The Groom's One True Bride

Chapter 21

"She's coming back."

He turned his head towards the garden, watching the butterflies dance and flit among the flowers.

His wife sat beside him, smoothing the collar of his shirt. "It's not as if it's a permanent thing, Mi Amor. They're... Kiefer is testing the waters. They have just kissed and made up. They wanted to take things slow, I presume."

He was silent for a full minute, while his wife gave him warm comfort sitting beside him.

"Does he still love her?"

His wife stopped what she is doing, and then turned to look at him. "He still is. It just took him some time to realize it."

"Does she love him?"

His wife patted his hand. "She's pregnant, she's emotional. The best we can hope for from them is to make things easier for her. Make her see that it's not bad loving him."

He grumbled incoherently. His wife smoothed his hair.

"Love has never been easy. Nangialam pa tayo. Let the kids figure it out themselves and know what they really want."

He looked at her stoically, but something is definitely brewing in his conscious mind.

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Alyssa slowly stepped out of his car, conscious of how her belly has started to balloon in the past weeks. She couldn't hide it anymore, nor could she fit in most of her clothes. She doesn't want to buy maternity dresses, thinking she doesn't need them often, for she can still comfortably yet snuggly fit in some of her loose ones.

Kiefer reached out to help her stand up. "Okay lang ako, Kief," she murmured, giving him a small smile. Kiefer persisted, and as soon as she was out, he went to get her stuff out of the compartment.

"You might get bored while I'm out," he started, grabbing and pulling the bags with him, "I can ask Mama to come here often. Puntahan ka niya dito para may kausap ka."

"Di na kelangan, Kief. Pwede naman siguro ako lumabas...?" she asked, not certain if he will still hold her under lock and key. Kief stopped, and looked at her, "Hindi ba delikado yung lalabas-labas ka? Gagala?"

She smiled. "I need exercise din naman. And 'di naman ako lalabas ng bonggang lakad. Siguro meet up lang kina Ella, ganun," she replied, and Kiefer was just silent, and eventually nodded. They went up the stairs, and just as they were in the library, Kiefer stopped.

He does not want to push his luck, so he had the other room prepared and cleaned. But he also had his room prepared, cleaned, and to allow space for her things.

He looked at her, watching her absorb everything. She was breathing heavily, and he could feel her tension, and seemingly afraid. He dropped the bag on his hand to reach for hers. "Ly, tell me if this is not okay. Huwag kang mag-alala. You'll have your own room. You'll have your privacy. You'll have your own space," he murmured, "You are free to stay, free to leave. Hindi ko ipagpipilitan sarili ko. Hindi kita ikukulong dito. Natuto din ako. Ayoko rin ng ganun."

He could hear Alyssa take a deep breath. "Pero kung aalis ka man, sabihan mo ako. Gusto ko lang malaman... Gusto ko lang maging handa... Para alam ko kung saan kita hahanapin," he whispered loud enough for her to hear.

She turned her head to look at him, "Salamat." And she squeezed his hand.

He let out a deep sigh of relief. At least, they are going somewhere.

"Halika na," he said, and led her to her old room.

It was the same as before. But has flowers on the table this time. And balloons. And tiny stars hanging from the ceiling. Her eyes shone bright with wonder. "Ang ganda, Kief," she whispered, dropped his hand and stepped forward, her eyes never leaving the ceiling.