The Perfect Tandem

Kabanata 11

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakarating dito.

Nasa harap kami ng City Hall. 11 o'clock na. Walang katao-tao. Sabi naman ni Thanatos, may officiator pa rin daw siyang kakilala.

"Ready, wife?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not yet your wife."

Pucha talaga!

"Stop fidgeting. You'll be Mrs. Ambrosia, ayaw mo nun?"

"Yuck, pwede ba! At paano ka nakasisiguradong di tayo papalpak?"

"You yourself know that Ambrosia Empires has the best legal team. Wala pa tayong naipatalong lawsuit." Totoo. We can win anything. "At hindi naman aabot sa puntong 'yon because we'll be careful."

"What about us separating? Walang divorce dito, Sir Thanatos! Can't we go to US instead?" frustrated kong sabi.

"They'll be suspicious, Ms. Natividad. And I told you, we have connections."

"Kase naman, give me anything where I'll benefit on this. Ikaw lang naman may gusto nito." Talaga ba, Aleera?

"You technically already own Ambrosia Empires, Aleera. You know everything there is to know." He looked at me so seriously, like a royal. "I need someone to rule it along with me. That's you, Ms. Natividad."

I sighed. "Not enough."

"You'll have all the perks of being a true Ambrosia."

"Not enough." Tumayo ako ng tuwid. I clanked my heels. "I already have perks just by being your secretary so that doesn't impress me." taas noo kong sinabi. Nakakairita. Hindi naman ako gold digger.

"Gagawin ko lahat ng gusto mo."

Nanliit ang mata ko. Talaga lang?

Nagtiim ang bagang niya. He looked at me with frustration.

I thought he would agree with me that it's crazy and we should go back, but he bent his one knee down. Nabigla naman ako. He took my hand and swiftly, he got something from his pocket.

Lumaki ang mata ko. It was a gold engagement ring! It looks so simple but I swear I've seen it somewhere like maybe Tiffany & Co. or Cartier.

The ring was beautiful. Sobrang dilim ngayon dahil maghahating-gabi na ngunit kuminikinang ang singsing na hawak ni Thanatos.

"Will you, Aleera Natividad, marry me today and be the queen of our empire officially?" Jusko. Swoon. He looks gwapo pero parang hindi ito makahinga sa kaba.

Lord, bahala na.

"Yes."

~•~

Kinasal kami sa huwes. We had Shani and Zandro as witnesses. Hinintay pa namin sila ng kaunti kaya saktong 12:00 AM nagsimula ang kasal.

Before the wedding, the officiator had to make sure we weren't drunk. Unfortunately, we were completely sober. Ibig sabihin, wala talagang excuse kung bakit ako hindi tumanggi sa kaniya.

Hindi ko lang talaga siya matiis.

Sa buong oras na iyon, ang bawat bigkas na salita ni Thanatos ay nagpakaba sa'kin. Ramdam ko rin ang ngisi ni Shani.

Pagkatapos ng palitan ng 'I dos', hinalikan ako ni Thanatos. He tasted good. No, very good. He even nibbled my lower lip before he stopped the kiss. I kinda hated that it ended...

It was the first time for us. It was the first time for me.

Ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko. Hindi ko lang pinahalata.