They had wrapped up with the shoot and her team was having lunch in their dining room while she and Carlos changed out of their retro outfits. Pinagamit niya kay Carlos yung guest room across her own room for this.
She was getting ready to go out from her room when she heard a knock.
Si Carlos at may dala itong royal blue velvet box sa kamay nito.
Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ni Cornelia.
"Can I get in?" tanong ni Carlos.
Tumabi si Cornelia upang makapasok si Carlos.
" Mama told me to give this to you, sana kanina before the shoot, but I was not able to do so dahil maraming tao. I want to give this to you na dalawa lang tayo," at binuksan niya yung box, "It's my lolo's gift sa lola ko when they got engaged and it was handed down to my parents and now, gusto ni mama na ibigay ko ito as our engagement ring."
Parang hindi makahinga si Cornelia, hindi lang dahil sa mga sinabi ni Carlos pero mas lalo na sa laman ng box which is an opal set in a braided gold band, kakaiba siya sa mga usual engagement rings at ang style and setting nito is talagang antique. Which is her taste and style.
"Will you please wear it?" Pakiusap ni Carlos who is looking at her intently na parang nagpopropose talaga. And he suddenly held her hand towards him.
Parang na hypnotize naman si Cornelia na tumango na lang at pinaubayaang masuot ni Carlos sa kanya ang singsing.
"Thank you." Sabi ni Carlos habang hawak pa rin nito ang kamay niya.
"It's beautiful! But, what if I lost it?" tanong niyang bigla kay Carlos na biglang bumitaw na sa kanyang kamay.
"It is yours now. Sabi ni mama consider it a gift from the family. And don't worry, its insured so okay lang kahit anong gawin mo diyan." Sagot nito sa kanya sabay kibit balikat na parang nagpapahiwatig na he doesn't care for the object and the sentiments that goes with it.
And here she was worried at kung anu-ano ang pumapasok sa kanyang isipan samantalang ang lalakeng ito pala does not care at all. Yan kasi... muntik na siyang mag assume ng kung ano dahil binigyan lang ng ring.
Samantala, pinakawalan naman ni Carlos ang isang malalim na hininga, muntikan na niya kaninang halikan yung kamay ni Cornelia pagkatapos niya maisuot yung singsing dito. Nadala naman sana siya sa moment at sa kamay ng mapapangasawa na lalong lumutang ang ganda sa singsing. Parang kaysarap halikan talaga habang ito ay kanyang hinahawakan at damang- dama niya ang lambot nito.
Kasabay rin nito ay naramdaman ni Carlos ang sense of satisfaction at konting possessiveness ng suot na ni Cornelia ang heirloom engagement ring ng kanyang pamilya. However, he did not dwell on it.
"Shall we go back and have lunch na?" anyaya niya sa mapapangasawa.
Pagbalik nila ng dining room, agad na napansin ng isang kasamahan ni Cornelia ang suot nitong singsing at dahil dun ay agad na rin siyang pinaligiran ng kanyang team upang tingnan at hangaan ang kanyang engagement ring.
Dahil dito ay hinila naman siya ng kanilang director at pati na rin si Carlos para kunan daw ng shot yung ring. At dahil nakabihis na sila, close up head shot na lang daw nilang dalawa with Carlos holding her hand and kissing it and then another of their hands na naka-intertwine.
So ayun na nga, hinawakan ni Carlos ang kamay ni Cornelia and as being told by the director he slowly held it up and dinampihan ng halik sa tapat ng singsing. And while kissing her hand nakatingin ang kanyang mga mata sa mata rin nito.
Bumilis uli ang tibok ng puso ni Cornelia sa paghalik ni Carlos sa kanyang kamay. May kung anong kuryente na naman na kumiliti sa kanyang katawan dahil sa halik na yon plus pa sa nakakatunaw nitong titig sa kanya.
Kinikilig yata siya sa tuwing mahawakan ni Carlos ang kahit anong bahagi ng katawan niya o kahit eye contact lang nito.
Static electricity. Ito ang scientific explanation ito. At di rin talaga akong sanay na mahawakan ng isang lalake ng ganito. Its my inexperience. Paliwanag na naman niya sa sarili. Masasanay rin naman siya sa mga ganito on the upcoming days ng kanilang pagsasama and she must take it na parang wala lang sa kaniya. Baka kung ano na ang isipin ni Carlos kaya.
Sa kabilang dako, Carlos, got lucky. Ang kanina pa niyang gustong gawin sa kay Cornelia ay nabigyan ng katuparan. And he took his sweet time talaga ng halikan niya yung kamay nito.
Pero he was somewhat bothered on what he read on her eyes when he was kissing her hand. In a second it seemed as if he saw and felt her uncertainties and there was this very strong feeling of connectedness with her also na para bang he was also looking into his own soul.
What was that? Tanong ni Carlos sa sarili.
BINABASA MO ANG
Ever After Contract
RomantizmA merger between two families. Unknown to them, Carlos and Cornelia are the subject of an agreement made by their grandfathers a long time ago when they were still babies. The agreement includes a merger clause which requires them to get ma...
