One Thing I Won't Do

/' Do you feel like a man when you push her around?
Do you feel better now, as she falls to the ground?
Well, I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end
As your lies crumble down, a new life she has found.'/
-Face Down / The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

ONE YEAR LATER

Jade

"Where's my phone? Im gonna be late for a meeting, sa Cavite pa yun...saan na Jade?"

Nataranta na naman ako as early as six in the morning, beast mode na naman si Althea. I sprint upstairs and unplug her phone from the charger, marami na siyang missed call at text messages from her secretary and Tita Ruby. Dinampot ko ang blazer niya sa silya ng vanity mirror, muntik na tuloy makalimutan, naku sisigaw na naman yun.
Maliksi akong bumaba ng hagdan at inabot sa kanya ang nagri-ring na niyang phone sabay alalay para maisuot ang blazer mula sa likod.

"Hello? Yes, good morning. Im on my way, give them a tour around the warehouse while waiting...and please do your job properly, thats a big investor we have there so wag kang magkalat...bye.."

Pinagpag ko ng kaunti ang lower part ng slacks niya, medyo namumuti kasi. Everything seems to be good, i check her files last night at complete na ang lahat ng docs na kailangan niya for today. Naipagbalot ko na rin siya ng sandwich para may makain siya while nasa sasakyan, kailangan ko talaga bigyan ng pansin ang health ni Althea, dumadalas na ang heart burn niya at ayaw naman magpa-check up.

"Shit, I really need a new secretary...ugh...ill be home by nine Jade, dito ako kakain so cook something nice..."

She instructed while scrolling through the file of unread message from her phone. Magkasunod na kaming naglakad palabas sa naghihintay na sasakyan, the driver opened the door for Althea. My wife, at a tender age of 19 is already a full pledge CEO of Guevarra Digital, she drop school and dive in to the business world, according to a business magazine na nagcover sa kanya two months ago, siya daw ang pinakabatang CEO ng isang multi million company sa buong mundo, kakaproud naman. Ako naman ay matatapos na sa 3rd year next week, one year to go at tutuloy na ako sa review and board exam.

"Ayy..Wabwab, late na ako makakuwe mamaya, pupunta ako sa house ng groupmate ko sa thesis.."

"What!?! Okay never mind ill just eat outside...sinong groupmate ba yan?"

Her voice was as monotone as ever, pero nakasanayan ko na rin. Nakalimutan ko na nga kung paano maglambing si Althea, two mood lang kasi ang always nakikita ko, cold or deadma and inis. Kahit sa intimate moments namin, cold siya, hindi na siya masyado rough since the bleeding pero hindi ko rin siya maramdaman, sobrang dikit at magkadugtong ang katawan namin pero ang layo-layo ni Althea, kasama ko siya physically pero emotionally at mentally speaking, i dont know.

"Si...ahm...si Jason..."

"That stupid guy on Math Club before? Diba may gusto sayo yun?"

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti ng bahagya, in a way, may nase-sense akong selos sa tanong ni Althea. After almost one year, ngayon na lang yata ulit siya nagselos.

"Kasama ko naman si Bianca Wabwab...at isa pa..."

"Send me the address, susuduin kita mamaya...im late for work..."

She kiss my lips and jump on the waiting car. Wala na akong nagawa kundi tumango na lang.
Finally, ngayong nakaalis na ang asawa ko, its my time to prepare for school, finals week ngayon kaya dapat double time. Dadaan pa ako hospital after lunch para kamustahin ang lagay ni Tito, walang masyadong development sa case niya, but good thing na lang na hindi na siya nagkaka-seizure ngayon.