Hell, All Over Again

Chapter Nine – Her Jealous Heart

SANAY si Rose Ann sa mga matang nakatingin sa kanya. Sinanay rin niya ang sarili na panatilihin ang maamong ngiti kahit hindi siya komportable. Natapos din ang pagpuputol sa ribbon. Naka-upo na rin siya at nakisabay sa pagkain sa tagapamahala sa orphanage. She was starving but ate as if she was truly enjoying the food on the table.

            How she wished the event would end soon. She wanted to get back to Jamin’s pad, order a pizza and lounge lazily on his couch. Her utensils accidentally fell off the table. She bent over to pick it up.

            “Sit up, angel,” mahinang tinig ng pamilyar na boses.

            Napa-upo naman siya at nakitang umupo ito sa tapat niya, nagtatanong.

            “These men are ogling your damn breasts.” Nakangiti, pero halata ang inis sa mukha nito.

            Pasimple niyang tiningnan ang cleavage. Lilitaw nga iyon kung dudukwang siya, pero ugali na niyang takpan iyon ng palad sa ganoong pagkakataon.  “I covered it.”

            “They’re still trying to ogle. I told you to wear something else.” Prente itong naka-upo, sumipsip sa basong may white wine.

            “Please, not that again. You’re acting like a jealous husband, if you must notice.” Pasimple rin siyang sumipsip sa wine glass niya, pero pahapyaw na hinagip ang reaksiyon nito sa kanyang sinabi.

            “I just don’t want other men to have a view of what’s mine. You’re my wife. And so is that body you are trying to show off.”

            Pagak siyang natawa. “Can’t help it, Jamin. I was born with it, plus years of hardwork.”

            Nanatili sa labi ang bunganga ng baso nito, habang ang mga mata ay nakapako sa kanyang dibdib. Hindi niya naiwasang maapektuhan sa klase ng mga titig nito. Napamura siya sa isip. Napakalakas talaga ng pang-akit mayroon ang asawa.

            His jaw hardened. He put the the wine glass down. He put his arms on the table and moved his head closer to her. She thought he wanted to whisper something so she moved closer as well.

            “You’re not wearing a bra as well, are you?”

            She rolled her eyes and leaned back. “Really, Jamin?”

            “They should ban that kind of dress.”

            Hindi na niya napigilan ang pagtawa. She covered her mouth and laugh gracefully. Jamin arched his brow.

            “If you must know, my dearest husband, your suit is a woman-enticing look as well. You can drag any woman in here, and they would still voluntarily accept you with their two hands, plus both legs, very happily.”

            “Ows? Should I try then?”

            Nagpanting ang tainga niya sa narinig. “Try. If you want to see me with another man’s arms tonight.”

            Naglaho naman ang nanunudyong ngiti nito. Hindi rin nagustuhan ang sinabi niya. Naglabanan sila ng titigan. Na naputol lamang nang lapitan sila ng direktor ng orphanage. Sabay silang tumayo, ngumiti at nakipag-usap. Hanggang sa namaalam na sila.

            Jamin was driving home when she suggested a drive-thru pizza. Nagpa-unlak naman ito. Um-oder sila ng isang large size supreme, at large chicken artichoke, na sinamahan na rin ng breadsticks with marinara dip, and a large diet pepsi.

            Takam na takam si Rose Ann sa amoy ng pizza na nasa kandungan. Hidi na siya makapaghintay pa kaya kumuha siya ng isang slice ng supreme at nagsimulang lantakin iyon.

            “Where’s your manner, angel?” Lingon ni Jamin.

            “Down in my stomach. It will only come out once I’m fed.” Pagbibiro niya.

            “A reporter would be glad to take a shot of this.”

            “And if he did, you’ll also be in trouble, love. I’m your beloved wife, remember?”

            “Love?” kumunot ang noo nito.

            “Yes, like it or not.”

            “Give me a bite.” Mahina nitong sabi.

            Natawa siya, pero kumuha ng chicken artichoke slice at isinubo rito.

            “Hmm! That’s hitting the spot!” Nguya nito.

            “Where’s your manner?” Balik-sarkastiko niya.

            “Down in your stomach. It will only come out once you behave.”

            Tinaasan lang niya ito ng kilay. Ayaw talagang magpatalo. Inubos na lang niya ang pizza slice.

            Mabilis silang bumaba ng sasakyan nang mai-park na iyon. Pumasok sa elevator at sa pad. Dumiretso sila sa kusina. Si Jamin para kumuha ng yelo sa freezer, siya para initin sa microwave ang medyo lumamig ng pizza. Nilagay nilang lahat iyon sa mesa, sabay na umupo at mga gutom na nilantakan ang makakain.

            Panay ang titigan nila habang ngumunguya. They both know they have physical attraction between them, they won’t deny that.

Rose Ann licked the marinara dip on the breadstick.

Jamin smirked. He too, tossed a cube of ice in his mouth, and slowly played it with his tongue.

            Rose Ann took a bite on the breadstick, and slowly chewed on it.

            Jamin bit the cube, making a slow crushes sound, while jaw was moving in a very sensual way.

            “Do you like marinara?” Rose Ann took the small cup of the dip.

            “Yes, in the pizza.” He looked at the dip resting on her palm.

            Rose Ann digged her index finger in the dip, put in her mouth, down to her neck, and to her cleavage. “How about on my skin? Bon appétit.” She smiled.

            Tumayo si Jamin. Hinila nito ang silyang kina-uupuan niya. Iginiya siya patayo. Lumapit ang mukha nito sa kanyang leeg. Napapikit siya. She misses his touch. She wants his lips on her skin again. She wants to feel him inside her. She smiled.

            “I’m tired. I will take a shower and go to bed. Good night, angel.” He whispered.

            Natuod siya sa kinatatayuan. Hindi pa rin makapaniwalang iniwan siya nito nang ganoon. Pagkuwa’y naitaas niya ang kilay, pilit kinakalma ang sarili sa pagkapahiya. Mahinang tawa ang pinakawalan niya. “Jerk.” She grunted.

            JAMIN headed in the shower. He pounded his head on the wall. He wanted to lick her that red dip off her finger but…he did not want to be swayed by her seduction.  He must have the upper hand.

            Napa-ungol siya nang maramdaman ang paninigas ng p*********i. He needs to relieve himself, and so he grabbed his hardness and stroke it, while Rose Ann’s seductive image played in his mind.

            “Oh f**k…” ungol niya habang inaabot ang sukdulan. How nice would it be if his tongue could touch her silky skin right now? “Oh s**t!” He groaned when he felt his release. Lalong bumilis ang paghagod niya sa sarili. “Oh damn…” paulit-ulit niyang tinig hanggang sa mailabas ang lahat ng tensiyon sa puson.

            Nang matapos mag-shower, at nakahiga na sa kama, tinawanan niya ang sarili. Hindi siya makapaniwalang nagawa niyang maglaro sa sarili para lang mairaos ang init sa katawan. “Damn, angel…you’re killing me.” He breathed hard and decided to sleep on it.

            NAIINIS si Rose Ann sa ama-amahan. Wala siyang balak pumunta sa party ng Alejandro para sa mga partner ng bagong negosyong itinatag nina Jamin. Pero kailangan niyang matyagan ang matanda sa maaaring gawin nitong hindi maganda sa asawa.

            She chose to wear a black lace evening dress with a shimmering crop jacket. A six-high heeled stilletos finished it beautifully. She grabbed the black pailette evening clutch bag in envelope style and headed for the door. She was wearing her usual hair-do.

            Bumukas ang elevator sa floor ng pad nila ni Jamin, pumasok siya sa loob. Her father’s car was waiting at the condo’s entrance. Isipin pa lang niyang muling makatatabi ito sa iisang sasakyan ay nagpapakulo na sa kanyang dugo. Pero kinalma niya ang sarili at katulad nang dati, inilagay niya ang sarili sa entabladong inihanda ng ama-amahan.

            May mangilan-ngilang kalalakihan sa lobby na agad napatingin sa kanya nang lumabas siya sa elevator. It’s as if time slowed down and their mouths hung open while eyes were bedazzled. Nagpakawala lang siya ng marahang paghinga. Sa isip ay napa-iling. If only Jamin would react the same, nabulong niya sa sarili.

            “MAGALING, Rose Ann. You are as always, a beauty of no comparison.” Maluwang na ngisi ni Don Joaquin habang umuusog para maka-upo siya a tabi nito.

            Hindi siya sumagot. Hindi rin niya ito tiningnan. Umandar na ang itim na sasakyan para dalhin sila sa five-star hotel na pag-aari ng Alejandro. Napalingon siya rito nang may iniaabot ito sa kanya.

            “Ano ito?” Tingin niya sa isang thin diamond bracelet.

            “Wear it. It’s a bug. I want you to follow Jamin everywhere and don’t leave him alone. There is a listening device installed in it. Somebody is recording every conversation it will pick up.”

            Hindi makapaniwalang napatingin siya rito. “Are you insane?” She felt disgusted.

            “Now, now…keep your smile beautiful, sweetheart. You’re the beautiful nightingale, everyone is going to be delighted with your presence.”

            “I am not doing this!”

            “Yes, you are, and here we are. Smile.” Ibinutones nito ang black suit at naghanda sa pagbaba.

            Pinagbuksan sila ng driver ng pinto. Inalayan siya ni Don Joaquin sa pagbaba. Tatabigin sana niya iyon pero may mga reporter na kaagad lumapit sa kanila at sunod-sunod na kumuha ng mga pictures.

            Napilitan siyang ngumiti, kumaway, at kumpait sa braso nito. Nang makapasok sa place of event, other visitors swarmed to them and greeted Don Joaquin. Nakipag-beso-beso naman siya sa mga kababaehan, at nakipagkamay sa kalalakihan. Don Joaquin’s laughter filled the room as if he’s the host of the party.

            “Don Joaquin,” isang pamilyar na tinig ang nagpalingon sa kanila.

            “Jamin.” Nakaramdam siya ng kasiyahan nang makita ang asawa. He’s wearing a dark grey suit, and he looked so dashing.

            “Jamin, my favorite son-in-law.” Nakipag-kamay ang ama-amahan.

            “And I’m the only one.” Balik-ngiti ni Jamin.

            Ilan pang palitan ng pag-uusap, parehong nakangiti, pero alam niya kung ano ang tunay na nararamdaman at tumatakbo sa isip ng mga ito. Bago pa nagsimula ang pagsasalita ng ama ni Jamin sa entablado, sinenyasan siya ng ama-amahn na sumama kay Jamin.

            “Jamin, iho. Your wife misses you so much. She just wouldn’t stop talking about you while we’re on our way here. You should have known how she’s head-over-heels in love with you.” Kunwa’y pagbibiro nito.

            Pinamulahan siya ng mukha hindi dahil sa hiya, kundi dahil totoo iyon. Biro man ang pagkakasabi nito, alam din nitong totoo iyon.

            Nagtawanan ang lahat. Tumawa rin sa Jamin, tsaka sumipsip sa baso ng alak na hawak, at tiningnan siya. His stares said otherwise. Alam naman niyang hindi ito naniniwala roon.

            “Go, sweetheart. Join with your husband before I die with your whining.” Patuloy ng Don.

            “Come, angel. I didn’t see you for days. I miss you too.” Hila sa kanya ng asawa, na pina-unlakan niya.

            She felt the sudden emptiness. Nobody really cared about her. Not the old man, not even her husband. Especially not these people who kept smiling to her as if they’re good friends with each other. She felt drained.

            Katulad ng sinabi ng ama-amahan, nakasunod nga siya sa asawa. Nakikingiti sa bawat bisitang ipinakikilala sa kanya. Walang pagkaka-iba sa dating buhay niya sa poder ng matanda. Ayaw man niyang ngumiti, otomatikong nakasilay na ang mga iyon sa kanyang labi. Minsan ay hindi niya akalaing nakangiti na siya bago pa man niya isiping dapat na ngumiti siya.

            “You, as always, is pretty good in this.” Jamin took the wine glass from her hand.

            “Hindi pa ako tapos-” protesta niya pero pinutol nito iyon.

            “This is your sixth glass, angel. This is not a bar. Slow down.”

            “I’m just trying to enjoy myself.” She grabbed another glass from the tray when a waiter walked pass by them.

            “Damn it, Rose Ann. Slow the f*****g down. That’s not water.” Nakangiting bulong nito pero naroon ang galit.

            Natawa siya. “Like you said, I’m good with this. My alcohol tolerance is pretty good, you won’t believe it.”

            Matalim siya nitong tinitigan, pero nagtaas lang siya ng kilay. Muli nitong hinablot ang baso sa kanya pero nagmatigas siya. Dahil sa pag-aagawan nila, natapon iyon sa kanyang dibdib. Sa halip na magalit, natawa lang siya.

            “You’re drunk!” Gigil ang titig nito bago siya hinila sa kung saan.

            Nasa pasilyo sila papuntang restrooms. Inihinto siya nito sa harap ng ladies room. “Go clean up.” Marahang tulak sa kanya.

            “No.” Tumigil siya sa paghakbang.

            “You’re a mess. Rose Ann.”

            “You did this. You clean me up.” HUmarap siya rito.

            “Because you-” hindi nito tinapos ang nais sabihin dahil na rin sa inis, at naisip na hindi siguro iyon tatatak sa isip niya.

            “Alright. I’ll ask my driver to send you home.” Kinuha nito ang cellphone sa bulsa.

            “No. I don’t want to go home without you.”

            Saglit itong tumigil sa ginagawa at tinitigan siya. “You’re really drunk.”

            “I am, but I know that I want you…right now. I miss your touch…your lips on my skin…your warmth…your hard-”

            “Shhh!” Biglang takip nito sa bibig niya, tsaka maingat na kinalas ang bracelet niyang suot at itinapon sa trash bin.

            Nagulat siya pero agad ding nakabawi. “So, you knew.” Tawa ulit niya. “The great Jamin Alejandro knew, what else could I say.” Pumalakpak siya. Dahil sa alak, nawalan na siya ng balanse sa katawan.

            “You and your father are the people I don’t trust the most. Now, go and clean up.” Muli siyang itinulak nang banayad pagiya sa ladies room.