Be The Bride

IKA-NAPULO'G UPAT

WOKE UP..

It’s as if our mouths are in a battle, devouring each other. My hands on his nape, his hands on my back. It’s as if those lost words we want to say to each other can be expressed by this torrid and fervent kiss.

We tasted each other as if there’s no tomorrow for us. Because literally, there's no tomorrow for us.

His kisses traced my jawline, then it went down on my neck, sucking it, giving me sensations that only Khyree Jared can give me. Yes, this is him. This is my Khyree Jared. Only him can make me feel this way.

His mere kisses made me wet down there. And I feel like my body is going to burn because of so much lust and desire.

I want him.

His hands went down on my waist, then he caressed my stomach. I jerked because I feel like it burned my skin. The feeling of his hand on my stomach gave millions of shivers on my muscles. I started to ache for more.

I know, I know, in this stage, if one of us don’t wake up, we will never be able to stop.

He went back to my lips, devouring it like he wanted everything of me to be his. I responded with the same intensity. I miss him, like d*mn. I miss his touch, his kiss. Him. This feeling, this nervousness, this aching, this longing, this.. all of this.

My hands traveled on his toned chest.

Oh god, this is my Khyree.

And then, I gasped when I felt his hands inside of my shirt. He unhook my brassiere, and as I heard the soft click of it, a sudden jolt came to me.

I stopped.

“This.. this is wrong,” I said breathlessly

We both stopped. Still panting. Parang sa isang iglap, nagising kami sa katotohanan.

“This is plain wrong,” I said and I started sobbing.

One moment, everything felt right, and now, it all feels wrong.

Pinunasan niya ang mga luha ko and then he hugged me.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Then I felt his hands inside of my shirt again. He hooked my brassiere again at tapos inayos niya ang shirt ko.

“If you don’t wanna do this, so do I. Mas mahalaga ka pa rin kesa sa nararamdaman ko,” he said and then he kissed me on my forehead.

We both layed down on the bed na nakayakap sa isa’t isa. He’s caressing my hair, at nakayakap lang ako sa kanya.

“Do you still love me?” tanong ko.

Umalis ako sa yakap at tinignan siya sa mukha.

“Ikaw? Do you still love me?” Instead of answering, he asked me the same question.

“I don’t know if this is love o nasanay lang talaga ako na ikaw ang mahal ko,” sagot ko.

He smiled.

“Do you love Klara?” tanong ko and I regretted asking that.

I feel like I am not ready to hear the answer yet.

At babawiin ko na sana ang tanong but then he answered.

“I love her. That’s why I decided to marry her.”

That was death by a thousand cuts.

But instead of getting hurt, niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit.

“I don’t care. You’re still mine tonight. Wala akong pakialam kung bukas, sa kanya ka na. But tonight, you’re mine. You are my Khyree Jared," I said.

“Yes, I am your Khyree Jared tonight.”

I felt his lips on my forehead before I finally drifted to sleep.

--

Nagising ako dahil may kumakatok sa pinto.

“Jared! Jared!” rinig kong tawag ni tiya Josie.

Khy is still sleeping habang nakayakap sa akin.

“Hey.. Khy.. wake up,” I said trying to wake him up.

He opened his sleepy eyes slowly.

“Hmm? Morning,” he greeted.

“Morning..” bati ko rin.

“Jared!” rinig naming tawag ulit ni tiyang.

Bumangon siya sa kama at binuksan ang pinto.

“Po tiyang?”

“May naghahanap sa’yo sa labas.”

Agad na napatingin si Khy sa akin. Without asking, alam na namin pareho kung sino ang naghahanap.

“Sige tiyang, sandali lang,” sabi niya at isinara ang pinto nung nakaalis na si tiyang.

At tapos hinarap niya ako. We both know, it’s finally coming to an end.

“Our dream is over," malamya kong sabi.

“It’s over," he whispered.

I prayed that the morning will never come, I hoped that time would stop, I wished that we will never wake up from this dream, but here we are, facing everything as it come to its end.

Nauna siyang lumabas. I took a deep breath to gain courage.

At tapos lumabas na rin ako. And as I took a step outside, I finally realized, that a beautiful dream never lasts.

I saw Klara outside. At nung nakita niya si Khy, agad siyang tumakbo papalapit dito at niyakap ito. And then, she gave him many kisses on his face. On his forehead, on his cheek, on his chin, on his nose, on his lips.

And as I watched her do that, I realized that Khyree Jared is really not mine. Not anymore.

Pinisil ko ang braso ko hoping that it would help me not to cry. And then someone emerged and joined the scene. When I saw who it was, I ran without hesitation towards him.

As soon as I reached him, I hugged him, and burst out crying.

“R-ran,” I called while sobbing.

“Shhh.. I’m late right?”

And I just cried my heart out. Nararamdaman kong nakatitig sa likod ko si Khy, but he has Klara. His girl is here. At wala na akong lugar sa buhay niya.

“God I missed you,” Ran said at mas isiniksik ko ang sarili ko sa kanya.

I’m sorry Ran.. and thank you for coming. For saving me again.