LOVE IN DISGUISE

Chapter 28 A Different Contract

For a while ay nanatiling walang imik ang dalaga. Her mind is busy absorbing his statement. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya ng unti - unting rumehistro ang nga salitang binitawan nito.

And finally the declaration exploded like a bomb.

For a while AM just gaped there. Too stunned to even utter a word. Pakiramdam niya ay sasabog ang dibdib niya sa labis na emosyon.

Lord! If this is only a joke... She closed her eyes tightly. Pinagsama - sama ang takot, kaba at pag- asa sa puso niya. But she just couldn't open her eyes upang aninangin sa mga mata ni Zach ang katotohanan ng mga sinabi nito.

Hindi niya makakaya  kung hindi totoo!

" Please say something, AM," he said desperately, anxiety in his voice.

Iminulat niya ang mga mata at tumingin sa binata.

" Z-zach.."

He smiled uncertainly. " I love you, honey—"

"H-how could you say that?" Pumatak ang luhang kanina pa niya pinipigilan. Tumitig siya kay Zach. Naroon ang walang kasiguraduhan sa boses niya. And she had never felt so insecure in her life maliban sa sandaling ito.

Zach smiled warmly— the most wonderful smile na iniukol nito sa kanya mula ng magkakilala sila.

" It is only once in a lifetime that a man will find a woman who will love him with all her heart. A ikaw ang babaeng iyon, honey. I realized that after those three months we've spent on the island. And you can never know how much I've missed you,  AM.
I never missed Zenith the way I missed you.. na kahit na anong gawin ko ikaw lang ang nakikita ko. Now if you still think that I don't love you... then tell me what I feel, honey."

" B-but you're getting married? "

" We're getting married," he corrected.

She remained speechless after that. Silly but all she wanted was to laugh and cry at the same time.

Tumayo ang binata at hinawakan siya sa magkabilang balikat at marahang  itinayo rin. Napahawak siya ng mahigpit sa kumot na nakabalot sa katawan dahil mukhang walang pakialam si Zach kung malaglag man iyon.

Napalunok siya at tiningala ang mukha nito.

" I love you, Zach, " she declared solemnly, her eyes shining with so much happiness.

" I know .. and it was inevitable falling in love with you." Zach smiled tenderly. " You were the most wonderful little thing that I've ever met, honey... all passion and fire in my arms.. at madalas ay hindi o alam kung paano ka pakibagayan.."

Dinala niya ang mga daliri sa labi nito at muli ay naramdaman niya ang kuryenteng hatid nang pagdama niya.

" When did you learn to love me Zach?"

Zach shrugged his shoulder.  " I many ways and tender moments AM.. perhaps I started loving you o yhe same day the we reach Alfresco.. na kung titingnan mo ako ay para kang natatakot, though I was sure you were in for a rebellion."

Napaangat ang kilay niya sa narinig pero hindi kumibo.

" Or maybe sa tuwing nagagalit ka at minumura ako, I don't really know.. but you really hit me hard nang gabing umiyak ka pagkatapos mong maglaba. I really didn't know what to do with you then. You were crying and you were vulnerable, I wanted to curse myself." He smiled at the memory and pulled her closer.

Napangiti rin siya sa alaala. They just stood there staring at each other sa matagal ding sandali, her palms on his chest at marahang pinaglalandas iyon doon. He eyes locked with his.