Between his arms (Azares Family Series)

BHA 11 | Forgiveness and Responsibility

Chapter 11
Forgiveness and Responsibilty

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Humarap si Lana sa kuya ko at nginitian ito. "It's all he was talking back in the raft."

Something inside me was triggered to see her smiling like that to another guy. And I'm sure its not just my bloated lungs.

The raft. It really felt like I'm missing something. Pakiramdam ko may mas malalim na dahilan kung bakit ko siya gustong yakapin pagkabukas palang ng mga mata ko. The urge inside me to really kiss her.

Pretty much she's the only thing that kept me alive back there. That's why I had to figure out a way to make her come home with me. To meet my family that I didn't even see for a year.

Bumaling ang tingin ko sa kapatid. "Sorry kung hindi ako nagparamdam kila Mom."

"That's the first smart thing you've said." He folded his arms across his chest, his face almost blank but concern.

"For your information, wala sa plano ko ang mamatay ng maaga." I joked.

"Nabanggit ko ba na tumalon siya sa dagat para sagipin ako?" Lana said proudly and looked at Nicholas. "Crazy. Idiot. Jerk." But she was smiling, though.

I laughed at her reaction, then moaned when I felt a sudden pressure on my chest area.

Mabilis na nakalapit sa akin si Lana. Her eyes was immediately hugged by concern and fear. Something inside me fired up, kaya hindi ko na napigilang mapangiti.

She frowned at my reaction. "Stop." Mahina niya akong hinampas sa balikat at nagpigil ng ngiti.

God. How could this woman take my breath away?

Tumikhim si Nicholas. "Sino ka ba talaga? Are you really his fiancée?"

At doon na ako natigilan. Halos tumigil sa pagtibok ang puso ko sa narinig. Doon na unti-unting bumalik sa akin ang mga nangyari.

It makes sense now. It explains the surprised expression she wore.  I'd. . .proposed.

On a whisper of breath, my last breath. I remembered the sunrise, the feel of her sitting beside me, the sense of life peeling back, leaving behind only my regrets and my what-ifs.

At sa puntong iyon, bumalik sa utak ko ang eksaktong salita na binitawan.

'In fact, since we just spent the night together, kailangan mo akong panagutan. . . And marry me.'

A joke, perhaps, yet by the look on Nicholas face. . .

No way Lana really have taken me seriosly.

Right?

Who would agree to marry me? A vagabond with an unfortunate and no-more-second-chance career. A fishing vessel crew with only a motorcycle and a backpack that he can call as his own property.

Anong klaseng buhay ang maibibigay ko sa kan'ya?

Except Lana doesn't need a man to give her a life. We can give each other one, couldn't we? Magsimula ng simple sa countryside, build what we wanted together. I'll might buy a fishing boat–or work for his father, maybe–and we'll get our own home.

And I would marry her because I suddenly hungered for the life that had formed in my mind in the light of morning.  Abot kamay ko na ang taong dahilan kung bakit nabubuhay ako ngayon.

So I said it. Let the words came out of my mouth like waves. "She's. . .Yes, Lana is my fiancée."

I expected something from Nicholas, like what I've given him about Trish. A warm congratulations perhaps. Or even just a laugh, maybe. A 'nice one, bro.'