Hold Me Close (DeMarcus 1)

Chapter Two

EVELYN DeMARCUS

I continued talking to Ruel even when he arrived. He looked at me grimly before walking to his room. Pinigilan ko nalang ang pagtawa ko dahil sa inasal niya.

"—asking if the tour is still on schedule," sabi ni Ruel sa kabilang linya. "I told them yes at ako na ang bahala, ate."

"Hmm? Aren't you supposed to stay with Kyla right now?"

At the mention of his beloved, Ruel chuckled. "Matagal naman niyang alam ito, ate. Besides, we've celebrated so many anniversaries. This is the first and only one I'll miss."

"If you say so, loverboy," pang-aasar ko sakanya. He was younger than I by about four years, pero mas sigurado pa siya sa nararamdaman niya kesa sa'kin. At the of twenty, Ruel was ready to settle down with the love of his life.

He quickly ended the call when he arrived at their condominium. I told him to send Eva my love before hanging up. Imbes na guluhin si Third, pumunta nalang muna ako sa kusina para ayusin ang pagkain namin. In the rare times that I'm here early, I cook for us both. Huwag lang siyang masanay dahil baka hindi ko 'to magawa lagi kapag kasal na kami. We'll hire a cook instead.

I set the chicken curry on the table the moment he stepped through the door. Nakasimangot na naman ang gwapo niyang mukha at hindi na naman ako pinapansin. I just shrugged it off. He was probably still pissed with the corporate decision.

"I made iced tea pala," sabi ko pero parang kinausap ko nalang din ang sarili ko dahil 'di siya kumibo. I glared at his bowed head before standing up.

"Wear a damn bra."

Nakatalikod man sakanya ay napangisi ako. Idiot. Like I'll ever listen to his orders.

"Hmm.. by the way, how's Luis? I heard dumating na siya galing sa European tour niya," pagbabago ko ng topic.

He gave me a lazy look as he started eating. "Ba't 'di mo siya tanungin? Actually, ba't 'di siya 'yung guluhin mo?"

Rolling my eyes, I scoffed. "Kasi he's not my fiancé. You are."

"I'm. Not," diin niyang sabi.

"You are." I grinned at him with mischief. "Hindi mo lang naaamin sa sarili mo, but we both know we're getting married."

Napailing siya. "You're delusional."

"And you're buying me a fancy ring to make up for all the crap you've put me through. It better be huge, Third."

"Si Jane lang ang pakakasalan ko, Evelyn. Not you."

Hindi ko pinansin ang konting kirot na naramdaman ko nang marinig ko 'yon. "Right. I demand a matching necklace for what you just said, husband."

He said nothing more. Kumain kami ng tahimik, pero hindi rin naman tensyunado. Sometimes I feel as if we only say the words we're expected to say now. To escape the fact na komportable na kami sa isa't isa. Third still gets annoyed with me a lot, pero madalas ay wala nang init ang mga sinasabi niya. They were just words, nowadays. Words he was expected to say as a committed man. But whether or not he means them is another story altogether.

Nang matapos kaming kumain, I left him there. He always cleans up the kitchen kapag nagluluto ako. It was an understanding with the two of us. Dumiretso agad ako sa guest bathroom para mag-ayos na. I don't know why, but I am just too tired tonight. Maybe because of the damned board meeting.

"You have to marry soon, miss DeMarcus. Your father is retiring and you need to be an eligible candidate for the position," said mr. Romulo, one of the oldest board members and trustees of dada. I hate his untimely opinion, pero alam kong tama rin naman siya. I'm running out of time.