The Substitute Bride

Chapter 7

"Why haven't you come up with an answer ro granny's question? She will be suspicious because you were silent and was obviously dumbfounded!" For Cassandra, he's spitting nonsense at gusto niya na lamang mapapadighay. Mas babae pa kasi ito kaysa sa kaniya.

"Seriously? You're blaming me without even assessing why I was dumbfounded?" She battered but looking unbothered because of the calm tone.

He messes his hair in irritation, "Then, you could've come up with anything! Like from the romances in telenovelas, movies! Basta kahit ano!" Grabe, kay dali lang talaga nito magsabi. Ni hindi nito alam kung ano ang naging struggle niya.

She sighed, "I don't do that." He's over reacting, and there's no way she could join his mood. Mas lalala lang.

"You gotta be kidding me. Yan ang madalas pinagkakaabalahan ng mga babae kapag walang ginagawa. You're no exemption. I don'tbelieve you."

"Okay, mas alam mo pala ang takbo ng buhay ko dati even without us meeting each other yet. Ikaw na." Pabalang niyang sabi na mas ikinairita ni Sawyer. Nakakaumay kasi, kung ayaw nitong tumigil sa kakadada baka siya'y tuloyan ng mainis dito.

"I'm serious here, woman."

"I have a name, it's Cassandra." Pero instead of listening to him, her temper is staring to get arouse.

"I fvcking know, damn it! Don't play with me."

"I'm not playing, either. Ikaw itong pinapahaba ang estorya, when you can just believe na waala nga akong boyfriend to relate the situation!" Naiinis na rin kasi siya at parang gusto niya ng damputin itong pens holder at ibato sa pagmumukha nito.

Wala pang ni isang taong nakapag paubos ng pasensya niya, pero nang makilala niya ang asawa niya, it seems like she just had a little s**t tailing her starting today.

"How about a gal? Ka situationship."

"Wala."

"You're abnormal." He meant it. Her brow arched unconsciously as if it was a natural anticipatory reaction towards his statement. Somehow, napansin naman iyon ni Sawyer and realized that he should clarify the meaning, "I mean, no human being grows up without admiring someone. Getting into a relationship o kaya hindi nakipag engage sa kapwa tao." Here, he sound defensive. Hindi niya alam, pero nababahala siya na baka magalit niya si Cassandra.

"Choice naman ng tao kung gusto nila makipag relasyon."

"So, you're saying, choice mo ang e isolate ang sarili mo?" Nagkamali naman si Sawyer ng pagkakaintindi kay Cassandra. He wouldn't understand because they had different life strategies.

"Hindi ko in-isolate ang sarili ko. I just got no time for that." Siya kasi yung tao na abala sa pamumuhay na hindi lang simpleng eskwela ang inaatupag. She's also financing herself with everything. Unlike him.

"Ugh, nevermind." He surrendered and went to the sofa inside their room. "Today's tiring. Matulog ka muna. Dito lang ako."

Her cheeks naturally blushes on its own. She even dodged his gaze because she starts to feel uncomfy. Probably, this is the first time she'll going to share a room with a man.

"Kailangan ba talaga nating magsama sa isang kuwarto? Hindi ba pwedeng sa ibang room ka na lang?"

"No, saka na kung aalis na si Lola. Don't worry, hindi kita bubusuhan. Besides, hindi naman ako na tu-turn on sa'yo." Sawyer didn't mean to insult her, although, it's a way of reassuring her not to be wary when they're alone like this in their room. "Alright, para may peace of mind ka, I'll sleep here sa couch, and you can have the bed." Parang hindi kasi enough ang reassurance niya dito kaya't ni reassure niya ulit ito na hindi sila magtatabi sa kama.

"Thanks." She went to the bed. Sa laki ng kama, parang isang prinsesa si Cassandra. Bagay naman kasi she has a fair pale skin, and her beauty matches the color of the bed. Which is golden mocha. "By the way, I have a crush."

Sawyer just shrugged his shoulders and didn't say anything in return. He just waited for the room to be peaceful.

Napaka komportableng higaan ng kama, napakalambot at ang kumot ay makapal ngunit magaan at may warmth na yumayakap sa kabuoan niya. As if niyayakap ng kama at kumot ang kapaguran niya, kaya't madali siyang nakatulog.

---

SAWYER occupied himself by browsing through the social media. He was just scrolling in his personal newsfeed when Cassey's picture appeared. Bigla ay nakaramdam siya ng paninikip sa dibdib. It's because he's still hurting.

Cassey's always been the goddess of his eyes. Her beauty is ethereal that could make him feel melting the moment they locked gazes. But now, she might still be beautiful like how he admire her, but the affection differs, because of pain.

He's still longing for her.

Tiningnan niya ang oras kung kailan ito nakapost. Pero parang pasabogin nito ang kaniyang puso nang mapagtantong date yun ng kasal nila but at 1:00 in the afternoon.

He swiped the other photos, nakita niya ang dalawang kamay na mahigpit na magkahawak. It causes havoc that urges his tears to unconsciously flow. Wala na rin yung engagment ring na binigay niya dito no'ng nag propose siya.

'Tama na, she's now happy with someone else.'

Kahit na kinumbinse niyang huwag ng tingnan ang sumunod na pictures ay ginawa niya pa rin. At the last picture, it was Cassey's selfie while the man was kissing her cheek. They looked so happy. There's a spark on her eyes na kailanman hindi niya nakita nang siya ang kasama nito.

Minahal ba talaga siya nito?

He wiped off his tears and turned his phone down. Tumayo siya para maghanap ng maiinom sa baba, nang mahagip ng kaniyang mga mata ang kinaroroonan ng kama. Kung saan namamahinga ang kaniyang asawa ngayon.

She sleeps silently and in maintaned posture. Yakap ni Cassandra ang isang malaking unan as if ginawa itong teddy bear habang nakaharap sa sliding window patungong balkonahe na nagkonekta sa kuwarto.

She looked cute and adorable. His mind says.

"Tsk." Iniwas niya ang mga mata dito, to forget what his mind just said. Tanging kalokohan lang and he never meant it.

He's obviously in denial. Kaya maging ang simpleng pag compliment dito ay binibigyan niya rin ng malisya. Ayaw niyang mapalapit dito. Pero hindi niya naman maipagkakaila na mabait si Cassandra, it's just that may side dito na nakakainis. Especially when she's mocking him.

He was about to march outside, when someone turned the door knob. Tila siya'y nagulat, lalo pa't possibleng ang Lola niya ito at chini-check sila.

"Fvck!" He cursed and run towards the bed. It's as if he's life ay nakadepende kapag nakaabot siya sa kama nang hindi siya nahuhuli or mahuhuli sa akto na mas suspicious siya dahil hindi siya nakatabi kay Cassandra!

Nang malapit na, tinalon niya ang pagitan at lumundag siya sa kama. Kinuha niya ang unan at nilagay sa ulonang parte na hihigaan niya.

Nagising si Cassandra sa naging kalokohan niya.

"H-Hoy, anong--"

Mabilis na tinakpan ni Sawyer ang bibig ng asawa gamit ang kaliwang kamay. Para hindi ito gumawa ng ingay.

"Ssshhh, nandiyan si Lola."