The betrothed (COMPLETED)

36

At night, pinanuod kong mag linis si Trevelyan since I wasn't done cleaning when we confronted. He cleaned the house in his boxers and white shirt, while I stayed in bed. I was sore all over, pakiramdam ko ay bukas pa yata ako makakagalaw.

Ipinagluto niya ako. Pagkatapos niyang maligo ay maaliwalas na ang mukha niya. He shaved!

“You don't like my beard, do you?” tanong niya habang nakangiti kami rito sa hapag at kumakain. He managed to prepare Steak, Grilled fish and bowl of fruits for us.

He also played a soft music and lit some candles. Nagulat pa ako nang makita ito paglabas. I just can't believe he prepared all these. He's extra romantic. Sana ganito parati ang tagpo sa aming buhay.

Though I know things wouldn't be just a walk in the park for us, I know someday both of us will long for a child, pwedeng maging sanhi ng hindi pagkakaintindihan sa huli pero mananatili lang ako rito palagi sa tabi niya, to let him know that I love him more than anything, more than any troubles we may face.

I hummed. “Okay naman. Hmm. Pero mas maganda pa rin kapag wala. Kasi, malinis tignan.” hinawakan ko ang kanyang pisngi. “Ang gwapo mo, no?”

Trevelyan laughed at that. Though, I saw him blush a little. Wala siyang sinabi, siguro ay hindi sanay sa compliment na kagaya ng sinabi ko. Talagang... hindi siya mayabang.

He's more of a snob , though.

“Is it true, then? You loved me since you were in junior high?” his smile never faded. Mula pa kanina, hindi man lang siya tumitigil sa pagngiti. When I said I was going crazy over Trev, hindi lang pala ako.

I nodded. Now it was my turn to blush.

“Why didn't you tell me, huh? I thought I was being a fool following you around, at alam ko ring masyado ka pang bata para isipin mo ang iniisip ko rin.”

“Na ano?”

“Na ... gusto kitang maging girlfriend noon pa man. I was just hesitant since you were so young. Hihintayin sana kitang mag eighteen, or say, seventeen, para ligawan.” ngumuso siya at napailing. “And I've been thinking ahead. Iniisip ko rin kung paano ako aakyat ng ligaw ng hindi pinapatay ng pinsan mo o ng papa mo.”

Pabiro siyang pinalo sa balikat.

“I'm serious, Xerxes. Talagang seryoso ako sayo noon pa.”

“Then why did you act like you hate being married to me, then?”

Trevelyan tilted his head. “I feel like I'm stealing your freedom for you. Ikaw ang agrabyado sa nangyari. Your father made you a pawn. I just hate that you didn't do anything to stop it. At... iniisip ko din na may gusto kang iba.”

“Paano? You never had any news about me? Didn't it occur to you I might not have a boyfriend at all.”

“It did. Since you're shy. Pero marami na ang nagkakagusto sayo noong junior high ka pa lang? Paano nalang noon college?”

Noong nanlabi ako ay tumaas ang kilay niya. “See? Maraming nanligaw, ano?”

I don't even know where this conversation is going but I like us like this. Nagkukwentuhan. Mas maraming nalalaman tungkol sa isa't isa. “Tinanggihan ko naman lahat. Isa pa, siguradong gugulpihin lang ni Henry yun.”

“That fucker liked you more than his cousin. Damn it.” he cursed. “But I'm glad you said no to all those admirers. You might have been married by now at mapupuno ako ng pagsisisi.”

Ngayon ay binitawan ko ang kobyertos para maharap siya. I leaned against my palm, nakatukod ang aking elbow sa mesa. “And why is that?”

“I never forgot about you, all those years, Xerxes. Kahit noong nasa college, o noong bumalik na ako rito. When mama told me you were bound to marry me, I was worried. I didn't want to rob you of your freedom. But... I was relieved. Kahit pa anong nangyari noon pakiramdam ko dinala ka pa rin ng tadhana sa akin.”