“Cheers!” usal ni Tamara nang salinan ni Reid ng champagne ang flute niya.
“For our future!” Reid uttered and clinked their glasses.
Weird. Bakit sinabi iyon ni Reid? Future. Wala naman silang future. Baka nga iyon na ang una at huli nilang wedding anniversary. Sa susunod na taon ay may kanya-kanya na silang buhay.
Wala siyang rason para malungkot. She wanted freedom from him. Reid had a life of his own. Ang riding club ang buhay niya. At di iyon ang mundo niya.
Huminga siya nang malalim. “Mami-miss ko itong riding club oras na maghiwalay tayo.”
“Hindi ka ba dadalaw dito?” tanong nito. “Magkapit-bahay lang naman ang lake cabin at ang riding club.”
“Ewan ko.” Baka lalo lang niyang ma-miss si Reid kapag dumalaw-dalaw pa siya doon. Baka mahirapan lang siyang mag-adjust.
“Bakit ba pinag-uusapan natin ang paghihiwalay natin samantalang wedding anniversary natin? Cheer up!” May inabot itong kahita sa kanya. “For you.”
“Wow!” usal niya nang isang kuwintas na may white gold horse pendant doon. At may maliit pa iyong diamond sa dibdib. “Para sa akin ito?”
“Yes. Regalo ko sa iyo. Do you like it?”
“I love it!”
Kinuha nito ang kuwintas at isinuot sa kanya. “As expected, it looks good on you,” he said with admiration in his eyes.
“Wala man lang akong regalo sa iyo. Sorry.”
“Hindi naman ako mahirap I-please.”
“Anong gusto mo?”
“A kiss.”
Ilang sandaling nag-usap ang mga mata nila. What’s wrong with a simple kiss? Di naman mabigat ang hinihingi sa kanya ni Reid. He gave her a very beautiful gift. Wala namang masama kung suklian niya iyon.
Tumayo siya at lumapit sa kinauupuan nito. She bent down. “Happy anniversary, Reid,” she whispered.
The moment their lips touched, she knew that it won’t be just a simple innocent thank you kiss. There was nothing innocent about the kisses they shared before. And this one won’t stop the moment it started either.
Hinawakan nito Reid ang batok niya at ibinuka ang labi. As if he was so hungry for the taste of her. Humawak siya sa balikat nito kundi ay lulubog siya sa lupa. Their were even hotter than the dormant volcano nearby. She could feel the ground shake even if there was no earthquake.
Nahigit niya ang hininga nang palalimin nito ang halik. Pero di ito tumigil. Walang sinuman sa kanila ang gustong tumigil. Mula sa balikat nito ay humaplos ang kamay niya sa buhok nito. Why did it happen all the time that whenever they kiss, they were insatiable? Ano bang ginagawa ni Reid sa kanya?
Naramdaman niyang may pumatak sa braso niya. Di niya iyon pinansin. She just kept on feeling Reid’s kisses. Nagsunud-sunod na ang patak. DI na nila iyon nagawang balewalain ni Reid. Lumalakas na ang ulan.
Tumayo si Reid. “Get inside the cabin,” utos nito at hinila siya.
Nanlumo siya nang mamatay ang ilaw sa lantern. Basa na rin ang mesa kung saan sila nag-dinner. Even the champagne flute overflowed with rainwater. Ni hindi rin niya nasagip ang tulip na bigay sa kanya ni Reid.
“Ay! Nabasa na lahat,” malungkot niyang usal habang nakatanaw mula sa bintana ng lake cabin. “Tapos na ang anniversary celebration natin. Bilis naman.”
Nang lumingon sa kanya si Reid ay titig na titig ito sa kanya. “I am not sorry at all,” he said in an enthralled voice.
Nakasunod ang mga mata niya sa bawat kilos nito nang dahan-dahan itong lumapit sa kanya. Sinuklay ng daliri nito ang basa niyang buhok. That simple act was so sensual. Parang nahipnotismo siya nang kalasin nito ang buhol sa shoulder strap ng itim na dress na suot niya.
Bumagsak iyon sa paanan niya. Only her undies remained. His eyes roamed on her body with appreciation. “I never thought that you are this beautiful,” he said in a very raspy voice. It sounded so weak. As if he was vulnerable at the moment.
If he was vulnerable, so was she. She was exposed to him. Pero wala man lang siyang ginawa para takpan ang sarili niya. A part of her was telling her that he made her feel powerful because he could make her feel so weak.
He planted kisses all over her face. From the top of her head, her eyes, her nose and her ears. Parang bata siya na tinatakam nito.
Halos di na siya humihinga nang halikan nito ang gilid ng labi niya. He was teasing her. She couldn’t control herself at all. She cupped his face and kissed him fervently this time. She couldn’t wait any longer. She must have him.
“A little impatient, are we?” Reid teased.
“I will kill you after this, Reid Alleje,” she warned.
He gave her what she wanted and kisses her back. Na-frustrate siya nang maramdaman ang basang damit nito sa balat niya. She was almost bare but he was still fully dressed. It was a bit unfair.
“I suggest you take off your shirt, Mr. Alleje.”
“Why not do it yourself?”
She gnashed her teeth. “I might ruin your expensive shirt.”
“It’s okay. Marami ako niyan.”
Di na siya nagdalawang-isip pa. She almost ripped off the buttons of his shirt as she takes it off him. She thought she heard him laugh. Maybe he was laughing over his effect on her. She didn’t give a damn. All she wanted was to feel his skin against hers. Just for him, she was capable of anything.
Bigla siyang natigilan nang matanggal ang shirt nito. Di na kasi niya alam kung ano ang susunod na gagawin. Or she was just awed by its beauty. Natakot siya na baka ma-disappoint niya ito.
“What’s wrong, Tamara?”
Umiling siya at ibinaba ang tingin. “Nothing.”
He nudged her chin up. “Then why did you stop?”
She bit her lips. “I-I don’t know how to please you.”
Hinawi nito ang buhok niya na naligaw sa mukha niya. “Hmmm… let’s see. I will show you what pleases you first. You might get an idea.”
Bago pa siya nakapagtanong ay hinalikan nito ang leeg niya. She was so heady with sensation she didn’t notice that he was stripping the rest of her clothes along with her insanity. Unti-unting nawala ang inhibisyon niya.
He laid her down gently on the carpet. Ilang saglit siyang napatitig sa kisame. Malakas ang pagbagsak ng ulan doon. Kasing lakas ng tibok ng puso niya.
Napalitan iyon ng mukha ni Reid. He was staring at her with those coal black eyes burning with passion. “Scared?”
“No.”
“Good.” Then he slowly lowered his bare body against hers.
Her eyes widened. She was shocked with the intimacy. She never thought that a simple contact like that could bring utmost sensation. Only a few moments and they will become one.
“Tell me if you are hurting.”
“I am not.” Hinaplos niya ang mukha nito. “You are so beautiful, Reid.”
“So are you,” he whispered as their lips met.
His tongue imitated what his body did to her. He took her to greater heights. They were burning and she didn’t care.
She was not scared of anything as long as she was with Reid. Not even the storm or the harsh wind. She was brave because she was brave enough to love him.
HUMUPA na ang bagyo. Tikatik na lang ang ulan. Nagsisimula na ring mangasul ang langit dahil sa papasikat na araw. It was a start of a new day. Tamara was used to waking up early. Parte na iyon ng trabaho niya sa riding club. But she didn’t want to get up yet. She was leisurely tired to do so.
Napapitlag siya nang kintalan siya ni Reid nang halik sa balikat. “Do you know that you are beautiful, Mrs. Alleje?” he asked with twinkle in his eyes.
“Yes. At ilang beses mo na rin iyang sinabi.”
He would tell her that she was beautiful whenever they make love. And they made love so many times the other night. Reid was insatiable. Kung saan nito kinukuha ang lakas ay di niya alam. Iyon ang dahilan kaya di siya makabangon.
“Do you want to hear it again?” At kinintalan siya ng halik sa leeg.
She moaned with sensation. “Reid, don’t!”
“Don’t stop?” tukso nito.
Kinurot niya ang braso nito. “I hate it when you say that.” Kabaligtaran kasi ng sinasabi niya ang gusto niyang mangyari at alam iyon ni Reid.
“So do you want me to really stop?”
Tumingala siya sa bintana. “Umaga na.”
“Day off mo ngayon,” paalala nito.
“But we can’t stay here.”
“We can. Walang mang-aabala sa atin.” Mula nang makuha niya ang access card niya sa lake cabin ay inalis na ang guwardiya doon.
“How about breakfast? Hindi ka ba nagugutom?”
“Magpa-deliver na lang tayo.” At sumubsob sa leeg niya.
“At gusto mong maeskandalo ang buong riding club?”
Bumuntong-hininga ito. “Lumipat ka na lang kaya sa grand villa?”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, yes! And people will talk some more.”
“Tamara, matagal na nila tayong pinag-uusapan. And so what? It is not as if you are my mistress. You are my wife. You are Mrs. Alleje.”
Bumangon siya. “But not for long, Reid.”
Yes, they made love. Their marriage was consummated. Pero di mababago niyon ang napagkasunduan nila. Ilang sandali na lang ang nalalabi sa kanya sa riding club at maghihiwalay na sila.
“Do you really want something this beautiful to end?” tanong nito at niyakap siya mula sa likuran niya.
“I don’t know, Reid. Everything is new to me.”
Nang pumasok siya sa riding club, akala ay hawak niya ang emosyon niya. Ngayon niya napatunayan na kayang-kaya siyang kontrolin ni Reid. Hindi niya pinagsisihan ang nangyari sa kanila. Pero kailangan niyang pag-isipan ang mga susunod niyang hakbang. Ano ang mangyayari sa kanila pagkatapos niyon?
Iginiya nito ang mukha niya paharap dito. “Tamara, listen. You might be bearing my heir right now.”
Para sa isang doctor, bakit di niya naisip iyon? She was blinded with sensation the other night that she had forgotten something that important.
“Hindi pa naman natin alam, di ba?”
“I want you to be the mother of my children.”
Lumulutang siya habang nakatitig dito. “S-Sigurado ka?”
Tumango ito. “I’ve never been so sure in my life. I can see my children in your eyes, Tamara. Wala akong ibang babaeng gugustuhin na maging ina ng mga anak ko kundi ikaw lang.”
Her chest heaved. She wanted to cry. Pangarap ng maraming babae na marinig ang mga salitang iyon kay Reid. And she would willingly accept it because she loved him so much.
Hindi niya pinangarap na magkaroon anak. Until she made love with Reid. Malaki ang magiging pagbabago ng buhay niya sa piling nito. Isusuko niya pati ang kalayaan niya para dito. Para sa pagmamahal nito.
“S-Sandali. Paano ang annulment natin?”
Naging pormal ito. “We Allejes do not dissolve our marriage. It has always been a tradition.”
Parang may bumagsak na bato sa ulo niya at natulala na lang siya habang nakatitig dito. “Tradition?”
“Yes. Wala pang miyembro ng pamilya namin ang nagkahiwalay, nagpa-annul o nag-divorce. Marriages in the family last forever. Motto na ang till death do us part. And I won’t be the first to break the tradition,” he said fiercely.
Tradition. Paulit-ulit na umaalingawngaw ang salitang iyon. Dahil sa tradition kaya di siya nito hihiwalayan. Di dahil mahal siya nito.
Namanhid siya nang maanalisa ang lahat. Hindi siya nito mahal.
Nakatitig siya sa kawalan. Lumulutang-lutang na parang dahon ang isip niya. Di alam kung saan pupunta. Sumusunod na lang sa ihip ng hangin. She was hurt. Pakiramdam niya ay sinampal siya ni Reid hanggang mamanhid siya.
“Alam mo na ito sa simula pa lang at di mo sinabi sa akin?” tanong niya.
“Because you won’t listen anyway. You were so hell bent on having an annulment kaya pinagbigyan na lang kita.”
Nakuyom niya ang palad. Napakakaswal nito habang sinasabi iyon. Akala siguro nito ay natutuwa siya. Di nito alam na parang may magma nang sasabog sa loob niya. “Pinaasa mo ako na kapag sinunod ko ang gusto mo, magpapa-annul tayo. At nagpauto naman ako sa iyo.”
Isinuot nito ang pantalon nito. “Do we really have to discuss this? We will have a real marriage from now on. Magkakaroon na tayo ng pamilya.”
Padarag niyang hinablot ang dress niyang nakakalat sa sahig at isinuot. Wala siyang pakialam kung lukot pa iyon. She was ready for battle. “We won’t have a real marriage, Reid. This marriage is a fake on to start with. And I won’t stay with you because of your stupid tradition.”
Naningkit ang mga mata nito. “How dare you look downon my tradition?”
“I am not looking down on your tradition.” Gusto nga niya ang paniniwala ng pamilya nito tungkol sa pagrespeto sa sakramento ng kasal. “You are the one who makes me sick! You are rotten, Reid Alleje!”
“Ah! After we make love, now I am rotten,” sarkastiko nitong wika.
“Yes, you are! I can’t imagine living forever with you and I can’t imagine bearing your child. You know why?” Dinuro niya ang dibdib nito. “You have no love to give. Sarili mo lang ang iniisip mo. Kung saan ka makikinabang.”
“That’s quite an accusation, Mrs. Alleje.”
“Sige nga! Sabihin mo na di totoo ang sinabi ko. You are really high and mighty. Akala mo magagamit mo ang mga tao sa paligid mo kung kailan mo gusto. I won’t have it, Reid. Mabuti na ngayon pa lang nalaman ko na kung anong klaseng tao ka. You may be good in bed but no woman who knows how to love will stay with you forever,” galit na litanya niya at tinalikuran ito.
“Don’t turn your back on me,” mariin nitong wika habang isinusuot niya ang sandals niya. “Hindi pa tayo tapos mag-usap.”
“No! We are through, Reid. Nasabi ko na ang lahat ng gusto kong sabihin. I am leaving your precious riding club!” Saka siya naglakad palayo.
“No! You can’t!” sigaw nito habang nakatayo sa pinto ng lake cabin. “Hindi ko ibibigay ang annulment sa iyo. You will be my wife forever.”
“The hell I care! Hindi na importante ang annulment na iyan sa akin. Gusto ko lang na makalayo sa iyo at sa lugar na ito. Kung gusto mo, sa iyo na ang lahat ng ito. Di ko babawiin sa iyo basta tigilan mo lang ako! Hindi ko ito kailangan! Hindi kita kailangan! I just want you out of my life for good!”
Pinasibad niya ang kotse niya palayo. Patuloy sa pag-agos ang luha niya. She must be one miserable creature. Kahit ba kaunting pagmamahal ay wala siyang matatanggap sa mga taong mahal niya?
She was too tired of loving. Sana ay tumigil sa pagtibok ang puso niya.