Dalawang linggo na ang nakalipas simula no'ng sumunod dito si Manang. Everything's going beautifully. May mga kaibigan na kami rito. Pero ngayon, heto't pabalik kami ng Manila.
Oras lang naman ang itatagal namin sa Manila pero feeling ko nami-miss ko na agad ang Bicol.
"Are we there yet?" I asked impatiently while fidgeting with the hem of my dress. I'm all dolled up while Aaron looks debonair in his black tux.
"You've asked that question for six times already." He smiled and reached for my hand while his eyes were still focused on the road. He kissed the back of my hand and set it down again.
Napangiti ako sa gesture niya. Tumahimik na lang ako at naghintay. After thirty minutes ay inihinto niya ang sasakyan niya sa tapat ng church. Bumaba kami mula sa kanyang matte black Audi R8.
We rode a bus to Manila. He had no qualms about it. Hindi niya naman kami puwedeng ipasundo sa chauffeur niya. Masyadong malayo, at malalaman nina Aling Pacing ang totoong estado namin sa buhay.
Ayokong iwasan nila kami at mailang sila sa amin. Sasabihin din naman namin, pero hindi pa siguro sa ngayon.
Aaron opened the car door for me. Inalalayan niya rin ako sa pagbaba. Nakasukbit ang braso ko sa braso niya at magkasabay kaming naglakad. We entered the church and Cyrelle's grinning face greeted us.
"Back together?" she asked, amazed.
Tumango ako at nakipagbeso sa kanya. Nginitian niya naman si Aaron.
"Nice to see you again, Cy," sambit niya.
Cyrelle checked him out. "Wow, looking good. Sa'n nga pala kayo naglulungga ngayon at kahit si Alvido ay hindi nakakaalam?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya.
"Bicol," I answered casually.
Her jaw dropped. Napahawak siya sa ulo niya. "Unbelievable," she muttered in a daze.
Tinawanan lang namin siya. Maya-maya ay tinawag na kami dahil magsisimula na ang binyag. My niece is so adorable. Sana 'pag kami ni Aaron nagkaanak, kasing cute niya.
Natapos agad ang binyag. Picture taking naman sa harap ng altar. Lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko nang humarap ako sa Kanya.
Lord, thank you for giving this guy to me.
Hinapit ako ni Aaron sa bewang at nagkadikit ang katawan namin.He smiled at the camera, so I did too.
Click!
"Another one," sabi no'ng photographer.
Inakbayan ako ni Aaron this time.
Click!
"Last! Wacky guys!"
Nagduling-dulingan ako. Ewan ko kay Aaron kung ano 'yong pose niya.
"One. Two..."
Bigla niya akong hinalikan sa pisngi. I was too shocked to react.
"Three!"
Click!
He grinned at me afterwards. I pouted at him and he pinched my cheeks. "Try not to be too cute, okay? Para hindi ako masyadong mabaliw sa 'yo," malambing niyang saad.
I put my arms around his neck and tiptoed to give him a peck. Ngumisi sa akin si Cyrelle. Katabi niya ngayon si Aldrin.
"I saw the pictures. Kayong dalawa grabe ha! Hindi niyo to kasal paalala lang," nang-aasar na sambit niya.
"Whatever," maikling sagot ko habang kinukuha sa kanya si Jared. This little guy is just too adorable to resist.
"Bakit hindi nalang kaya kayo magpakasal? Mahal niyo naman ang isa't isa," pangungulit pa ng magaling kong pinsan.
I rolled my eyes at Cyrelle.
"Hindi pa raw siya handa. I respect her decision. I'm willing to wait anyway."
My heart jumped when he said those. Ibinalik ko ang atensiyon ko kay Jared na hinahaplos ang mukha ko.
"I want to pinch your pudgy cheeks so bad."
"Tuwang-tuwa ka kay Jared. Bakit hindi na lang kayo mag-anak na dalawa?" Cyrelle won't stop jesting me.
Aaron chuckled. "Well gagalingan ko ang pagkayod para makabuo."
Nanlaki ang mga matang siniko ko ang tiyan niya.
"Goodluck, pre," natatawang sabi ni Aldrin bago sila nag-high five ang dalawa.
Inabot ko na si Jared kay Cyrelle. Pumunta na kami sa reception. Nakangiting lumapit ako sa buffet table habang may hawak na plato.
I was half praying na sana ay may lobster. Let there be lobster. Paulit-ulit ko 'yong sinasabi sa utak ko.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong nag-crave sa lobster. Pero nakarating na ako sa dulo at wala akong nakitang lobster. Gumuho 'yong mundo ko.
"Something wrong, babe?" Aaron, who was behind me, set his plate down instantly and cupped my face.
He looked into my eyes. "Why is the love of my life frowning?" He looked genuinely worried.
"Walang lobster."
Nagkunot-noo siya sa sagot ko. "How many lobsters do you want? Ibibili kita."
I hugged him and held up three fingers.
"Sige, basta 'wag ka nang malungkot."
I smiled at him. Pasta nalang ang kinain ko. Nawalan din naman ako ng gana. Kahit kumakain pa si Aaron ay pinilit ko na siyang umuwi. "Can we go home now, sweetheart?" I even batted my lashed eyes to seduce him.
He was smiling like an idiot.
"Why are you smiling like that?" I asked.
"Say that again."
"Say what again?"
"'Yong itinawag mo kanina."
Nag-isip muna ako bago ko na-realize kung ano 'yong gusto niyang sabihin ko. "Sweetheart," I repeated.
Napapikit siya. Para siyang tanga. "God, that sounds nice." Kinamot niya ang baba niya. "You look so damn adorable, babe. Tara, magpaalam na tayo kina Cy."
Tuwang tumayo ako at hinanap namin sina Aldrin. Nakita naman namin sila agad. They were talking to their friends. They saw us and excused themselves.
"We need to go. Babalik na kami sa Bicol." Aaron explained to Cy who was creasing her brows.
"Hindi ba kayo mag-i-stay muna rito sa Manila kahit one week lang?" tanong niya.
"Hindi, sorry. Ito lang talaga ang dahilan kung bakit kami lumuwas. Plano talaga naming umuwi after this," Aaron answered.
"Thanks for coming." Sabi niya.
I approached her and hugged her. "Stay strong, you guys," I told them.
Aldrin threw me a sideway glance before giving me a smile. "Kayo rin."
Aaron clapped his back before we went out. Aaron opened the car door for me.
"I'm excited to go back," nangigiting saad ko na akala mo ba ay taon ang ginugol namin dito.
He smiled. "Me too. Alam mo kung bakit?"
"Why?" tanong ko.
He grinned and winked at me. "Kailangan ko pang kumayod, e."
BINABASA MO ANG
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Storie d'amoreCassidy Hurdiss intentionally broke the heart of the one man who has always loved her. She had to set him free so he could fulfill his lifelong dream to be a successful business tycoon in New York City. Four years later, Aaron Ceyx Monteverde come...