Our Real Love by A.B.Castueras (3RD BOOK OF SMITH TRILOGY)

OUR REAL LOVE (THE LAST STEP p.1.1)

 OUR REAL LOVE – THE FINALE

"Our true love is..."

RYDER

"Pakasal na kaya tayo, what do you think?"

Susan stopped as she arranged the throw pillows on the sofa. I'm sitting in the opposite chair. I've been looking at her ever since she began cleaning this place. I didn't tell her not to do it because I knew what she would say to me. It's better to let her do her thing than to piss her off. Mahirap na...

She turned to me as she was stunned. I wiggled my eyebrows playfully to tease her.

"Kasal? Agad? Mukha ba 'kong joke sa'yo, Ryder?" she asked in a serious tone.

Okay... Someone's not up for a joke time.

"Of course, not." I left my seat and then sat down near her. I cleared my throat bago ako nagsalita uli. "Well, I just thought. What am I going to wait for, right?" When I didn't get a positive reaction from her, I just took a deep breath and turned away. Fine. "I understand. I get it. I'm being too fast again, I know. No pressure. Kung ayaw mo pa—."

"Hindi sa ayaw—."

I looked at her immediately. Talk about pa-pity talk. HAHAHA!

"So, gusto mo nga?"

"Huh? Ang ibig kong sabihin..." She picked up her clothes and sat down on the sofa. Hindi siya agad tumingin sa akin. With those deep concerned eyes, she sighed. "Sino bang ayaw sumaya..." She said softly.

Obviously, she wants it but... there's always that damn but.

"What?" I asked softly.

She looked at me. I can sense doubt and worry in her eyes. "Hindi naman 'yun madali, lalo na ang pagpapakasal. Hindi dahil gusto mong sumaya, gagawin mo na agad. Alam mo 'yun? Maraming factors to consider, maraming tao...to think about."

I smirked. "You can't be happy if you think about others all the time. You have to think of yourself first din, Susan. If you're really happy. That should be your priority. Kahit si Lord naman, gusto tayong sumaya."

"Alam ko... Pero hindi naman lahat nang masaya ay tama." Tumingin siya sa 'kin nang diretso. "Ryder, nagawa ko na 'yan dati. Nagdesisyon kaagad nang hindi pinag-iisipan, puro pakiramdam lang. Masaya, exciting, walang pwedeng pumigil - kahit mali."

"Why? Nagsisisi ka ba ngayon?" tanong ko.

The romantic soul of mine wants to hear from her na sana 'hindi' ang sagot niya. Kasi kung 'yun ang sagot niya, at least, maiisip kong hindi siya nagsisisi na nagkita kaming dalawa. Kung nagbago ang desisyon niya noon, malamang na hindi na niya 'ko kailangan ngayon. Pero mukhang iba nga talaga ang romantic dramas sa totoong buhay...

"Oo..." She looked at me and I was trying to figure out how to react. "Galit ka ba?"

"Tch!" I just smirked and leaned back in my chair. "Why would I? I asked, right? So... why are you regretting?"

"Eh, kasi...kung hindi siguro kami nagmadali ni David, hindi sana mahirap ang katayuan namin ng mga bata. Akal ko noon, sex ang batayan ng tunay na feelings namin sa isa't isa. Ginagawa ng iba. So, why not kung kami rin, 'di ba? Akala namin...exciting lang ang buhay, masaya basta magkasama kami. YOLO?"

Natawa siya pero alam kong hindi dahil natutuwa 'to sa sinasabi niya. Kabaligtaran pa nga...

"Kaso nang makita ko kung pa'no naghirap si David nang mabuntis ako at mapalayas sa 'min...nabasag lahat ng saya. Nagising ako na may ibang tao akong nasaktan, may ibang taong mahihirapan, you only live once kaya bakit ganito ang pinili ko? Hindi sana na-pressure si David para sa future naming lahat. Siguro mas tataas pa ang ranggo niya sa pagpupulis kung hindi lang niya 'ko maiwan noon para magpadestino sa ibang lugar. Baka may work din ako ngayon sa gusto kong kumpanya. Kasama ko sana pamilya ko at 'di sila sobrang nadisappoint sa choices ko. Baka may naiwan pa ngang bahay sa 'min si David, sasakyan o kaya business din bago siya nawala." She smiled sadly. "Baka hindi ko iniisip 'to ngayon kung ibang desisyon lang sana ang ginawa namin noon." She smirked on her own. "Sayang."