ANG WAKAS: The Special Chapter

Gratitude & Appreciation

A week past the wedding, Iah went back to the Philippines together with his husband- who is now gonna stay here for good. It was Earth who told Iah na dito niya sa Pilipinas gusto manatili at bumuo ng sarili nilang pamilya.

As much as he likes living in Los Angeles, the homey feeling of the Philippines would never be replaced.

Tsaka... dito rin sila nag-simula ni Iah eh.

Noong araw na inis na inis siya dahil ang kotse niya ay nasa pagawaan kaya't wala siyang choice kundi sumabay sa pinsan niya na sumakay sa jeep. Who would've thought that he'd find his reincarnated lover there?

"Mundo, pakikuha nga ng medyas ko sa edge ng bed." Iah's voice resounds from the bathroom.

Earth immediately gets up from his desk to go to his husband, "What's medyas again?"

Iah, who's busy fixing his hair in front of their vanity, looks at his husband through the reflection of the mirror. His eyes instinctively scans the latter from his face down to his naked torso since he's not wearing anything other than his pants.

Right now, they're still staying in their condo since they just started looking for a lot where their house will be built.

Iah suggested na sa Bulacan na lang sila para makatipid, but Earth told him that he wants to give him a home they could call their own.

"It's socks, baby." Iah chuckles as he watches his husband walk inside the bathroom to hug him from behind. Iah slightly tilts his head as the latter circles his arms around Iah's waist while propping his chin on Iah's shoulder.

"You're laughing at me now for not knowing tagalog ha?" Earth pouts while drawing circles on Iah's lower abdomen, the action giving Iah the willies.

"I'm not!" Iah snickers as he puts his hands on top of his husband's own. "I just find you cute."

Mabilis namang napawi ang ngiti sa labi ni Iah nang itagilid ni Earth ang ulo niya, his lips are now ghosting over Iah's exposed neck. "You find me cute?" he whispers gravelly,

Agad-agad na kumawala si Iah sa yakap ng asawa at humarap dito, "Stop." suway nito habang nanlalaki ang mata, "We're gonna be late."

A teasing grin appears on Earth's lips as he backs away while eyeing his husband whose face is as red as a cayenne pepper, "As far as I could remember, stopping is the last thing you wanna do last night." he jives while wiggling his brows.

Iah immediately feels warmth rises to his face as he threatens to throw the first thing he was able to pick up from the vanity, mabilis namang tumakbo si Earth pabalik ng kwarto habang tumatawa.

"Ang gago talaga Mundo." bulong ni Iah habang dahan-dahan muling humarap sa salamin, and as soon as he saw how flushed his cheeks are, he couldn't help but laugh to himself. It's amazing and ridiculous how fast Earth could fluster Iah just like when they were starting.

After half an hour of preparing, both of them are suited up. It had been a while for Iah since the last time he wore his volleyball clothes, hence the anticipation he's feeling. Ngayong araw kasi nila naisipang ituloy ang laro sa San Beda dahil mamayang gabi ay aalis na sila ni Earth patungo sa Cebu for their honeymoon.

"Mundo!" he calls from the living room dahil muli itong pumasok sa bedroom. "We're gonna be late na!"

"Coming, baby." anito,

Iah then acts as though he's cringing with the endearment pero yung totoo ay tinatago lang niya ang kilig na nararamdaman niya.

But instead of fully holding the giddiness he's feeling, his enlarged pupils mirror the parting of his lips, his pulses racing as he watches Earth walk over to him with a bouquet of deep pink roses.

"What the..." he murmurs as he sits on the couch frozen. He then blinks a couple of times without his eyes leaving his husband who's now standing in front of him, "W-What is this for?"

Earth answers him with a timid smile, then he hands the bouquet to an awestruck Iah, "For mon amour." he answers casually,

"M-May anong occasion today?"

"Nothing, mine. Just a little appreciation for my ever loving husband." he replies while watching Iah touch the flowers so delicately, "Deep pink roses means gratitude and appreciation."

Iah quickly puts down the bouquet to the side before jumping to Earth, the said man catching him with no hesitation. "I hate you." Iah whines against the crook of the latter's neck while his legs are hooked around Earth's waist.

"Mhm?" Earth hums playfully while tightening his grip on Iah's thighs. "That's not what you said last ni-" before he could even finish his sentence, Iah cups his cheeks and shuts him off with a kiss.

And before his mind could even register, Iah jumps down and frees himself from his hold, then he quickly exits their unit- leaving Earth in a complete daze as he shakes his head and licks his bottom lip while staring at the opened door in disbelief.