The Good Bitch

Chapter 19

19: Aishteru

Leah’s Point of View

“We’re here.” Clark announced.

I glanced at the window.

Oh wow.

“Clark...”

“This is the same beach we’ve gone too 8 years ago.”

Agad-agad akong bumaba ng kotse kasabay ni Clark. Linapitan niya ako. He circled his arms around my waist from the back and rested his chin on my shoulder.

“This place... I want us to get married here.” Clark said.

“Beach wedding, huh?”

I am amused to how he think of our future.

“Yeah. But, if you do not want, it's okay.”

“No. I'd... I'd want to.”

He separated and held out his hand. I politely accepted it. We stroll hand-in-hand on the long stretch of sand as the sun slowly retreats to the west.

A sand castle comes into view as he starts to sing. Napansin ko ding may mga petals ng roses na naka-scatter at naging track patungo sa sand castle.

“Not sure if you know this
But when we first met
I got so nervous I couldn’t speak
In that very moment
I found the one and
My life had found its missing piece.”

Magaling talaga siyang kumanta. No wonder vocalist siya ng sikat na banda. Feelings are filling his voice. Madadala ka nito.

“So as long as I live I love you
Will have and hold you
You look so beautiful in white
And from now til my very last breath
This day I’ll cherish
You look so beautiful in white
Tonight.”

Oo, nakaputi ako.

Unti-unti kaming napapalapit sa sand castle. Actually, malapit na nga talaga kami eh. Tinanggal niya ang pagkahawak ng kamay namin at inakbayan ako.

What caught my attention is the ring at the tower of the sand castle. At sa baba ng kastilyo, nakaukit ang mga salitang, ‘Will you marry me?’

Oh my...

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti. Em so kenekeleg right now.

Kinuha ni Clark ang singsing at hinarap ako. Muli niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko habang ang kabila niyang kamay ay hawak ang singsing. At saka siya lumuhod.

“What we have is timeless
My love is endless
And with this ring I
Say to the world
You’re my every reason
You’re all that I believe in
With all my heart I mean every word”

“Will you marry me?” he asks.

Tinignan ko siya direkta sa mata. Agad kong nahalata ang panic sa mata niya. Hinawakan ko ang mukha niya saka ako sumagot. “Yes, I will marry you, Clark.”

Ngumiti siya nang malawak. Kulang na lang mapunit ang labi niya sa lawak ng ngiti niya. Napalitan din ng kasiyahan ang panic sa mata niya.

Isinuot niya sa akin ang singsing at tumayo saka ako niyakap. Niyakap ko rin siya pabalik. He buried his face on the crook of my neck and inhales my scent.

Crap. I’m not wearing any perfume.

He nuzzles my neck.

“I love your smell.” he breathes.

I felt his hot breath on my neck which sent shivers down to my spine.

“Don’t lie, Clark. I’m not even wearing any perfume.”

“Oh. Then, that’s perfect. Your smell is natural yet so sweet.” He hugged me again, tightly.

I breakaway from it and suddenly ran.

“Catch me~!” I shout cheekily. I look back, only to see him running after me... so fast.

“Kyaa!” I shrieked giddily.

Oh my gosh! He’s so fast, man! Maybe for me? But, hey. Mind you, he’s burning hot!

The familiar pair of arms caught me and circled my waist, pulling me towards him.

A giggle escapes from my lips. ‘Cause I know it’s him.

He turns me around to face him. His hands still resting on my waist. He rests his forehead on mine.

“I love you.” I whisper, cupping his face.

He tilts his head and slowly, he lessens the gap between our lips. He pauses when my lips are centimeters away from his own and looks up to my pair of eyes. And he captures my lips.

His hands go to my face, caressing it. My eyes slowly close as I kiss him back.

“I... love you... too.” he whispers between our kisses. He releases my lips and rests his forehead on mine again.

***

“Anyway, what made you decide to propose to me, now? We just had a conflict.” I ask, breaking the silence and looking up at him.

Nakaupo kami sa buhangin. Naka-back hug siya sa akin ngayon at ang ulo ko ay nakapatong sa chest niya. And his chin rests on my shoulder.

“Initially, I thought of proposing to you today. I asked the best constructor of sand castles. I also asked someone to scatter the roses... I planned to pick you up at your house without notice. But then, you yourself came to me... angry. I thought the preparations is a waste if I won’t propose to you, so I still did.

“And I thought, if we are engaged... I could claim myself as yours so that no one could claim me as theirs. And, oh! I also asked Marie and Maurice to take pictures of us.”

Oh. Wait—what? My best friend... took pictures... of us?! Oh my gosh! I can feel my face getting flushed.

“Wh-Where is she?!” I asked, trying to sound angry... and I think I succeed. But, I am actually embarrassed. Oh dear! Just thinking of Marie snapping pictures of me and Clark kissing with that evil grin on her face... Waah!

“See, there’s a cottage there. She’s in that cottage.”

I glanced at the back. And, yes. There is. And she is in there. Oh my! How come I did not notice?

Tumayo siya at inalay ang kamay sa akin. Tinanggap ko naman iyon at tumayo na ako.

Magkahawak-kamay kaming nagtungo sa cottage at sinalubong naman kami ng kantyawan. Oo, halos lahat sila andito na.

Saka naman dumating ang Lucky 7 kasama si Sam at Rhea.

“Tapos na?” ‘di makapaniwalang tanong ni Adrian.

“Sayang! ‘Di ko tuloy nakita ang lovey-dovey moments nila!”

Ay nako, Rhea. Mas mabuti na ‘yon. Nakakahiya din lang naman ang mga pinaggagawa namin.

Tumawa si Marie sa sinabi ni Rhea. “Okey lang ‘yan, bes! May videos at pictures naman nila ako!” sambit niya saka tinaas ang camera niya.

Namula ako ‘duon. Agad kong hinablot ang camera niya at tinignan lahat ng kinunan niya.

Emegherd! Pulang-pula ako nang makita ko ang mga litrato. Halos wala ata siyang na-miss na segundo. Lahat ata nakuhanan niya!

Kinuha ulit ni Marie ang camera. “‘Wag ka nang mahiya, bes! Nakita naman na namin lahat eh.” panunukso niya.

Nagtawanan sila.

“But, anyway... congrats, man!” sambit ni Maurice.

Nagsimula na sila sa pagbati sa amin.

I mentally sighed happily. Today, the only man I loved except from my family, proposed to me. This is just one of the happiest happenings in my life.