MISSION 3: Claiming You

Chapter 48 - Fairy Tale

Clifford snorted. Tinapik niya ang kamay ni Gabriel na nakakapit sa leeg niya. Dagli naman siyang binitawan nito. Nang magkatinginan sila ay sabay pang tumango. Walang salitang sinugod nila si Eugene. Si Gabriel ang nang headlock dito habang siya naman ay pabirong sinuntok sa sikmura si Eugene.

"Tang ina! Ang damit ko, nagugusot!" reklamo ni Eugene.

"Wag ang damit ang isipin mo, Cordova. Sa itsura ng dalawang may hawak sa iyo, pati mukha mo, mababangasan," natatawang komento ni Timothy.

"Shit! Kayong magbayaw na dalawang letra lang ang pinagkaiba ng apelyido, kapag nakawala ako, pagbubuhulin ko kayo!" ani Eugene na sinubukang kumawala sa headlock.

"Kung makakawala ka Cordova," asik ni Gabriel. "Baka akala mo napatawad ko na kayo sa ginawa ninyong pustahan! Pati kapatid ko, dinamay ninyo sa kalokohan ninyo ni Ismael," ani Gabriel, lalong hinigpitan ang pagkaka headlock kay Eugene.

"At malas mo lang dahil ikaw ang sasalo ng suntok na sana ay para kay Ace," naka ismid salita ni Clifford na muling binigyan ng kontroladong suntok sa sikmura si Eugene.

"Tang ina! Ismael, masusuntok din kita! Bakit ngayon po na naisipang mag-MIA?" reklamo ni Eugene. Ipinihit nito ang katawan, halatang gagamit na ng lakas para makawala sa headlock. Hindi naman na pinahirapan ni Gabriel si Eugene dahil kusa na rin nitong binitawan ang mistah.

Ngumiti si Clifford. "Matakot ka na, Cordova. Si Ismael hindi nakapunta kasi nakarma na. Ikaw na ang susunod, bok."

Humingi ng paumanhin sa kanya si Ace na hindi makakapunta sa kasal nila dahil may personal na issue raw itong kailangang maayos sa lalong madaling panahon. Nang malaman niya ang totoong dahilan ay naunawaan naman niya ang kaibigan. Pero tinudyo rin niya ito ng katakot-takot.

Ngumisi si Eugene. "Ako? Nah! Confident akong hindi mangyayari sa akin ang nangyari kay Ace. Iba ako! Maingat ito," may kaangasang deklara ni Eugene habang inaayos ang nagusto na damit.

"Tingnan natin, Cordova," naka ismid na salita ni Timothy.

"Kahit anong ingat mo, kapag tatamaan ka ng pana ni kupido tatamaan ka talaga, bok," nakahalukipkip na salita naman ni Jason.

"Excuse po, Tito Cliff," ani Abby habang akay-akay ang anak na si Carol. May dalang regalo ang bata. "Eto na po iyong gift ni Tita Pretzhel."

"Excuse me lang po, mga sir," alertong salita ng assistant ni Ruth. Hinawakan siya sa siko at hiningit sa may bangko malapit sa bintana, "Sir Clifford, dito po kayo pumuwesto para sa video shot."

*******

Pretzhel heard the emcee make introductory speech about their first dance, but words didn't even register in her overjoyed mind. She just let Clifford lead her to the middle of the dance floor.

You are my King and I your Queen and everything you say goes.

"You look like a dream in your wedding dress, sweetheart. You literally knocked the wind out of my lungs when you emerged behind that white curtain," Cliff murmured softly as he cradled her body close to his. His hand softly caressing her bare back.

"So are you, sweetheart. You looked so handsome in your military uniform," Pret whispered back.

It's not that I obey everything you say, but I bet you can't come up with one that'll make me say no... No, you can't make me.

"And I love your gift, sweetheart." Pretzhel smiled, happiness shining in her eyes as she lovingly gaze at his groom.

Clifford grinned, clearly pleased. "I'm glad you love it, sweetheart. Pero inaasahan ko naman na iyon. Alam kong mas ma-a appreciate mo iyon kaysa sa alahas na una ko sanang planong iregalo."

Napatawa si Pretzhel.

Nitong mga nakaraan buwan ay napansin na niya ang pagbabagong ito kay Clifford. He became grounded, aware of what she feel, what she wanted even before she said them. And she noticed how he became vocal. He easily shared what he felt. May mga oras na sablay pa rin sa word selections, but he's improving.

"I love how you were able to capture the happiness and serenity I'm feeling that time, sweetheart," she uttered in a voice full of awe. Sa isip niya ang malinaw na malinaw ang regalo ni Clifford. It's a framed sketch of her as she lay on the grass.

She remembered that day. The day when they talked to the contractor who built their home.

"And I loved it even more because even if we didn't talk about it, our gifts somehow complimented each other," Pretzhel added.

You are the sun and I your moon though we both light the sky up. I love the way you warm up my day and hope you like the way I cool you down inside. Still you heat up my nights.

Ngumiti si Clifford, "Dadalhin ko iyon at lagi kong gagamitin, sweetheart. It's my daily reminder that wherever I am, I have a special place in this world where I truly belong." Clifford brought his face closer to hers.

Humingi pa siya ng tulong sa Kuya Gabriel niya para makuha ang coordinates kung saan nakatayo ang bahay nila ni Clifford. Iyon ang ipinalagay niya sa custom glasses at mugs na ipinagawa niya. Tig-isa sila ni Clifford.

"A place where the love of my life awaits me. Our home," he murmured before he softly claimed her lips. 

We're a one two combination. All we need is you and me to complete the equation. One without the other's nothing.

Pinaghiwalay ni Clifford ang mukha nila. Masuyo siyang tinitigan. "It's nice to finally call you my wife now, sweetheart." 

I'm wakin' up to a dream, acting a fairy tale. What more can I ask for when you had perfectly written our parts out?

Ngumiti si Pretzhel. Iniikot niya ang braso sa batok ni Clifford. "At hindi ko na basta-basta pwedeng isigaw ang apelyido mo, kasi iyon na rin mismo ang apelyido ko."

Clifford grinned. 

Love you and you love me back. The word "need" doesn't say enough, won't stand up to the emotion.

Hinawakan ni Clifford ang baba niya, tinitigan siya sa mga mata. "Indeed, sweetheart. The word 'need' doesn't sum up how much I truly needed you in my life. Just like how 'I love you' will never be enough to describe what I feel inside."

One without the other can't ever be. It's the truth. It's no secret, no mystery.

Pretzhel's eyes tear up as she gaze at him, her heart beating fast. Pretzhel can understand him perfectly. She knew what he meant because that's exactly what she's feeling.

She needed him as much as she needed air to breath. She loved him with all the love she could ever give.

I'm wakin' up to a dream, living a fairy tale. What more can I ask for when you have perfectly plotted our destiny?

Pretzhel felt as though they were alone, under the soft and sweet moonlight. She felt as though she really is in some kind of a make-believe world. Only, Pretzhel is hundred percent sure that this is more than just a dream.

Her reality is indeed a fairy tale.

"I love you, sweetheart," Clifford's softly whispered above the sweet voice of the band vocalist. His hands caressed her back. A soft, sensual caress that's enough to start the fire in the pit of her stomach.

"I love you too, sweetheart," Pretzhel answered softly. She's basking on the happiness  that she is now officially Mrs. Clifford Sales.

You are my King and I your Queen and everything you say goes...

"I can't wait have our little princes and princesses, sweetheart," Clifford murmured before he claimed her lips once more.