The Littlest Things

Misibis

"Beach wedding gusto mo?"

They were sitting by the beach, huddled together in front of a bonfire while her family and friends celebrated her birthday a few feet away. They left them alone, knowing that it was their special night. 

"Huh?" she asked, forehead creasing, for she wasn't sure if she heard it right. He must be drunk. "Wala," he said while tucking some strands of hair behind her ears. "Kunwari ka pa. Narinig mo naman."

"Wedding ka kasi nang wedding, wala ka namang singsing," mocked Kathryn, with her left hand unconsciously resting on his knee. 

It made him laugh. "Tang ina," he swore before lightly biting a spot on her shoulders. 

"Huy, ang potty mouth!"

"Hinahalikan mo pa rin naman." He smirked at her, the corner of his lips twitching in a teasing way, and he looked so adorably obnoxious that she was almost overcome by an urge to kiss his smirk off his face. But the moment was gone as soon as it came, so she simply rolled her eyes. 

They sat in comfortable silence. When a gentle breeze blew, he draped one arm around her shoulders and she put her arms around his waist, and the thought of being Mrs. Ford suddenly felt nice and warm and possible.

She sighed and looked up at him, the tip of her nose brushing against his jaw. "I like beach wedding. Parang Jericho and Kim Jones. Or cliff wedding. Parang Iya and Drew, diba? Pwede rin garden wedding pero wala akong ma-remember na garden wedding, eh. You?"

"Church wedding," he said confidently. "Ihaharap kita sa Diyos para sabihing ikaw yung sinasamba ko."

For a few seconds, they simply looked at each other. His gaze was fierce, like he had never been so certain about anything in his entire life. And then his face broke into a grin.

Looking up, he said, "Joke lang, Lord." 

"Baka tamaan ka ng kidlat diyan," and it was her turn to smirk. 

He kissed her then, lightning-quick, on the lips, and she was so caught off-guard that it took her awhile to react. 

"Grabe ka, everybody's here!" she scolded when she found her voice, looking around wildly, before hitting his chest with her fist. He looked so amused.

"Walang titingin sa 'tin. Mao-awkward lang sila."

"I doubt it."

"Sige nga. Titingin ka ba pag nag-make out sina Pat sa tabi mo?" Daniel challenged, clearly enjoying how he could make his girlfriend feel so damn conscious. 

"We're not making out!" she hissed, looking scandalized.

"Yes, we are."

And with that, his fingers were suddenly splayed on the skin exposed by the slit of her white dress, and then he was kissing her gently, sweetly, almost reverently, enough for him to put her back together while also breaking her apart. 

And she let the tenderness of his kiss wash over her, melting into him, like how the stars and waves collided in the distance. He's made of galaxies. 

After a little while, they stopped kissing. Her heart was oddly hammering against her chest and her stomach was not filled with butterflies but of flamingos – pink and proud and flapping their wings, like the ones designed on his shorts that morning, which she mercilessly used to tease him with until one bird came to life and shut her up. 

"Nakatingin si JV," he suddenly whispered, bringing her back to Earth, trying to suppress a laugh. Her eyes widened, which made him laugh out loud, knowing how awkward it was for her. 

She punched his arm and said, "Balik na tayo." They stood up. She had just walked a few steps back to where their friends were, ready to face the embarrassment, when he called out to her.

"Saglit, Bal."

She looked back at him, and the first thing she noticed was his strange smile as he rushed towards her before pulling her close and taking her into his arms again. "Happy birthday," he murmured at the crook of her neck.

"Excited lang?" She couldn't help but giggle. "Thanks, babe."

He hugged her tighter like he was afraid to let her go. "Wag mo na ulit ako papakawalan ha?" Daniel asked, his voice both hopeful and sad.

She simply smiled and hugged him back. 

Slowly, they broke apart. His hands settled on her waist and she settled hers on his chest. They surveyed each other for what seemed like a long time. Then, he cleared his throat. "Beach wedding?"

"Hay nako," she rolled her eyes again but she was smiling.

"Papakasalan mo na 'ko?"

"Ewan ko," she teased him back.

"Ayaw mo ko pakasalan?"

"Pa'no pag 'di pumayag sila Papa?" 

"Itatanan kita."

"Ang tapaaaaang."

"Matapang talaga. Mahal kita, eh."

They both laughed at his statement but it made her heart soar. "I know," she said because she did know, and then fell for him even harder. 

"Ano, magpapakasal na tayo?" he teased her again, grinning at her like an idiot while his thumb traced circles on one side of her face. He was looking at her like how he looked when he first told her she was like the sun — that same glorious gaze that now made her think of every morning after, kissing against kitchen counters, making out before birthday parties, talking about childhood crushes, the feel of his head between her thighs, conversations at two in the morning, their fights, the hurt and the almost giving up, and all the things she would never regret for they were part of her and they were part of him and they were all worth it. 

She grinned back at him. He was her favorite The Beatles song – her Here, There, and Everywhere – and a lifetime with him was the only real thing she could imagine.  

"Ano na, Kath? Magpapakasal lang, ang tagal pa mag-isip?"

She punched his chest again, laughing. "Ewan ko sa 'yo. Tanong ka ulit pag seryoso ka na."

He smirked his godforsaken smirk again then pulled a ring out of his pocket. 

"Eto. Seryoso na ba?"

**AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi! Sorry natagalan. Pero eto na oh. :) Naipadala ko na yung entry sa universe. Baka mapagbigyan. Or napagbigyan na? Char. Vote niyo naman kung may time kayo or kung bet niyo. Also, comments please? Para alam ko kung ano ang effective or kung ano din ang lines na nagustuhan niyo. Thank you! June na! Wedding month. :P