I woke up hours ago, but I haven't gone downstairs yet. I'm still thinking about that woman from yesterday. It felt like needles were piercing my chest when I heard her words, and she felt familiar to me, especially her name, but I can't remember where I saw or heard it. I sat up and leaned my head against the headboard. It was still throbbing, but I was trying to remember.

"She's about to find out the truth, Javier! You need to tell her the truth!" I heard Mom shouting outside. If I'm not mistaken, that was her voice.

"Mom, I am Ashianna's husband, she doesn't need to know... anything," I heard Mateo answer in a serious tone.

Hindi ko alam kung anong pinag-uusapan nila pero wala roon ang isip ko.

My thoughts were interrupted when Mateo entered the room. He smiled at me, but I was staring at him blankly.

"Hey, wife. Are you okay? Does your head still hurt?" He sat beside me.

"Yeah, okay lang ako," I lied. I hugged him, and he hugged me back.

Hug, hindi ko ramdam ang pagmamahal kahit sa yakap niya.

"Do you think that woman iis okay? Naawa ako sa kaniya kasi nangungulila siya sa anak" I said sadly. He laid me on his chest.

"W-we can't say that she is fine. Maybe she lost her child," he said, kissing my forehead.

"Kung nawalan man siya, sana mahanap niya na... kasi kawawa talaga siya" I said, thinking about the woman, and I played with his stomach. I don't know why, but he suddenly became quiet.

"How about Mommy? Why were you shouting outside?" tanong ko ng maalala si Mommy.

"She is fine, though her blood pressure is still high based on what happened. We just argued about something, it's nothing important," he said, "Don't overthink about it." he added. I nodded, but couldn't help but stare at him.

"You heard something?" he said, waiting for my answer.

"Anong dapat kong malaman?" I asked, staring at him, trying to gauge if he would tell me.

Napaisip lang ako nung nakatabi ko siya.

"I told you, it's not important," he said. "Have you showered?" he asked. I just nodded.

I smiled at him.

"You're so handsome and sexy when you speak Tagalog," I said, ignoring his question. When I looked back at him, his ears were red, so he snuggled closer to me. I burst out laughing.

"Stop, don't look at me," he said. This made me laugh even harder.

"My handsome husband," I teased, poking his side cheeks.

"Wife, stop teasing me or else," he said, turning to look at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Or else what?" I teased, pushing him further. I couldn't stop laughing, his face was already as red as a tomato.

My laughter died down when he suddenly kissed me. It didn't last long, though, because I pushed him away. I don't know why, but I wasn't comfortable with it. Mateo seemed surprised by my sudden push.

"S-sorry," I stammered, "I didn't mean to." I started to tremble, unsure why.

"Hey, it's okay, you don't have to apologize," he said, "I should be the one saying sorry. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable." He pulled me into a hug, and I tried to calm myself down.

"Sorry, hubby," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. "I was just startled, I wasn't comfortable." I clung to him.

"Hush now, wife," he soothed, patting my head. "I'm here. Shh, wife." His touch calmed me.

We sat in silence, just him and me. The trembling slowly subsided as Mateo whispered comforting words. I wanted to understand where those tremors and my strange dreams were coming from.

~~~

"Breakfast is ready," he said, kissing my forehead before standing up. I straightened my clothes and followed him.

"I'll just brush my teeth first," I explained, and he nodded. He leaned in, kissed my forehead, and then turned away without a word.

Kumuha ako ng pamalit at pumunta na nang banyo.

While brushing my teeth, I was still thinking about the woman when suddenly, an image appeared, like a ball.

"Grace, anak, anong oras na? Ang init init nasa labas ka pa," a woman shouted.

"Ahhhh ang sakit," ungot ko, nakahawak sa ulo kong kumikirot.

"Nay, asan sila Kuya?" a little girl asked.

Nabitawan ko rin ang hawak kong toothbrush kasabay nang napaupo ako.

"Anak, anong masakit sayo? Sabihin mo kay Nanay gagamutin ko," she said.

I wanted to bang my head because of the pain I am feeling right now.

"'Wag ka ng umiyak, alam kong magugustuhan mo ito."

"Arhhhhh! Tama na! Tama na!" I screamed.

I sat there for a while, and slowly, the headache subsided. I gripped the toilet bowl and slowly stood up.

I wiped away the tears that were threatening to fall.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror and decided to wash my face and change clothes.

"Wife, what took you so long?" I heard Mateo yell from outside.

"Malapit na, I'm just changing," I said, speeding up my dressing. After changing, I took a peek at myself in the mirror, fixed my hair, and washed my face again.

Inayos ko muna ang sarili at lumabas na parang walang nangyari.

"Hubby, sorry natagalan. Tinawag ako ng kalikasan," I joked.

"Okay?" Patanong niyang sabi. I wrapped my arm around his and pulled him toward the kitchen.

"Sorry, natagalan. Sumakit tyan ko e," pagsisinungaling ko.

"Then let's go to the hospital," he said. I just shook my head.

"Okay na ako, kaya 'wag ka ng mag-alala. ang OA ng hospital agad," I said, laughing fakely. Tumango lang siya at inayos lang ang buhok ko.

"Si Mommy, andun na ba?" tanong ko.

He nodded, "She's been waiting for you," he said, shrugging, kaya nagmadali na akong bumaba.

Narinig ko pa ang pag tawag niya sa pangalan ko.

"Careful!" rinig kong sigaw ni Mateo.

"Hi, Mom. Good morning" I said, panting, when I saw Mommy busy on her phone.

"Morning. What took you so long? I've been waiting for you" she said, putting her phone down.

"Ahm, Mommy, tinawag po kasi ako ng kalikasan. You know, bawas ng kalikasan." I said shyly. She nodded weirdly.

"Don't you dare run again up the stairs, woman? You will be the cause of my death," Mateo said. I just gave him a peace sigh when he sat beside me.

"Sorry antagal na pala ng nag-hintay ni Mom kaya nag madali na ako," I said, similing at him sweetly.

"Mom can wait," he said seriously, staring at me.

"Hayaan mo na, Mateo. Nangyari na ang nangyari. You can't do anything with it," Mom said, smiling fakely at Mateo.

"Before I forget, Mateo's cousins are coming here, also his Tito and Tita," Mom said. I nodded.

"Kailan po uuwi si Dad?" I asked, referring to Mateo's dad. I'm still not used to calling them Mom and Dad.

Mom shrugged, "I don't know,"

"Ma'am, sorry po sa abala pero andito na po ang mga bisita po," the maid said.

"Okay, Thank you," Mom said, then she looked at me and then at Mateo, who was silent.

"Salubungin natin sila sa sala," she said. I nodded and stood up. Mateo did the same as he wrapped his arm around my waist, and we walked together while walked ahead.

"Maayos ba ako tignan?" I whispered to Mateo.

"You are. No need to worry about it," he said seriously. Nanahimik na lang ako at ipinag patuloy ang paglalakad.

I don't know, pero parang nag iba ang mood ni Mateo.

"Ate Kristine, buti at napabisita kayo," Mom greeted a lady, who looked older, she approached her and hugged her.

"We miss you also, my sis," she said sweetly, looking around the house. Her gaze stopped when it landed on us or more specifically, me. She was staring at me. I gripped Mateo's hand tighter.

"Mateo, I missed you" saad niya, approaching Mateo and hugging him while staring at me. Mateo hugged her back.

"G-good morning po" I greeted when she came closer. I was nervous because of her stare.

"Zylene... How are you?" Her words eased my nerves.

"O-okay lang po kayo po. Kumain na po ba kayo?" I said shyly.

She's not familiar, with her presence. I don't know her.

She shook her head, "We haven't eaten yet. We want to have a little chitchat with you," saad niya.

We? She suddenly turned around, grabbed my hand, and pulled me closer to her three companions. I assumed the other one was her husband and the other two were her children.

Hindi ko napansin mo na may kasama pala ang ginang.

"H-hi po. Ako po pala si Ashianna Zylene, Mateo's..." I looked at Mateo. I saw him looking at me, hinihintay ang sasabihin ko. "I'm his wife po."

I introduced myself. I looked away when Mateo gave me a smirk.

Tita Kristine's supposed husband smiled, "Jaron Montefalco. Meet my son and daughter, Tayrence and Alicia," he introduced them professionally, shaking my hand and pointing at the children.

I haven't met them before. I guess? None of them are familiar to me.

"Nice to meet you po," I said. Then turned to their children.

"Nice to meet you, Tayrence at Alicia," I greeted them. The boy just nodded, and the girl smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Ate Zylene. Pwede pa hug?" she said. I just nodded.

Nagulat ako ng bigla niya akong dambahin nang yakap.

"Ang ganda mo, Ate. May ginagamit ka po bang things sa face mo?" she asked playfully, touching my cheeks.

"W-wala akong ginagamit," I looked for Mateo to ask for help. When our eyes met, I blinked twice. He seemed to understand what I meant and approached us.

"Okay, that's enough, Alicia," he said, pulling the girl away from me. She pouted. Tita Kristine, her husband, and her son were gone, along with Mommy. We were the only three left in the living room.

"Tara na sa kusina. Nang maka kain ka na," aya ko tumango naman siya at pinulupot ang braso niya sa braso ko.

"Sure ka, Ate? You don't use things sa face mo, bakit ang kinis?" she asked, rubbing her finger on my cheek.

"Wala, dasal lang routine ko," I joked to break the awkwardness.

"Pabulong, Ate," she said playfully, but I just laughed because we were already in the kitchen.

I was already seated, and Mateo was just about to sit beside me when Alicia beat him to it.

"Kuya, sit ka na lang beside Tayrence. gusto ko katabi si Ate Zylene" she said, looking cutely at Mateo. I secretly smiled because of my husband's irritated expression.

Mateo's face were frowed "What?" He looked at me, I just smiled at him. He rolled his eyes and went so sit beside Tayrence.

I couldn't eat properly because Alicia had so many questions, but I just let it go. We were having fun at the table, and the kitchen was filled with laughter because of Alicia's playful antics.

Pwera lang sa isa na panay ang busangot.