So Close (Book 1)

Chapter 20

NAT'S POV

Was it just me or parang nagdilim yung mukha ni Bryce nang makita niya si Elle? Elle's such a nice person and it was unusual for Bryce to be rude. Siya na siguro ang isa sa mga pinaka-marespetong tao na kilala ko. 

And Elle's just fantastic! Halos mag-best friends na nga kami e. We talked all about the stuffs women do. Nalaman ko lang sa kanya na matagal na siyang in love sa college sweetheart niya. She's done everything she could pero ayaw pa rin siyang pansinin. What she learned by now is magdi-divorce na yung college sweetheart niya pati yung asawa no'n. When the divorce is final, she told me she wanted to be there for him. 

"So, love, nasaan si mommy Erin?" I asked. 

Bryce looked at me and smiled. "Nasa loob, love." He held out his arm for me and I looped mine in. 

Kung party nga 'to, bakit tahimik? Tsaka, akalain niyo 'yon, magka-birthday pala kami ni mommy Erin. 

I just realized. Hindi ako grineet ni Bryce ng "Happy Birthday" ngayon. 

"Uh, love?" I called. 

"Yes, love?" he answered. Nakarating na kami sa may sala. 

"Other than Mommy Erin's birthday, wala ka na bang natatandaang okasyon?" I asked. 

He looked at me and chuckled. "Wala naman, love. Our anniversary is on two months. Birthday ni dad sa makalawa. Sina kuya naman, well, marami 'yon so let's not bother about it."

I tried to smile. Tumigil kami sa harap ng double doors that would lead to the massive backyard ng mansion nila. 

"Are you sure?" I asked. 

"Wait. I think I forgot something." He opened the door. 

Nakatingin ako sa setting sa labas. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then, I turned back to Bryce. 

"Um... You forgot to mow the lawn?" I asked sardonically. 

Natawa na lang sa Elle sa likod namin. 

"No, love. I forgot to greet you a--"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" 

All at once, nagsilabasan ang mga tao mula sa mga tinataguan nila. They all screamed "Happy birthday" at me. 

I turned back to Bryce and he was smiling at me. "Happy birthday, love." he said. 

I bit my lower lip para hindi ako maiyak. "Love naman e! Akala ko nakalimutan mo na!" 

He chuckled. Linapitan niya ako, held my forearms and smiled. "Why would I forget my wife's birthday?" he told me. It was a rhetorical question at hindi ko na nasagot kasi hinalikan niya ako. 

Naghiyawan lahat and when we broke the kiss, I all but smiled in front of them. I turned back and saw Elle talking to Ollie. There's a huge probability na kilala rin ni Elle si Ollie since she knows Bryce. 

 Pero parang nag-aaway sila. Elle looked like she was shouting her head off and Ollie was pinching the bridge of his nose. Tapos no'n, he held her by the arms and shook her. Elle stopped talking and frowned. 

"Love, your birthday won't be complete without a gift." he told me. 

I looked back at him with a smile. "You don't have to, love." I said. 

"Yeah, I know. But I want to." Naglabas siya ng mahabang sea-foam-colored na box. I was so familiar with it. It was from Tiffany and Co.

"Bryce." I said. 

He chuckled. "I know. I know. Pero I really wanted to. Lalo na ngayon." he said. He opened the box and I let out a gasp. 

Tiffany and Co. had been known for its plain designs. Pero this... This was different. Nandito pa rin ang heart at ang chain. What made the difference was that may mga diamonds sa edge ng heart and at the back, it was engraved: Bryce & Natalie... Forever After.

"Oh, my God. Bryce..." I said and looked as he took it from the box. He unclasped the hook. I did my part at tumalikod ako. I held up my hair and he placed it on me. 

I felt the cold metal heart touch the base of my throat at I shivered at the sudden cold. I gasped and supressed a moan nang halikan niya yung balikat ko.

"AYIE!" 

Nag-init yung mga pisngi ko. "Bryce, naman. Maghintay ka na lang sa bahay." I whispered fiercely sa kanya. 

He chuckled and wrapped his arms around my waist. "I love you."

"Mmm. I love you, too." I said. 

Dumagsa yung mga guests sa akin at isa-isa silang nag-greet sa akin. All the time, nakayakap pa rin si Bryce sa bewang ko. Parang ayaw pa niya kumawala. Not that I was complaining. 

...

The party carried on for the night. It was a usual birthday party. May sayawan. May pagkain. May mga bigtime comedians na hinire para magpasaya ng mga guests. 

I was looking at the dancing couples nang may lumapit sa akin. 

"Care to dance, birthday girl?" he asked. 

Napangiti ako. I turned back and beamed at Ollie. 

"I want to but I can't. Alam mo naman ata 'yon." I said. 

He stood beside me. "Yeah, I know. You have two left feet. I've got two right ones. Sakto lang tayo sa isa't isa." 

He took my hand and led me to the dance floor. The song playing was a simple one kaya medyo nakalma ako. 

Ollie pressed his hand on the small of my back and held my other. Tapos no'n, he moved to the slow rhythm. 

"So, how's life?" I asked. 

He chuckled. "How's life? I could say it's not getting better."

"Bakit naman?"

"Other than the fact na hindi ko makakasama yung babaeng mahal ko, I just got an irritating message from a woman who's obssessed as hell sa asawa ng mahal ko." he said. 

"Talaga?" 

"Yep. It became her sick obssession." he said with disgust.

"How'd you meet her?" I asked. Inisway niya ako at pinaikot.

"Nandito siya."

"And even the person she's obssessed with?" I asked. I craned my neck to see all of the couples talking.

"Yes." 

I looked harder. So far, nothing looked out of the ordinary. Maraming mga couples ang naguusap. 

"Care to tell me who?" I asked. 

"I won't give out details, Nat. She didn't."

"But you know?"

"Yes. Of course, I do." 

The music stopped. Then, nagbago. 

"Hey, Nat?"

I looked at Ollie. "Yes?"

"Take care of yourself."

I smiled. It was such a nice birthday gift from Ollie. Kahit presence niya lang, masaya na ako. Knowing him, alam kong magiging masaya ang mapapangasawa niya. He's as caring as Bryce as well as loving. 

"I--Uh... I--"

"Just spit it out, Ollie." I said. 

"I love you, Natalie."

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