After

Chapter Fourteen

Irene's POV:

Dinner started with mommy telling about stories from the past. Actually, history na nga ehh. Conversations are light lang.. everyone is getting along so well. Even Liza na ang tahimik, ayun.. kausap sister ni Jonvic. 

I am helping Jacinta clear out some plates.. at etong sila Borgy, nag ba basketball na naman. Ping, Jonvic's nephew is over the moon seeing na hindi siya ang only boy for tonight.

We took several photos kanina. Sabi ni Kuya he'll post it raw sa social media accounts nya. With the national election nearing.. almost a year na lang ehh.. This will stir controversy again. Wala naman kaming ginawa na hindi nila ginawang big deal. But after that UP incident? I couldn't care less.

They will still talk no matter what we do. 

'Hon? Busy ka pa? Can you please come with me? Sandali lang.'
"I'm helping Jacinta pa. Ang bibilis nyo kase kumain. Stop drinking beer na ha, ayoko mag alaga ng lasing."

'Go Tita Irene. Ako muna dito.'

'Thanks Jac. You're the best!'
"Heh! Kapag eto kalokohan mo na naman ha. Honey si Chin? Isasama ba natin?"
'No. Bukas na lang kayo mag bonding. I want you all for myself tonight. Not even Chin can share with me.'

Jonvic lead time to the garden of their house. This reminds me of our house in San Juan.

'I love you. Can I give you this?'
"Honey.."
'It's not what you think it might be, it's not.'
"Then what is it?"

'Promise ring lang. Para even if we are not together, you will not be as wary as you were these past few days. I have mine, also.'

He is giving me a ring. Oh my God.

He showed me his ring.. Oh! So if I am to put mine on top of his, then it'll be a perfect circle na. I was thinking pa naman.. medyo weird ang shape.

"Okay.. pero can you take off yours? Para ako mag susuot sayo?"
'You are making me cry. But here. Thank you hon..'

I placed his ring sa ring finger nya. It feels different ha.. seeing na may ring si Jonvic. But good kind of different. 

'What's your promise?'
"I'll always be possessive and selosa. And maybe, makulit? Ikaw na lang mag adjust hon."
'That's the most nakaka inis na promise.. you do realize that, right?'
"I do. What's your promise?"

'I'll love you still.. kahit na possessive ka, selosa at makulit. How's that?'
"Perfect. Now put it on na!"

'Nagmamadali. Give me your hand.'

I can't stop looking at it. I'm not wearing any since the annulment. Ngayon lang ulit. I kind of miss the feeling na ganito. Like I am owned by someone with something to publicly declare it.

"Thank you, honey.. I love you."
'Padating na chopper in 30 minutes. Say goodbye to them na. They all know naman na I am taking you somewhere. Nagpa alam ako kay Mama at Kuya mo.'

"Bakit ang thoughtful mo?"
'You are worth every effort. Now go, stop the chika hon ha.. Say good night rin kay Chin.'

"Honey? Picture tayo. With our ring. Pwede?"
'Of course. Come here. Can I update sa account ko?'
"Up to you. Just don't tag my personal account. You have two million followers, I have.. wala pang 50 na friends? or 60? I can't handle them."
'I've learned my lesson po.'

"Hon? They might think.. kasal na tayo.. o engaged?"
'Well I read an article kanina sa tabloid na buntis ka raw.'
"What? Ako, buntis?!! That's ridiculous!"
'So I think I can live normally.. kung ang sunod nila na isusulat.. asawa na kita. That's better actually.'