Albert's POV
Forty five minutes... And counting..
That is how long I have been stuck in this awful traffic. EDSA has always been this way since I can remember and nothing has changed for the last five years I was out of the country.
Agot, my friend since high school had contacted me last month to attend her wedding, three days from now. I am invited to be one of the groom's men. And because Agot's fiance is also one of my closest friends, Jerry, I am indeed required to attend this wedding.
Magtatampo kasi ng sobra ang dalawang yun kapag hindi ako pumunta. Siguro it is about time na umuwi na rin ako. Five years is a long time for someone who is soul searching.
I let out a sigh of relief as the traffic become light.
And we traveled for another one hour to reach the town of Morguena.
"Pakidiretso na lang po ako sa lumang bahay namin sa Morguena." I instructed my driver. It's a long way, it will take at least two hours from here but I do not mind.
I needed space and rest before I meet my family. For sure, I will be bombarded with lots of questions and I am not yet ready to face them.
When we reached the large archway of my beloved hometown, I suddenly felt nostalgic and I needed to roll down the windows to catch fresh air.
Thirty more minutes.
I can now clearly see the entrance of Kalye Patay.
My lips involuntarily curved into a small smile. Finally, I'm back to my old hometown.
"Sir, andito na po tayo." the driver informed me when we reached the front of our old house. I peeked through the car window, the house looks gloomy from here, with no lights, no sign of life.
I got out from the car and told the driver to park the car at Aga's car porch since our house has no garage. It's an old Spanish house which has been renovated but the architect managed to maintain the original style of the house. By the way, this house was built on the late 1800s.
I was about to open the gate when suddenly a woman came out of nowhere and be the first to open the gate. She was talking to someone on the phone.
Hindi man lang ako napansin. Maybe because it's a bit dark? But then, may kausap nga sa cellphone kaya hindi man lang napansin ang paligid niya.
"Oo, andito na ako. Hopefully, hindi pa siya dumarating. Bakit kasi hindi mo agad sinabi sa akin na didiretso pala dito sa bahay niya ang pinsan mo?" the woman said.
Hindi ko maiwasang tumitig nang masulyapan ko ang mukha niya. At napapasunod na lang ang tingin ko sa bawat galaw niya.
I've met lots of beautiful women, may it be Asian or Caucasian but no one has made my heart pounds in a way that it has never done before. Until this one.
I am not a fan of love at first sight nor believes in fate or destiny. What I believe is hard work, patience and perseverance, if you want a person to stay in your life then do exert extra effort and be steadfast.
Ganun na lamang ang pagkagulat ko ng makita ko ang babae na nakaharap sa pinto ng bahay ko at binubuksan ito. Pagkabukas ay dali daling pumasok at isinara ang pinto. Nagdalawang isip ako kung tutuloy pa ba akong papasok o aantayin ko na lamang siyang lumabas.
This is trespassing...if not robbery.
Nagpasya akong mag-antay sa labas.
Pagkalipas ng mahigit limang minuto ay muling bumukas ang pinto at lumabas siya bitbit ang isang travelling bag.
"Excuse me, Miss." I said and grabbed her arm when she reached the gate.
She was shocked at the sudden contact. But she only stared at me with those beautiful pair of eyes. The best I've ever seen.
"Bakit? Sino ka? Anong kailangan mo?" She asked. Sa sunod sunod na tanong niyang iyon, hindi ko alam kung ano ang unang sasagutin.
"You went inside that house." I said not bothering to elaborate.
"Yes. I'm occupying that house. Why?" She answered but her eyes are becoming suspicious.....yet... Mesmerizing..
"I happen to know the owner of that building, and his name is Albert Martinez. Who are you to him?" I asked in a low voice.
The woman is speechless. Malamang hindi nito inaasahan ang sinabi ko tungkol sa may-ari ng bahay.
Napalunok muna siya bago sumagot, "I am his wife!"
The way she said it with so confidence and feisty. Had I known any better, I would have been convinced that what she said is true.
Now it is my turn to be rendered speechless. Pero nakabawi naman ako agad.
"I didn't know Albert has a wife. And if you don't mind, ma'am, may I know the name of the beautiful wife of Mr. Albert Martinez?" I asked coolly.
She seemed hesitant. Maybe regretting in blurting out lies.
"Eula." She simply said. "If you'll excuse me, I have an important event to attend to." Sabi niya saka walang lingon na naglakad palayo sa kinatatayuan ko.
Pero ilang hakbang pa lang ay sumulpot na ang driver ko.
"Sir Albert!" He yelled. "Hindi ko po alam kung iuuwi niyo itong mga maleta niyo sa mansiyon kaya dinala ko na lang po dito."
Pero hindi sa driver nakatuon ang atensyon ko kundi sa "misis" ko na para bang naitulos sa kinatatayuan. Alam kong narinig niya ang sinabi ng aking driver kaya marahil sa sobrang pagkagulat ay hindi na ito nakagalaw.
"Pakipasok na lang sa loob." Utos ko sa driver saka nilapitan ang "misis" ko.
Tumayo ako sa tabi niya at tiningnan siya patagilid.
"It's a pleasure meeting you, my beautiful wife." I said calmly. There is no trace of annoyance nor mockery in my voice. Guess that the training has paid off.
I saw her swallowed hard again and her hand clasped tightly on her shoulder bag then she slowly turned her face to me.
Napaawang ang labi niya pero walang salitang lumabas. Her eyes show emotion which is similar to 'alarm' and panic.
Looking at those luscious lips made my head spin and right now, I wanted to pin her on a wall and taste those lips.
"You are Albert." She breathed out.
It's not a question but an affirmation to something she has been thinking all along.
"Yes, I am. And since this is our first meeting. I suggest let's go back to 'our' unit and talk about this." I suggested.
Wala na siyang nagawa ng kinuha ko ang kamay niya at bahagyang hinila siya pabalik sa bahay ko.
When I held her hand, I felt the surge of electricity on my veins. But instead of letting go of her hand, I tighten my grip and instinctively run my thumb on the back of her hand.
Damn. What the fuck is this?
"S-sandali lang." Napahinto siya at napahawak ang isang kamay niya sa braso ko.
"What's the matter?" I asked despite the erratic beating of my heart.
"I'm sorry. I lied. And I stayed in your house without your permission." She confessed.
I already knew that. But what I wanted to know is the circumstances on how she ended up staying in my house.
"Like I said, let's talk about this inside." Mahinahon ko pa ring sabi. Lalo kong hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak ko sa malambot niyang kamay.
"I don't know you and I don't think it would be a good idea if I enter in that house with just the two of us inside. I would feel much comfortable if we talk outside." She said.
"Conservative." I commented. And the corner of my lip involuntary curved into a small smile.
"Please don't mock me. I will explain to you everything and I promise I won't run." She said with her head lowered and she refused to meet my eyes.
"I do not trust easily, Mrs. Martinez." I said with smirk on my face. "I heard you talking to someone on the phone a while ago. You said that person didn't inform you that the cousin is coming here. Now I wonder who among my cousins are you talking to. Could it be, Kara? She was the only one I informed that I will be staying here for a few days. And she is the only one who has a key."
She remained silent.
"So was it Kara?" I probed.
She nodded.
I let out a deep sigh. Kara is mischievous ever since she was a child, she is prone to doing pranks, but despite that she is with a kind heart. My cousin is very generous to people in need. No wonder, she helped this person.
"Sir Albert, ano pong sasabihin ko sa mama niyo kapag nagtanong po siya?" I didn't noticed that my driver is already outside the unit and is standing in front of us.
Still, Eula didn't raise her head.
"Tell my mom that I am staying here. With my wife." I said.
"Ho?" Gulat na bulalas ng driver.
"This is my wife, Eula." Sabi ko.
This time, nag-angat na ng mukha si Eula at napatitig sa mukha ko.
"Ikinagagalak ko po kayong makilala, ma'am." Nakangiting umalis ang driver pero bago tuluyang umalis ay binati muna kami ng congratulations.
.....
Nasa loob na kami ng bahay pero wala pa ring imik si Eula na nakaupo sa sofa. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin na para bang naghahanda kapag umatake ako. Nakasunod ang mata niya sa bawat galaw ko. And I cannot stop smiling inwardly dahil ramdam kong hindi siya basta bastang babae.
There is a sense of elegance in her stance mixed with modesty and shyness.
I pulled a chair in front of her and seated face to face.
"What do you know about me?" I started.
She stared at me first before she finally started talking.
"You were a former military man who left the country to have a surgery on your left knee." She said calmly. "A very severe collateral ligament injuries. You contracted that injury in the line of duty. In Africa."
She deliver that articulately. Na para bang sanay na sanay siyang naglalahad ng diagnosis.
"Did Kara also told you that I was serving in the US army after I was completely healed from my injuries?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"What else do you know?"
"That you are here because you are going to attend a wedding. Sabi ni Kara, babalik ka din agad sa US pagkatapos ng kasal ni Agot."
"You know Agot?", what a small world.
"She is a friend. We met when we are filming a movie." She said.
So, she is in show business. Interesting.
I wanted to ask her if she is an actor, director or anything pertaining to the showbiz industry but I refrained myself.
"Why are you staying here?" I asked instead.
"I badly needed a place. Somewhere na hindi alam ng...." Eula took a deep breath then continued, "I have a stalker. And when Kara learned about my situation, she offered me this house. She told me that you are the owner and that you won't be here for a long time. So I gladly accepted the offer even though you are not aware of my existence."
"Okay." I said and stand up. There are still things I wanted to ask but the longer I look at her lovely face, the more my heart pumps erratically.
"Is that all? Can I go?" Napatayo si Eula sa kanyang kinauupuan.
"No. How long have you been staying here?"
"Uhm, about two months."
That is quite long. I wonder what happened to Badet, why she failed to mention this thing to me.
Bernadette and I have connections even after I moved out from Kalye Patay six years ago.
"You haven't paid the rent."
She blushed.
"Oh. You are right. Please give me your number and I'll transfer it to your account."
"Oh, no. Honey, I don't take money. It will be an in-kind payment." I smiled.
Her eyes widen.
"I'm sorry Mr. Martinez but I am not that kind of person." She said indignantly.
"It's only a small favor compared to what you did." I said.
"Magbabayad ako kahit magkano Mr. Martinez pero yung ibigay kong kabayaran ay ang dangal ko ay hindi ko magagawa." Sabi niya na may diin ang bawat salita.
I frowned deeply. Dangal? What the fuck? My God! What is she thinking?.
"I think we are not on the same wavelength. Gusto ko lang na maging date ka sa kasal nina Agot at Jerry. I wasn't able to contact my girl friends to be my date. I was considering going alone but since you are here, I think it is fitting that I will bring my wife. Right, Mrs. Eula Martinez?"
She balled her fist and shook her head a little.
"Fine, Mr. Martinez."
"Since you said that this is a safe haven, you could stay here. That way, I will also be assured that you are not gonna run away."
She nodded. And that is all I need to smile broadly.
I guess she really doesn't have a place to stay. And I felt a tinge of pity.
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