Here In My Heart

THIRTY-EIGHT (Special Chapter)

This part of the story is told through Frank's perspective/point-of-view (POV).

"By the way, why aren't you wearing what I gave you?" I remember to ask Florence when I saw her wearing a white summer dress. Not that it doesn't suit her, in fact she looks stunning as always, may damit man - o wala. I secretly smiled upon the thought.

"Ahmm...suot ko naman. Nandito sa...sa ilalim nitong damit ko," she answered with a timid smile. "Nahihiya kasi ako."

"Saan?" Inakbayan ko siya at nagsimula kaming maglakad sa seashore. At long last, nakabalik din kami dito sa Siargao after a month of being married at mai-delegate ko lahat ng trabaho sa opisina. I still owe her an awesome honeymoon, even though it feels like a honeymoon everyday.

"Para kasing masyadong naka-bilad ang katawan ko 'pag 'yon lang ang suot ko. 'Wag kang ma-ano, ah, I mean, siyempre, binili mo 'to. Okay naman siya, Baby, sobrang skimpy lang siguro ng swimsuit na 'to para sa 'kin," paliwanag niya.

Natawa ako. "We're in the beach, Baby. It's normal to wear it."

"Do'n na lang, 'pag magsu-swimming na. Para ikaw lang ang makakita." Mismong siya ay natatawa rin sa sinasabi niya.

I pinched her chin. "Anyway, I love that you wanted to keep your delicious curves for my eyes only."

We both laughed.

"'Nga pala, Baby. May sasabihin sana ako sa 'yo. Tungkol kay Kimverly." There is a hesitant look on her face.

"What about?" I encouraged her to speak up.

"P-puwede kayang mai-atras na 'yong demanda sa kanya?" she asked. "Kung...kung okay lang. Parang ang unfair lang kasi. Si Mr. Mariano, nakapag-bail na, tapos siya, naka-kulong pa rin. Parang pinabayaan na kasi siya ni Mr. Mariano, 'di man lang siya tinulungan na makalabas din."

I looked at her. "But she did you wrong."

"Eh, oo. Pero tapos naman na 'yon," sagot niya. "Feeling ko kasi, biktima lang talaga siya ng wrong love, alam mo 'yon? Pero kung hindi puwede sa ruling ng LDC, eh, wala naman akong magagawa. Naisip ko lang naman."

"Well, I could talk to the management about it," I answered.

"Thank you." She smiled at me.

"How come you're so forgiving? I mean, other people could have just let her finish the sentence," I told her.

"Siguro kasi, gusto ko lang maging magaan itong simula ng pagsasama natin," sagot niya. "'Yong wala tayong dinadalang may kinalaman sa nangyari no'ng mga nakaraan. Gusto kong magsimula ng masaya kasama ka."

I stopped walking and faced her. I stared at her angelic face, and at the back of my mind, I still can't believe that this woman is my wife now.

"Alam mo, sobrang saya ko these past few months since no'ng tinanggap mo 'yong proposal ko at this exact same place until we got married." I caressed her head down to her hair which was softly blown by the breeze.

"I was so elated that it was just recently, it crossed my mind na may hindi ako naitatanong sa 'yo, Baby."

She looked at me and gently asked, "Ano 'yon?"

"I wonder why you came up with the decision that day to accept my wedding proposal," I said.

"'Wag na, 'di ko na sasabihin. Baka lumaki pa ulo mo," pabiro niyang sagot.

"Sa taas o baba?" I winked at her.

Nagtatakang tumingin siya sa akin. "Isa lang naman ang ulo, 'di ba?"