I woke up from my nap when I felt a warm hand brushed my cheek. I didn't move and just kept my eyes closed. His touch is like a lullaby that is dragging me back to the rainbows in my dreams.
"Do you wanna go out with me on a date, wife?"
I stifled a laugh when I heard him spurt the words. Without opening my eyes, I reached for his hand and landed a kiss on his palm.
"A date Mr. Gastrell? Let me guess. You'll try to woo me with your riches. Maybe take me to an expensive candle lit dinner. We'll dance to the tune of the orchestra, drink with a vintage wine, and then make love under the stars in your yacht. Am I right? Did I get that all right?"
Nagmulat ako para masalubong ang abuhin nitong mga nangungusap na mata. He's staring down at me, a look of fondness in his eyes. Bumaba ang paningin ko sa suot nito. Iba na ang kulay ng suot nito nang magpaalam ito sa akin kaninang umaga. Pinalitan nito ng black polo long sleeves ang pinili ko na white undershirt nito. Even the pastel pants were replaced by a pair of black trousers. What remained from my choices is the customized belt I gave him as a gift.
Umiling ito habang maingat akong hinihila para humiga sa hita nito.
"No, I have something different in my mind."
I closed my eyes again and hugged his thigh. "Anong oras na ba?"
"It's still five in the afternoon. Bakit dito ka na naman sa sofa natutulog? The bed upstairs is more comfortable." Sinuklay niya ang buhok ko.
"I like it here. Makikita mo agad ako kapag dumating ka at malalaman ko agad kung narito ka na ba. How's work?"
Tumihaya ako ng higa at kinuha ang kamay nito para pagsalikupin sa akin.
"Great. We're finally getting the land in Monte Vega. The owner surprisingly agreed to sell his land to us. You, how's your day, wife?"
It was pretty intense. I slapped your lover's face until it bled.
"Just the usual stuff. Alam mo namang wala na akong ginawa simula nang bumalik ako rito sa Cerro Roca kundi magliwaliw at maging isang mabuting asawa sa iyo. I went to grocery to buy something for dinner. I'm thinking of cooking something special but since you wanted me to take out on a date, I have to scrap out the idea."
He sighed and planted a soft kiss on my temple. "And you're doing it all alone. It should have been the two of us but I was always away from you, always the case of evasive husband."
"I understand you. Even before coming back, I knew that you're gonna be like this. Sino ba naman kasi ang tangang tao na bubuksan agad ang dalawang kamay niya sa tao na bigla na lang nawala at ni ha o ni ho ay wala kang narinig sa loob ng ilang taon? But do you know what's more puzzling to me now? It's why you are still not asking me about it."
Alam ko namang alam nito kung ano ang tinutumbok ko. We've been running in circles for days now. He's been running from confronting me for quite some time now. Kung dati ay napakaagresibo nitong malaman ang dahilan sa pagbabalik ko, ngayon ay halos iwasan na nito ang paksa sa tuwing madadala ko iyon sa usapan.
"About what?" pagmaang-maangan nito.
"About what happened to me... in the past."
Wala akong nakita na anumang reaksiyon mula rito. He kept his face intact and his eyes fixated on me.
"Are you ready to tell me everything?"
"Did you get me checked already?"
Natigilan ito sandali bago tumango. "Kind of. I was sold to the idea that I have to know you again. Nagtataka ako kung bakit bumalik ka pa sa akin when it's obvious that you have achieved your success. I have to be honest with you. Napakahirap ang makahanap ng impormasyon tungkol sa nakaraan mo kaya mas lalo akong nahiwagaan tungkol sa buhay mo. You're a total mystery to me and your changes... if not of your knowledge about our past, iisipin ko na ibang tao ka, Karina. But then, with the development of our relationship, I stopped digging for your past because it felt wrong. I wanted you to trust me. Gusto ko na kusang loob mong sabihin sa akin ang lahat-lahat."
"I told you already from day one about my reason for coming back. I love you. I still do. Kahit ano man ang mangyari, magkasiraan man tayo at lahat-lahat, iyan ang totoong dahilan ko. You might end up hating me again but I'm telling you, my love for you is real. Nabahiran man ito ng galit at pagkamuhi, alam ko sa sarili ko na totoo ang nararamdaman ko sa iyo. Life took out everything from me and I'm glad that it left me with that feeling."
Bumangon na ako sa pagkakahiga at tumayo. "Well, so much for that. I better dress up for tonight. I have a date with my husband." Kinindatan ko ito bago naglakad patungo sa hagdan, ang titig nito ay lumalagos sa likod ko.
Sighing, I stopped in the middle of the staircase and looked back at Cholo who is still watching me from his seat. His eyes held so many questions that I'm not yet ready to answer. He stood up and started walking towards me but I shook my head which made his steps faltered.
No, Cholo. This is not yet the time. I have so many things to do and telling you everything is the last thing I wanted to do. It will distract me from being your lover's worst nightmare.
Understanding what my eyes are communicating silently, he backed out while smiling.
"I'll wait. Patiently. But please can I make a request? Please wear a dress."
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "I only have a black dress."
Nagkibit-balikat ito at inilagay ang mga kamay sa magkabilang bewang, naglalaro ang ngiti sa labi nito. "I know you would say that and I also know you only have a closet full of black clothes, wife. That's why I decided to match your color preference." Pabiro pa itong umikot. "We're matchy matchy."
Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagsilay ng buong ngiti sa labi ko. Why, this man never failed to put butterflies in my stomach be it in the form of tears or smiles.
"Right. I'll better hurry na. I can't wait to know what my dear husband is cooking."
I smiled at him one more time and ran to the master's bedroom to prepare. Two hours later, we were inside his Mercedes Mayback following a trail that I don't have any idea where it's leading. Nang malagpasan na namin ang main highway at lumiko sa isang madilim na daan ay doon ko na tinanong ang asawa na hawak-hawak ang kamay ko.
"Are we leaving the city?"
"No, just the outskirts." Hinaplos nito ang hita ko at hinalikan ako sa pisngi. "Patience dear."
I nodded and slowly sank in his arms, his mouth finding mine to give me a kiss. Another hour later and we're pulling off outside a dark woods. Puno man ng pagtataka ang puso ay mas pinili kong pagkatiwalaan si Cholo.
Bumusina ang driver ni Cholo pagkatapos ay narinig ko ang parang pagbubukas ng isang de-bakal na gate. Nilinga ko ang asawa na abot-tenga ang ngiti. Soon, the car is running again on a one-way pavement.
"Don't look at me like that. Look around, wife."
Sinunod ko ang kaniyang sinabi at tumingin sa labas ng sasakyan saka natulala na lang sa nakita. Beyond us is an endless stretch of fields filled with the tallest of the tress all lighted up to illuminate the place. Sa isa pang dako ay may isang clearing kung saan nakatayo ang isang parang glass house. Sa isang dako pa roon ay may natatanaw pa akong mga makukulay na bulaklak. May naririnig din akong lagaslas ng tubig mula sa kalayuan.
"You liked it?" ani ni Cholo sa proud na tinig.
"Nagbibiro ka ba? Of course I like it! So much! Wow! This place is incredible!" hindi tumitinging sagot ko habang patuloy na hinahayon ng tingin ang kapaligiran na animo Pasko sa kaliwanagan.
He chuckled. "Halata ngang nasiyahan ka. Halos hindi mo na nga ako tingnan."
I turned to him and rolled my eyes. "Silly. Of course it's because of you." Hinila ko ang kaniyang kamay at binuksan ang pinto ng kotse. Hindi na ako makapaghintay pa na ma-explore ang lugar.
"Easy. Easy," ang natatawa nitong wika nang alalayan ako sa bewang dahil muntikan na akong matapilok. Humawak naman ako sa braso nito para kumuha ng suporta.
"May ganito palang lugar dito sa Cerro Roca? Wow! I've spent my childhood here but I never knew that this place exist."
"Kasi purong kagubatan lang ito noong una. In times when I'm in distraught, dito ako naglalagi. This place offers me silence and beauty. Sometimes, dito ko rin naiisip ang ilang business ventures ko. When investors started coming in which turned a sleeping town into a buzzing city, I bought this place to ensure that it will still stay the same. I just added some modifications. Hindi ko hahayaan na ang buong bayan natin ay makalimutan na kung ano ang orihinal na Cerro Roca. I might have not been born and raised here but my heart already belongs in this place."
Hinigit niya ako sa kamay saka inalalayan na makasakay sa golf cart na nandoon na pagbaba pa lang namin sa sasakyan. The wind blew my hair when we started driving in a sleek road that went criss-crossed throughout the place.
"Wow!" I can't help but exclaimed when I look up at the trees with lights all over their bodies. "What's this tree called?"
Hinawakan muna niya ang buhok ko para hindi maging sagabal sa mukha ko bago sumagot.
"It's a rosewood tree locally known as toog, one of the tallest trees in the country. Tataas pa ang mga iyan sa paglipas ng taon."
Parang bata na nakatingala lang ako sa mga nadadaanan na puno na hitik sa mga ilaw na naglalambitin sa mga katawan nito. Awang ang mga labi at puno ng kasiyahan ang mukha ko. Napaka-magical lang talaga tingnan. It's like a place straight out from a fairytale. Ganito siguro ang pakiramdam ng mga bidang princesses sa loob ng pelikula.
Tumigil kami sa tapat ng glass house kung saan may natatanaw na akong mga naka-suit na lalaki. Hindi ko na napigilan ang mapasinghap nang mapagtanto na umupa pa talaga ito ng orchestra para sa gabing ito.
Cholo mounted out of the cart and held out his hand for me. "Come, wife. Let's enjoy the night."
With my heart about to burst, I gripped his hand and we walked side by side into the house where a man opened the glass door for us. Mali ang sapantaha ko. It's not just a glass house. It's more of like a mini theater minus the hundreds of seats. There's a stage in front where the fifteen to seventeen musicians who are part of the orchestra is situated, the conductor in place to start the show. On the left side are the chefs busy cooking and I can't help but smell the aroma. Right in the middle is a table for two with a candelabra on it.
Ipinaghila ako ni Cholo ng upuan bago ito naupo sa kaibayo. Right then, the lights in the glass house dimmed and the candles in our table were electronically lit. The orchestra started playing a slow classical music and a chef served started serving our dinner.
It's a six-course meal with pomegranate-avocado salsa and lobster salad with beetroot for appetizer which were followed by curried cauliflower and apple soup and bouillabaisse stew. There's also caesar salad and for the main course, another chef served us the saffron risotto, and chicken and seafood paella. The dessert is lemon berry dump cake and horchata semifreddo.
"Mabuti na lang talaga at hindi na ako nagluto. Why, I love this culinary experience. Walang panama ang mga natutunan ko sa culinary school. How did they get this meat this soft and tasty? Oh, how mediocre I am!"
Cholo smiled through his glass and patted my hand. "I still love your cooking. It's homey. Iyong tipong gustung-gusto mong uwian sa maghapon na pagod ka."
Lumabi ako rito. "Good. I like the answer. Mabuti naman at hindi mo masyadong naibaba ang confidence ko."
Nang matapos ang dinner at ang performance ng orchestra, niyaya naman ako ng asawa na lumabas. He's holding a bottle of wine on his hand while I have the two glasses. Both of our free hands are intertwined.
"What's this place called, Cholo? Are you planning to open this to the public because if you do, I know this would be doing damn good. Nakikinita ko na na magiging isa na naman itong tourist spot dito. It will be a lucrative business."
"It's my little paradise in Cerro Roca. This place is a very sentimental piece of me but I haven't got a name for it. Besides, wala naman na sa akin ang karapatang iyan. Nasa iyo na."
Natigil ako sa paghakbang at hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan ang asawa na nagniningning ang mga mata.
"What do you mean?"
"This... All of this is all yours now. Ito ang regalo ko sa iyo, Karina. Now feel free to name it."
Ilang segundo munang hindi ako nakahuma sa narinig. Umikot ang paningin ko sa napakalawak at napakaliwanag na paligid.
"F-For real? You're really giving it to me? Pero akala ko ba napakaespesyal ng lugar na ito para sa iyo?"
"Which is why I'm giving it to you. You're my wife, the love of my life. Nothing is more special to me other than you."
Hinila na niya ako papunta sa likuran ng glass house kung saan hindi ko na naman mapigilan ang mapahanga. Before me were lines and lines of oak trees with icicle LED lights in different colors hanging from the branches of each tree.
"Wow! They're beautiful!"
Cholo smiled at me. "Mas may igaganda pa iyan. Look."
Sinundan ko ang itinuro nito at napasinghap. Ilang metro ang layo mula sa mga puno ay ang may kataasang bangin kung saan may bumubulusok paibaba na tubig.
"There's a waterfall? Wow! Did you also own this part?"
Nakangiti lang na tumango sa akin si Cholo. "I did but now you own it."
Inalalayan niya akong maupo sa damuhan at nilagyan ng wine ang aming mga baso. Magkahawak ang kamay na tahimik lang kaming umiinom habang minamasdan ang paligid. The sounds of the water crashing down is so therapeutic.
"I'm glad I made you happy for tonight, Karina. Alam kong naging gago ako noon. Tinaboy kita, pinagsalitaan ng hindi magaganda. I even cursed at you for goodness sake! Alam ko ring hindi ko na mabubura iyon. Words... You can never get them back once you decided to let them go that's why I promise you that I'll spend every day of our life making you smile, giving you everything in order for you to be happy."
Kumilos ito at inilapag ang baso saka may kinuha sa bulsa bago lumuhod sa aking harapan. Binuksan nito ang kahita kung saan nakalagak ang singsing na may itim na diamond bilang center stone at white diamond bilang side stones at itinapat sa akin.
"Karina, I know our love is not common. I met you in the ugliest part of my life, used you for my plans which didn't end well but it didn't deter me from falling to you. We got married but I didn't get to give you a grand wedding. You didn't get to walk down the aisle and I didn't get to experience waiting for you in the altar. No vows, no dance, and definitely no honeymoon but we did it anyway." He chuckled nervously. "I only gave you a cheap ring. Thinking about that makes me ashamed now. And then we separated. I hated you for the years that you're gone but now that you're back in my life, all of my anger dissipated and all I wanted to do is to have you again. I don't care about your past, you can keep it all to yourself. Ikaw, ngayon, at ang hinaharap lang natin ang gusto ko. Wife, I wanted to make it right this time. This time, it's for real. You will not just a ploy I will use for my own gain. You will be the center of my life, the soon to be mother of my children. Karina, will you spend the rest of your life with me?"
Umihip ang malakas na hangin kasabay ng pagtulo ng mga luha ko. Masaya ako kasi sa wakas alam kong nakuha ko na ang pag-ibig ni Cholo. It's not just a pretense, it's true this time. Sa wakas nagtagumpay din ako. He is mine now. I finally got him from Elizabeth. I'm the winner between us.
Kay sarap magpakalasing sa ipinapangako nitong pagmamahal. Kay sarap isipin ang magiging kinabukasan namin ni Cholo.
Pwede naman kung tutuusin. Tatango lang ako at magiging happily ever after na ang istorya namin. I deserved this. I deserved to feel happy after all I've been through. Sana nga ganoon lang kasimple ang lahat. Sana nga ganoon lang kadali kalimutan ang lahat.
Bakit ngayon pa Cholo kung kailan wala nang anak na magbubuklod sa atin? Bakit ngayon mo pa sa akin iniaalay ito kung kailan paniguradong kailangan nating maghiwalay sa huli? Bakit hindi pa noon kung kailan hindi pa ako wasak at sugatan? Kung kailan kaya ko pang magmahal ng buo?
Kahit nanlalabo sa mga mata ang luha ay tumango ako. "Yes, I will Cholo. I'll spend the rest of my life with you."
Kita ko ang pagkislap ng luha sa mga mata nito nang dahan-dahan niyang isinuot sa aking daliri ang singsing. I even felt his lips trembling when he caught my waist and kissed me lovingly.
But my heart is cold. It refused to beat for this moment. It's telling me to not be happy because happiness is a curse. One day you're celebrating, the next day you're mourning.
Pinahid ni Cholo ang mga luha ko at niyakap ako. Gumanti ako ng yakap at hinaplos ang ulo nito. While looking at the vast place, I have come up with a name.
Errol.
I'm naming this place after our son, Cholo. Kung buhay pa siya, paniguradong magugustuhan niya dito. Our son loves to run and play with the stray dogs. He can run free in this place forever and ever, something that both of us will not witness anymore.