Because we're matured

Inuunahan 'ko na kayo, please, refrain from commenting other writer's stories and characters name in this chapter. If you already read similar scene sa ibang story, then better keep it to yourself na lang. Thank you.

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     "WHERE is he?" Nag-aalalang tanong 'ko nang salubungin ako ni Luhen pagdating 'ko sa loob ng club.

"Your husband is there!" I glanced at the direction where his finger were pointing to at napanganga ako nang makita si Reeve, nakahiga sa sofa, nakapikit habang may hawak na bote ng Black label.

My throat was dry, so as my lips. I can't stop myself from getting hurt just by the sight of him.

Napunta sa lamesa ang mga mata 'ko at napasinghap nang makita kung gaano karaming bote ang nakapatong doon. Halos liparin 'ko ang distansiya palapit sa kaniya. Naupo ako doon sa kapirangot na space sa may bandang ulo niya at marahan na tinapik ang pisngi niya, ginigising siya.

"Reeve. . . Wake up. Reeve, wake up," I whispered, trying so hard not to shed a tear.

He didn't wake up, and he just groaned. I took an aggravated sigh. Kaagad lumapit si Luhen at bumuntong hininga nang makitang ayaw gumising ni Reeve.

"Damn. I thought you could knock some sense to him, but I guess not," he says.

I raised my gaze to his, frowning at him. "What? How could I knock some sense to this man if he was wasted as fuck?!"

Kitang-kita 'kong nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang tumaas ang boses 'ko. "Chill, Mrs Roschefort! Damn, kaya pala takot sayo si Reeve, you're scary!"

I scoffed at him and tried waking Reeve up again. I heard Luhen sigh.

"I'll help you bring him home. Mukhang hindi mo siya kakayanin buhatin," he offered, and I quickly nodded.

Mabilis niyang inalalayan si Reeve na hindi man lang nagising. Mabilis 'kong dinampot ang bote ng alak at nilagay sa lamesa. Sumunod ako kay Luhen palabas ng bar. Nang makarating kami sa bahay ay mabilis 'kong tinulungan si Luhen na ilabas si Reeve ng sasakyan dahil masyado siyang malaki at mabigat.

"Nasaan ang kuwarto niyo?" he asked while helping Reeve on his arms.

"Sa taas. Follow me,"

Nakasunod lamang sa akin si Luhen. Pareho kaming tahimik habang binabaybay ang kwarto namin ni Reeve. Nang makarating kami sa kuwarto ay kaagad niyang idiniposito si Reeve sa kama.

He massage his arms by circling. "Damn, he's too heavy! Nangalay ang braso ko," reklamo ni Luhen.

"I apologize for the inconvenience," I muttered apologetically.

Napabuntong-hininga si Luhen saka tumingin sa akin. "Kung ano man ang nangyari sa pagitan niyo, pakiusap, pag-usapan niyong mabuti." Pagkasabi no'n ay mabilis na siyang lumabas ng kwarto.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago siya sinundan pababa para ihatid paalis. Mukhang hinihintay niya talaga akong bumaba dahil nandoon siya sala, nakaupo sa sofa.

He stood up when he saw me. "Here," he handed me a silver flash drive.

"What am I going to do with this?" I asked in confusion.

He shrugged. "Reeve dropped it earlier. It looks like he really wanted to give you this because he mentioned that this would save his reputation from you. However, he was too emotional and drunk earlier that he forgot to keep it,"

I stilled and lowered my gaze to the silver flash drive in my hand.

"He called me while I was amidst a patient session," he says, making me look at him. "Sinundo pa talaga ako ng gago," he uttered, shaking his head. 

I took a sigh and kept the flash drive on my pocket. "Thank you for letting me know, and sorry for the inconvenience—" he cut me off.

"It's not a big deal," he says. "Anyway, Kelsea?"

I blinked twice when he called my name. "Yes?"

"Just a piece of advice as a Pyschologist, In a marriage, both people can be right at the same time, and both can be wrong. We all have misunderstandings. Try listening to understand and to hear what isn't said."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita dahil natameme ako. Tipid na lang siyang ngumiti sa akin at lumabas na. Pagkaraan lang ng ilang minuto ay narinig 'ko na ang pagtakbo ng sasakyan niya.

Pagbalik 'ko sa kwarto ay mabilis akong umupo sa gilid ng kama at tinitigan ang natutulog na si Reeve. Dahan-dahan 'kong hinaplos ang pisngi niya.

"Did you really cheat on me? If yes, Is there something I was lacking? Am I not enough? Hindi 'ko makalimutan ang nakita 'ko kanina. Until now, my heart was in pain." My eyes clouded in tears. "But I am now ready to listen to your explanation. Just Please, be honest with me. Hmm?" I whispered as if he could hear me.

Napabuntong hininga ako at kumuha na lang ng palanggana na may lamang tubig at pamunas. Bumalik ako sa tabi ni Reeve at sinimulan punasan ang mukha at mga braso niya. Nang makasiguradong malinis na siya ay mabilis 'ko ng binuksan ang butones ng polo na suot niya pero kaagad akong natigilan nang hulihin niya ang kamay 'ko at marahas na tinabig palayo.

My chest instantly hurt. Huminga ako ng malalim at sinimulan ulit buksan ang butones niya pero tinabig niya lang ulit ang kamay 'ko at kaagad na tumalikod. I gasped and bit my bottom lip, trying so hard not to shed a tear.

"R-Reeve, let me undress you," I said, almost pleading. "You smell like alcohol," I added.

He just groaned in response. My chest was heavy as I took a deep breath. I stood up to sit on the other side of the bed. Then, I continued unbuttoning his polo when he shoved my hand again.

"S-Stop." He spoke, and a tear immediately fell from my eyes because I felt a pang in my chest. "Don't. . . U-Undress me. My wife will get mad at me. I don't want her to get mad at me. H-Hindi ko kaya. I love her so much," He added, making me pule.

Parang may kamay na humaplos sa puso 'ko nang marinig ang sinabi niya. I can't help but smile in triumph because even in his dreams, he's still proud of calling me his wife.

I sniffed and bit my bottom lip harder as I continued what I was doing to him even though he kept shoving my hand away from him. Mabuti na lang at mabilis akong napalayo nang muntik niya na akong masipa dahil naglulumikot siya na animo kiti-kiti.

Hindi ako nagpapigil kahit panay siya tabig sa kamay 'ko. Nang mahubad 'ko sa kanya ang suot na slacks ay iniwan 'ko sa katawan niya ang kulay itim na boxer shorts. Bilang ganti ay mahina ko siyang pinitik sa noo.

Mabilis 'kong pinatay ang ilaw sa kuwarto at sinindi ang dalawang lampshade. Then, I plugged the humidifier so that he sleeps more soundly. Nagready na rin kaagad ako ng gamot dahil paniguradong magkakaroon siya ng hangover pagkagising niya.

I was about to lie next to him when my eyes laid on the flash drive that I placed on the side table. May naguudyok sa akin na kuhanin 'yon at alamin kung ano ang laman. I mulled for a second before I decided to pick it up with my laptop.

I marched towards the sofa. Then, I opened my laptop and plugged the flash drive in. My eyesbrows knotted in confusion when I saw that it contained only one folder. I clicked the folder, and my eyes grew wider when a video file showed. It was the cctv footage earlier!

My hands quickly started trembling when I clicked the video. Mabilis na nagtagis ang mga ngipin 'ko nang makita ang babaeng pinagsisisihan 'kong pinagkatiwalaan 'ko.

On the CCTV footage, Ariane was talking to Ashleigh before the latter when to Reeve's office. She was wearing a black skimpy tube dress that was reaching to the middle of her thighs. Kitang-kita ang gulat at pagtataka sa mukha ng asawa 'ko nang makita si Ashleigh.

"What are you doing here? My wife isn't here," he says in confusion.

Ashleigh stopped on her track when she heard the word wife. She seductively laughed as he continued walking, slowly this time.

"So, you two are married, huh? What a shame. But there's nothing to worry about since it will not last long," she says mockingly.

I can't see her expression, but I am sure it was mocking. I clenched my hand into a fist. God knows how much I wanted to smack her face right now!

Reeve's jaw clenched. "You don't have a business here. Get out," he says, trying to be calm.

But the devil in disguise continued walking towards his table. Reeve quickly moved away from his swivel chair para hindi makalapit ng husto si Ashleigh, but the latter just laughed in despair.

"Afraid, huh? Why are you so uptight? Takot ka ba sa asawa mo? Under ka pala!" She giggled, and it made my blood boiled. "She's too boring, and low for someone like you! You deserve someone's better. You deserve someone like me, Reeve." she seductively leaned forward on his table and was about to cut the inches of space between them when Reeve halted her by grabbing her arms.

His jaw clenched, and his gaze darkened. "One more word against my wife, I'll fucking cut your tongue with my favorite knife," he warned.

Ashleigh became paled as she stared at Reeve. Hindi siya kaagad nakapagsalita dahil sa pagkabigla. That's when I entered the scene. . .

I covered my mouth when a sob peal from my lips as I replayed the video from that lapse. My tears fell like a waterfall.

Oh, God! They didn't kiss!

She tried to kiss and even seduce him, but my husband was faithful and even defended me when she badmouthed me.

Patuloy sa pagbuhos ang luha 'ko. Mabilis akong tumayo at tumabi sa kaniya. Then, I quickly threw myself at him. Sinubsob 'ko ang aking mukha sa dibdib niya habang yakap-yakap siya.

"H-Hubby, sorry," I mumbled between my sobs.

Mas lalo akong naiyak nang imbes na itulak ako palayo ay niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit. My heart went race when I felt his lips touched my head. I closed my eyes as I savored his kiss on the top of my head.

"I-I love you," Reeve's voice was slurred. "I love you, wife." he muffled dreamily.

I peeked at him, and noticed a tear fall from his tear ducks. Parang piniga ang puso 'ko sa nasaksihan. I bit my bottom lip to stifle a sob when I saw him crying in sleep. 

"I'm sorry, hubby. I love you so much," bulong 'ko at hinalikan siya leeg at sumiksik doon.

Kinabukasan, maaga akong nagising para ipagluto ng breakfast si Reeve. I cooked a chicken soup for him. Umakyat na rin ako sa kwarto pagkatapos magluto bitbit ang tray na may lamang mangkok.

My eyes instantly laid on the man who was sitting on the bed, grunting in pain while holding his head. His eyes were closed, and his forehead wrinkled in pain.

"Fuck! Headache sucks," he groaned.

My chest heaves while looking at him. I feel guilty. I cleared my throat to get his attention, which I successfully did.

"W-Wife. . ." His eyes widen in shock. He rubbed his eyes, making sure I wasn't just a figment of his imagination.

I gulped and look away. Naglakad ako palapit at naupo sa gilid niya. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga saka tumingin sa kaniya. My heart jumped when our eyes met.

"I-I cooked you chicken soup. This will help you with your hangover," I raised my head to meet his gaze.

I was stunned to speak when I saw his eyes immediately clouded in tears. My heart clutched inside my chest when it cascaded down within seconds.

He held my hand, and I let him. I miss the warmth of his hand that gave the vibes of home.

"Wife, I didn't cheat. . ." he uttered raspily and desperately.

That's his first sentence, and I felt my heart clenched upon hearing it. His expression was saddened. His tears were falling like waterfalls from his eyes.

Nagbukas-sara ang bibig 'ko. Hindi ako nakapagsalita kaagad dahil parang may bumara sa lalamunan 'ko. I swallowed a lump on my throat and slowly nodded my head.

"I know," My vision is getting blurry because of tears.

His eyes widened in triumph. "Naniniwala kana sa akin? You're not mad at me anymore? I can touch you now? You don't want me gone anymore?"

Pagod na pagod ang kanyang mga mata at klaro ang takot sa kanyang mga tingin habang nakatingin sa akin. I slowly nodded at him. Hindi 'ko na napigilan at tumulo na kaagad ang luha sa mga mata 'ko nang mas bumuhos pa ang luha sa mga mata niya.

I threw myself to him, burying my face on his chest. My sobs turned louder as my body trembled. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, hubby. I felt so ashamed of myself for doubting you. I'm sorry for not listening. I'm sorry for being irrational yesterday. I should have listen to you when you pleaded for an explanation," Panibagong luha ang lumabas sa aking mga mata.

He shook his head and cupped my face, brushing my tears away. He leans to kiss my tears.

"I love you," he interjected. "I love you so much that I rather destroy myself than cheat on you," he says heartfully.

"I'm sorry," Tinakpan 'ko ang mukha 'ko habang patuloy sa pagluha ang aking mga mata. "I feel bad for throwing accusations on you. I feel so guilty for doubting your loyalty and love for me. I am sorry, hubby; please forgive me,"

He stared at me with longing in his eyes. "That's not what I want to hear from you," he says glacially.

I was still crying so badly that I bet my mascara was already ruin if I had one. My lips quivered as I stared at him in confusion.

"What do you mean? Y-You can't forgive me—"

He cuts me off by leaning into my ears. "Say that you love me. That's what I want to hear. Tell me you don't hate me. Tell me you're still mine," he whispers raspily. 

My throat suddenly dried like a desert when I felt his lips brushing on my ears. His effects on me are exceeding. "I-I love you, Reeve," I muttered throatily.

I took a deep breath as If I didn't breath for a long time when he made a distance between us. His face softened. A relieved smile curved on his lips.

"That's my girl. I love you, wife." His lips brushed over mine before he whispered, "I'm an army guy, and I'd fight for our relationship like how I fight for our country. Always remember that," he says.

I sniffed and nodded. He dried my tears, and a beautiful smile peal on his face.

"We will stick forever, whatever storm we were facing, alright?" he says gently.

Tumango ako at binaon ang mukha sa kaniyang dibdib. "Y-Yes. I won't leave you. We will just have our misunderstanding, but we will never part ways,"

My heart leapt when Reeve kissed my forehead, and then his lips trailed down my nose, and I instantly felt blushing when he claimed my lips, slowly but passionately. Then, his kisses went down on my jaw, trailing down my ears, and a soft moan peal on my lips when he licked my neck, gently sucking it.

"R-Reeve. . ." I moaned and gripped his nape.

He bit my neck once again before he planted a soft-quick kiss on my lips. "I love you, wife." he says.

Nang pakawalan niya ang labi 'ko ay mabilis gumuhit ang malawak na ngiti sa akin. It seems that he doesn't need the medicine and soup anymore because he's now active and clingy, just like his usual self.

Nasa cafeteria kami ng mga kaibigan 'kong doctor, kakakuha lang namin ng pagkain sa buffet. Dahil gutom na gutom ako dahil sa sunod-sunod na pagdating ng mga pasyente, marami akong kinuhang pagkain. I took Sweet & Sour Chicken, brown rice, Double-Baked Mashed Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Waffle Fries. For dessert, I had pecan tart. 

Nakapag-usap na kami Reeve kaya magaan na ang pakiramdam 'ko. After we talked and set aside our issues, we ended up having a mindblowing make-love. I could say that our cortisol, a steroid hormone, also known as the primary stress hormone in our body, released into our bloodstream and riled us up while we were both stressed during our talk.

Now, my mood came back from the devils dens to cloud nine. 

They didn't kiss. My husband didn't cheat on me. I already watched the footage of CCTV from yesterday, which made our first fight as a married couple escalates to a truce. Mabuti na lang at mabilis kaming nagka-ayos ni Reeve.

Now I've learned how much fights important in a relationship. Sometimes, couples have to argue, not to prove who's right or wrong, but to be reminded that their love is worth fighting for. Because a relationship is like a house. When a light bulb burns out, you don't go and buy a new house, you fix the light bulb.

He told me that he already banned Ashleigh from his restaurant. I'm pleased because the moment I see that woman inside my husband's den again, I'll drag her to hell.

"Grabe 'yong nasagap kong balita kanina! Hello, baby—este Doc Dale!" sabay-sabay kaming napalingon nina Dra. Eunice, Dra. Nikkie at Dale sa kararadating lang na si Nurse Eva.

"What happened?" I asked in a solemn voice and offered her a drink.

She accepted the drink and thanked me before she continued her gossip. Mabilis siyang naupo sa tabi ni Dale na halatang nag-aalala sa kaniya.

"Nagkasagutan sina Dra. Ashleigh at Dra. Angeles sa breakroom! Aba'y ang kapal ng mukha ni Dra. Ashleigh para sagot-sagotin ang Chief resident nila! Siya na nga 'tong nagkamali sa pagbibigay ng gamot kanina sa pasyente, siya 'tong may ganang manigaw kay Dra. Angeles!"

My mood immediately turned sour when I heard the name of that sly girl.

"She did that? Sabi na nga ba at bitch talaga ang babaeng 'yon!" Dra. Eunice muttered in disbelief.

"Oo, Dra. Ang lakas ng loob sigawan si Dra. Angeles. Resident pa lang siya pero ang kapal na ng mukha!" Nurse Eva muttered through gritted teeth.

"Dra. Angeles should make a complain about her then," Dra. Nikkie said. Sumang-ayon naman kaagad ang mga kasamahan 'ko.

"Agreed. What she did was unprofessional," Dale added.

I took a deep sigh, making them look at me. "What? She wasn't like that before, but now, she's 

showing her true self," I muttered in an uptight expression.

"Ay! Mukhang may pinaghuhugutan ka dra, 'ah? Spill the tea naman." Nurse Eva rebukes.

I shook my head. "I don't kiss and tell, Eva. But all I can say is, the Ashleigh you knew wasn't the real her. Her real attitude stinks, so be careful with her," I warned them.

Pagkatapos ng lunch break ay bumalik na ulit kami sa mga kanya-kanya naming gawain. And After two major surgery that last long for 4 hours each, finally, I have the time to take a dinner at home. 

Naglalakad na ako sa may hallway palabas ng scrub sink after Ashleigh and I had a fight in the scrub sink. She deserves my comeback! After all the wicked things she did behind my back, slapping her four times isn't enough. I know I shouldn't be physical, but she really got on my nerves that I couldn't hold my temper anymore but let her taste her own medicine.

How could she do that to us? To me? Ni isang beses, wala kaming ginawang masama sa kaniya. Hindi lang kaibigan ang turing namin sa kaniya, kung hindi pamilya. We've always been together, so it's hard for me to accept that she drug us, and she even confessed that she planned for me to get ravished by someone.

If she can do it to me, who really knows her, then she will and may do it again with other people. I'm a little terrified of her way of thinking. Her insecurity eats her, and now she's blinded by her insecurity.

I took an aggravated sigh and pulled myself out of the gutter.

Napakunot noo ako nang madaanan 'ko ang nursing station at naabutan kong may pinagkakaguluhan ang mga Nurse sa hospital bench, sa mismong harapan ng station nila.

"What's happening?" I mumbled as I marched towards them.

"Ang gwapo niya, 'no? Tapos matangkad at mayaman pa! Swerte naman ni Doctora," ani ng isang nurse na humahagikgik pa.

"Anak mayaman naman si Doctora, 'ah? Alalahanin niyo na ang pamilya nila ang nagmamay-ari ng hospital kung saan tayo nagtatrabaho!"

"Sabagay— Dra!"

Mabilis silang natigilan sa pagsasalita nang tumikhim ako. Humingi sila ng paumanhin bago mabilis na bumalik sa mga kaniya-kaniya nilang gawain. Tipid na lang akong ngumiti at nilingon ang pinagkakaguluhan nila at ganoon na lamang ang panlalaki ng mga mata 'ko nang makita si Reeve, nakaupo sa may bench habang nakacross-legs at abala sa paggamit ng cellphone. 

Hindi ko alam kung talagang hindi niya naririnig na pinag-uusapan siya ng mga tao o baka wala lang siyang pakialam. Mabilis 'ko siyang nilapitan at tumikhim, unti-unti naman siyang tumingala sa'kin.

"Wife!" His face instantly brightened up when he saw me.

"Hubby, what are you doing here?" I asked in confusion and curiosity.

A smile slowly crept on his lips. "I came here to see you, wife." He licked his lower lip before he checked the time on his wristwatch that I gave him. "I wanna take you out for dinner."

Natigilan ako at napatitig sa kaniya. Unti-unting gumuhit ang isang ngiti sa labi 'ko bago tumango.

"Ilang oras ka na naghihintay dito? You should have waited for me inside my office."

Tumingin ulit siya sa wristwatch na regalo 'ko. Napangiti ako dahil araw-araw niya 'yon sinusuot. "Not that long. Nearly three hours only, wife."

Napasinghap ako.

"Nearly three hours?! That's crazy long!" I took a deep breath, stressing out. "You shouldn't have waited for me. Mas nauna kana sana kumain," I felt my eyes suddenly moistened.

Nataranta siya nang makita ang reaksyon 'ko. He cupped my face as he looked at me softly. "I told you before, and I will not be tired of telling you again that I will always wait for you no matter what. Hmm? As long as you're the reason for my waiting, then it's all good. So, it's okay, alright? Don't cry na, mon amour," he brushes my tears.

My heart started beating so loud out of my chest. 

I nodded. "I know naman. But you can eat naman without me, right?"

He shook his head. "The foods taste blunt when I'm not eating with you. Gusto 'ko palagi tayong sabay kumain," he says.

My lips frowned. "Kahit ikaw naman ang magluluto?"

"Kahit ako pa ang nagluto o kahit si Gordon Ramsey pa, wife. If I don't eat with you, it's nothing."

"Why?" I asked. 

"Because I want to be with you every day and in every way I can." He held my hand and kissed the back of it.

"Gusto rin kita kasama palagi. Hindi na kompleto ang araw 'ko kapag hindi kita nakikita," I muttered heartfully.

His eyes sparkled in happiness.

He stood up and intertwined our hands before I felt his lips on my head. Unti-unti akong ngumiti habang nakatitig sa kaniya. "I love you, wife. Let's go eat our dinner?"

Heat rushed through my cheeks and neck when the Nurses shrieked behind us. Mabilis 'ko silang liningon at pinanlakihan ng mga mata. Napatigil naman sila sa pagtili pero ang mga mapang-asar nilang tingin ay nanatili pa rin.

Reeve lightly chuckled beside me. Mabilis 'ko siyang sinamaan ng tingin kaya mabilis niyang ibinalik sa pormal na ekspresyon ang mukha niya pero ang mga mata niya'y nanatiling nagkikislapan.

I frowned. "Tara na nga, hubby. I'm craving for pan seared scallops carbonara," I muttered and pulled him away.

His eyebrows creased in confusion. "That's new. You don't like eating scallops," he uttered in confusion and curiosity.

I hissed. "So? Can't I crave scallops once in a while?" mataray na tanong 'ko na ikinaawang ng bibig niya. "Basta gusto 'ko ng scallops carbonara, Reeve!"

"A-Alright. God, your mood shift so fast," he mumbles.

Inirapan 'ko na lang siya at nagcross arms saka binilisan ang paghakbang paalis. I don't want to talk to him! Umiinit ang ulo 'ko.

© Fushia