Ferocious Affection (COMPLETED)

45TH

Ysa's

"Ysabelle Suarez!"

Muntik na akong mapatalon mula sa aking kinauupuan nang kumalabog ang pintuan ng aking opisina. It exposed Kuya Rudy looking absolutely upset. Nakapameywang pa siya.

Napairap ako. Why do he always have to mention my whole name whenever he's annoyed at me? I'm keeping it a secretㅡwell, except for Brett because he already knew it. Ayokong gamitin 'yon, it's too common.

"Where have you been last night?" direkta niyang tanong, still looking at me with those tiger eyes.

"From heaven," I bluntly replied. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata. Napangisi ako dahil dito. "Akala mo ikaw lang?"

"You fuㅡ"

"The door," I mouthed at him.

That's when my boss realized that he left the door open. Agad niya itong isinara at umupo sa aking harapan. Buti't walang gaanong staff sa labas.

"You're now together?" walang preno niyang tanong.

I rolled my eyes. "Would I let him tire me if we're not?" Napasapo si kuya sa kanyang noo. "I don't do one-night stands, unlike you."

Umawang ang kanyang labi. Gigil niya akong dinuro gamit ang kanyang ballpen. "Foul 'yan, ah!"

I giggled.

Tumikhim siya. "Well, sincerely speaking, it's not a problem for me." Napangiti ako dahil sa katapatang ramdam ko mula sa kanya. "As long as you're happy, you have my blessing," he added.

"Even if I get pregnant?"

"What?!" Naibagsak niya ang kanyang mga palad sa aking mesa at napatayo. Napahalakhak ako sa kanyang reaksyon. "He did notㅡ"

"I'm just kidding! Of course, I'm not!" pagputol ko sa kanya bago pa siya magsabi ng kung ano-anong bagay. We're at work! Baka pagtsismisan pa siya rito sa paraan ng pananalita niya.

'Tila para siyang nabunutan siya ng tinik dahil sa aking sinabi. He once again settled on his seat.

"I'm not yet ready to become a guardian of a child," bulong niya habang nakatingin sa baba.

I chuckled. Napangisi ako nang siya'y pilit na ngumiti. "Neither am I," tugon ko.

Nabigyang atensyon ko ang aking phone nang magsimula itong mag-vibrate. Brett was calling me.

"I have to go," I told my brother who immediately stood up. Kinuha ko ang aking mga gamit upang maghanda sa aking pag-alis.

"Where are you going?" tanong niya.

"To a business meeting?" pagbibiro ko.

Umirap siya. "Grabe, kapani-paniwala."

Hindi ko siya sinagot. I only stuck my tongue out to him before leaving him alone in my office. Dumiretso ako sa parking lot kung saan naghihintay ang aking sundo.

"Let's go to a flower shop," I told Brett after settling on the passenger's seat of his car.

Taka siyang napalingon sa akin. "What for? I thought we're going to have a meeting?" Ngumisi siya. "Slash date?"

I sadly smiled, ignoring his remark. "I want to meet your parents."

---

Berlinda Anderson
February 21, 1969 - May 23, 2019

Tyson Anderson
October 8, 1967 - May 23, 2019

I brushed my fingers through the engraved names on the headstones. Their coffins were side by side, proving the statement 'til death do us part wrong. Nakaramdam ako ng hanga, kahit hindi ko sila personal na nakilala.