Chapter 13

Monalisa and Steven happily shop for their cooking needs. If you stared at them as they walked to see what they would get, you may think they were a real couple.

Steve couldn't put into words how happy he was at the time. It was as though the past had come back to him. When he and his wife go shopping or grocery shopping, they always do so together. He feels he's already in love with Monalisa. It's just that there's no sense of responsibility for the woman. Because it already belongs to someone else.

”Okay na lahat, Steve. Ano ba pa ang kailangan?" wika ni Monalisa.

Steve gave a warm grin.

"Hmmm, everything is already here; how about you, Monalisa? Do you need anything, and you can take everything you want? "

Umiling si Monalisa."Wala," aniya nakakahiya naman kung kukuha siya ng gusto niya nakasilong na nga siya sa bahay nito eh. Baka maabuso niya ang kabaitan nito sa kanya.

"Sure ka ba, Monalisa. Huwag kang mahiya?"

Nakailang iling si Monalisa kay Steve wala talaga.

"Okay, let's go bayaran na natin ito."

Pagkatapos nilang mag bayad agad na silang umalis sa supermarket.

Habang naghahanda sila nang kanilang hapunan."Monalisa, kung ayaw mo pang umuwi puwede kang mag-stay dito sa bahay ko." wala nang ligoy na sabi niya rito. Ito naman talaga ang gusto niya eh ang makasama ang babae.

Monalisa looked at Steve. His suggestion is good, but it can't be because someone is waiting for him. And he knew Archie would apologize when she came to their house."Salamat, pero hindi puwede, kailangan kung uuwi mamaya." Nagpalipas lang naman siya ng masa ng loob kay Archie. At Tama lang ang sinabing uuwi siya kahit na ang isip at puso ay sinasabing stay at Steve house huwag mo nang balikan pa ang kinakasama.

"Okay, pagtapos natin kumain, ihahatid kita sa inyo."

"Salamat ha, kahit na hindi pa tayo magkakilala ng mabuti, pinapasok mo na ako sa bahay mo. Huwag kang mag-alala kung may kailangan kang pabor sabihin mo lang sa akin, kung kaya ko nakahanda akong gawin ito. Bilang kaibigan mo!" Tama bilang magkaibigan lamang sila.

Steve sighed quietly. She merely considers him a friend. He, on the other hand, is capable of lavishing her with love. Yes he can, give it to her." That's okay, you stated it. That's something I'll keep in mind."

Monalisa checked the time on her watch after they had finished dining and cleaned up the kitchen. Time for her to return home, it will be eight o'clock in the evening.

Nakita ni Steve ito."So, tara na ba, Monalisa?"

”Sige, Steve."

Steve exited his residence with a gloomy expression on his face. He had the impression that what had occurred to them would not happen again.

They couldn't say anything in the car because they were both speechless. Steve dreads being separated from Monalisa. Now that he believes they will never meet again, Steve is once again miserable and empty

Nakatanaw lang sa labas nang bintana si Monalisa. Natatakot siyang sulyapan si Steve. Dahil sa puso parang ayaw na niyang mawalay pa rito.

HINDI naman mapakali si Archie sa loob nang bahay nila tatayo, uupo, at palakad-lakad ang ginagawa. At palagi siyang nakatingin sa orasan.”Ahhh! Bakit wala pa siya?" Ito pa naman ayaw niya sa lahat ang maghintay, nasisiraan siya ng ulo at kung ano-ano ang pumapasok sa isipan. Like what if kasama ni Monalisa ang lalaking sinasabi ng kaibigan o di kaya sumama na ito rito. And now they are in bed na nagsasanib na ang kanilang katawan."Lintik, Monalisa. Umuwi ka na!" Lumabas si Archie ng bahay para sa labas na lang hintayin si Monalisa, alam niya uuwi ito na uuwi.

"MONALISA?" tawag ni Steve rito.

"Huh?" tanging tugon ni Monalisa rito at hindi siya tumingin dito.

"Can you look at me, Monalisa?"

Ayaw man pero napilitan ibaling ni Monalisa ang tingin kay Steve. Baka sabihin nito wala siyang modo ginawang naman siya nito ng mabuti."Ba... Bakit, Steve?"

Tinignan panandalian ni Steve si Monalisa binaling agad ang mata sa daan."If your husband, hurt you again, leave him. Puntahan mo lang ako okay!"

Ngumiti si Monalisa, sa tingin niya hindi na siya sasaktan ni Archie, takot din ito na iwan niya. Tumango na lang siya bilang tugon niya.

"Promise me, Monalisa?" paniguro ni Steve rito.

Nang makarating sila sa street ng bahay nila Monalisa."Dito na lang ako, Steve." Sa medyo kubling lugar niya pinahinto ang kotse ni Steve.

"Are you sure, Monalisa?"

Baka kasi may makakita sa kanila eh. Malaman pa ni Archie ito tiyak mag-aaway naman sila."Oo, Steve. Salamat talaga!"

"Stay, ako na ang magbubukas ng pinto." Bababa na sana si Steve.

"Steve, huwag ka nang mag abala pa, kaya ko naman," pigil ni Monalisa rito.

Tumango si Steve."Okay, remember what I said, Monalisa," paalala niya rito.

Ngumiti at tumango si Minalisa kay Steve. At bumaba na siya.

Hindi pa umalis si Steve pinausad ang kotse para makita si Monalisa. At nakatingin lang siya sa naglalakad na babae.

Ewan ba ni Monalisa, bigla kumabog ang dibdib. Natatakot ba siya? Hindi niya malaman kung ano ito. Nang malapit na siya sa kanto papasok sa kanila. Kaya pala kinakabahan siya, nakatayo si Archie sa gitna ng daan.

Nang makita ni Archie si Monalisa. Malalaki ang hakbang na sinalubong ito. At nang makalapit niyakap niya ito."Mabuti naman at umuwi ka na, patawarin mo ako, Monalisa!" Sabi niya agad.

"Tara na sa bahay, Archie!" Walang ganang sabi ni Monalisa. Kumalas siya sa pagkayakap nito.

”Galit ka pa ba sa akin, Love? Sorry, hindi ko lang kasi napigilan ang sarili na magselos!"

"Sana bago ka magselos, tignan mo muna kung totoo o hindi ito, Archie."

Ginagap ni Archie, ang kamay ni Monalisa."Bati na tayo, please!" Hinalikan niya ang kamay ng nobya.

Steve tightened his grip on the steering wheel of the car at what he saw. He knew he had no right to be jealous. But damnit, this is how he feels right now."Ahhh! Steve, wake up. She's not going to love you back." He pointed at himself. When he could no longer see the two, he left that place.

Pagpasok ni Steve sa bahay niya, para siyang natalo sugal ang itsura, you can tell to his look. You can see his sadness all over his face.

When Steve enters his house, he looks like he lost a gamble. You can tell by his look. You can see his sadness all over his face.

"Ahhh!" He laughed as he sat on the couch. His cell phone rang. It took a while to see who was calling when he saw it. It's Larry."Hello, what's up?" he replied.

"Hello, Steve. How are you?"

"I'm still handsome and strong, Larry! It's good that, you called me. Any news from you?"

"Yup, Steve. We're in the Philippines already."

"Really? Wow! So, when will I see the woman who made your heart beat fast, Larry?"

"Tomorrow, Steve. I have a welcome party at home. Make sure you come, so you can meet her okay!"

"Sure, I won't miss the chance to meet my sister-in-law from you." because Steve is considered a brother to Larry.

"Yeah, she's your sister-in-law, Steve. Okay, that's just what I called you. So, see you tomorrow, brother. Bye."

Steve smiled when he finished talking to Larry. It's good that he's happily married now. He got up to rest because

tomorrow is another day. Steve's wish: tomorrow is a good day.

At that moment, Larry smiled and looked at his wife, who was sleeping next to him. He knows it's tired from their long trip. He kisses her forehead. "I love you so much!" he said.