Conveniently Married

Epilogue

               "So how are you and Camille doing?" Patrick knew his brother was itching to ask that question since their father bid his goodnight. They've been circling around that topic for a while now. Jonathan must have grown fond of him par maging concerned sa estado ng relasyon nila ng asawa.

Uminom si Patrick mula sa basong hawak niya. Halos maubos na niya ang laman sa isang lagok lang. "Okay naman kami. Unti unti kaming nasasanay sa isa't isa. You don't need to worry about us." Patrick didn't want to be vague but he didn't want to give any details. Especially the fact that he didn't even consummate their marriage.

"Look, I know napilitan ka lang. Pero panghabangbuhay na kayo. I know what you had before was one-sided. But thing are different now. Ikaw na lang tong di pa bumibigay. I know Camille. She's just waiting for you. She waited for the wrong guy for years. I know she'll wait forever for you if she has to. Wag niyo na pahirapan mga sarili niyo."

Patrick couldn't help but look at his older brother. Nakatitig lang ito sa laman ng baso. Tilwa walang pakialam kung sumagot man siya o hindi. Patrick shrugged. Jonathan must be drunk. Ang lalim na nang pinaghuhugutan nito. But he does have a point though. Why should he deprive himself of happiness with Camille? Mukhang okay naman sila. She didn't seem to give a single fuck about Joshua Dominguez. And admit it or not, she was a good wife. Kulang na lang sa kanila ay anak para maging perpekto na ang lahat. Though he wanted Camille to himself for a few more years. They weren't in a hurry to make a family.

Patrick continued staring at his still sleeping wife, thanking the heavens and whatever good fortune that brought him back the love of his life. Siguro kung hindi siya nakinig sa nakainom na kapatid dati, di siya siguro magiging ganito kasaya. Camille gave him the complete family he always wanted but deprived of. Lumaki siya sa kanyang Lola at Uncle, di man sila nagkulang sa pagpapalaki at pagmamahal sa kanya, di pa rin kumpleto. His relationship with his father was still stilted but it did improve. He wasn't as vindictive as before. Magkasundo rin sila ng kuya niya. But what made everything pale in insignificance was Camille's announcement to him the other night.

She was pregnant. Around a month or so. Di pa rin siya makapaniwala. They didn't plan on having a baby this soon. Pero wala naman silang ginagamit na contraceptive, may it be pills or condoms. Kahit withdrawal wala. Kaya walang nakakapagtataka kung buntis man si Camille ngayon.

Though Patrick was surprised at the apprehension in her voice when she told him. Camille thought he wasn't going to be happy.

"Patrick?" nabigla si Patrick sa kakaibang tono ni Camille. It was as if she was guilty of something. Parang takot ito sa kung ano mang sasabihin nito sa kanya.

Kinuha ni Patrick ang kamay ng asawa at pinagsiklop yun sa kanya. Whatever she had to tell him, he was sure it wasn't anything serious. Ang mas iniisip niya ay kung paano maiwala ang takot na ekspresyon sa mukha ng asawa. Naiilang at nahihiya pa rin ito sa kanya kahit higit isang taon na silang kasal at maayos na ang takbo ng pagsasama nila.

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Camille. She was scared. Wala pa sa plano nila ni Patrick magkaanak. Pero wala na siyang magagawa. Nakabuo na sila. "I'm pregnant." Ang kanina na nakatingin siya sa malayo, ngayon ay nakayuko na siya. She doesn't know what she would do if Patrick would be mad at her. Kakaayos lang nila. Si Patrick ang gusto na wag muna sila magkaanak dahil baka di pa nila mapanindigan ang pagiging magulang.

Tila lumuwag ang kamay ni Patrick na nakahawak sa kamay ni Camille. Agad na napatingin si Camille sa asawa. He had this stunned look on his face. Tila di makapaniwala. "You... you're pregnant?" he stuttered.

He was staring at her as if he wasn't really seeing her. Tumango na lang si Camille. But what amazed her were the tears forming in her husband's eyes and the slow smile forming at his lips. He wasn't mad. He looked happy. Even if they didn't plan it.

"You're not mad?" paninigurado ni Camille. Umiling si Patrick. He knew it wasn't what they planned but he didn't realize he was actually looking forward to being a father. They weren't event thirty yet pero magiging mga magulang na sila. He couldn't be happier.

Camille stirred awake, somewhere between wanting to stay asleep but also wanting to wake up to her husband's face. Medyo matagal sila nakatulog kagabi. Patrick's reaction to her revelation was unexpected. The innocent kiss they shared didn't stay innocent for long. One thing led to another kaya ngayon ay pareho silang ayaw pa bumangon.

Patrick smiled at her and kissed her softly on the lips. "Good morning," he whispered as he stared at her. She smiled back at him and cuddled closer. Nothing could be more perfect than this moment for both of them.

Author's Note:

So natapos rin ang kwentong to. Hahahaha. I want to know your opinion guys. And I'm always open to criticism. You know that. Feel free to criticize the characters, the plot, the ending, even the grammar.