"You seemed off after your quick chat with Sam, hon. Ano'ng nangyari?" Tanong ni Demani sa asawa nang lumabas siya sa banyo matapos maligo. Sa kamay ay hawak niya ang isang towel na ikinukuskos niya sa basang buhok.

      Her husband was sitting on the couch, eyes closed and exhaustion all over his face. Huminto siya sa harap nito habang patuloy pa rin sa pagpupunas ng basang buhok.

      Van opened his eyes and stared at her with longing. Sandali siya nitong tinitigan bago umangat ang kamay nito sa suot niyang roba at hinila ang tali niyon. Upang hindi humulagpos sa pagkakatali ay natatawang hinawakan niya ang kamay ng asawa at pinigilan iyon.

      "Not yet, lover boy. Kailangan mo muna sa aking sabihin kung ano ang bumabagabag sa iyo."

      Van made a face and then pulled her hand instead. She settled on his lap. "It's nothing," he said before nuzzling her neck. Ang mga kamay nito'y naging malikot. Inagaw nito ang hawak siyang towel at ibinato sa sahig, habang ang isang kamay nito'y masuyong dinama ang kaniyang binti.

      Dinama niya ang mukha ng asawa at tinitigan ito nang diretso sa mga mata. "Come on. Iyan lagi ang sinasabi mo sa akin sa tuwing tinatanong kita kapag may problema. Why wouldn't you share your problems with me? I am your wife, we should stick together through good and bad times, hon. Ganoon dapat ang mag-asawa, hindi ba? So, come one. Tell me. Ano'ng masamang hangin na naman ang ipinasok ni Sam sa isip mo para mawalan ka ng gana sa buong maghapon habang naroon tayo? Buti na lang at maagang nagpahinga si Lola Val, kung hindi ay mahahalata ka niya."

      Ngumiti si Van at muli siyang hinalikan sa leeg. His hand went inside her robe and touched her breast, making her release a sensual moan. "Don't worry about it. May mga itinanong lang siya na hindi ko gustong sagutin. And you know Sam. He's an asshole."

      She chuckled at what he said. Totoo ang sinabi nito. Kahit siya ay hindi kasundo ang asawa ng pinsan niya. But what else could they do? He's part of the family and they had to accept it.

      Ibinalik niya ang pansin sa asawa nang tuluyan na nitong tinanggal ang pagkakatali ng roba niya. He took it off her and then carried her to the bed.

      She chuckled when he went on top of her— still fully clothed while she had nothing on her but her wedding ring.

      "Three nights without you by my side felt so terrible, babe," he whispered as he took his shirt off. Tumambad sa harap niya ang magandang katawan ng asawa— which made her ache for him even more. Her hands sensually traced his packs, traveling down to his navel, down to the button of his pants— and then she stopped.

      Sinundan ng mga mata ni Van ang kaniyang mga kamay at nang huminto siya ay ibinalik nito ang tingin sa kaniya.

      Their eyes met and they both smiled at each other.

      "Do you wanna unbutton my pants or should I start strip teasing now?"

      She smiled at her husband cheekily and then got up. Lumuhod siya sa kama at tinanggal ang pagkaka-butones ng pantalon nito habang ang mga mata'y hindi pa rin humihiwalay sa asawa. She bit her lower lip seductively before crossing the distance between them and kissing him carnally.

      Van's hands went to her shoulders and traced their way up to her neck. He caressed her there before pulling her closer. Her breasts pressed against his hard chest; she trembled in delight.

      This time, he was kissing her, deeply— almost savagely. His tongue went inside her mouth, tasting her. And it was hard for her to focus on his kisses because his erection was poking her abdomen.

      "I missed you," he murmured between kisses.

      She didn't answer and let her hands do the trick. She pulled his pants down and snap the garter of his boxers— and that's when she was rewarded with a sexy growl.

      Van's hands left her nape and traced their way to her back, sensually feeling her skin, and then they went down to her bum— kneading sensually before pulling her to his magnificent erection.

      She moaned deliciously— but she shrieked out when Van pushed her back to the bed.

      She watched her husband removed his pants off, followed by his boxers. Pakiramdam niya ay biglang nagliwanag ang paligid nang bumungad sa kaniya ang matayog na bagay na iyon sa pagitan ng binti ng asawa. She was awed at the effect she had on her husband. He was thrilled and she could clearly see that.

      Nang i-angat ni Van ang kaniyang binti ay napasinghap siya sa antisipasyon.

      He started kissing her calf, and then she giggled when his lips reached her knee— she was ticklish there. He continued to kiss her until his lips touched the inside of her thigh. Doon umarko ang likod niya— she couldn't wait for him to taste her.

      And when he finally took a plunge into her tasty pearl, that's when she moaned aloud and purred like a cat.

      She tightly closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment as Van continued to taste her. His hands were gripping her waist as he glorified her body. She swayed her hips to dance with his naughty and skillful tongue. She arched her back when his tongue sought entrance into her portal, and then gripped the sheet when he started to suck her pearl.

      "Oh, honey..." she whimpered and continued to moan as if she was singing a song. Pakiramdam niya sa mga oras na iyon ay idinuduyan siya sa alapaap.

      She was almost reaching the stars, she was seeing heaven and hearing the birds of paradise.

      She started to gasp for air when the height of ecstasy escalated even more. Ang mga kamay niya'y biglang bumaba sa ulo ni Van at idiniin pa iyon upang ipaalam dito ang matinding pangagailangan niya. And her husband served willingly. He sucked her most sensitive part not-so-gently and that made her moan in oblivion. Seconds later, she screamed his name as orgasm consumed her.

      And when Van joined her in the bed, she braced herself to prepare for what's coming. Napangiti siya nang mapatingin sa mga labi nito. Itinaas niya ang daliri at dinama iyon.

      "You and your skillful, naughty mouth are always making me crazy," she uttered.

      Van grinned and positioned himself between her thighs. Ang mga kamay nito'y itinaas ang mga kamay niya sa kaniyang uluhan. "Open wide for me, babe, and we're going to fly across the universe," he commanded.

      She bit her lip in excitement and did what her husband ordered her to do. A gasp came out of her throat when his magnificent maleness plunged inside her. Van never failed to give her satisfaction over and over. He just loved giving her that intense feeling whenever they were in their bedroom.

      "Oh, I missed you so much, baby," he whispered in her ear as he continued to thrust with fire and intensity. "And your sweet moans are making me crazier."

      Inangat niya ang sarili at ibinaon ang mukha sa leeg ng asawa.

      "Oh, Van... I am getting there again, honey..." she cried and arched her body all the more. She wanted him to go deeper and faster for her.

      And when her husband did, she just lost her head. She reached her point the second time around— crying his name like a prayer.

*

*

*

      "Hey honey, I'm home."

      Napalingon siya nang marinig ang tinig ng asawa na pumasok sa kusina. She was making dinner when he arrived.

      "Hey, hindi ko namalayan ang pagdating mo," aniya rito. She pushed the tray back to the oven when she realized that her roast chicken was still raw. Tinanggal muna niya ang over gloves sa mga kamay at ipinatong ang mga iyon sa island counter bago sinalubong ang asawa.

      Van planted a soft kiss on her lips. "That smells good," he complimented while eyeing the oven.

      "We'll have roasted chicken for dinner," she announced. Pilit siyang nagpakawala ng ngiti sa asawa saka humiwalay rito at inabala ang sarili sa paghiwa ng carrots for the side dish.

      Napansin marahil si Van ang malumbay niyang anyo kaya hinawakan siya nito sa magkabilang balikat at muling iniharap. "Tell me what's wrong."

      Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na paghinga at sinundan iyon ng pagbagsak ng kaniyang mga balikat. "It's just that... Coreen came here this afternoon and she was asking for help."

      Inakay siya ni Van patungo sa isang silya at pina-upo roon. He then squatted in front of her and met her eyes. "Okay, I'm listening."

      Muli siyang bumuntong hininga. "As you know... Si Sam ay walang trabaho, so my cousin had to find ways to put food on the table. Our family is helping them get through their everyday lives. Coreen's parents got pissed with Sam's laziness and forced him to look for a job, and he was actually trying, not just as hard as our family wanted him to be. Gustuhin man naming hiwalayan na lang ni Coreen ang asawa ay hindi maaari. Lola Val is against annulment. Naniniwala itong kayang gawan ng paraan ang lahat ng problema. At ang sitwasyon ng mag-asawa ay masyadong mababaw na dahilan para sa lola para paghiwalayin sila. She always gives people second chances, kaya naman nagsabi siya sa lahat na tulungan si Sam na maghanap ng trabaho. But that idiot doesn't want to work!"

      Napailing si Van sa mga narinig. Nasa anyo nito ang disappointment.

Nagpatuloy siya. "Sam said he's tired of being under someone's management. At ang kita sa ticketing outlet ni Coreen ay hindi sapat sa mga pangangailangan nila. A month ago, my cousin came to me and asked for my help."

      Doon nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Van, at alam niya kung ano ang ibig sabihin niyon. Nagpakawala siyang muli ng malalim na buntonghininga. "I'm sorry if I didn't tell you. Naki-usap si Coreen na h'wag sabihin kahit kanino, lalo na sa mga magulang niya."

      "Ano'ng tulong ang hiningi sa iyo ni Correen?"

      "Cash assistance," she answered hesitantly. "I lent her money to help her business. I transferred all the money that I'd earned from my previous job to her. I didn't need it at the time, so it's no problem for me. That money was able to help Coreen's business— she was able to pay for overdue bills and taxes, and she's able to somehow grow her income. However, this afternoon, she came back and told me that the income from the past two weeks was taken by Sam. Kinuha ni Sam nang walang paalam at ipinang-sugal."

      Van groaned in frustration. "That son of a bitch."

     "I know, hon. Kanina ay parang gusto ko siyang sugurin sa bahay nila sa sobrang galit."

     "So, Coreen came here to borrow more money, I would assume?"

      Doon siya napayuko at umiwas ng tingin. "She... did."

      Sa pagkakataong iyon ay si Van naman ang nagpakawala ng mahabang buntonghininga.

      "It's for her to save the business, honey," she defended. "My purpose was to provide long-term assistance."

      Matagal na pinag-isipan ni Van ang mga sinabi niya bago ito tumango. Hindi niya alam kung kombisido ang asawa sa dahilan niya, at lalong hindi niya alam kung ano ang stand nito sa ganoong klase ng bagay. She and her husband were born and raised differently— so she was worried that he wouldn't understand.

      "There's nothing wrong with helping others, Demani, most especially of it's a family. But you should understand that by doing that, you are just tolerating the person who is supposed to be responsible for helping his family. Responsibilidad ni Sam na tulungan at suportahan ang pamilya niya. Hindi ikaw, hindi ang buong pamilya Dominico."

      She sighed— again. "Yes, I know, hon. But the elders coached us that we should help each member without question. That we shouldn't turn our back on each other. If someone in the family needs help, and one of us has the ability to do so, we should do it— no matter what the circumstances they are in. I was brought up that way, Van. All of us were brought up that way."

      "I understand that your family has strong morals about it, but someone like Sam is just taking advantage, hon. Do you realize that?"

      Lumabi siya. "All I really wanted was to help Correen. Hindi ko kayang makitang umiiyak siya sa hirap. Maisip ko lang na sina Calvin at Conrad na nagdurusa ay para na ring nabibiyak ang puso ko."

      Doon ngumiti si Van at kinabig siya. He kissed her forehead and caressed her back. "You are such a loving person, Demani. This is why I'm crazy about you."

           Napangiti siya at gumanti ng yakap.

           Sa katunayan ay wala siyang planong sabihin sa asawa ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon, pero dahil nahalata nito ang panlalambot niya sa nangyayari sa buhay ng pinsan ay wala na siyang nagawa kung hindi magsabi rito ng totoo. Maliban sa perang naipon niya noong dalaga pa siya— na naubos na sa unang beses na tumulong siya kay Coreen— ay mayroon pa siyang account kung saan naroon ang allowance na ibinibigay sa kaniya ng asawa para sa personal niyang pangangailangan. She never used it, so she just saved every centavo. And now, they're all gone, because she had to help her cousin for the second time.

      "There are things I don't understand in the Family Dominico's belief system, but if helping them will make you happy, I will support it. But please don't go overboard, hon."

      Gusto niyang maluha sa sinabi ng asawa. She was just loving her husband more and more each day. Totoong may mga bagay itong hindi naiintindihan sa paniniwala ng pamilya nila, pero lagi itong nasa likod niya upang suportahan siya.

      Humiwalay ito at tumayo na. "Just relax now, don't get too stressed. I want us to enjoy the dinner you prepared."

      She sniffed and smiled at her husband. "I love you, honey."

      Van smiled back and kissed the top of her head. "I love you more, babe. Now, let's check that chicken, shall we? I'm starved."

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