PAGKATAPOS nilang mag-agahan ay agad namang nagpaalam ang dalawa sa matandang mag-asawa at inihatid lamang sila nito sa may pintuan.
Her car's tires were already changed. She mouthed 'wow', dahil mamahaling mga gulong ang ipinalit dito. Lihim niyang hinihiling na sana hindi ito ang huling beses na mangyari ito sa sasakyan niya at malilibre muli ang pagpapagawa nito. Siya ang pinakakuripot sa kanilang magkakaibigan.
Even before, whenever she join car or motor racing ay pinapaambag niya ang mga kaibigan para sa kanyang motor o sasakyan. She only paid for it ONCE, noong natalo siya kay Kyza. Well, only Kyza can defeat her when it comes to racing. Baliw din kasi ang babaeng yun hindi natatakot na mamatay.
She positioned herself in front of the driver seat door. Nang biglang tumabi at tinabig siya ng lalaki.
He glared at her. "What do you think you're doing, woman?"
"Well?" - she furrowed her brows. "I'll drive my car. What do you think?" - she sarcastically told him.
"In case you forgot, sweetheart. You are not allowed to drive, aren't you?" - he raised his brow at her.
She pursed her lips. Right! Bakit ba niya nakalimutan ang usapan nila ng lalaki? Hindi na pala siya nito pinapayagang magdrive muli.
She rolled her eyes at padabog na umikot at lumipat sa passenger seat. The man gave her an evil smile. She was so pissed at him that she wanted to strangle him to death.
Dapat pala ay hindi na siya nagpasikat dito, iyon kasi ang naging dahilan kung bakit hindi na siya pinayagan ng lalaki na magdrive.
Inihilig niya ang ulo niya sa gilid ng bintana. Naiinis pa rin siya sa lalaki. She knew that he only want her to be safe but goodness! She's been driving since she was 12 and even do racing, she knew how to keep herself. Hindi na kailangang i-baby siya ng lalaki.
CHAMP is a bit worried about Jeva being silent. He knew that he had been too much. Ang gusto lang naman niya ay ang kaligtasan lang babae. He trusts her but he doesn't trust other drivers. Accidents are always there, he wanted her to understand him.
He looks at her peacefully sleeping trying to avoid herself having a conversation with him. He sighed.
Is he really that strict to her? Is he a bit too much or really TOO MUCH?
He stopped the car when his phone beep and he parked it on the side. Yes! He is a very good kid following rules will all his heart. He doesn't break the rules including not cheating on class.
He took his phone from his pocket. Baka kasi ang star-manager niya ito o hindi kaya secretary niya sa kompanya.
His brow creased it was from Jaxxon, saying that he will visit him in his condo. He replied that he will not be staying in his condo. He also wanted to tell him that he can come to their house pero hindi pa pala alam ng asawa niya.
Speaking of which, bigla itong gumalaw at nagising. Her eyes were half close pero pumikit agad dahil sa sinag ng araw na tumama sa mga mata nito.
"Where are we?" - tanong nito sa lalaki nang makitang hindi pamilyar ang lugar sa kanya. How can she familiarize the road when she was always sleeping? "Why did we stop?"
"I just checked my phone." - he handed her the phone. Napakunot naman ang noo ni Jeva kung bakit inabot ng lalaki ang phone nito sa kanya pero tinanggap din naman niya at binasa ang text na galing kay Jaxxon.
"Oh?" - nilingon niya lalaki. "Why won't you tell them to visit our house, instead?" - she asked.
His jaw dropped. Nagdadalawang isip pa siya na tanungin ang asawa tapos ngayon? Ito na mismo ang nagsabi.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. He already knew about us, isn't he? It would be better if he'll come and visit our place. I won't mind." - with that, he texted Jaxxon their house address.
"Great!" - She clapped her hands once. "I'll cook for you guys." - napatanga ang lalaki dahil sa sinabi niya. This will be the second time that he can eat her recipe but this time, it'll not be cookies.
"Nakatunganga ka dyan? Bilis na! Daan muna tayo sa palengke. Bibili tayo ng ingredients, magluluto ako." - naeexcite na sabi nito.
"Why palengke? Why not supermarket?" - takang tanong niya sa babae.
"Duh! Kung sa supermarket tayo bibili. Edi mas lalo nating pinapayaman yung mga mayayaman na." - napakunot ang noo ni Champ dahil sa sagot ng babae. Ano ba ang ipinaglalaban nito?
"May mga mahihirap din namang nagtatrabaho sa supermarket. We are also helping them but not directly." - pakikipagdebate niya rito.
"Mas fresh sa palengke at mas mura." - Yun! Ang dakilang kuripot. Lumabas din ang tunay na dahilan.
"Fine! Palengke it is." - he said in defeat. Lalo silang yayaman kung palaging ganito ang asawa niya. Hindi kasi ito mahilig sa mga mamahaling gamit. She prefer cheap BUT elegant.
"Are you not mad at me anymore?" - he said between his breaths.
"Who said I was mad?" - she pursed her lips. "I wasn't mad. I was just pissed. Hindi kasi ako sanay sa mga striktong vibes." - she said honestly. She is used to get what she wants. Her mother gives her everything she wants while his father is, well, kinda strict but not the point that he'll not allow her to drive.
"I'm sorry. I'm just worried and I just wanted you to be safe." - nakayukong sabi nito. And now, he is sure that he has gone so far.
"I know. It's okay. I understand." - she tapped his back, he immediately looked at her. "Let's go?"
Mabilis siyang napatango. "Yeah. Right."
Buong byahe ay tahimik lang ang dalawa. I don't like this feeling. Jeva said to herself. Maingay siyang tao kaya ayaw niya sa matatahimik na lugar. And it's so unusual for her knowing that she's with Champ. Hindi tumitigil ang bibig niya sa kakasalita kapag kasama niya ang lalaki.
Tumikhim muna siya bago nagsalita. "Do you..." - she paused because she's a bit shy. The heck! Kailan ka pa natutong mahiya? She scolded herself. "Do you want me to sing for you?" - she asked Champ.
"Of course." - mabilis na sagot ng lalaki. He always wanted her to sing only for him. "But, can I have a request?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Can you sing a song that explains your heart right now?" - He wanted to know her feelings for him through the song. He wanted to know if the woman likes him.
Jeva smirked. "That's easy." - she and quickly unfastened herself. Mabilis siyang lumipat sa backseat.
Nakatalikod siya habang nakaluhod sa upuan na para bang may hinahanap sa likod nito.
"What the heck are you doing?" - saway sa kanya ni Champ.
"Just focus on the road." - busy pa rin siya sa kakahanap ng kung ano. "Chada!" - she raised the ukulele. Lagi itong nasa kotse niya.
She always love singing with instruments. Hindi siya sanay na kumanta na walang instruments. Kumbaga, props niya yun.
She strummed the ukulele right after she sat down on the backseat and sang the song "Catch Me I'm Falling" by Toni G. She's a fan of her.
This song really speaks for her heart. Though, she is not falling anymore because she already fell. Every time their eyes meet, paulit-ulit siyang nahuhulog dito and she thinks that she might really lose her sanity because she shouldn't feel this way. She always hated to be with someone famous. She doesn't want to ruin her peaceful life.
It was wrong for her because she doesn't want it but it also feels right. Maraming nanliligaw sa kanya noon but she never fell for them and it was so cliché for her to fall for her husband.
She can't pretend anymore that's why she made that "operation: making my husband fall in love with me." She wanted their marriage to work out but she can't voice it out to her husband. She knew that he wouldn't like it because it may affect his career. He just loves it so much that she doesn't want to make it fall.
She emotionally sang the last part.
Maybe someday I'll see
Why love did this to me
'Cause I can't go along pretending
That love isn't here to stay
Catch me, I'm falling for you
Catch me, I'm falling for you
And is it wrong for me to feel this way
'Cause I don't know what to do without you
I'm falling for you
Catch me, I'm falling for you
How can something so wrong
Feel so right all along
Catch me, I'm falling for you
Honestly, she really doesn't know what to do if she'll lose him. That's why she settled on their set up as his secret wife.
CHAMP can't explain his feelings. He is happy that the girl is falling for him but a little bit worried because he can't risk his career. He can't reveal his relationship with her right now.
"Are you falling for me?"
Tumawa si Jeva dahil sa tanong nya. Why is he so dense? "Did I say it was for you?" - she teased him. "You said I'll sing a song that explains my heart not a song that'll sing for you."- she smirked while placing the ukulele on her side.
"Really?"
"Yes, really." - she said while grinning.
He suddenly became anxious with her answer. Then, for whom is that song? Why did she sing that song if it wasn't for him?
He gripped the steering wheel while gritting his teeth. He can't understand why he is so mad right now. He wanted to punch the face of the person she has in her mind. My wife is mine, you can't have her, douche. He told himself.
Wala sa mood at tahimik lamang si Champ na nagmamaneho habang si Jeva ay halos mautot na dahil pinipigilan ang sarili na tumawa.
"We're now here." - walang emosyong sabi nito. "Ikaw nalang ang mamili dahil wala akong dalang disguise." - he reasoned out. Pero ang totoo ay palagi siyang may dalang mask at bull cap. Kung tutuusin ay pwede siyang sumama sa babae. And he wanted to pero nagtatampo siya rito. Hindi niya alam kung bakit niya ito nararamdaman. He wanted her to sing for her pero sa iba niya pala ito idinededicate.
NANLUMO si Jeva, he still doesn't want to come out from the shell. Tumango na lamang siya at lumabas ng kotse.
Champ was really true to his word. Hindi nga ito lumabas para tulungan ang babae marami pa naman siyang supot na dala.
Padabog niyang ipinasok ang mga pinamili niya sa trunk. Napakawalanghiya talaga ng lalaki. She opened the door on the backseat and sat there. Wala siyang pakialam kung magmukhang driver ang lalaki, dahil sa totoo lang ay naiinis siya rito.
He raised his brow as he looked at the person in the backseat. "I am not your driver, Jeva Leyn." - he's calling him with her first and second name which means he's pissed but she doesn't care she's pissed too.
"If you don't want me to sit here. Then, remove yourself on the driver seat 'cause I'll drive." - malditang sabi niya sa lalaki. Even if he's pissed at her he still can't let her drive. Hinding-hindi magagamit ng babae ang pagkakataong ito para ibahin ang pinag-usapan nila.
"Whatever. Sit wherever you want." - he said as he drove back to their home. Habang si Jeva naman ay pinapatay na siya ng ilang milyon sa isipan nito.
Huhu. He is so bad. She dramatically said to herself. She starts questioning herself why she fell in love with this monster.
She was planning to cook his favorite desserts which are Lasagne and Cannelloni pero dahil sa inasal ng lalaki sa kanya ay gusto niya itong lasunin ngunit baka madamay ang kaibigan nito kaya binura niya ang ideya sa kanyang isipan. May iba pang panahon at pagkakataon para lasunin ito.
Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating na sila sa kanilang bahay. Good thing the man helped her. He even helped her take all the ingredients she bought from its bag and placed it on the counter island.
His eyes grew wider when he noticed the ingredients. He may not know how to cook but he knew the ingredients in his favorite desserts.
"Are you going to cook Lasagne and Cannelloni?" - natatakam na tanong niya sa babae.
She hummed while nodding. "I was going to."
"What? Why was?" - he asked and his voice was very unhappy. Parang nawala lahat ng saya ng meron ang puso niya nang makita ang mga ingredients.
"Was. Dahil inaway mo ako at hindi mo ako sinamahan sa palengke." - she was just teasing him.
Napayuko naman si Champ. "I'm sorry, I was just---"
"I was just kidding." - she cut him. "Of course I'll cook your favorite desserts." - she gave him a small smile. She doesn't want to hear his reason. Alam naman niya kung bakit hindi siya sinamahan nito. The guy doesn't want to be spotted with her. For him, his career is more important. He doesn't want it to be ruined.
Champ noticed Jeva's face became blue. She is pressing her lips together na para bang may pinipigilan. Then, he suddenly remembered the song she sang a while ago.
Was it because of that guy? Or was it because of me that's why you can't be with him? Sorry man but, my wife is mine. I can't give her to you.
Champ is aware that he is selfish because he wanted his wife only for him and yet, he still doesn't want to reveal their relationship.
"Leyn, are you in love?" - he directly asked her. Para namang napako ang babae sa kinatatayuan niya.
"W-why are you asking?" - she tried to avoid his gaze.
"Just a random question." - he shrugged. Say no, Jeva Leyn. He silently prayed.
She hummed while nodding her head. Champ gritted his teeth. His wife can't fall with someone else. She is his! The fuck!
"How about you?" - kumunot ang noo niya ng tanungin din siya ng asawa niya. He doesn't know if he's in love with someone but he is sure that he now likes his wife and his feelings were not a simple attraction.
"I don't know."
"Eh?" - napakunot ang noo ni Jeva sa sagot nito. "Okay, let's change the question. Have you ever been in love?" - she asked him in a serious tone.
"Yes."
She stopped breathing for a second before clearing her throat. "Who is she?" - she is a masochist for asking this. But she wanted to know what kind of girl her husband fell in love with.
"I don't know."
Her brows creased. "How the heck you don't know?" - pinagloloko ba siya ng lalaki?
"I just don't know, okay?" - he honestly told her. "Call me nuts or whatsoever. But, really don't know her?" - he sighed.
"How?" - she asked. She wanted to know how come he fell for someone he doesn't even know.
"She saved me and my parents." - he started. "I was eighteen when me and my parents met with an accident. A car accident." - he breathes heavily.
"It's okay, if you feel uneasy just don't tell me." - alo niya sa lalaki.
"No, I'm fine. You need to know. After all, you're my wife." He said before continuing. "She helped me and my unconcious parents. She pulled us out from the car before it blew up." - he closed his eyes trying to remember that day.
"I was half-conscious that time but I could clearly see her being nervous because her hands were shaking badly and how she was trying to calm herself while forcely tore her shirt and wrapped it on my wound to make it stop bleeding. While she was calling the ambulance for help." - he smiled. Jeva could see how much he adored the girl.
He laughed lightly. "I didn't know how she did that, wrapping my wounds and calling for help. She also went to the hospital, well, that was what the doctor said. But sadly, my parents were both dead on arrival. Even so, I was still thankful for her."
"Why didn't you know that she was there?" - Jeva curiously asked.
"I was unconscious for five days. I was also unable to attend my parents burial." - he leaned on the counter island. "I fell in love with that girl's kindness and bravery." - her world was shaken because of his words.
"Now, tell me, I am nuts for falling in love with someone I don't know?" - he asked her while looking straight to her eyes.
Tumikhim siya bago sumagot. "No." - hindi naman niya masisisi ang lalaki na umibig sa babaeng sumagip sa buhay nito.
"Honestly, I looked for her. But I couldn't even have a clue where she is." - he said honestly. Jeva was somehow happy because he wasn't able to find her. Because if he does, she will not be able to meet him and be his wife.
"Don't you have anything that could help to find her?" - she is a masochist for asking this. She sounds like she is going to give her husband away to whomsoever it was and match-making the two.
"I only have her necklace." - he said. "Actually, I didn't know how I got that but, when I woke up it was already in my hand."
"Where is it---" naputol ang tanong niya nang biglang tumunog ang doorbell.
"I'll go get it." - he said and quickly walked towards the door.
"Hey! I'll go with you!" - sigaw niya at patakbong sumunod sa lalaki.
NANG buksan ni Champ ang pinto ay walanghiyang agad na pumasok ang dalawang lalaki. Both of them are wearing black hoodies and black masks covering their nose and mouth.
Agad namang kinabahan si Jeva dahil sa dalawang lalaki. They're both tall at magkasing tangkad sila ng asawa nga. Palihim siyang napaatras.
Pero nawala ang kaba niya nang biglang yakapin ng isa ang asawa niya.
"Hey, Vlad!" - bati nito. Before he pulled out and took off his mask.
Nakahinga sya nang maluwag. It was Jaxxon grinning from ear to ear.
The other man greeted her husband too before taking off his mask. It was Jeron. What the hell?!
Nanlaki ang mata nya habang nakatingin sa lalaki. Don't tell me that my ex-crush was my husband's friend? Napangiwi siya dahil sa kanyang naisip. That is so awkward.
Kaagad na nabaling ang atensyon ni Jaxxon sa babae. His grin grew wider.
"Well, well, well." - he gracefully walked towards her while clapping his hand slowly. "Our dear friend wasn't lying."
She gave him an awkward smile. She didn't know how to react when Jaxxon suddenly hugged her while saying "nice to meet you.".
He smirked when his friend shouted at him and grabbed his hood.
"DON'T TOUCH MY WIFE, DUMBASS!"