MARRIED TO MY BULLY NEIGHBOR

NINE

"Hmmmm... How many children do you want?" he suddenly asked. I don't know if it's still early planning or talking about this thing.

I shifted on my sit and to see his face. Okay. He was serious. I sighed and shrugged.

"Since I was an only child. I wanted to have a big family. I like to have a big and happy family."

I grew up lonely. I wasn't like the other kids who stay most often outside their house. Playing with other kids. I stayed mostly at our house. Play alone. I don't have someone to tell my secrets to. Don't have someone to share my toys to.

Kian was also an only child, but we are totally different. He's friendly. People likes to be friends to him. He get along well with others. While I prefer to be alone. I just don't want to be judge.

Childhood memories and trauma made me this way. I fear to socialize. I don't want people to be nice at me while I'm in front of them, then stabbed me and say ill things behind my back.

So, why bother to be nice and to please people if they don't really like me. It's their problem not mine. Being a loner thought me this. It's not that bad at all.

I find peace being alone. Not until Kian and I got married. He is not like a husband to me. He's also my friend, my buddy.

"How about you?" I asked him.

"I also want a big family. Pero kung ilan lang ang kaya mo, ayos na sa akin." Natawa ako sa sinabi.

Why are we talking about it anyway. Wala pa nga kaming kaalam-alam talaga sa pagpapamilya. At least for now. We need to finish our studies first. Have a stable job and be financially stable enable for us to have kids.

"I have something to give to you," nakangiting sambit ko.

"What is it?" Kinuha ko mula sa likod ng picture frame ang kahon na tinago ko kanina. I handed it to him. I feel a bit nervous. I am not really sure about this.

Ngumiti siya sa akin. He opened it. He was speechless. Napakurap siya. Maybe realizations hits him.

He made me sit on his side. Kinuha niya ang isang singsing. Ilang buwan na kaming kasal pero wala man lang kaming suot na wedding ring. Isa siguro iyon sa dahilan kung bakit may mga lumalapit pa din sa kaniya na mga babae sa eskwelahan. Well, he's really popular. I just thought that if these girls see his finger wearing a wedding they's propably back off. It not... They are really bitches.

"Thank you, Moo..." Nginitian niya ako bago muling tinuon ang tingin sa singsing. It was a simple white gold ring with our name engrave on it.

Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay. For a few seconds he was silent. Naninimbang at tila nag-iisip siya.

"To the most beautiful girl I have ever seen my whole life..." panimula niya. Kumunot ang noo ko at mahinang natawa, only to realize that he was making a vow. A wedding vow that we haven't done because we got married all of a sudden. We didn't have a wedding ceremony. We just signed the certificates thats all.

"I will love you with all of my heart. I will be the best husband and lover to you. I love you..." He's about to kiss me when I avoided him.

"Wait for the bride to say her vows first." Natawa ako. Nagkamot naman siya ng batok.

Huminga ako nang malalim. Wala naman kaming audience pero nakaramdam ako ng kaba sa aking dibdib.

"I wonder if natandaan o narinig mo ba ng maayos ang love letter ko noon..." namumula kong sambit.

"... Yes, maybe I was too young from then to think that it was love, but I've wrote that letter with all my heart." Lumamlam ang kaniyang mga mata.

"I decided to stop to feel special for you way back then, dahil alam kong hindi mo masusuklian ang kung ano'ng nararamdaman ko noo. I thought I got rid of you from my system but I was wrong. Dahil sa bawat araw na magkasama tayo, muling nabuhay ang damdamin na mahimbing ang pagkakatulog sa kaibuturan ng aking puso." Suminghap siya. Nangislap ang kaniyang mata.

"I love you so much, Moo..." I whispered.

He didn't waste a minute. He immediately planted my lips a brief kiss. And again. And again. Tumawa siya at pinagdikit ang aming noo at ilong.

"I love you more, Moo..." We aren't in a wedding ceremony but the emotion was real.

"When we already became successful. I will marry you in the church. I will give you a grand wedding. A dream wedding. After that, we'll travel the whole world. And then... We'll start our family. We'll have kids. Two boys and two girls who look just like you."

Tumawa ako at naluluha ng sabay. I can't wait for that moment to happen. Soon... Someday.

Life with him was amazing. Hindi ko lubos akalain kaya ko pa lang magmahal ng ganito kalalim. Or never did I thought that someone would love me so deep. And never did I thought that it was him. Kian. My childhood crush. My bully.

Sa bawat araw na nagdaan mas lalo ko pa siyang minamahal. I am always excited on coming home from school to cook for him.

We always have time to talk. Minsan nagiging bonding din namin ang paggawa ng assignments at project.

——
Nagmamadali akong umuwi ng bahay para makapagluto ng dinner namin ni Kian. Nasa university pa siya hanggang ngayon. May dalawa pa siyang classes.

I still have two hours left bago siya umuwi. Kailangang maayos ko ang lajat within two hours.

Nakapag-grocery na ako kahapon ng lulutuin. May mga binili din akong balloons to decorate our room.

I insert the key in the keyhole. At pagbukas ko ng pintuan ay laking gulat ko ng may narinig akong parang paputok.

Ay!" Nasapo ko ang aking dibdib dahil sa putok na narinig ko. Naman e.

"Happy anniversary, Moo!" bati sa akin ni Kian habang hawak-hawak pa din ang party pop.

Ngumiti ako at lumapit sa kaniya.

"Ikaw ang gumawa ng lahat ng ito?" tanong ko habang nililibot ang aking mga mata sa bawat sulok ng kuwarto.

May mga hanging baloons. May mga LED lights at printed pictures namin na magkasama. Mga petals ng roses na nagkalat sa sahig. Nahalo ito sa confetti na galing sa party pop.

May mini table sa gitna kung saan nakapatong ang wine, cake at ilang pagkain.

May gift at boquet of roses din sa kama.

Saglit akong hindi nakapagsalita sa pagkakasurpresa.

Oh... He prepared all this.

Ngumiti ako. Dahil dito mukhang mas na-inlove pa ako lalo sa kaniya.

"Ang sweet ng asawa ko," emosyonal kong sambit at agad siyang niyakap ng mahigpit.

Mahina siyang tumawa at agad akong dinampihan ng halik sa labi.

"Happy anniversary, Moo," bati ko sa kaniya. Tumingkayad ako at agad siyang dinampihan ng halik. Agad din akong bumitaw dahil baka kung saan na naman ito papunta. Hindi ko pa nga nakikita lahat ng hinanda niya.

Mukhang iisa ang nasa isip namin ng asawa ko. Kaso nga lang mas magaling siyang magplano dahil imbes na siya ang surpresahin ko, ako ang nasurpresa.

We took a video of us while we blew the candle on our anniversary cake. We exchange some sweet message and kiss.

"Patayin mo na ang video at baka ma-video-han pa ang gagawin natin," bulong niya na kinatawa ko.

After turning it off. I look at him and smile devilishly.

"Since you took care of everything. I'll take care of you," I utter erratically. Mabilis siyang tumayo sa pagkakaupo sa harap ng mesa.

Natawa naman ako. Agaran akong tumakbo at umakyat sa aming kuwarto.

"Huwag mainipin, mister! Diyan ka lang muna!" Ni-lock ko ang pinto ng kuwarto para masiguradong hindi siya makakapasok kapag sinundan ako. Knowing him. Masyado siyang mainipin.

I can hear his frustration while he call my name outside. Tumawa lang ako.

"Maliligo lang ako!" Muli kong sigaw. Kinuha ko sa closet ang binili kong lingerie bago ako naligo.

Let's see if I could give my husband a mindblowing pleasure.