Deleted Scenes - It Should Have Been Us Book One

26

{Nadine’s POV}

I think I fucked up. No, I don’t just think it. I know I did. Why didn’t I recognize the handwriting?

Barbie, pano’ng nakalusot ‘to sa’yo?

Wag ako ang sisihin mo ah. Mas kabisado mo handwriting ng ex jowa mo.

Shit.

Shit talaga. Mag-sorry ka na.

Wala naman ako’ng ginawang mali bakit ako ang magso-sorry? Sa totoo lang, I feel like I should apologize but I really don’t see anything wrong. It’s just flowers for Pete’s sake!

Ay nako, ewan ko sa’yo.

For the first time since we moved in together, he slept on the couch. We didn’t talk. Nakatulog na ako ng wala pa sya. When I woke up that morning, he still wasn’t around. I dressed up for rehearsals. Wala na ako’ng damit kaya puro damit nya gamit ko sa rehearsals the past few days. I was about to walk out the door when I noticed the vase I set on the bureau table. I hesitated for just a minute, then I took out the flowers and threw them on the trash bin outside. Such a waste.

I walked into the rehearsals room. I didn’t have to look at him to know he was by the floor talking to Ram and Ish. I pretended to survey the room, my eyes meeting his in the process. Then he looked me up and down, and his gaze lingered on his sando I was wearing.

Okay, start na tayo. Practice muna natin yung lifting. You have to perfect this, mahirap na baka maaksidente pa sa stage. Onting mali lang masasaktan si Nadz.

Can we practice with different partners first? James interrupted.

Sure ka? Baka mas mahirapan kayo. Mas maganda kung start pa lang, kayo na yung magkapartner. Nagawa nyo na to many times eh. Ipo-polish na lang natin.

I just want to observe first so we’d know what we were doing wrong. What he said makes sense but I felt ate Caryl’s and Barbie’s eyes on me. He can’t fool us all.

We practiced with different partners the entire day. That night though, we were instructed to take the practice on the stage where he has to do the lifting himself. It took a few tries before he got me lifted up. But then we both missed the count and my feet landed badly on the floor. Shit.

We called for the medic to wrap my feet up. It wasn’t so bad, he said. Just rest it for a bit. James looked apologetic.

Sorry, sorry.

Okay lang. They guided me towards the chairs in front. I watch James’ practice but he keeps making mistakes so the instructor called it off. He looks at my direction every once in a while. When the dancers asked for a reprieve, he strode towards me.

Are you okay? He bent to look down at my feet.

Yeah.

Sorry.

You didn’t mean it.

I meant for the other thing.
Sorry. Let’s just not talk about it anymore.

Okay. I searched his face, but he seemed sincere so I didn’t bring it up. It eased whatever tension there was between us.

The entire practice went off without any problem but we focused mainly on the singing parts, James telling them to give me a break because of my sprained feet.

When we got home, he helped me in the shower and tucked me in. He started showering slow kisses on my face until we both couldn’t take it anymore. He made slow tender love to me then we both fell asleep. I woke up to his note saying he’s going to be at the studio for last minute recordings. I have the entire day off so I decided to plan something to make it up to him. I called Caryl, Barbie, and Jelly. I stood up, testing my feet.

Hmmm. Looks like I can afford to be up on my feet all day. I put the plan into action.

And that night, when James came home, he opened the door to me wearing his favorite lingerie, a single rose in my hand while I walk up to him, taking his hand and kneeling down in front of him.

Marry me love.

I already asked you in Lake Tahoe. You didn’t have to-

I know. But I want to ask you just as well. I want to give you an assurance that I’m yours, and no one can ever take me away from you. Will you marry me Robert James Reid?

Yes. He helped me up to my feet and kissed me.

Let’s get married.

We will.

No, I mean. Now. Tomorrow.

What? You’re serious?

Yes. And let’s make it official.

We’ll announce to the public we’re getting married?

Of course not, silly. We can’t just up and tell them about the wedding when they don’t even know we’re together. We can probably just tell them we’re dating.

Huh. That’s almost the same thing. It would tell the world that you’re mine.

I am yours. But tomorrow, I get to be yours legally.

Okay. Have at it.

We spent the entire night making calls. Ate Caryl and Barbie were spouting curses throughout what with the rushed wedding. We invited the sponsors and the guests via personal calls. We were dead tired by the time we remembered we still don’t have a venue for reception.

Help came from the most unexpected person: Paulo. He said he’s going to gift the reception venue to us. Problem solved. Now we get to count the hours until the wedding.