Chapter 4

Jealousy

Just a few months after our wedding, my dad decided na pag-aralin ako abroad for my master's degree. 

"Are you sure about this, hon?" Mommy asked Dad worriedly, glancing at me. 

"Yes. It's what's best for the company." 

"But, honey..." 

Nagkatinginan kami ni Mommy. 

Nagsalita na ako. "I think I have to talk to Javi about it first, Dad." 

Dad looked at me. 

"He's my husband now," I said. 

Walang sinabi si Daddy. After all, he only agreed to this marriage because it's what my grandparents wanted. Isa pa, kahit may issue pa rin siya kay Tito Javier, he's still a close friend to Tita Emerald, na mommy naman ni Javi. 

I went back home after talking to my dad. Sakto naman na nakauwi na rin sa bahay naming mag-asawa si Javi, kaya kinausap ko na rin siya tungkol sa napag-usapan namin ni Daddy. 

"Javi, uh..." 

"What is it?" Bumaling siya sa akin. 

We had just finished dinner, at hindi pa umaalis sa mesa. I thought it was the right time to tell him about me going abroad to study. 

"Kinausap kasi ako ni Daddy ngayon. He wants me to go abroad and study for my master's in business," I told him. 

Mukhang bahagya siyang natigilan at nakatingin lang sa akin. 

"I'm sorry—" 

He shook his head. "It's fine. If that's what your dad wants..." 

Napangiti ako sa kaniya. I noticed that Javi's been obedient towards my dad. They may not have the best relationship as in-laws, but I know my husband was doing what he could to please him. 

"Thank you," I smiled at him. 

"But what if you're pregnant now?" he asked me suddenly. 

Natigilan ako at nanatili lang nakatingin sa kaniya. Pagkatapos ng ilang sandali, unti-unti akong umiling. "I'm not... I won't." 

"What do you mean?" Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya. 

I sighed. We both knew what we've been doing as husband and wife since we got married. Kaya naiintindihan ko siya kung iniisip niya ang possibility na maaring magbuntis na ako. But I won't—at least for now. 

Ang mali ko lang ay hindi pa pala namin napag-usapan ito noong una pa lang. 

"I went to my OB-Gyne before our wedding, Javi..." I said softly. 

"You are?" 

Unti-unti akong tumango. I realized we should have discussed this earlier. 

"Naisip ko lang kasi na bata pa naman tayo. Maybe we can have a child later on," I explained. 

Ilang sandali pa bago siya unti-unting tumango. 

"We should go upstairs now to rest in our room," he said after we talked. 

Tumango lang naman ako sa kaniya. Pagkatapos, umakyat na nga kami sa kwarto namin. I noticed how quiet he was. Nakatalikod siya sa akin habang humiga sa kama namin. I just watched his back until I, too, fell asleep. 

The next day, I decided to talk to him. Pakiramdam ko kasi na may dapat pa kaming pag-usapan, a continuation of what we discussed last night during dinner. 

Aalis na rin kasi ako at mag-aaral sa ibang bansa, kaya gusto ko lang makasiguro na okay pa rin talaga kami bago ako umalis. 

"Javi," I called him while he was still at the office. 

Ako naman ay nanatili lang sa bahay habang naghihintay sa mga araw ng pag-alis ko sa bansa. 

"Reese." 

"I asked your secretary, and she said you aren't as busy today. She even sent me your schedule," I said over the phone. 

"Oh. Yeah." 

I smiled a bit while talking to my husband. "Can we go on a date later? Do you have time?" 

"Yeah, sure. I should've asked you..." 

Napailing ako. "It's alright." 

And so we agreed to meet for dinner later tonight. Maaga pa lang, naghanda na ako. I even went to the salon and spa to pamper myself. Then I carefully chose the dress I'd wear tonight. 

When it was time, pinasundo na lang ako sa driver at hinatid sa lugar kung saan kami magkikita ni Javi. Kagagaling lang din niya sa trabaho. 

I smiled when I saw him. Napansin kong medyo natigilan siya pagkakita sa akin. Then a smile appeared on his face as he watched me approach him. He still looked handsome in his office clothes. 

We had dinner, and the ambiance of the place felt romantic. We ate calmly, enjoying the food. Then, when we were almost done, I decided to bring up what was on my mind. 

"Javi, about what we discussed last night—iyong tungkol sa pagkakaroon natin ng anak." 

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. 

I sighed slightly. "I'm sorry about it. Dapat kinausap kita bago ako nagdesisyon na pumunta sa OB." 

Umiling siya sa akin. "No, it's fine, Reese. It's your body and your decision," he said, giving me a small, reassuring smile. 

Napangiti na rin ako. "Thank you. But... do you want a child now?" 

Umiling ulit siya. "No, it's fine. We can have one later on." 

Muli akong napangiti. 

We both knew that part of being married was to eventually have a child of our own. And we agreed we'd have one when the time felt right. 

When we went back home, he kissed me fervently the moment we entered our bedroom. Napangiti na lang ako habang nakatingin sa kanya. Then he carried me to our bed. 

That night, we made love, kissing each other until almost dawn. 

When the day came for me to leave, hinatid pa ako ni Javi sa airport, kahit alam kong busy rin siya sa trabaho. 

We agreed that he'd visit me when he could. He also asked me to take care of myself. 

"Take care of yourself, too," I told him. 

Tumango siya sa akin. "I love you." 

My lips parted slightly before I smiled. "I love you, Javi." I hugged him tightly. 

Niyakap din niya ako, and we stayed that way for a while before I finally had to go. 

I went abroad to study for my master's in business administration. Naturally, Javi couldn't accompany me because he couldn't just leave their company, especially since he had started a lot of new projects for their business.

But I wasn't alone in another country. At that time, we also learned that Quinn's mom had cancer. Kaya nagpagamot siya sa ibang bansa, at sinamahan din siya ni Quinn. While there, Quinn also pursued his basketball career.

Hindi pa naman ganoon kalala ang sakit ni Ninang, but Quinn was so worried for his mom that he decided they should move abroad for a while para mas matutukan daw ang pagpapagamot at pagpapagaling ni Ninang. His mom agreed to his plan to ease her son's worries about her health.

I heard a knock on my door.

We have a townhouse here in California, where I'm taking my MBA and Quinn is undergoing athlete training for basketball. The townhouse is owned by my parents, and I stay here now. Malapit lang din ito sa university, as this was also where Dad lived when he took his MBA years ago.

Binuksan ko ang pintuan at nakita ko si Quinn sa labas. Pareho kaming ngumiti sa isa't isa. He also lives nearby, close to where he trains as an athlete, habang si Ninang naman ay nasa ospital pa rin at nagpapagaling.

"Quinn, pasok ka," I welcomed him in.

"How's Ninang?" I asked him.

"She's doing fine. Her doctor said that she's getting better."

Parang nakahinga rin ako nang maluwag sa sinabi ni Quinn. "That's good news!"

He nodded. "Yes, thank God. By the way, I'm here to check on you. Inutusan ako ni Mommy."

I smiled at him. "I'm fine, Quinn. Papasok din ako mamaya sa university."

"Okay."

"Ay, pero nandito ka na rin naman, let's have some snacks first."

He nodded and agreed to have meryenda with me.

I got so preoccupied with my friend that I didn't notice my phone, at huli ko na lang nalaman that my husband had been trying to call me.

"I'm sorry, Javi. Quinn was just here earlier, and we were talking," I explained over the phone.

Alam na niyang nandito rin ngayon sa California sina Ninang at Quinn, dahil nagpapagamot nga si Ninang sa sakit niya.

"What did you two talk about?" he asked, his tone rather cold.

Bahagya akong natigilan sa tono niya. But I still answered his question.

He knows that Quinn is my friend. At close din ako kay Ninang, kaya madalas ko rin siyang puntahan sa hospital kasama si Quinn. But there's no reason for him to be jealous.

Ayaw ko man sanang isipin na ganoon nga, pero pakiramdam ko ay nagseselos nga siya. Kahit pa wala naman talaga siya dapat na ipagselos—magkaibigan lang kami ni Quinn, simula noon hanggang ngayon.

While he's already my husband.

I think it started there. Javi began to get jealous more often, at kung ano-ano na ang iniisip niya tungkol sa amin ni Quinn dahil lang nagkataon na magkasama kami rito sa California. Kahit pa wala naman talaga kaming ginagawang masama.

His jealousy was uncalled for because there was no basis for it. Quinn and I were simply friends, nothing more, and I never gave Javi a reason to doubt me. His reaction seemed rooted more in insecurity than in reality, and it created tension between us that wasn't necessary.

Read more updates on Patreon or VIP! For only $3 or ₱150 a month, you can access all the updates for this story and my other exclusive stories on Patreon and VIP. To join, kindly message me on Facebook at Rej Martinez. Other membership promo sales are also available. Thank you, and happy reading!