The Accused (A Series #1)

Chapter Fifty-Six

For years of being married to Finno, she never regretted marrying him. He was the husband every woman could ask for. People might find their situation weird, but she would not have it the other way. He was her unsolicited salvation at a time when all she needed was everything but saving.

"I did not open it yet— the envelope. I wanted us to do it together. Somehow, I get this feeling of wanting to make every little last thing with you memorable. Not literally, but this could be our last day of being married, and this could be my last time calling you my wife. Funny how an envelope seals it all." He chuckled at his last sentence.

As she stared at Finno, she knew she could never be more grateful to have met him. She would be forever indebted to him, and it may take her a lifetime to understand what she did to deserve him.

"Finno."

"Hmm?" He plastered a smile.

"You know that I love you, right, me and the kids?"

He nodded meekly. "Yeah."

"And that I will be forever thankful that you came into my life."

Sandaling naglumikot ang mga mata nito bago nahihiyang tumango.

"Thank you for being my husband. Thank you for being with me, thank you for loving us." A tear fell on her eye. "We love you so much."

Dahan-dahan nitong pinunasan ang kanyang pisngi para sa luhang nakatakas. He had a soft smile on his face, the one that never failed to make her feel secured.

"I never regret taking you to my life. We refreshed and started living together, and it was one of the best decisions I made in this life. If I have to go back in time, I still would love to meet you, but I hope in a way that I don't have to bring you to the hospital anymore."

Natawa silang dalawa sa huling sinabi nito.

"So, you don't have to cry. Hindi naman ako aalis, at hindi ko rin kayo pinapaalis. Kung gusto mo dito nalang kayo tumira at magpakasal tayo ulit."

"Ewan ko sa'yo."

"What?" Natatawang tugon nito. "Ayaw mo na ba akong maging asawa? Akala ko ba forever grateful ka sa akin?"

"Hindi na ngayon," kunwaring naiinis niyang sagot.

Nagpatuloy naman ito sa panunukso sa kanya. "O baka may iba ka ng gusto asawahin? Say... someone from the past, maybe?"

"Finno!" Agad siyang tumayo mula sa kinauupuang kama katabi ang lalake.

"I was just joking. You looked defensive." At tumawa pa nga.

"Defensive your face! Akin na nga yung envelope."

"Ayaw ko. Sa susunod na taon na natin buksan, gusto pa kitang asawa."

"Oo at para hindi ka na ulit tanggapin. Gagawin mo pang kabit."

"Oy, that's a foul!"

Finno being himself, matagal pa bago siya tinantanan nito. When they opened the envelop together, everything seemed surreal. Halo-halo ang kanyang emosyon. It felt like she was handed a new kind of freedom, the one na hindi siya pwedeng magkamaling gamitin dahil pangalawa na ito. She's scared, elated, and anxious.

She looked at Finno, who was silently reading the papers, and realized something.

"Kaya ko bang wala ka?"

Natigilan ito saglit sa kanyang tanong ngunit sumagot pa rin habang nanatili ang tingin sa hawak nito.

"Kaya mo." Then he looked at her. "Kaya natin."