AOMI
Dahan-dahang nabuhay ang ulirat ko habang naririnig ang ugong ng air-conditioner na umalingawngaw sa buong sulok ng kuwarto. Even I am already awake, I am still not ready to open my eyes as I still feel sleepy and I find the silk of the bed to comfortable. The comforter and the pillows are so soft that I lost the urge to get up. Dumadagdag pa ang kakaibang lamig na lalong humihila sa mga talukap ko pababa at lalong nagpaantok sa akin.
When the cold temperature is finally hard to take, I pulled on my thick blanket to cover my whole body because it was freezing in there. Unti-unti na sana akong makakabalik sa pagtulog ngunit agad na nabuhay ang diwa ko nang may magaspang at malapad na palad ang humaplos sa pisngi ko.
"Morning wife." His lips pressed in my ear as his husky morning voice woke up the sleeping senses in me as it sends a great bliss and excitement to my whole system.
"Morning hubby." Bati ko pabalik at pikit-matang inabot ang kamay niya na nakahawak sa pisngi ko at iniusog ito pababa sa maliit kong labi para halikan ang kaniyang maugat at malapad na kamay.
I never felt like this before and it excites me like a child. Hindi ko inaasahan na ganito pala ang magiging kapalaran ko simula noong pumayag akong makasama siya habang-buhay. So this is how my life goes now? Hearing that soft and sexy voice every morning, his deep manly breathing waking up in his warm big muscular fine built arms? If it is then its to die for.
"Your face looks odd a minute ago. Bad dream?" Tanong niya habang bakas sa tono ng pananalita ang matinding pag-aalala sa akin at ramdam kong ganoon din ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya kahit pa hindi ako nakadilat. I slowly nodded before he let go of his hand, banging my head on the soft pillow while my eyes are still shut.
My bad dreams affects me pretty much because its always about the bad memories of my family. My head likes playing the tragedy of my life in the past everyday and I have no control of it. Its all pure sadness. I can't even remember when and why it happened but it was always like that.
"I see. Gusto mong uminom ng gamot?" Aniya habang pilit na binibigkas ang mga salita sa abot ng makakaya niya pero hindi talaga matago ang accent niya. I can't help myself but to giggle while turning my body to face him since I'm lying flat with my stomach facing the bed. I gave him a teasing smile and it made him pivot his head out of embarrassment.
He exhaled, "I give up. I will never speak Filipino again. I sound so stupid, aren't I?" Tanong niya at napakamot sa batok na animo'y batang nayayamot. Tinugon ko siya ng mabilis na pagtango habang tumatawa pa rin at hindi matanggal sa isip ang boses niya kanina.
My husband is not a Filipino and it is very evident to his features. From his hazelnut eyes, down to his perfect depicted jaw, his fair white skin and his natural brownish hair, you will immediately know that he's a foreigner in this country. Namalagi naman siya rito sa Pinas ng limang taon dahil rito ang pokus ng trabaho niya pero hindi na talaga nahasa ang pagsasalita niya ng Tagalog.
Well, I don't find it a problem though. Filipinos are very smart when it comes to speaking different languages and English is no exception. It is one of our official languages so I have no trouble talking to him. I actually find myself getting better and better since I find it an obligation to speak English to him even I know he can also understand Tagalog.
"Yeah. I still love you." Iyon na lamang ang sinabi ko para bumawi sa pang aasar ko sa kaniya at pilit na ipinakitang nakikisimpatya ako ngunit hindi ko talaga mapigilan ang pagngiti na parang aso. I kinda like pissing him off when he tries to speak in Filipino.
I was planning to tease him more but then an evil smile started forming in his lips as his face darkened like he thought of a bad idea, "That's it. I'm going to punish you my great bully wife." He placed himself on top of me with a devilish smirk in his face and it made me feel a bit scared. And excited of course.
***
"You really made the breakfast sweety! I'm so proud of you!"
Kuwento niya ay mas maaga itong bumangon para ipaghanda kami ng agahan. I thought it was just the food but it turned out that even the dining area was decorated. Naglagay pa siya ng rose petals at scented candles kahit pa alas nuebe na ng umaga at tirik na tirik na ang araw. The napkins are folded clean and the cutleries are organized formally on the table like how it looks like in fancy restaurants.
Triton has been sweet to me even before when he was still my boyfriend. He never fails to show that side of him every single day. Even he's busy at work, he still makes extra time for me. Lalong kong nakikita ang rason kung bakit hindi ako nagkamaling ibigay ang matamis kong oo nang walang pagdadalawang isip. He will be the sweetest husband a woman could ever ask for.
"Of course. Anything for my princess." He said as I try to reach for my chair, but then he came up to pull it for me so that I can just sit over it. He also placed a napkin on my lap, "No scratch it, you are my queen now." He kissed my forehead lightly before walking to his seat and prepare himself to eat.
At dahil siya na ang naghanda ng lahat, ako na ang naglagay ng pagkain sa plato niya. I placed the cheesy omelette on his plate and a few waffles before I myself started eating. The round table is just small that we are not that far away from each other so I can serve him with no hassle.
"Thanks baby. And by the way, I have something to tell you." Anunsiyo niya habang ako naman ay dinadama ang tunaw na keso sa dila ko bago ako bumaling sa kaniya.
"What is it?"
He placed his cutleries down as he gave me his full attention, "Do you still remember the island I own here?" He asked in his monotonous voice as I try to recall if he ever told me anything about an island.
"Yeah. You said that you have an island here because of your work." I even gestured my hand in a quotation to emphasize the term nature since that is what he always says.
Triton Malowitz is a zoologist. Specifically, an ethologist who studies animals and learn how to speak their own language (he said this could be taken literally). He's the head of his research and that research led him here in the Philippines. He said ethologists usually has a specific animal to study but his research involved all 148 rare animals here in our country. Hindi ako maalam sa trabaho niya. Sa totoo nga lang ay wala akong maintindihan sa kung paano niya ginagawa iyon pero isa lang ang alam ko, puro sila research at ginugugol talaga nila ang oras nila sa pag-aaral sa mga hayop.
"Glad you remembered about it. Anyway, before I told you that I don't want you to take a look into it since well, I am not yet sure if you want to live a life with me forever. But now that you are my wife, I want you to know me more." I gave him a short smile before slowly nodding and then puckering my lips for a second.
We have known together for at least 2 years but it looks like I still have a lot of things to discover about him. Besides his characteristics, his family (well I don't know that much about this), and a few of his friends, maybe I should start knowing what he loves to do. He's an important part of my life so I should pay attention to what he likes.
Ngayon naman ay nabaling na ang kyuryosidad ko sa isla niyang iyon. Bakit kaya ganoon na lang kung pahalagahan niya ang lugar? What does that even look like?
"So, you don't want me to know you more when we are still not married?" I raised my left eyebrow before crossing my arms and leaning on the chair. It made him a bit confused with what I acted so he shakes his head for disapproval before clearing his throat.
"Well what I mean is, I was scared to open up everything to you since we had problems and you admitted that you are also afraid of trusting me before. We are both protecting ourselves since we don't know yet if everything is worth fighting for. And now that we are both sure about it and we vowed in front of everyone, I think we can now trust each other about every single detail. Tell me if I'm wrong sweetheart." He looks so serious but calm when he speaks and I have no choice but to just agree since there was nothing wrong with what he said. He was actually on point.
"Okay. I get you. Now, can you at least tell me how can I deal with your personal island? Are there some specific rules? Drills?"
He is always cautious and he is so strict when it comes to safety. He has specific rules at every place. Just like how animals are sensitive to its surroundings, Triton is over sensitive. It is like, he can smell earthquakes from miles!
"I will tell you when we get there. You will never understand my explanations without seeing the place." Ani niya bago kinuhang muli ang tinidor at plate knife. He started slicing his cooked breakfast so I also started eating to fill my empty stomach. Now all you can hear on the whole dining room is the clattering sounds of the cutlery on the plate.
I was too focused on the food and thinking some random stuffs about my life when I heard him clearing his throat again, "Almost forgot, I also want you to meet a great friend of mine back there." Pahabol niya.
Napakunot ang noo ko dahil ang alam ko ay remote island ang meron siya, "A great friend? How is that even possible? I thought that place is your private property? Is someone living there with your consent?"
I thought he was about to say yes but then he started chuckling before getting the glass filled with water beside his plate and then drink before opening his mouth, "I'm not talking about a human friend."
My lip slowly formed with an oh before nodding slowly showing him that I finally get it. Muntik ko nang makalimutan na hindi lang pala kapwa ang kinakaibigan niya.
"So, I suppose you are talking about a kangaroo? Or a zebra?" I tried guessing as I try to think of the recent animal pictures I saw in his phone to narrow it down.
His laughed become so hard that he even tried to bow his head on the table, "Very funny wife." He sat formally on his chair, clearing his throat for the third time then he looked at me with his face a bit reddish after draining a lot of air, "But you guessed it incorrectly."
I raised my eyebrows and forehead before sighing as a sign of surrender. Paano ko ba naman kasi iyon mahuhulaan agad eh halos maubos na storage ng phone niya sa sobrang dami ng wildlife pictures doon! There are a lot of animals in the world and they have classifications! I can't memorize them all because I am not as smart as him and another thing is, it does not interest me at all!
"Fine, shoot."
"A gorilla."
Biglang napakunot ang noo ko habang nahihiwagaang nakatitig sa kaniya at muling iprinoseso ang mga sinabi niya. My lips slowly formed a curve before I started laughing in front of him. I continued laughing but when I noticed that he was looking at me while smiling like a total idiot, I stopped.
"You're kidding right?"
His smirked at me before he drinks his water again. Not giving an answer. He swallowed his drink, letting out a heavy breath before scooping some food.
Nawala bigla ang ngiti ko nang mapagtantong hindi nga ito nagbibiro, "Are you serious Triton? Are you even...?" I was waiting for him to say gotcha or kidding but nothing came out. He was just eating like I am not even asking something.
"Seriously? A freaking gorilla? Are you planning to give me a heart attack?" Napasigaw na ako sa kaniya dahil ngayon pa lang ay parang tatalon na ang puso ko sa kaba. I already know that he keeps wild animals but I thought he left it back at his house. And now he's telling me about his gorilla friend?
"Triton---"
"I told you I want you to know everything about me. That also includes everyone that I consider as a part of my life. You met my family, my fellow human friends and now I want you to meet an extraordinary friend of mine. Is that okay?" Pakiusap nito sa akin habang malamlam na nakatitig sa mga mata ko.
Now I don't know what to feel about this. I am not that type of person who's brave enough to accept that kind of arrangement. Let alone understanding wild animals. Matatakutin ako kung tutuusin. How am I going to handle this freaky situation? I can't just say everything is going to be fine since I am sensitive.
"Trust me Aomi. You will love him."
***