The White in her Black

Chapter 27

"Tigilan mo nga ako," mahina kong sabi bago umiwas ng tingin.

Gusto kong isipin na nagbibiro ang seryoso at medyo naiiyak na si Catherine sa harapan ko. Pinipigilan ko ang sarili na madala sa emosyon. I want her to think deeply about this. Our relationship isn't something that we can just joke about.

She chuckled a little, looking like she was about to cry as she trembled holding the ring on her left hand.

"My Madison, please allow me to marry you..." mahina niyang sabi matapos marinig ang binanggit ko. My remark didn't scare her at all. "Allow me to spend my everyday's with you. Allow me to be happy in this miserable life," she stated genuinely that made my eyes pooled with so much tears.

Hindi ako makapagsalita nang maramdaman ang sinseridad sa kanyang boses. Catherine is always genuine but this Catherine is just so different.

"Days are bad... I know, some could be harsh too... I'm aware of that. What I'm not yet aware of is how better could life be having you as my wife." She said.

I was lost of words. Nakabara ang kung ano man sa aking lalamunan na pinipigilan akong magsalita.

"Life without you was so hard... baby, even God knows that. I prayed... beg even... to have you back. I thought I would be okay with just having you back in my arms. But no... I crave for more than just that. Now that I have you again, please allow me to tie our lives together as we share the happy ending that we deserve."

Katahimikan ang namayani matapos niyang sabihin 'yon. Hinintay niya ang magiging sagot ko, umiiyak na nakaluhod ang isang tuhod habang ang kabilang binti at suporta.

"How can I say no to my greatest love?" I asked. "Of course I'd marry you, you dummy." I giggled watching her put the ring on my finger.

Tumulo ang aking luha at pinakatitigan ang kamay na may kumikinang na singsing. I then looked at my friends who looked to happy with their eyes bawling except for Gabriella who looked happy for me without a single drop of tear.

"Girls!" Impit na tili kong sabi.

They all hugged me with their congratulations through sweet whispers.

Ang umagang ito ay hindi ko makakalimutan. I always knew that life has a lot of twists and this isn't one that I expected.

Kumalma ang lahat at naupo si Catherine sa gilid ko. Pinagmasdan ko ang mga mata niya na parang tsokolate at kahoy. Ang mga pilikmata niya ay hindi gaanong mahaba pero may kurba. Ang mga pisngi niya ay makinis, maputla, at mukhang malambot. Her lips... oh those lips and the things that they do.

I smiled slightly as my fiancée looked at me. Lumapit siya at nagbigay ng marahang halik sa akin. I knew she would do it so I had the urge to close my eyes.

Tumuloy kami sa pagkain ng umagahan habang unti unting umingay at umalingawngaw ang ingay ng mga ibon. Kung kanina'y medyo kalmado sila, nagwawala na sila ngayon.

Napuno ng tawanan at kuwentuhan ang hapag hanggang sa unti-unting uminit ang sikat ng araw. Dahil doon, nagpasya kaming lahat na bumalik na sa bahay.

"You know... I have a schedule back in Manila." Sambit ni Gabriella nang dalawa na lang kami na naiwan sa sala habang umiinom ng mga ipinabiling beer ni Catherine na ngayon ay natutulog na katabi nina Francesca at Criza.

"You didn't have to go here in the first place if you were busy..." mahina kong sabi bago muling mapainom sa bote na hawak.

"I missed you so I couldn't say no." She smiled slightly.

"I missed all of you..." mahina kong tugon.

"When you were on the news..." umiwas siya ng tingin habang nag kukwento. Nakita ko ang pamumuo ng luha sa mga mata niya. We were sitting across each other so I got up and positioned myself next to her.