The Second Bride on the List

Chapter 30

"Mama?"

Mozzy dropped by to check on Kiefer and Alyssa, before they leave for Greece the next day.  Alyssa was busy in her room, preparing her luggage, when she heard a knock on the door.  Mozzy smiled, looked around her room, and was pretty much surprised.  "Pasensiya na po, Tita," Alyssa blushed, "ang gulo pa po ng kwarto ko."

"Don't worry," Mozzy replied, "Si Manang na bahala magligpit ng kalat ng room mo."  She went in and looked around, while Alyssa went back to putting clothes on her luggage.  "I'm surprised you did not move in Kiefer's bedroom," she mused.  Alyssa raised her face to her, confused, "Po?  Bakit po?"

Mozzy looked at Alyssa, and sat on the edge of her bed.  "Kiefer didn't insist on you moving in his room?" she asked kindly, and Alyssa thought for a second and shook her head.  "May room naman po dito, and kapagod maglipat," she replied. 

"Oh," Mozzy said, her smile wavering, "Well, I thought there was something wrong kung hindi kayo magiging intimate..."

Alyssa slowly stopped what she was doing, and slowly raised her face towards Mozzy.  She understands it now.  Mozzy is expecting them to be intimate.  "Uhm," Alyssa cleared her throat, "We can't pa po.  Well, we try not to.  What I mean is, ayaw pa po namin.  Yun. Opo."  She blushed, for making a fool of herself, babbling like an idiot.

Mozzy chuckled, "I guess it's okay for kids nowadays, and of course, bilang ina, I somehow wish my children would, you know, avoid being too intimate.  Especially with your situation, na hindi naman talaga kayo kasal.  It is somehow against my wishes, but then, I just wish you would exercise prudence."

Kiefer has already announced to their family, without his grandfather around, of course, that they have made it official, that he and Alyssa are now a couple.  Everyone seems not surprised; they seem to have expected it after their display of affection during new year's eve.  Everyone congratulated them, and Grandma thanked Alyssa for choosing to stay.

Alyssa sat beside Mozzy, trying to measure her words, "'Wag po kayong mag-alala, Mama.  Napag-usapan na namin po ni Kiefer lahat, especially na kasal pa siya.  Mahirap din po kase, dagdag problema din pag nagkataon."

"Magpapakasal ba agad kayo ni Kiefer after ng annulment?" Mozzy asked her.  She has asked the same thing to Kiefer, and Kiefer could not seem to answer straight away.  When previously, Kiefer would have asked for time and freedom, he could not seem to answer her question, and did not bother answering her question.

"Hindi pa po namin napag-usapan, pero it might take time naman po sa annulment. Di naman po kami nagmamadali, at di naman po siguro ganun kabilis, di po ba?" Alyssa asked, searching for Mozzy's eyes.  Mozzy smiled at her, and patted  her cheek, "It depends, pero mukhang malaki ang laban ng case natin."  Mozzy held her hand and asked, "Kung sakali, matapos na lahat na 'to, do you think si Kiefer na ang papakasalan mo?"

Alyssa dropped her gaze shyly, "Parang masyadong maaga, masyadong mabilis naman po."  Mozzy squeezed her hands, "I've never seen him this happy, this determined, this... focused, sa buhay niya.  Thank you."

Alyssa raised her eyes to meet Mozzy's, and said, "Alam naman po ni Kiefer ano gusto niya sa buhay.  Siguro, it just took him some time to realize them, find a reason to do them po."

"It took someone to help him realize them," Mozzy tucked Alyssa's wayward hair behind her ear, "thank you for... for helping him, in one way or another."  Alyssa shyly smiled back at her, guilt still eating her somehow, "Patawad po, kung medyo nakakagulo ang pag-amin ko ng feelings ko kay Kiefer.  Alam ko naman po na mas okay sana kung walang feelings involved bago nai-resolve lahat ng ito."