Fall Inlove Again

FIA26- Meet her Cousin

We're here at the conference room. This will be the biggest project that I handle so far. Ngayon araw gaganapin ang presenta ni Kennedy at Austin sa design and installation of the building. The meeting was swift sailing wala naman naging problema. Ilang mga shareholders ang dumalo dati ito daw ang kauna-unahang proyekto na maraming gagastusin. This is the first huge resort of Canyon Beach Resort.

Nakadali na ako sa ilang meeting pero eto ata ang pinakaboring na ganap ko. Nakaupo lang ako at pinapanood silang magdiskusyon. Hindi ko alam na nagtagal pala kami ng ilang oras halos abutin na kami ng hapon. Ramdam ko ang pagkalam ng sitmura ko sa gutom.

I face palmed with the right hand out of frustration ng makalimutan kong magdala ng tumbler ko. Tuyo't na ang lalamunan ko sa uhaw. Nagpunas ako ng pawis ko ng may plastic bote ng tubig ang bumungad sa aking harapan. Pagtingin ko sa nagbigay ay mukhang nakangiting Kennedy. Walang pasabi ko itong tinanggap. Kahit gusto kong sabihin hindi ko iyon tatanggalin ay kinuha ko parin dahil sa uhaw ko sa oras na ito ay binababa ko ang pride ko ngayon, I need to drink for the sake of my damn throat.

Umupo siya sa aking tabi. I glanced to my Austin he was busy talking infront of everyone. While the man beside me, tahimik itong nakatingin sa harap.

"Baka patayin ako ni Austinsa ginagawa mong paninitig." Bigla niyang sabi na nagpabalik sa aking wisyo. His gaze met my mine, he let out a chuckle when he saw me shocked.

"Nah, he won't do it unless he didn't trust me. Austin is a jealous man kung palatay man siya yun yung mga taong mananakit sa akin. Handa siya pumatay sa akin para lang maligtas ako." I stated to him then shrugged.

Selos na selos si Austin kay Kennedy dahil ito daw ang unang lalaking minahal ko. I told him, don't mind my past just mind the future being with you and being with me. Kahit anong kumbinsi ko hindi matanggal ang selos niya imbes na mainis ako mas lalo pa akong natutuwa. My Austin with his childish attitude, jealousy and his possessive is damn cute. Everything about him is damn cute I can't get enough to see them all over his face.

Kennedy will always special to me. He was the man who broke me. He was the man who betrayed me. Now he was the man whom I loved the most in the past and the man will now be my Brother in law. I assured to him na hindi kami itinadhana sa isat isa dahil may taong nakatadhana sa aming dalawa na magbibigay ilaw sa aming buhay na madilim.

"I'm glad you found a right man over me." He said then laughed but I heard a little bitterness in his voice.

I smiled, "Yàh, I'm thankful to have Austin in my life. My man is worth to love." Hindi ko na din mapigilan tumawa. Nakakatuwang isipin na pinag-uusapan namin ang ganitong bagay matapos ang eksena namin nung nakaraan sa restaurant.

He smirked, "He is, Austin deserved you. My glad napunta sa mapagkatitiwalaang tao." Aniya at lumagok sa kanyang bote.

My brows furrowed, "What do you mean?" makahulugang tanong ko sa kanya.

His lips curved into a smile, "Austin is one of my rival way back when we were still in college."

"Then?"

"Basta I hate his guts lagi na lang siya nangunguna. Dumating ang graduation I won over him. You know how smart I am ayaw kong may nakakatalo sa akin."

"Wow, coming from the man who broke my trust, So where is the word smart there?"

"Ibang usapan na yun. Basta I trusted Austin." He said, I saw how Kennedy's lips formed a grim line.

I rolled my eyes then I cross my arms across my chest, not liking to be laughed at one bit. "Gulo mo kausap."

"Kailan ka babalik ng manila?" I suddenly urged to asked him.

He let out a wide smile, "Maybe two weeks from now. Your sister and I will be having a baby soon." Sa tagal ng pag-uusap namin ngayon ko lang nakita ang mukha niya na ganun kasaya. His eyes twinkling of joy and his lips smiling for happiness. I'm glad that he lectured himself bout his unborn baby.

"Can't wait to see the little Kennedy and Kathryn." I giggled in excitement "Btw, What is the gender of the baby?" I asked dahil ilang linggo na lang magiging tita na ako tapos hindi ko pa alam ang gender ng pamangkin ko.

"It's a boy." He replied.

"Gosh, sa wakas magkakaroon na kami ng lalaki sa bahay! Sa tagal ng panahon wala kaming lalaking kapatid. Dad will rejoice in hoy dahil magkakaroon na siya ng apong lalaki. Ewan ko ba sa kanila bakit hindi pa sila bumuo after Kathryn."

"Celestine, syempre nasa granny stage na sila kaya hindi na sila makapagbigay ng lalaki."

"Oo nga no, ilang taon na sila nung mabuo si Kathryn. May naisip na ba kayong name ng pamangkin ko?"

"Naggive- way ako sa kapatid mo. Ang oangalan naman na gusto niya ay nagustuhan ko. Guess the name of my son?"

"What is it?"

"Celestino Light." Maikli niyang sagot.

Nalalaki ang mata ko sa kanyang sagot. Napatakip ako sa aking bibig ng marinig iyon sa kanya. Pinipigilan kong tumawa ng malakas dahil nakakahiya naman tumawa ng malakas dito dahil nasa kalagitnaan kami ng meeting


"What's with the weird name." bulong ko ng mahina na may kasamang hagikhik.

He rolled his eyes, "She name my son to you so be grateful we have a little celestine but a boy version."

"Pero celestino. Pang sinaunang name na iyon!."

"Kahit na yun ang gusto ng kapatid mo so be it. You know girls pag hindi nasunod ang gusto gagawa ng paraan para mapa-oo ang lalaki like you."

"Wow, huh, minsan lang ako maging ganon." Sabi k at sinapok siya sa balikat. He hissed pero mas nangingibabaw ang tawa niya.

He let out a quiet laughed, "Whatever." Pailing-iling niyang sabi.

I tapped his shoulder, "Take care of the two. The three of you is very important to me. Hindi kita mapapatawad bilang Kennedy kung makita ang kapatid at pamangkin ko na umiiyak kahit nadapa lang. This day I will give you my blessing na matagal ko na dapat binigay sa inyo. Thank you for everything, now I'm contended having Austin in my life. He was the one for me." I said then my gazed fell to Austin.

I let out a smirk type of laugh ng makitang nakatingin ito sa amin. I gave him a signal na nagpapahiwatig na wala dapat siyang ipagalala. Tumango siya sa akin at namula ako sa binuling niya sa hangin.

I love you too I mouthed back to him. He smiled to me and proceed of his discussion.

"Do you want me to give you a last hug for a moment? Alam kong huli na yung nasa restaurant na tayo pero itong hug na ito is the welcoming to my family kahit matagal ka ng welcome." Sabi ko at tumawa.

He stiffened of what I've said. His bright eyes flashed in amusement. He nodded his head and smiled.
"Can i?" walang pasubli niyang tanong sa akin na parang bata.

I smiled then pulled him into my arms, "Yes, brother law." I laughed when I heard him groaned.

Tinatapik-tapik ko ang kanyang likod. Siguro sa mga nakakakita sa amin ngayon ay sasabihin na parang baliw kami sa ginagawa namin ngayon. Hindi din nagtagal ay siya ang bumitaw sa aming yakap.

"My ex is now my brother in law." I said and pincged his both cheek.

He groaned in pain ang mas hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa kanyang pisngi, "Tsk!" he hissed ng bitawan ko ang kanyang pisngi

We heard a fake coughed I know who it was, my sweetie Austin. Sabay kami napatingin ni Kennedy sa taong nasa harapan namin. Yumuko si Austin para halikan ang gilid ng aking labi. My cheeks heated ng makita ko ang ilang malapit sa amin ay napangisi sa ginawa ni Austin. Jusko, nasa conference room kami hindi man lang siya nahiya!

Inalalayan ako patayo ni Austin. They exchanged gazed and then both smile. I heard Kennedy sighed then stared at me for a second. His gazed went to Austin, his mood changed, "Take are of Celestine. She's very special to me and if I hear you Austin made her shed even a single tear, you'll meet my fist." Malamig at maawtoridad niyang sabi kay Austin saka tinaas ang kamao sa harap ng mukha ni Austin.


Nanlalambot ang puso ko sa sinabi ni Kennedy. Puno ng sinsero ang kanyang sinabi. Dinaig pa ang tatay ko sa sinabi niya.

Pabalang inalis ni Austin ang kamao ni Kennedy sa kanyang harapan. Narinig ko ang pagngisi niya. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kanyang palad dahil natatakot ako kung saan mapunta ang usapan sa ngisi ni Austin. Maliit pa naman pasensya ni kennedy, "Kahit hindi pa pa sasabihin gagawin at gagawin ko. Once is enough, I'll die first when it happen, Kennedy. I vowed myself, na hundi makakagawa ng simpleng bagay na ikakasakit ni Celestine."

"You're architecture right? Bakit naging Manager ka dito?" I asked him.

He glanced me for a minute, "Gusto mong malaman?" his voice was full of amusement.

I nodded, "Yeah." I said thend reted my back on my swivel chair.

Sumapit na ang dalawang araw simula ang huling pag-uusap namin ni Kennedy. Naging abala ito lalo na si Austin. Kahit nakakatampo na pero mas nagbunyag ang pagiging understanding. This project was important lalo na kay Marc.

He stopped typing from his computer then looked straight to me, "This must be hilarious but I guess you want to know why I ended up here." Aniya.

"Hinanap kita after what happened to us. Mababaliw ako kung hindi kita mahanap hanggang sa dumating na sumuko ako. Kinagabihan non, umuwi si Marc sa manila. Nagkayayaan magbar for Tyrion's problem. Then that asshole bring me a good news that made my heart jumped."

"What's the good news?" my brows lifted. I'm curios of what Marc said to his good news..

"He told me na dito ka nagtatrabahao and that day I pursue myself to chase you. I bargained my rest house to be with you." He said then winked at me.

"You what?" sigaw ko kaya napatayo ako sa aking kinauupuan. Pumunta ako sa kanyang lamesa at padabog na pinatong ang kamay ko doon.

"You heard it." He said.

"Ginawa mo iyon para makita ako? Nagsayang ka lang ng pera mo."

His brows furrowed. His jaw clenched stopping himself to shout at me. He massaged his temple and looked at me. Mariin siyang tumingin sa akin, "Okay lang magsayang. Tignan mo kung saan napunta ang senaryo ng sinayang ko. I bargained my house to be with you. You are the price of that bargain." He said.

He was right. Kung hindi nagung ganun baka nasa magulong buhay pa ako. Nakakainis ang ginawa niya pero mas nagingibabaw ang pasasalamat sa akin. This man is.....urg...mine...

Lahat na lang ng ginagawa at sinasabi niya kinikilig ako kahit hindi naman nakakakilig! Ganito ba ang epekto sa kanya na gagawin lahat para lang sa huli sa kanya ako. This man is willing to waste his money just to be with me.

"The question why you ended up manager instead of being architecture?"

He rolled his eyes, "I have my firm but I'm here to have you." He answered.

This man is really unbelievable! He was beyond his level into mine. Wala na akong mahihiling na mapunta sa kanya dahil alam kong sa kanyang ako nakatadhana.

"Marutunaw ako sa paraan ng paninitig mo." He said with full of conceited.

I rolled my eyes then look away, "Wow, such a conceited." Pasalamat na lang ako hindi ako nauutal.

He let a little chuckle, "This conceited man loves you to the heaven down to hell." His lips turned up into a grin, "Shut the hell up, Austin Levi Santos." The way he makes me blush with the small, sweet things he does. The way he never fails to make me quiver on his fluttery words. My heart started to beat real fast, as the butterflies moved in my stomach..

He looked at me, smirking evilly, "I love the way you blush, sweetie. Ganyan na ba kalakas ang epekto sa iyo para ganyan ka kapula." He said. He was laughing so hard that he couldn't control himself. Mas lalong pumula ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya. I gave him a death glare but that only made him laugh harder.

Now, ibwas like a cliwn na pinagtatawanan niya. Tinakpan ko ang aking muha gamit ang aking palad sa kahihiyan na ginawa niya. Mabilis akong bumalik sa aking pwesto. Kahit wala na ako sa harao niya rinig na rinig ko parin ang kanyang pagtawa.

My man is now crazy laughing at me. Hindi ko mapigilan mapangiti sa simpleng bagay napapatawa ko siya. If we were like this forever I rather to stay beside him than facing the cruelness of this word. Staying in his side is a magical place I've ever seen in my life.

"When are you going back to Manila?" she asked me ng makaupo ako sa hapagkainan.

Sumandok muna ako bago siya sagutin, "Maybe 1 week from now. How bout you?"

"Tutal Sabado naman bukas baka sa lunes na lang." she replied.

"Where is Mario?" nang mapansin ko wala ang baklita sa pwesto niya. Since ng makabalik kami dito sa Cagayan ay napapadalas ang alis niya . Tinanong ko si Marc kung napunta iyon sa bahay nila sabi niya minsan kaya nagtataka ako kung saan iyon minsan pumupunta.

She shrugged, "Maybe gala gala then find a papa."

Napangiti ako ng may kailangan akong sasabihin sa kanya, "Are you free tomorrow?" I asked again.

Huminto siya pagnguya tapos tinaasan ako ng kilay. Huminga ako ng malalim, "Gusto ko lang ipakilala ang boyfriend ko."

Nabulunan ata siya sa sinabi ko kaya sunudsunod siyang umubo. Mabilis ko siyang inabutan ng tubig. Nang mahinahon na siya ay tinapunan niya ako ng hindi makapaniwalang tingin, "You what?" kuryoso niyang tanong.

"Ayaw ko ng paulit-ulit, Antonette." Sabi ko sa kanya at bumalik sa kinauupuan ko.

"You have a boyfriend tapos hindi mo man lang sinabi sa akin!."

"Kakasabi ko lang na may boyfriend ako." Sabi ko tapos inikot ko ang aking mata


She laughed sarcastically then said, "When?"

Uminom ako ng tubig saka siya tinapunan ng nakangising labi, "Two weeks ago."

"Two weeks ago and yet you don't even have the guts to tell me that you are already taken."

"I forgot to tell you at gusto ko sa harap mo mismo na gusto kong sabihin na taken na ako."

"Kahit nakakatampo ka masaya ako para sa iyo, finally my cousin is now over to her past. " she yelped, and clapped her hands.

I hissed, "I'm free tomorrow can't wait to see your labidabs."

Nasa harap na kami ng favorite restaurant na lagi namin pinupuntahan ni Austin. The last time na pumunta ako dito nagkaroon kami ng misunderstanding ni Austin dahil iyon kay Kennedy. Halos mawindang ako sa sobrang garbo ng suot ni Antonette na akala mong magrarunaway model sa sobrang ganda niya. I can't blame her taste after all she is a model.

"Am I beautiful and look presentable?" she asked again and again. Halos mabingi na ako sa tanong niya.

I massaged my temple out of my frustration, "How many times do I have to tell you na okay na maganda ka na." naiinis kong sabi sa kanya at itong babae inikutan lang ako ng mata.

"tsk!" I heard her rant.

Pumasok na kaming dalawa. Nawala ang inis ko ng makitang kumaway si Austin sa amin. Walang sabing sabi iniwan ko ang pinsan ko at masayang tumakbo sa kinaroroonan ni Aystin. Tumayo siya at sinalubong ako ng mahigpit na yakap. Tumingkayad ako para bigyan siya ng halik.

We heard a loud fake cough that made us pull back from the kiss. I looked at my cousin na animoy ampalaya na ang mukha. I clung my arms to his biceps. This is meet and greet. Alam naman ni Antonette ang simula at dulo namin ni Austin kaya no need to tell her over and over.

"Austin this is my cousin." Panimula ko, "Antonette this is my Boyfriend." Make sure I emphasized the word boyfriend to her face.

Pagkatapos ng batiin ay umupo na kami. Nag-order kami ng aming pagkain. Masaya kaming nagkukwentuhan habang kumakain. Pagkatapos namin ay biglang sumabat si Antonette.

"Can I excuse your boyfriend for awhile? May importante lang kami pag-uusapan." Aniya

I brows furrowed, "Make sure hindi mo aagawin ito sa akin kung nagkataon akong makakalaban mo." Papayag kong sabi sa kanya.

She smile, "Silly, cousin your boyfriend is damn full packaged but he was not my type." Ani Antonette.

I glance at my boyfriend and said, "Go baka mamaya magbago isip ko at hindi kita payagan."


Tumayo na si Antonette. I trust my cousin. But I can't help it knowing her attitude. Bago umalis si Austin ay hinalikan niya muna ang tungki ng aking ilong.

Habang hinihintay sila ay kinontak ko ang aking magulang. Nakailang ring na pero walang sumasagot. Hindi ko naman na itatnong kay Antonette kung kamusta ang magulang ko. Hindi ko mapigilang mag-alala. Walang nagsasabi sa akin kung ano ang kalagayan nila sa Manila . Ilang araw na lang ay babaik na ako sa Manila.

"Anong pinag-usapan niyo?" kuryoso kong bulong kay Austin ng palabas na kami ng restaurant.

He shrugged and he rested his arms on my shoulder, "Don't worry. Pinag-usapan lang namin about you. Sabi niya alagaan lang kita then that's it. Your cousin really loves you so much. I'm kinda jealous because I don't have any cousins like that. My cousins is all fucker."

Antonette loves me more than a family, friend and partner. What if I don't have a cousin like her saan na kayo ako pupulutin niyan. Antonette is a precious one. Soon, the man who can tamed her coldy hearts will be the luckiest one.