One Last Time (R18)

FINALLY THE EPILOGUE: NOT EVEN AN INCH

FINALLY THE EPILOGUE: LEVI

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Not Even An Inch.

     "FINALLY... naiharap ka na rin niya sa'kin." Malaki ang ngiti ni Dad nang mula sa'kin ay bumaling kay Kei, na hindi naitago ang gulat.

Bahagyang nakaawang ang kanyang labi habang salitan ang tingin sa'ming dalawa ni Dad. God... She's so adorable. Kung hindi lang kami nasa harap ni Dad, malamang nahalikan ko na siya.

"H-He... he's your father?" gulat niyang tanong nang lumingon siya sa'kin.

Magaan kong pinisil ang kamay niyang hawak ko at marahang tumango. "Yes, Loves. He's my father."

I reached up, maingat na hinawi ang ilang hibla ng buhok niyang dumikit sa pisngi niyang nabasa ng ulan. Hindi ko na inisip kung nakatingin sa'min si Dad.

Nakita kong napalunok si Kei bago siya muling humarap kay Dad.

"H-Hello po, Sir..." nahihiyang bati niya habang inilalahad ang kamay.

Dad smiled and immediately took it. "Hello, hija. Masyado ka namang pormal. You can call me Dad too, if you want. Tutal, mukhang handa na rin ang anak kong gawin kang fiancée."

Napakurap ako. Pati ako ay hindi nakapaghanda sa sinabi niya. But yes... Dad was right.

Pagkatapos ng pag-uusap na 'yon, plano ko nang magpropose kay Kei. Naghihintay lang ako ng tamang timing para lumuhod sa harap niya.

"Umakyat na muna kayo at magbihis. Mukhang nilalamig na si Keira," dagdag ni Dad, as casually as if he hadn't just announced my plans for marriage.

I nodded before reaching for Kei's hand.

"Maghahanda na kami ng dinner. Parating na rin si Kieselle at si Jarred," pahabol ni Dad bago kami tuluyang umakyat.

Habang papunta kami rito kanina, tinawagan ko na si Kieselle para makahiram ng pamalit na damit ni Kei. Well, she could've worn my clothes. But I didn't think she'd be comfortable wearing them without her own underwear. Personally, I wouldn't have minded. Damn... I'd probably lose my mind seeing her in nothing but my oversized shirt while walking around. But we had company. So, for now, I'd behave. Better save that fantasy for another day... when it was just the two of us.

***

NAPANGITI ako nang madatnan ko siyang nakaupo sa gilid ng kama pagpasok ko. Nakapulupot ang tuwalya sa ulo niya habang suot ang puting bathrobe na nakasampay sa bathroom kanina.

Hindi ko alam, pero sa tuwing nakikita ko siya, awtomatiko na lang akong napapangiti. Lumapit ako at iniabot sa kanya ang paper bag. "Ito na ang pamalit mo."

Her eyes immediately lit up as she stood. "Thanks."

Tumango lang ako. Truth be told, I was fighting every urge to pull her into my arms and kiss her. Pero naghihintay sina Dad at Kieselle sa ibaba. At kilala ko ang sarili ko. Kapag hinalikan ko siya ngayon, there was a very good chance na hindi na kami agad makakababa. So I settled for a smile as I watched her disappear into the bathroom.

Ilang minuto lang, lumabas na siya. At natigilan ako.

Kei was wearing a peach floral dress with a square neckline that fell just above her knees, paired with simple white flat sandals. Damn... she was breathtaking.

"Stop staring at me. You're making me melt," natatawang sabi niya.

"What can I say?" I murmured. "You look beautiful."