Del Rico Triplets #1: Bound By Duties

Kabanata 14

Graduation

I clicked the phone shutter nonstop, hoping that I can capture the most beautiful and timing picture of the sunset. I heard a clicking sound from behind at nang lingunin ko 'yon, si Tross na kabababa lang ng cellphone na hawak.

"Stop trying to take a picture of me like that. Sabi mo maganda ako tapos puro patalikod ang kuha mo," tunog nagtatampong sambit ko.

His lips stretched to a smile. He walk towards me. Siguro ay nasa limang malalaking hakbang ang pagitan namin bago pa siya tuluyang nakalapit.

Inayos niya ang takas na buhok sa likod ng aking tenga. Nanulis ang nguso ko at 'di napigilang ngumiti.

When we got married, Tross might have been showing me his good side but never the true one. Nakilala ko na lang siya rito. It will took him tons of good jokes before someone can make him laugh. It will take too much time before he opens up. But like what he always said, asawa niya ako. He will do everything to make this marriage work and gladly, it is effective.

"You're always been good looking to me. Whole body..." aniya bago sinundan iyon ng halakhak.

"Your words, Tross... Bolero," sagot ko bago muling bumalik sa pagkuha ng litrato.

He closed the space between us. His both arms locked my waist and pulled me towards him. He lean his head on my right shoulder. That almost made me sensitive.

"Nakikiliti ako..." sita ko sa kaniya.

I continuously touch the shutter of my phone and when I know I captured the best, I stopped. We stayed in this position, enjoying the sound of soft waves and birds.

"How do you feel?" he murmured.

My lips stretched to a wide smile.

"I'm perfectly fine."

I am... I became fine as days, weeks and months passed by. At first, it's hard. I can't keep up with his words, that it'll be the last time I will cry. Hindi niya nakikita dahil itinatago ko. Umiiyak ako sa mga sumunod na gabi kapag naliligo ako at ang hilam na mata ay sasabihing babad lang sa tubig.

Alam ko na nagpapanggap lang din siyang naniniwala sa akin. I have known Tross because he is the only one I have here. Sa mga unang araw, siya ang nag-e-effort na maging ayos ang bakasyon namin dito. Habang nakikita ko siyang nagpupursigi na maging ayos ang lahat, nagkaroon din ako ng lakas ng loob na ayusin ang sarili ko. He brought me to some tourists attraction. We did some hiking, kayaking, and visiting different islands here.

He teached me how to swim and I can finally said that I can swim now. Gusto kong kahit papaano ay may alam naman ako sa dagat. I learned that my husband knows how to surf and that pushed me to learn swimming. Ang dami-daming babae na nakakalapit sa kaniya sa malayong parte ng dagat tuwing nags-surf siya at ako ay hanggang tingin lang!

That is two of the reasons why I am so eager to learn pero siyempre, hindi niya 'yon alam.

I smiled upon remembering those days that we became comfortable with each other. It's been three months. Three months in Hawaii, without any news from the Philippines. I learned to live on my own... with only my husband by my side... and a few friends. Lance who's always the third wheel and the Delicante brothers who happened to be the closest friends to Tross.

They made my life chaotic and happy.

In those months, I develop feelings for Tross; feelings that made it easy for me to be comfortable with him and live with only him by my side. Hindi siya mahirap mahalin. With all the time and care he gave me, sweet comforting words that he showered me, hindi naging mahirap na mahulog ang loob ko sa kaniya.