Flames and Vengeance (South Series # 1) COMPLETED- To be published

Chapter 35

Since my brother hired wedding planners, I seldom went out of the room. Lalabas lang ako tuwing kakain kami, or mag-yaya mag-swimming ang mga pinsan ko. My mom still had no clue about their big day, she was ecstatically happy when Christmas came.

Nasa duty si Ate Trish sa araw ng pasko kaya noong nakauwi siya doon lang siya nakatawag, my parents understand her prior commitment, tinanggap na naming mula noong pumasok siya ng med school, may mga pagdiriwang talagang hindi siya makakapunta.

When the clock strikes 12, my baby called me. How I missed hearing his husky voice, and his contagious laughs. Napapailing na lang ako tuwing naiisip kung gaano ako kahulog sa kanya.

"Hi, baby!" he said with excitement when after three missed calls, I answered finally. "Are you busy?"

I smiled, staring hopelessly at my phone's screen. "I missed you."

His lips widened, forming a gentle smile, even his eyes sparked with amusement. "Someone's being clingy. I missed you, too, baby."

"Nasa'n ka?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

He switched the camera to its back view, umikot siya. I saw Kuya Paulo, Riley and some of their relatives in Cebu. They greeted me, tinatawanan pa nila si Calix. Even Kuya Dominique was laughing playfully at us.

"Hindi ka talaga sumama sa US?" 

He shook his head. "Andito ka, bakit aalis ako?"

Kinunot ko ang noo ko. "Baliw, nandito ako sa Balesin. I would understand naman."

"No. We'll celebrate our anniversary together, that's a promise. Hintayin na lang kita makauwi. Pabalik na rin ako bukas sa Manila, pinapunta lang ako ni daddy dito."

Natahimik kami pareho. Bumangon ako sa kama at umupo malapit sa bintana ng aking silid, the sky's perfectly conditioned for tomorrow's big day.

"Nand'yan na si Trish?"

Umiling ako. "Later pa siguro."

"Kumain ka na? Hindi na masakit puson mo?"

"Wala na ako," malamyang sagot ko.

Ngumiti siya ng may halong panunukso, namula tuloy ako agad. "Tss, sayang dapat nand'yan ako. Miss na miss na kita."

Umirap ako lalo, pero nagpipigil akong bumigay sa ngiti niyang parang kinukuha pati kaluluwa ko. Damn you, Silva! I'm so whipped.

"Iba naman namimiss mo eh, hanap ka diyan," sabi ko. "Pero pagkatapos mo, tapos na rin tayo."

Humalakhak siya. "Damn! I can't wait to be married to you, kahit mukhang lagi kang magyayaya ng away."

"Hindi kita aawayin kung wala ka namang gagawin," sagot ko. "Baby, church wedding nga tayo?"

"Ikaw. I don't care about the details, I only want to marry you. Kahit ilang beses mo gusto, susundin ko lahat ng gusto mo. Just marry me surely, I'm good."

I frowned. "Tamad ka lang mag-isip. Mag-church tayo after ng civil natin. Pero, ang ganda rin ng wedding nila mommy bukas, kainggit."

Lalo siyang ngumisi. "Then, I'll marry you three times. Kahit anong gusto mo."

Ngumiti ako. "Maghihirap ka sa akin."

"Napaghandaan ko na. May business naman tayo. We're good, baby," he uttered, calmly. "I'll give you what you deserve."