The Bridesmaid [MaiChard AU]

Pre-lunch

RJ
“Busog na ko!” He blurts out as they walk across the grassfield towards the parking lot, rubbing their entwined hands over his tummy to which she chuckles in response.

“Ah busog ka na. Anong sabi mo kanina? ‘Panawid-gutom’, no?” She teases, pinching his flabs and holding back her laughter. “Nakailang isaw ka ulit?”

“Grabe ka, pito lang naman yun.” He whispers defensively defensively.

“Oo nga naman. Pito lang yun. Pero ilan namang kikiam at fishballs yung nakain mo?”

“Di ko na alam.” He says, his voice trailing lower.

She bursts into laughter at this, throwing her head back, rays of sunlight illuminating her profile and his eyes no better that to look at anywhere else. She gasps for air as she rests her free hand over her chest, almost breathless from laughing so much, the melody of it almost echoing through the field.

He stands there watching her, his expression torn between amusement, awe and embarrassment as he rubs the back of his head, his lower lip protruding.

“Hala, nagpout na. Sorry na. Eto na titigil na.” She says in between giggles, struggling to stop herself from laughing. She bites her lip  in another attempt and thankfully succeeds. She takes a deep breath and approaches him, cupping his face between her hands, her thumbs caressing his cheeks.

“Ang harsh mo sakin.” He mumbles.

“Aww, sorry na. Ang cute mo kasi. Panawid gutom lang daw eh nauna ka pang nabusog saken eh.” She bites her lip again, her shoulders trembling as she holds down another fit of giggles.

“Nicomaine, masakit na.” He says in a dejected voice.

“Uy, sorry na. Joke lang.”

“Hindi eh...Nang-aano ka e.”

“Luh. Huy, hindi na kita aasarin, promise. Lika nga dito.” Maine cups his face with her hands and peppers it with kisses, mumbling her apologies in between.

In no time, he is laughing too, her soft kisses tickling his skin.

“Oh, okay na tayo ha.” She asks as their laughter ebbs away. “Let’s go.”

“Hindi pa. Tampo pa ‘ko.”

“Hoy, RJ ha! Paraparaan ka na. Kala mo di ko mahahalata ah.”

“Kung makakalusot lang naman. Pero ok na tayo. Di naman kita matitiis eh. Salamat sa pa-isaw at kikiam.” He says, resting a muscled arm over her shoulder and pulling her just a little bit closer so he could get a whiff of her apple-scented hair, her face nestled under his chin, her fingers tracing the cross he always wears underneath his shirt.

“Sus, wala yun. Kulang pa yan after everything you’ve done for me.” She whispers against the dip below his neck and his breath quickens, the hairs on his arms tingling as goosebumps spread all over his skin. He closes his eyes as he tries to breathe normally, knowing that she must be hearing how loud his heart beats against his chest. He’s okay with it.

He comes to when his arms suddenly feel empty and sees her jogging away from him, her face blushing unmistakably and yelling, “Race you to your car! Ang mahuli, panget!”

“Ah talaga ha!” He yells back and chuckles as he starts to run. He hears her squeals as she too makes a run for it. He runs after her, quite worried because she is running with her heels on. “Dahan-dahan, you’re in heels. Jusko!”

“You ain’t seen nothing yet, Faulkerson. Watch me!”

So he does watch her attentively and follows her, amazed at how this day gets even better at each passing hour.