I was leaning on the car's door watching Hurricane do his work in the middle of this freaking no-signal place. We were on our way sa kasal ni Barb nang magflat ang tire niya.
"Madudumihan damit mo,"
He looked up from the tire, frowning, but then unti unti siyang ngumiti. I mentally rolled my eyes, here he go again, kung ano ano na lamang palagi ang pumapasok sa isip niya.
"Sus, gusto mo lamang akong makitang hubad e,"
I—grabe, nagbago na lahat ng tao pero siya presko pa din. Tinitigan ko lamang siya, wala akong gana pumatol sa mga kalokohan ni Cane.
I frowned when he wiggled his eyebrows and started unbuttoning his dress shirt. Shit, I already have a view of his clavicle and it looks so—I arched my right brow. I know he's just teasing but.. take it slowly, Chandy, remember? Ako pa ang nagpumilit na manligaw ulit muna siya.
"That's it?" hamon ko when he just unbuttoned two! Two! Pabitin.
He smirked, walking towards me with both his hands up. "My hands were already dirty, can you do the rest for me?" he winked.
I cleared my throat, "I told you we should call someone, we're getting late. Ikaw ang maghahatid kay Barb."
He shrugs, "I can do it,"
"Really? You've been saying that for five minutes now."
Napatawa siya at umiling, "Wag ka na mainip. Hubaran mo na ako."
"Hurricane."
"Chandrella."
"Ang kulit."
"Ang dumi mag-isip."
I rolled my eyes before grabbing his collar shirt, I smirked when I caught him off guard. His eyes were wide as I started picking on his button. Kitang kita ko kung paano siya unti unting napapalunok.
Ha. I can play games now.
He wants to tease me, then, I can torture us both.
I let the back of my fingers touched his hard chest, he take one step backward pero mas hinila ko lamang siya palapit.
I'm not really close with Barb so I can take a whole damn time making him.. oh gosh, I'm really starting to have dirty imaginations now.
As much as I am enjoying making him suffer I paused, kasi hindi ako makatingin sa mga mata niya. And I can feel the heat of his stare. And his torso is now in full view.
Guard.
"Giving up now, hm?"
"Why are you so sexy?" I couldn't help but ask.
Tumawa ulit siya at lumayo sakin. Totoo naman kasi, hindi ko alam paano niya nagagawa yong name-maintain niya mag gym at maging abogado tapos nagsimula na din siyang magturo. Minsan, kapag tinitignan ko siya si superman na yong nakikita ko. But of course, I would never tell him that.
I think it's okay to feed him some compliments, pero hindi yong aabot sa point na iisipin niyang I'm drooling over him.
"Kapag tayo na, we'll be the hot couple in our friend group."
I rolled my eyes at him. Crossing my arms over my chest.
"Barb will probably get mad kapag hindi tayo nakarating on time."
"We have an excuse,"
"Kahit na, if Cy will be late on my wedding day he cannot join the reception."
He chuckles, taking a step forward to lean in and drop a kiss on the top of my head. "When can we get married?"
Hindi pa nga kami. Tuluyan ko ng inalis ang dress shirt niya, I stared at his abs. Appreciating it first before pushing him off.
"Go and fix your wheels."
"Yes doc!"
My lips tugged up a little, putting my hands on the car's door while my chin's resting on it. Pinanood ko lamang siyang ituloy ang pagpapalit ng gulong. I glanced at my wristwatch, guard, I really hope makaabot kami. Barb cannot walk down the aisle alone.
Inantay pa kasi ako ni Cane matapos sa duty kahit pwede naman na siyang umuna. Sa loob na din ako ng kotse nagpalit ng dress and I really had a great time changing while he was covering his eyes.
"Are you ready next week?" he asked, his biceps are contracting while rotating the lug wrench.
Ah yes, our trip to Italy."Yes, are you really sure you're okay na sasama sila Ansel?"
Before bumalik sila Ansel ng Connecticut, nalaman niyang pa-Italy kami and sakto daw na nagpa plano din silang family na pumunta doon so napagkasunduan na namin na magkita nalang sa Venice.
"Of course, I missed Aella na din."
He's really good with kids. After namin magkaayos, madalas kaming dumalaw ng sabay kayna Ansel then Cy. Minsan magkakasama kaming lahat sa bahay ng parents nila. Sinusulit kasi namin habang hindi pa umaalis sila Ansel. Sa mga ganoong time niya ako hindi masyadong tinatabihan o kinakausap because he was busy playing with his nieces and nephews.
May mga oras na habang buhat buhat niya ang pamangkin niya, titingin siya sakin. And I know what his look means.
And.. I would just fall in love deeper.
I know he wants to get married na. And he wants to have kids yet I want to take everything slow. Hindi naman sa nag-iinarte ako, I just.. I have this feeling na kung magiging kami agad anytime soon, he'll propose. Ang hilig kasi niya mag browse ng mga wedding venues at ng mga motif. Parang sira lang.
I don't think I am ready to build a family for now.
I'm just starting as a real surgeon. Madalas hindi naman talaga ako umuuwi sa condo, halos sa hospital na ako nakatira. And he's so busy with his job. I.. I just don't want my future children to go through the same situation as I did before. Yong walang mauuwian na parents.
Maybe in two years?
Because I swear, I'm ready to let go of my profession to be a full time mom and wife by then. Kahit temporary break lang.
But not now.
And I have to tell him that soon. Nahihiya lamang ako aminin ang reason ko mismo baka isipin niya masyado akong advance mag-isip.
Pero kasi minsan talaga pakiramdam ko mauuna pa siya magpropose kesa sa sagutin ko siya.
When he was done, sa akin niya ulit pinaayos ang damit niya. This time hindi ko na tinagalan kasi kailangan na namin magmadali.
Barb looked so stress nang makadating kami, halos ibato niya ang bouquet kay Cane upon seeing us.
"I really hate you! Two minutes nalang simula na ang kasal ko," then she looked at me, smiling. "Hi, Chandy. Nasa loob na sina Martine."
I smiled, and for the very first time lumapit ako sa kanya to give her a hug. She's really trying her best to get close with me pero dahil hindi magkasundo ang schedule namin palagi nalang hindi natutuloy. Even on her bridal shower, Martine said Barb's been waiting for me to come. But may surgery ako that time.
"Congratulations," I whispered.
Nang bumitaw ako namumuo na yong mga luha sa mata niya. Oh guard. Please, I don't like this kind of scenario.
"Thank you,"
I only nodded. Getting awkward again kaya dumiretso na agad ako sa garden. I heard Cane laughing, tsk, that dummy.
--
"Barb's been thinking.." Cane started ng nasa reception na kami,
"Hm?"
"If it's a good idea na kunin kang Ninang?"
My right brow arched, "She's pregnant?"
"She thinks so."
"And why is she hesitating?"
"Baka daw tanggihan mo, sabi ko naman mabait ka at di kuripot di niya kailangan matakot," there's humor in his voice.
"I'm not kuripot." I shrug, "It's fine." palagi na lamang akong Ninang. Yong Christmas bonus sa mga inaanak ko na napupunta. But well, I'm enjoying buying baby toys and clothes din naman.
"Talaga?"
"Yeah," I answered in a bored tone, but I flashed a small smile to make him sure na okay lang talaga.
"Hm.. ako din may naiisip,"
"What?"
Kinuha niya ang kamay ko and started pressing my palms, "When will I be your boyfriend?" he pouts.
Okay, this is it.
Nilunok ko muna lahat ng pride sa katawan ko.
"You can't laugh, okay?"
"What?"
I heaved a sigh, "If we'll be together," I glared at him, "will you promise hindi ka kaagad mag-aaya magpakasal?"
He stared at me. Then he blinked. Twice. Then he started chuckling, placing his hand on the back of my head before kissing my temples, "Is that why you don't want us to be together agad?"
"You can't laugh, remember?"
"I'm not laughing."
"You're chuckling.."
"Don't mind me.. but.. this is the reason?"
"Yeah.. I mean, Cane.. I'm not prepared."
He laughed, then he raised his hand, "I promise. If you want, kahit ikaw na ang magpropose sa ating dalawa."
"Baliw."
"Sa—"
"Please, stop." agad kong tinakpan ang bibig niya. Nakakadiri kasi lagi, maybe nakakakilig ng konti pero nakakakilabot pa din kapag may mga ganon siyang banat.
"Okay okay. And yes, I understand."
"Good"
"So tayo na?"
I shrugged. Okay na ako. Things I've learned in our relationship? Good communication. And assurance.
"Really?!" he excitedly asked.
"Tone down your voice," saway ko before kissing his cheeks.
Agad siyang namula at parang tangang ngiting ngiti.
"And sure, kahit ako na ang mag propose." para sigurado.
He laughed, grabbing my waist bago inipod ang upuan ko palapit sa kanya. "Gusto ko romantic,"
"Matagal pa, saka ka na mag-request."
He grinned, "Nae excite na ako."
Hay. He's just always excited with everything.
"Maiinip ka lang."
"Okay lang, mauuna naman honeymoon sa Venice."
"What?"
Quotang quota talaga sa pagtawa ngayon si Hurricane. "Nothing, go na tinatawag na lahat ng single ladies."
"Hindi naman ako magpapakasal agad."
"Kahit pa. Enjoy some normal things, Cha."
I rolled my eyes, standing up while getting my flute of champagne. I can still feel his eyes on me as I walk towards where the bride is. Nang matanaw ako ni Barb ay agad niya akong tinuro. Pumwesto ako sa pinakalikod so there's no chance na sakin babagsak ang bouquet.
"3..2..1..!"
I watched as the girl in front of me caught the bouquet, I smirked at Hurricane, raising my glass. He was laughing while taking a video. Naiiling akong lumapit at tinakpan ang camera niya.
"I told you, in two or three years maybe.."
He smiled softly, "As long as you'll be the bride, I don't mind waiting."
Of course, he waited seven years. He can wait for two more.
"Okay,"
"Okay,"