Fortress Island Series 3 Matteo: The Bastard's Sweetest Downfall

NINE

Birthday Gift

"Happy Birthday." Anas ko kasabay ng aking pagtingala para titigan ito. Niligid ko ang aking tingin sa kanyang gwapong mukha. Halos dalawang buwan na rin ang lumipas buhat nung huli ko itong makita.

"Thank you." He smirked when he noticed how intense I looked at him. Banayad na hinaplos nito ang aking pisngi gamit ang kanyang hinlalaki. "Be careful with your staring, cupcake. Your eyes are telling me to do things we shouldn't be doing at this moment. But if you keep looking at me like that, I wouldn't mind dragging you out from here and have you all by myself. My family will surely understand." His playful smile made me blush.

"I missed you." I said shyly.

"But not as half as I missed you. God, you have no idea, Porsche. You have no idea." The agony in his voice somehow made a knot in my stomach.

"Matt, hindi ko alam kung ano ang susunod sa ating dalawa pero ang katotohanan na ang mga kapatid mo mismo ang gustong nandito ako sa kaarawan mo, kahit paano ay naibsan ang kaba at insecurity ko. Alam naman siguro nila ang tungkol sa akin, di ba?"

"My siblings cannot keep things to themselves, unfortunately. They always meddle in my affairs, and they are stubborn as hell." He scrunched up his face and side-eyed his siblings lovingly.

I chuckled. "They just love you so much."

"As I to them." He answered. "Ipanatag mo ang sarili mo, Porsche. My family are good people. They're humans. They don't bite." He joked.

"Ewan ko sa'yo." I narrowed my eyes to him and then sighed. "Marami tayong pag-uusapan, Matt."

"I know, sweetie. But that can wait. Thank you for being here tonight, You have no idea how much this means to me."

"I'm so happy to be here."

Matteo was about to dip down his head again to kiss me, but someone cleared her throat.

"Excuse me, lovebirds, but the table is waiting." Si Mira na lumapit at niyakap ang braso sa aking baywang, pulling me toward her side. "Kumain muna siguro tayo, noh?"

Matt groaned in protest. "You're so nosy as always, Mirabella."

"I take that as a compliment, thank you, big bro." Tawa nito. "Kumain na kasi muna tayo. Gutom na ang buntis." Himas nito sa kanyang umbok na tiyan.

Nagtinginan kami ni Mira at nagtawanan.

Matteo rolled his eyes before he pulled me by the shoulders towards him. "Alright but let me hold my girl. She's mine tonight."

"Possessive, aren't we? But okay fine, whatever, Birthday boy." She waved her hand in the air as she walked away.

Giniya ako ni Matt hindi patungo sa mahabang mesa kundi sa dalawang tao na pinagmamasdan kami mula sa malayo. Tinambol ulit ng kaba ang aking dibdib.

My grip around his hand tighten as we came closer. Matteo tilted his head to my side as he gave me a reassuring smile. "It's okay. I'm by your side."

I nodded. Gayunpaman, hindi naibsan ang aking kaba lalo na't hindi ko mabasa ang sinasaad sa kanilang mukha. Hindi siguro alam ng magulang ng lalake ang tungkol sa akin. They're probably thinking I was just another girl. How would they react once they found out that I'm older than Matt, and a widow with two children? Katulad sa mga pelikulang napanood ko, tiyak akong hindi papayag ang magulang nito na mangyari kaming dalawa ni Matt.

Sumilay ang ngiti sa mag-asawa nang papalapit na kami sa kanila.

"Senyor Arturo, Senyora Leonora, please meet Porsche." Magiliw na sambit ni Matteo.