CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: MARRIED LIFE

Bianchi

MARRIED LIFE is about seeing the one you choose to be with and promise to love in front of God first thing in the morning. The same person I will dine with for the rest of the day. And the one that will sleep with me in one bed at night. I still can't believe I'm married now to the man I met in Tower Bridge.

A sweet smile flashed on my face when I wake up one morning right before the alarm clock buzz. Isa pang bago sa akin ngayong kasal na ako kay Jaziel. Mas nauuna na ako sa alarm clock na na-set ko nang nagdaang gabi dahil lagi akong excited na ipaghanda ng almusal ang asawa ko. Dahan-dahan ako bumangon at nilingon si Jaziel na natutulog pa. He has a ten o'clock meeting today with the other contructors on their site.

Sinipat ko ang oras at nakitang alas siete na ng umaga.

"Time to prepare now, Bia," I said with a smile.

My husband will wake up by 7:30am base on his alarm clock. Dali-dali akong kumilos saka nag-ayos ng sarili bago bumaba na kusina. Itinali ko pataas ang buhok ko bago binukas ang refrigerator at kuhain ang mga kakailanganin ko sa pagluluto. Dahil napatira kami ni Jaziel sa Pilipinas ng isang taon matapos ang bago bumalik dito sa London, nasanay na siya kumain ng kanin. He even added rice to our weekly menu once a week recently.

"Hi my loveys!" Masigla kong bati nang kumunekta na ang video call ko dalawa kong pamangkin. Both of my niece greeted me back in chorus. Regular ito tuwing ganitong oras London at hapon naman sa Pilipinas.

"Daddy told us that you're busy, but Millie insists to call you," paliwanag ni Venice agad. Hindi naman ako naiinis na natawag sila. Masaya pa nga ako dahil may mga pagkakataon na namimiss ko ang ingay nila.

"It's all right. I miss you both too," tugon ko. Pinakinggan ko ang kwento ni Venice habang naghihiwa ng bawang.

"Is Papa there?" Millie interjected. Papa, iyon ang tawag ni Millie kay Jaziel dahil iyon ang nagpagkasunduan nila. Si Venice naman minsan Jaziel lang, madalas nadadala ni Millie kaya Papa din ang natatawag niya sa asawa ko.

"He'll wake up soon. Why?" Napatingin ako sa oras at mas binilisan ko ang paghahanda ng almusal. Millie showed me her latest achievement, and I remember that whenever they have awards, they will receive money from Jaziel. "He's awake now," I said when I heard heavy footsteps descending downstairs.

Inalis ko ang earphone sa tablet at pinindot ang loudspeaker mode. Tumalikod ako at sinalang ginayat ko na bawang sa kawali.

"Good morning!" Masiglang bati sa akin ni Jaziel niyakap ako paulit-ulit na hinalikan ang aking noo.

"We have a callers," I said, pointing out the tablet. There we saw Millie and Venice talking to their parents. "Our little girl has a lot of awards. Prepare your wallet." Binalingan ko na ang niluluto ko at hinayaan silang mag-usap. Isa sa namana ni Millie kay Kuya ay iyong pagiging switik sa pera. Walang nakakalamang sa batang iyon miski na sino.

"They're all smart just like their parents." I chuckled. Jaziel end the call after my sister-in-law called my nieces for merienda. "I sent them 10 euro each, babe." Niyakap ako ni Jaziel saka pinatakan niya ng magaan na halik na balikat ko.

"It will go to their savings account which Kuya handles. He'll probably call later to confirm." Inimbitahan ko siya maupo na saka hinainan. Kumuha ako ng mug at sinalinan ang baso ng kape.

"I loved my mornings since we got married. But sometimes, I want your indifference,"

"Like how?"

"Like you'll ask me not to go to work." Gusto kong gawin pero sabi niya importante ang meeting na meron siya ngayon. "I haven't congratulate you on marrying me since we moved back here."

"Let's have some steak and wine later to celebrate." We love celebrating anything that crosses our minds. Parang naging bonding na namin ito. 

"I will look forward to it, babe," he said. I smiled when I felt his warm hand against mine.

***

"I REALLY love your eyebrow, but we will fix it still. Let's try this eyeshadow first." Dahan-dahan akong pumikit matapos sabihin ni Ayen na lalagyan niya ng binebenta niyang eyeshadow ang talukap ng aking mga mata. Binisita ko siya sa mall na pinagta-trabaho-an pagka-galing ko sa isang job interview. "Are you really sure about your decision to work first instead of planning to have kids with Jaziel?"

"Is it normal to be torn between wanting to do for me and building a family with my husband?"

"Hm, for some people, yes and you belong to that circle. Elders won't understand you because marrying someone will give you the obligation to have kids." Tumayo si Ayen sa likod ko matapos lagyan ng eyeshadow ang parehong talukap ng aking mga mata. "Does Jaziel wants to try having another child?"

"He does even if he's not vocal about it,"

Basta kung ano ang maunang ibigay sa akin tatanggapin ko. Ayoko na muna sumubok mag-PT dahil baka ma-disappoint lang ako. Nilagay ko muna ang buong atensyon ko sa paghahanap ng trabaho dito sa London na halos dalawang buwan ko na rin ginagawa. Kahit hindi ako obligado magtrabaho, gusto ko pa rin mag-apply at ginawa ko iyon kanina kaso mukhang hindi sila kumbinsido sa credentials ko.

"Excuse me, may I know what shade you're using with her? I want to buy that shade," anang customer na nakitang inaayusan ako ni Ayen.

Sandaling huminto si Ayen at binalingan ang customer na nagtatanong. Ngumiti ako at sinipat ang itsura ko sa salamin. Nakangiti din si Ayen ng balikan ako.

"You already sold three eyeshadow since I came here. I need a commission now."

"Ask your husband; he has a lot of money," she answered. Binalikan niya ang inaayos na eyeshadow kanina. "What happens to your job interview?"

"I think I did well, but I didn't meet some of their qualifications."

Malayo kasi ang work experience ko sa ina-apply-an ko na posisyon kanina. I worked as a advertising coordinator at my brother's in-laws company and handled several outdoor events there. Dahil expertise ko ang pag-proofread at copyright, ako ang kinuha ni Kuya at may offer pa rin siya na maging consultant ako nila kaso hindi ko pa siya nababalikan.

"Your hotty brother offered you to be their consultant. Why don't you accept that?"

"Stop addressing my brother in that way, Ayen. He's a married man now."

Binatukan ako ni Ayen. "I know. Why do you have to remind that?"

"Look for another man. Jaziel has some architect friends at work, and they earned well too. Enough to provide for your needs and wants."

"I don't want to be in a relationship right now. It's been a month since I stopped hooking up."

"Are you still okay? For someone who proclaimed celibacy, you're glowing." Muli akong binatukan ni Ayen. Natawa ako pero mukhang seryoso na siya ngayon sa pagbabagong buhay. Puro trabaho na lang ang ginagawa niya ngayon pero nakakasama pa rin namin.

"Not because you have an active sex life; you're allowed to mock me,"

"I'm not mocking you..." Umarko ang kilay ni Ayen. "Slight," akma niya ako hahampasin ngunit agad ako nakalayo. "You're free this weekend. Have dinner with us and with the boys."

"Fine."

Binayaran ko ang ginawa niyang pag-aayos sa kilay ko at bumili din ako ng eyeshadow na binebenta niya bago umalis. Dumiretso ako sa grocery store para bumili ng steak at wine na siyang lulutuin namin mamaya ni Jaziel. I stopped when I received a video call from my husband.

"Hey babe, what's up?" tanong ko habang namimili ng steak na bibilhin.

"Babe, what happened to your job interview?" he asked.

"It did well, but I didn't meet some of their qualifications. I will try to apply again to different companies."

"Are you okay?"

"Of course. Anyway, I visited Ayen a while ago, and she fixed my eyebrow and eyeshadow. Look what she did," I showed my eyeshadow to my husband. "Am I pretty?"

"You always beautiful, babe,"

"Bolero."

Sinamahan ako ni Jaziel na mamili habang nagta-trabaho siya sa opisina. Tapos na ang on site meeting nila kaya nasa opisina na siya. Nasanay na kami sa ganito na para bang LDR pa rin kaming dalawa. Hanggang sa makauwi ako ay kausap ko siya. Kung hindi pa tumawag si Kuya, hindi matatapos ang tawag naming mag-asawa.

May asawa na rin pero iniistorbo pa ako...

***

NGUMITI ako nang matapos ko ayusin ang lamesa kung saan kami kakain ni Jaziel pagkatapos magluto. Jaziel cooked and I fixed the table for us. Kinuha ko ang wine na nabili ko at nagsalin sa mga baso namin saka lumapit kay Jaziel.

"For you," I said, handing a glass of wine.

"Thank you." Marahan niya akong kinabig saka hinalikan ang aking sentido. "Did you invite Ayen this weekend?"

"Yeah, and I convinced her to come." Binaba ko ang aking wine glass saka binuhat ang dalawang plato na may steak sa lamesa. "Kuya called a while ago, and he delivered the news about my sister-in-law's plan to study in Scotland."

"Is it okay with him? They just got married, right?"

"He's fine and supported her decision. Besides, they already have kids now." Wala namang problema iyon kay Kuya at hindi din naman selfishness ang desisyon ni Heart.

"If I were in your brother's shoes, I'll support you too. Babies later."

"You will?"

"Yes. Achieve your goals first, and we'll have babies after you fulfill your goals. Marriage is all about compromise, support, and love." Up until now, may mga bagay pa rin ako na nadidiskubreng bago kay Jaziel kahit kasal na kami ngayon. "This is my way of saying thank you for marrying me,"