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Chapter 20

A/N: Merry christmas, everyone! I know I uploaded a new chapter this morning. But I'm uploading this other new chapter tonight as a second Christmas gift after your nonstop support throughout 2020, mga siz. Salamat talaga ng marami. <3

I know I don't update regularly but I appreciate the usual kulit messages asking me to update already because they can't wait for the next ganaps. I hope you had fun today with your loved ones. Here's the cherry on top for your Christmas Day!

********

It's just one dinner! Katrina kept on reminding herself. Tonight is going to be their intimate engagement party. At gaganapin ito sa penthouse ngayon ni Aspen.

Only people invited were Aspen's parents and her parents na mahuhuli daw dahil hindi kagad nakahanap ng maiisuot ang mga magulang niya. They were nervous to meet the infamous Alcaraz family.

That's why she felt so alone. Natatakot siyang harapin ang mga magulang ni Aspen mag-isa.

She was staring at herself in the mirror in this little walk-in closet of hers ng pumasok bigla si Aspen doon.

"Are you done?" untag nito sa kanya at nilapitan siya, staring back at her reflection in the mirror as well. "You look stunning."

She was just wearing a blue baby doll dress with white heels. She just curled the ends of her long, dark hair into mini waves to create some volume. She wanted to look simple and presentable. "Thank you..."

"You should see yourself in my eyes," he suggested. "I just wanna eat you all up tonight," pilyong bulong nito sa tenga niya.

"Aspen!" saway niya dito.

"Anyway, my parents are downstairs. So are my friends. Let's go?"

She breathed deeply and checked herself one last time.

"Don't worry, Katrina. You're not alone. I'll be with you," he assured her.

Those words meant a lot. It lifted a fog in her head. "Thanks, Aspen."

"Shall we?" anyaya nito at hinila na siya palabas ng kwarto nila.

****

The night was splendid. Katrina realized na wala siyang dapat ikatakot na makilala ang mga magulang nito. Aspen's parents were very warm and humble people kahit na tinitingala sila ng maraming mga tao.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na si Aspen, hija, kung minsan ay matigas ang ulo niyan. Mahirap kasi 'yang pasunurin. Basta may gusto, gagawin," Aspen's mother Celine stated. "Kaya kailangan mong mag-ipon ng maraming pasensya para sa hinaharap," tatawa-tawang pangaral nito.

"Mom, why do I feel like tinatakot mo na kagad si Katrina?" Aspen asked, laughing as well.

"I'm not. I'm just warning her. It's hard to love an Alcaraz man," Celine joked even further.

Atticus, then, chimed into the discussion. "How hard can it be? We're extremely handsome."

"I second that," Aspen said and laughed.

Just then, lumabas sa elevator ang mga magulang ni Katrina.

"Tang! Mama!" bati ni Katrina.

Aspen greeted them both at iginiya sila sa upuan nila sa dining table. They were directly across Celine and Atticus who were smiling at them and shaking their hands.

"Nice meeting you both," panimula ni Atticus. "It's a pleasure to finally see my son being responsible for one's in his life and it's all because of your daughter."

"Pa, huwag mo naman akong siraan sa kanila. Sirang-sira na nga ako kay Tatang," Aspen said.

Natawa na lamang si Katrina ng tawagin na naman ni Aspen na Tatang ang ama niya.

"Hindi ka pa nakakasal sa anak ko. Pwede ko bang bawiin ang basbas ko," pagbabanta ng ama niya kay Aspen. But she knew he was merely joking this time at nakakapalagayang loob na nito ang binata.

"Did you know Tatang pointed a gun at me when I attempted to get Katrina back?" natatawang kwento ni Aspen. "I was almost gonna run back to my car then, I'll admit."

"Subukan mo lang lokohin ang anak ko at bibili na talaga ako ng machine gun," pananakot muli ng Tatang ni Katrina.

"Tang, mabait si Aspen," Katrina defended her fiance.

"Kung pinapahirapan ka ng batang 'yan, just tell me, hija. Ako mismo ang magtututok ng machine gun sa kanya," biro ni Celine.

"Napakaganda nyo pala sa personal, Madame," puna ng Mama ni Katrina kay Celine.

"Ay, Ella. Huwag mo na akong tawaging madame. Balae na lang. Or Celine, tutal magiging magkapamilya na rin naman tayo."

"Sige," masayang sagot ni Ella. "Parang napakabata mo pang maging lola."

"This man snatched me while I was barely out of my crib," kwento ni Celine. "I was sixteen when we fell in love."

"Sixteen, wow. Matagal na pala kayo..." Ella said.

"Yes, so much years of loving a strongwilled man taught me one thing: no matter how strongwilled or fearless they are, takot pa rin sila sa asawa nila," declared Celine at sabay silang nagtawanan ni Ella. Katrina can't help but join in their laughters.

This is exactly what she wants - to see her family getting along with Aspen's. To make Aspen happy.

Aspen grabbed her hand from under the table and he smiled at her. It was a priceless smile - a smile of genuine joy. He mouthed the words "I love you" to her habang busy sa pagkwekwentuhan ang mga magulang nila.

And she responded by mouthing "I love you too" to him.

This may just be the start of their forever... but she can't wait for more adventures with him.

*****

A/N: Ngayon na natapos na ang kwento nina Katrina at Aspen, sana ay support nyo pa rin ang mga susunod na nobela nina Miguel at Gio. Abangan sa 2021! Sana ay patuloy pa rin ang inyong walang sawang pagsuporta, mga sizzzz.

Hanggang sa muli. VOTE, COMMENT and FOLLOW meeee!

Nagmamahal,

A.

*****