Chasing Hearts (Completed)

Thirty-seventh

My jaw dropped as I saw Luther walking to our direction. Nagkatinginan kami ni Ate Gina. Maging sya ay nagulat sa biglaang pagdating nito.

"I'm back." Luther said with a wide smile as he stepped on the veranda, too.

I swallowed hard and forced a smile before I stood up to give him a hug. A tight warm hug was given to me by Luther like he really missed me.

"When did you arrive?" I asked and then realized it wasn't the right words to tell.

"Just dropped my things in my house then went straight here." He planted a kiss on my forehead. "I missed you, hon."

I smiled awkwardly. I couldn't say the words without tearing up. How could I even say it properly when I was fooling around while he was away?

I heard Ate Gina cleared her throat and went to Luther.

"Welcome back, Sir Luther." Sambit nito. Humiwalay ako kay Luther para mayakap nya ito. "Papasok na muna ako at sumama ang tiyan ko."

Natawa si Luther. Nilingon ako ni Ate Gina at pinandilatan na para bang sinasabi na ngayon na ang tamang panahon para umamin kay Luther. Bahagya akong umiling. Pagod akong tiningnan ni Ate Gina bago pumasok sa loob ng bahay.

Luther stared at me with intensity. It was as if he was studying my behavior.

"Are you okay, hon? Didn't you miss me?" He asked with a playful smirk and I smiled nervously.

"I missed you too, Luther." I finally said.

He hugged me again and kissed my hair. "Where's Dale?"

"He's asleep now. Why?"

"I bought new sets of toys for him. I'll bring those here tomorrow."

I smiled sadly at him. Ang hirap kasi hindi lang ako ang mahal nya. Pati ang anak ko. At alam kong hindi nya deserve itong ginagawa ko sa kanya.

"Thank you for loving Dale." I said and he lovingly touched my cheek.

"Of course. We'll be family soon." He whispered and I had to bite the insides of my lower lip to prevent myself from tearing up. "Have you checked the venue of our wedding?"

"Not yet. I was busy the past weeks because of the accident in site." Lie! Because it was Wesley who took care of everything that needs to be attended in that accident.

"It's fine." He assisted me to sit on the chair before he, too, sat down. He took a small box from his pocket. "I bought your wedding ring in Australia."

He opened the box and I saw a white and rose gold wedding band. He moved the box to my direction and I had a nearer view of it. My name was printed in it. It's beautiful. It's every woman's dream. But I couldn't appreciate its beauty right at this moment.

"You shouldn't have bought a ring this expensive, Luther." I told him as I closed the small box and returned to him.

"Hon...since when did price matter to us? Did you like it? Because that's what matter to me."

I swallowed. How I wish it was really as shallow as the price. How I really wish. I held his hand and gave it a squeeze. He smiled at me.

"Can we reschedule the wedding?" I asked and his smile froze.

He blinked twice before he removed my hand on him.

"Why?"

"Wala naman. Baka pwedeng tapusin muna natin itong project?"

He looked at me intently and I wondered briefly if he can see through me. If he can sense I was not okay. If he can sense I was battling against something inside. If he can sense something's not right inside me.