Wedding Ring

Chapter III.3: He's Always A Captive Of Her Eyes

"Dahan-dahan lang." Ate Clara leads in lowering the mysterious large frame draped with pure white linen together with Cecilia and three others, on the wide intermediate landing center of the grand spiral staircase covered in red rug, they stopped in front of its empty wall decorated with golden borders and elegant vintage patterns.

Ate Clara looked down at me and scrutinizes my face with concern creeping in her eyes, I stood thirteen steps away from them and in front of the starting steps.

Last night, I made a promise with the moon and stars as my witnesses, that starting today, I will be brave, that I will face and accept everything connected to her.

To my wife, no less.

Daydream too. Ehem.

"Baka gusto nyo po Sir pumunta muna ng dining table habang inaayos---" But I stopped her with my raised hand.

I exhaled heavily.

It is time to let go of my own walls.

I am a man.

"I'll be here just to make sure none of you gets hurt in the process." I smiled.

Their cheeks suddenly colored into red and averted their eyes from me.

Their usual reaction that I almost get used to it.

I just scratched my head.

"Alright ladies, on three!" Ate Clara instructed as they slowly unveil the concealed treasure.

As it begins to bring out the detail little by little, my heart starts to pound in a very weird manner.

I cannot think nor see anything but that.

I have a small fear but unexpectedly, a modest size of anticipation starts to grow in my heart.

I want to see her.

Is something that goes on and on in my mind.

Then the cloth fell, fully exposing the coalesced colors and lines conjoining to form a certain shape, no... a figure.

A beautiful, strikingly gorgeous figure.

I suddenly feel breathless as if I'm holding it all this time.

*Ba-dump* *Ba-dump* *Ba-dump*

And my heart...my heart is fluttering, thumping hard, wanting to set free out of my chest.

*Huff* *Huff*

I try to catch my breath slowly.

I closed my eyes, grasped my chest and tried to get a grip of myself.

I can do this. I can do this. I chanted.

I exhaled deeply.

(A/N: BGM: Unnecessary Words by Tim)

The moment I opened my eyes, they're all gone but not the large figure living on the hanging frame attached to the wall, the lovely sunbeams spread tardily on every part of its surface, her upper body, then to her neck, hair, chin, lips, cheeks, nose and finally...

To her most captivating, piercing, darkling EYES, giving more life from its state of concealment.

I didn't know how I got here, how instantly my feet directed me towards her, I guess my body has its own commander-in-chief.

Irrepressible, I extended my hand and trace her thru the lower part of the frame, it feels rough at the same time smooth but my eyes, no matter how hard I try to keep it away from one place, it never leaves that spot... the spot I've always admired.

The spot where her beautiful eyes reign.

Finally, my fingers are now visible in my sight, I graze softly against the surface where my favorite part is and... somehow, my lips turned up to a smile.

She's really beautiful, carved to perfection, even in just a painting.

My eyes wandered in every detail, memorizing her, refreshing my old memory of her face and shape.

I was so scared seeing her even in just a picture or a small reminder but somehow, I feel relieved... so, so relieved.

The things that I have...

That I.

"I MISS YOU."

I don't understand the weight of its words but I know that, that's what my heart wants to tell.

♥♣♠♦♠♣♥

*Sniff* *Sniff*

"Oi! Bakit ka umiiyak?" Tapik ni Beth kay Rose na pinapahid pa ang kanyang mga luha habang yung iba ay wala ring patid sa pagsilip kahit na abala ang kanilang mga kamay sa gawain.

Hinarap naman sya nito na humihikbi pa. "Eh kasi nakakaawa si Sir. Tingnan mo naman," Nilingon nyang muli si Bryan na hindi pa rin kumikibo sa harapan ng malaking painting. "kay gwapong bata pero nagtitiis sa larawan ni Ma'am. Diyos ko, kung may ganyan lang akong asawa na umaapaw sa kagwapuhan, baka hindi na sya nakakalabas ng kwarto pa." Paghihinagpis nya.

"Ewww." Na may kasama pang duwal.

"Mas masahol ka pa pala." Dali-daling reaksyon ng karamihan.

"Ano sa tingin mo ginagawa ni Ma'am? Edi ba kinukulong rin sya dito? Hindi sya basta-basta nakakalabas, bantay-sarado rin sya. Wala rin naman kayong pinagkaiba eh." Bulalas ng isa.

"Kung sya lang naman ang makakasama ko sa bahay-kulungan na to, maniniwala na ko sa forever."

"Korni mo!" Supla naman ni Jane na kasama sa nakikisosyo sa pangyayari.

"Palibhasa kasi hanggang tingin na lang kayo! Samantalang ako, nakalima ng boyfriend plus si Sir in the future. Hmph! Tabi mga Virgins!" At ganun na nagkagulo ang mga tsismosang, walang sawang nagpapatutsada sa isa't-isa.

"Sa tingin ko ay may mas dapat kayong atupagin lalo na't paparating na si Mayordoma Menchie kaysa ang pag-usapan si Sir sa kanyang ginagawa. Know your limits when to gossip, we're being paid to work not to watch their hobbies." Isang boses na humawi sa nagkakagulong bubuyog.