So Close (Book 1)

Chapter 34

NAT'S POV

I stared at the paper. 

He signed it.

Good God, he signed the papers.

I took the papers and looked at it. I touched the signature. 

Nanikip ang dibdib ko. 

I looked up. Naglalakad na paalis si Bryce, papunta na siya sa kotse niya. I couldn't just call him back. Alam kong hindi siya titingin. 

So, I did the most unexpected thing.

I tore the papers. 

At nakuha ko ang atensyon ni Bryce. Lumingon siya at tinignan niya ako ng masama. 

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?" he screamed. 

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Then, my heart constricted. At hindi ko alam kung ano yung gumalaw sa tiyan ko. I was positive na hindi yon ang mga anak ko.

"B--Bry--"

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, WOMAN!" he asked. Nakaharap na siya sa akin. I slowly walked out of the house. Nang mahaningan ako, napansin ko na sout ko lang yung black leggings at manipis na sweater ko. Nakapaa pa ako.

"Bryce--"

"PUMASOK KA NA SA LOOB! I'M DONE TALKING WITH YOU!" he said. "AND--"

Good god.

"WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY? KANINA KA PA DADA NG DADA!" I said. I crossed my arms acros my chest. Jusme. Kailan pa ba naging madaldal tong lalaki na 'to?

He sighed. Tapos ginaya niya ako. Tinaas pa nga niya ang kilay niya. "I'm listening."

I groaned. "Will you stop with the attitude? Nakakainis na." I said. 

He frowned. "Natalie--"

"Stop. Talking." I said. At nang isara na niya ang bibig niya, nagsimula na ako. "Napanood ko na--"

"Ayun naman pala e!" he suddenly said. 

I frowned at him. "I'm not yet done talking."

He groaned. Lumapit ako sa kanya, one step at a time. 

"Napanood ko na. Stella spiked your coffee." I raised a brow. "At hinalikan at hinubaran mo pa rin siya." I shook my head at him. 

Obvious na gusto niyang magsalita pero he took control of it. 

"Hindi mo pa sana tinuluyan ng 'I love you, Stella' o kaya 'I hate my wife for not doing this with me.' " sabi ko. The words really stung considering the fact na mahal ko si Bryce. 

Oo. Mahal ko si Bryce. Mas mahal ko na siya ngayon kasi tyinagaan niya ako. And he never gave up on me. Yun nga lang, ewan ko kung ganon pa rin ang nararamdaman niya para sa akin.

"I have nothing more to say, Bryce. Gusto ko lang malaman mo na napanood ko na. Pero ang gusto kong malaman is why you signed the papers." I said. 

Tumigil na ako sa harap ni Bryce. I looked up at him, expecting him to answer my unsaid question.

But instead, he asked a question. "Bakit mo pinunit ang mga papeles? Hindi ba't gusto mo na talagang ma-divorce sa akin? Wasn't that what you always wanted?"

I pursed my lips. Tapos tinaas ko ang kamay ko. I put up three fingers. "Number three: It was what I wanted."

Two fingers left. "Number two: The question's the same with number three."

One finger left. "Number one: Pinunit ko kasi ayaw kong ibigay kay Kuya Kent." 

He sighed. "Kung ganon naman pala, sana binalik mo na lang sa akin. Ako na lang maghahatid sa pinsan mo."

I smiled. "Gagawin mo 'yon?"

"Oo naman."

"Bakit?"

"Kasi 'yon ang gusto mo."

"Paano kung ayaw mo?"

"Gugustuhin ko na lang."

I nodded. "Paano na 'yan? Wala ka nang ibibigay."

He sighed. "Natalie, are you mocking me?" he asked. "Kasi kung--"

"Ano? Hahalikan mo ako?" I shook my head and turned back. "Nako, Bryce. Lumang tugtugin na 'yan."

He let out another sigh. "Natalie--"

"At tsaka, pinunit ko 'yon kasi there's no use for that now." I said. 

The air was still. 

Tapos hinawakan ni Bryce ang mga balikat ko and he spun me around. "What are you talking about?"

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. And then, I breathed to even my heart. "Napanood ko na. Stella spiked your coffee. At hinalikan at hinubaran mo pa rin siya."

He groaned. "I know that part already!"

I touched his jaw. "But what you don't know... Is that I still love you. And I was wrong with my decision to get a divorce. And I was wrong about not hearing your side. I know that I'm also wro--"

Hindi ko na natuloy yung sinasabi ko kasi hinalikan na niya ako. 

And I answered back. 

"Oh, Natalie." he said against my lips. "Namiss kita, love. I missed you so much."

I pulled back. "Namiss rin kita. Pero, before anything else," I said. Kinuha ko ang kamay niya at linagay yon sa taas ng tiyan ko. "Love, meet our babies."

Bryce smiled. Parang may sinabi siya pero hindi ko maintindihan. He knelt down before me and placed his ear on my stomach. I chuckled. 

"Hello, babies." he said. 

I touched his hair. "Love."

Bryce looked at me. He looked at me, full of love. "I love you."

"As I love you."

Tumayo si Bryce. He seized my lips. Then he brought me up in his arms. 

"Love?" I said. 

"Yes, love?" Pumasok na siya sa loob ng bahay ko. He closed the door with his foot. 

"Bakit mo pinirmahan?" I asked. 

He gently placed my down on the sofa. He knelt before me and took my hands. "I did... Because I love you. And, dammit, tama si Stella. Hindi ko matitiis na hindi ko pirmahan ang papeles kasi mahal kita."

"She talked to you?" I asked. 

He nodded. He burried his face on my stomach. "Please don't be mad. Nagulat ako when I realized how true her words were."

I made him face me. "Love, it's okay. Hindi na tayo magdidivorce ngayon. What's done's done."

He smiled at me. "I love you, Natalie Ross."

"As I love you, Bryce Ross."

TInaas ni Bryce ang sweater ko hanggang makita namin ang tiyan ko. He began kissing my stomach. Linagay niya ang tenga niya sa tiyan ko. 

"Hello babies. May tatanungin lang sana si daddy. Okay lang?" he said. "Okay. Good. Gusto ko lang kasi malaman ang side niyo kung okay lang na magkaroon kayo agad ng kapatid."

I was giggling. "Bryce! Ano ka ba! Hindi pa nga lumalabas, may susunod na agad!" I said. But it was cute. He was talking to our kids. 

"Shh. Maingay ka daw, mommy." sabi niya. "Ano, babies? Sure kayo?" 

I cocked a brow up, playing along. "Ano daw sabi, daddy?" I asked. 

He looked at me and smiled. "They said, gusto na rin nilang magkapatid."