S U A D E L A

BONUS: 2

Suadela faced the other side of the bed when Luan came inside the room with a bunch of keys in his hand.

Marahang sumampa sa kama ang binata at humiga sa tabi niya.

"You're mad," Luan wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against his body.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi?"

Earlier, Luan's dad asked when he's leaving for the USA. Turns out, Luan is going there to pursue his Master's degree.

Luan hugged Suadela tighter, "I don't have to because I won't be leaving." He sighed. "It was planned before there was us but now everything changed."

"Hindi ka na aalis?" Humarap si Suadela sa binata.

"Hindi na," nakangiting marahang pinisil ni Luan ang baba ng nobya, "kaya huwag ka na magtampo."

"Paano yung daddy mo? Asang-asa siya na aalis ka."

"I could convince him to take my master's here. I'll even study Business Ad like he has always told me. Wag lang ako mapalayo sayo."

Suadela's eyes glimmered but worriedly asked another question.

"At kapag hindi siya pumayag?"

"Then, I'll be the prodigal son again that he branded me." Luan smiled reassuringly and added, "I'll continue taking part time jobs until we graduate. Get a proper job, save money, and marry you."

"Planado na ha!" Nangingiting hinampas ni Suadela sa dibdib ang kaharap.

"Of course, the moment you said yes to me. I already included you in my lifetime plan. No takebacks, remember?"

Suadela was speechless.

"Don't think about it, hmm? I won't go anywhere." Luan kissed Suadela on the tip of her nose.

"Kung sakali hindi magwork ang plano mo. Pwede naman ako ang sumama sayo... I'll talk to mom. I think she'll understand—"

"You'll go with me?" Luan asked, his voice laced with both amusement and surprise.

"Mhm," Suadela nodded. "I could take my master's as well. Sa parehong eskwelahan mo."

"You'll do that?"

"Yes, I actually hold dual citizenship. Soteria and I were born in the US, sa Georgia. Our family lived there until we moved to the Philippines when we were ten—"

Luan pulled Suadela in a hug.

"Jesus! I have already decided to go against my old man but here you are having concrete plans on the bat. Why are you always one step ahead of me, mæm?"

"Ang lagay ikaw lang pwedeng magplano para sa atin?"

"No," Luan said, breaking the hug as he looked into Suadela's face. "But I thought you were angry."

"I was hurt. Hindi ako galit, okay? Nagulat lang ako at naiinis kasi clueless ako. Wala kang sinasabi sakin. Pero hindi naman ako immature na pipigilan ko ang future plans mo na binuo mo bago pa naging tayo. Lalo pa sa ikabubuti mo, syempre susuportahan kita dahil girlfriend mo ko."

Luan smiled.

"Oh, bakit nangingiti ka lang dyan?"

"I like listening to your voice. Did you know that you have been talking more than before? It's adorable."

Umangat ang isang kilay ni Suadela, "Naging nagger ako, ganon?"

"Nah," Luan dipped his face on the hollow of Suadela's neck and sniffed her scent gently. "I said 'twas adorable and I would rather choose that than not hearing your voice."

"Ikaw naman, naging mambobola ka at—ano 'to?" Suadela grabbed Luan's hand which was busy caressing her waist.

"Kamay ko," nangingiting sagot ni Luan na nanatiling nakabaon sa leeg niya.

Naniningkit ang mga mata na marahang itinulak ito ni Suadela, "Nasa bahay tayo ng tatay mo, sær."

The corner of Luan's mouth went up. "So? Dad saw me when I came in here."

"Huh?!" Suadela tried to get up but Luan pinned her under him.

"It's okay," Luan whispered as he planted small kisses on Suadela's face and added, "he likes you and everyone in my family knows that I'm head over heel in love with you. I can even marry you now if you want."

Natatawang iniwasan ni Suadela ang mga halik ng binata. "Diploma muna bago kasal."

"Really?" Luan halted from showering her with kisses, cupping her face. "Payag ka pakasalan ako after graduation? That's only a few months from now."

Suadela smirked. "Diploma sa master's degree hindi bachelor's degree. Let's stick to the plan, sær. Napaghahalataan ka na masyadong patay na patay sakin ha."

Luan chuckled and showered her face with kisses again. "No takebacks." He murmured. "You're stuck with me forever."

"Yes, sær..." Suadela cupped Luan's face in her hands and kissed him, smiling softly.

With Luan, her fear of being left alone is next to impossible. They are stuck with each other.

Always and forever.

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