala naman itong mapapala sa kanya. At hindi na lamang niya inalam dahil abala siya sa kanyang pag-aaral noon. Umalis siya sa malaking bahay nito at tumira sa maliit na bahay na ibinigay ng mga magulang niya sa kanya noon. She didn't even know her husband's name and she doesn't have a plan to know what it is. All she heard about him is that he is silent, dangerous, and a cold-hearted one. “Napatawag po kayo, attorney?” mahinag bulalas niya nang muling maalala ang mukha nito. She clearly remembers the scenario eight years ago. She signed the marriage contract with her parents' presence and Atty. Rex. “I called you because your husband needs you, Sulyka.” Bigla siyang kinabahan nang mapansin ang seryoso nitong boses. “A-Ano pong i-ibig ninyong s-sabihin, attorney?” kagat-labing tanong niya. “He got involved in an accident two days ago. Hindi naman siya masyadong napuruhan pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya nagigising.” “Ano po ang maitutulong ko sa kanya, attorney?” naguguluhan niyang tanong. “He needs your care and presence until he fully recovers. Alam kong wala kang masyadong ideya tungkol sa asawa mo, Sulyka. But his safety is important and we don't trust anyone except you to take good care of him.” Kagat-labing napalingon siya sa labas ng bintana nang biglang umihip ang malakas na hangin. She has been married for eight years now and even though it's a loveless marriage, she chose to stay faithful and loyal. Kahit kasal sila sa papel lang ay pinili niyang umiwas na magkaroon ng relasyon sa ibang lalaki. Naniniwala kasi siyang may dahilan kung bakit ipinakasal siya ng mga magulang niya sa asawa niya ngayon, at ayaw niyang madismaya ang mga ito sa kanya o di kaya ay madungisan ang pangalan nila. “I hope you understand me, iha.” Muli siyang nabalik sa katinuan nang marinig ang boses nito. Wala naman siyang ibang gagawin kundi ang alagaan ito hanggang sa maka-recover ang katawan nito, di'ba? After that, she can exit from his life again, right? “I-I understand, Atty. Rex,” mahinang sabi niya. “He's currently staying at Chong Hua Hospital. Do you have spare time today and visit him here?” “Y-Yes, attorney. Pupunta po ako dyan ngayon.” “Thank you, Sulyka. I will be waiting for you.” She ended the call and let out a heavy sigh. Nawala ang antok niya at nawala din ang pagod na nararamdaman niya. Umalis siya sa kama at hinubad ang damit habang naglalakad papunta sa banyo. Binuksan niya ang shower at tinitigan ang sariling repleksyon mula sa salamin. I'm married. My husband needs me. I couldn't believe this! Pagkatapos niyang magbihis ay agad siyang sumakay ng taxi. Nakarating siya sa ospital nang ilang minuto lang. Nagtanong siya sa room number kung saan nanatili ang asawa niya at habang nakasakay ng elevator ay biglang tumibok ng mabilis ang puso niya dahil sa kaba. Mas lalo yata siyang kinabahan nang makarating siya sa harap ng pinto ng silid. Kagat-labing tinitigan niya ang pinto ng ilang minuto. Bubuksan na sana niya ito pero bigla itong bumukas. “Sulyka.” “A-Atty. Rex.” “Finally, you're here. It's nice seeing you again, iha.” He pushed the door wider. "Come inside. Your husband is still sleeping." She bit her lips and forced her feet to move. But it seemed like the world suddenly slowed down when she saw a handsome man peacefully sleeping on the bed. She slowly moved her feet while staring at her husband. “Your husband, Sulyka,” nakangiting sabi ni Atty. Rex. “Axton Miller.” Is he Axton Miller? Is he really that handsome? He looked like a Greek God! Napalunok siya ng sarili niyang laway at mabilis na inilayo ang mga mata sa asawa niya nang maramdaman niyang nakatingin sa kanya si Atty. Rex. Tahimik niyang isinara ang pinto habang pinapagalitan ang sarili sa isip. Baka ano na kasi ang isipin nito. Tahimik siyang umupo sa upuan sa tabi ng hospital bed. Ayaw niyang tingnan ang natutulog na asawa, ngunit kusang gumagalaw ang mga mata niya at napatitig sa mukha nito. Her husband is sleeping peacefully. Even though he has bruises and stitches on his face, his out-of-this-world appearance shone brightly. May mga pasa at sugat din ito sa mga braso, ngunit na-curious siya nang mapansin ang tattoo nito sa balikat. Puno kaya ng tattoo ang katawan niya? She started to wonder what his tattoo looked like. She looked at his face again. He was still sleeping peacefully, but somehow he still looked very dangerous and intimidating. Maybe he still looked dangerous and intimidating because he has strong features. His perfectly shaped eyebrows matched his black, silky hair. His eyelashes are long and wavy, and Sulyka suddenly felt insecure. How could a man have these perfect-shaped eyebrows and long eyelashes? "Is there anyone in his family who can take care of him?" tanong niya. Baka kasi may mag- volunteer sa pamilya nito na gustong mag-alaga rito. Atty. Rex shook his head. "There's no one, Sulyka, except you, which is his wife." "Eh? What do you mean, attorney?" she asked surprisingly. "He's an only child, Sulyka, and his parents already died when he was still very young," Atty. Rex said. "He has been living alone." Sulyka's forehead creased when she sensed the sadness in his voice. "He doesn't have any relatives either." "He only has his wife, Sulyka. That's why I contacted you because he needs you," he said in a very serious tone. Umaasa siya na sana nagbibiro lang si Atty. Rex sa kanya. Hindi niya alam na nag-iisa na pala si Axton kagaya niya. Wala talaga siyang alam tungkol rito. Akala niya may pamilya pa ito. Hindi siya kailanman nagtanong ng anuman tungkol rito, at wala siyang planong alamin pa and tungkol rito. But this time, she felt sad knowing that there's no one out there who will stay by his side until he fully recovers from the accident. "Will he be okay if he finds out I will be the one who takes care of him?" she asked curiously. "I mean, we haven't talked to each other, Atty. Rex. And honestly, this is the second time that I met him." Atty. Rex smiled at her reaction. "I know, Sulyka. I know the situation of your marriage. You were still studying when you got married , and Axton was busy running his businesses. There was no time for the both of you to meet and talk….. Pero ngayon, hinihiling ko na sana manatili ka na sa tabi niya.” Pinilit niya ang sariling ngumiti at saka tumango. Magiging maayos naman ang lahat di'ba? ********