Mari's POV
"Oh shit, ang sakit ng ulo ko. Ilang bote ba ang naubos ko kagabi? Napaka-tanga mo talaga kahit kailan, Mari Helena!" I scolded myself as soon as I woke up. Pero bigla kong naisip ang mga nangyari kahapon, pa-iyak na sana ako ng bigla kong na realize na wala ako sa condo ko.
"Sandaliiiii, hindi ko kwarto to. Nasaan ba ako? Shit! Don't tell me na kinidnap ako or worst baka sumama ako sa isang stranger? ANG TANGA2X MO, MARI!" I said to myself while panicking inside the bedroom. Then I heard footsteps; I decided to hide beside the cabinet.
"Pangga, gising kana ba? Kain na tayo ng breakfast." A woman's voice echoed. *WAIT KILALA KO ANG BOSES NA YAN AH. Na apektuhan kaya ng alak yung utak ko? Wait, nababaliw na ba ako?* I thought to myself while being confused.
"Pangga? Anong ginagawa mo diyan sa may gilid ng cabinet?" She said while looking at me straight in the eyes. I covered my eyes, half-scared.
"Annie??? Ikaw ba talaga yan? O nananaginip lang ako? Mahal, I'm so sorry. Pero please naman, huwag mo naman gawin sakin to. Sobrang sakit na." I said while in the verge of crying.
"Pangga, ano ka ba? Ako to oh, in the flesh. Hali ka nga. Mag e-explain ako." Annie grabbed my hand while leading me to the sofa beside her bed.
*She can hold my hand, so hindi siya multo? OMG, baka pareho kaming multo. Patay na ba ako? Langit na ba ito?* I thought to myself when suddenly Annie shook my shoulders.
"Hoy! Ano ba, pangga? Kung ano man yang iniisip mo, huminahon ka at namumutla ka na." She said.
"Ma-hal, kung nahahawaka-n mo ko, i-big sabi-hin ba na na-matay rin ako?" I asked her while stuttering para kasing iiyak na ako.
"Gaga ka talaga. Daig mo pa si Paulina. Mahal, ito kasi yun. Makinig ka ha." She said and I took a deep breath and nodded.
"I did not get into an accident, Mari. Hindi ako namatay, that's why I can still hold your hand. Yesterday after I left your office, nag drive ako at tumawag kay Paulina. But unfortunately, na low bat yung telepono ko. I decided to park my car dun sa location na sinend ni Izzy kay Paulina which turns out to be the accident location of those people na namatay. The reason why I was not there when you both arrived was because nagutom ako and I decided to grab dinner dun sa steakhouse na pinuntahan natin nung birthday ko. And then, umuwi na ako right after then dun ko lang na charge ang phone ko at nabasa lahat ng text messages na galing sa inyo ni Paulina. So, I'm really sorry for worrying and hurting you to the point na you have to drown your pain in alcohol. You were so drunk last night buti nalang may humatid sayo dito sa unit ko. At buti nalang maganda ka kasi kung hindi baka hindi ka niya nilapitan. So, kahit nagselos ako, edi okay. What's important is you're safe na with me right now." She explained everything while I just listened to her. I was so shock but at the same time so happy na she's alive.
"OH MY GOD! Love, I'm so sorry! Kung inexplain ko lang sana right then and there sa office kung ano ko si Antonio, edi sana hindi na umabot sa ganito. Natawagan mo na ba si Paulina? Grabi yung iyak ng kapatid natin. Kawawa siya talaga kaya kahit gusto kong magwala dun sa location the moment I heard from the police na dead on arrival yung mga biktima, I stand firm and strong kasi grabi yung iyak ni Paulina. I can't possibly imagine how she felt. I'm so happy you didn't die, Love. Hindi ko kakayanin na mawala ka sakin, Annie." I said while reaching out to hug her tight.
"Yes, Pangga. Tinawagan ko siya kaagad kagabi kasi baka ma dehydrate sa kaka-iyak. Actually after natin mag breakfast, punta tayo sa apartment nila ni Pam dahil nag prepare sila ng lunch for the four of us." She replied while still hugging me.
"I love you, Mahal ko! Pwede ba tayong ma late ng konti? Ang hot mo kasi sa suot mo ngayon eh." I said while biting my lower lip.
"Che! Ayoko nga! Alam mo naman yun mainitin ang ulo kapag ako yung late. Mamaya ka na bumawi, Pangga" She replied while giving me a soft, mischievous smile.
"Okay, Btw. Love? Sino yung Izzy?" I asked, remembering her story and the unfamilliar name she mentioned earlier.
"No one important, Love. Basta what's important is I am here, and you are here with me. Okay? So, don't worry." She explained to me. I just nodded in reply and dug in the breakfast she prepared. Sobrang sarap and sakto dahil sobrang gutom na talaga ako.
After Annie and I finished eating breakfast and magbihis, we immediately drive to Paulina and Pam's apartment kasi baka ma traffic and late pa kami for lunch.
When we arrive, the two sisters hugged each other. Grabi yung pagmamahalan nilang dalawa. Napangiti nalang kami ni Pam sa nakikita namin.
"My god, you're still late, Sweetheart. Nag bebe time kayo ni Ate Lens no? Aminin mo na kasi..." Paulina teased her Ate while we were eating lunch.
"Tigilan mo nga ako, Maria Paulina. Ihahagis ko sayo tong plato, sige ka." Annie snapped back which made us all laugh.
"Can I just propose a toast? To this woman beside me and to this family that I currently have. I'm glad of how things turned out and hope for more happy days like this with all of you. Cheers!" I said while smiling.
"Cheers!" Everyone replied. Annie then leaned to kiss me on the cheeks.
"I love you, Pangga ko!" She then whispered.
"I love you more, Mahal ko!" I replied.
"I love you most! Hahahahaha, wala na! Ako na yung panalo." She said, thinking that she outsmarted me.
"I love you for life, Annie Therese Hontiveros. Ikaw lang, walang iba, magpakailanman." I said while looking deep in her eyes. Grabi, mahal na mahal ko si Annie.
"Ang daya mo naman. Oo na nga." She said as she was covering her blushing cheeks.
We were both lost in the moment when we suddenly heard the couples in front of us mimicking what we did.
"I love you, Pangga ko!" Paulina said to Pam while funnily imitating Annie.
"I love you more, Mahal ko!" Pam replied, I think she was copying me too.
"I love you most! Hahahahaha, wala na! Ako na yung panalo." Paulina said while almost laughing at herself.
"I love you for life, Maria Paulina Hontiveros. Ikaw lang, walang iba, magpakailanman." Pam said while looking over at Annie and me, laughing.
"Ang daya mo naman. Oo na nga." Paulina said, then laughed out loud.
"Sweetheart, miyembro ka ba ng pabebe girls? HAHAHAHAHHA" she then asked Annie while laughing, to which Annie just rolled her eyes in response.
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/Few Months Passed/
"Love? Let's move in together kaya?" I said while Annie and I had our regular start-of-the-week breakfast date.
Every Monday kasi we see to it that we eat breakfast together dito sa La Vie Cafe then hatid ko na siya sa kanilang office at tsaka off to my office na rin. In that way, we get to start the week with each other.
"Sure ka ba diyan, Pangga? I'm really messy and you're so organized baka maubos yung pasensya mo sakin? At mag-aaway lang tayo palagi." She asked while looking down.
"Love, no matter how messy you are, I won't ever get tired fixing things after you. I love you and nothing could ever change that kahit araw-arawin mo pang gulohin yung apartment ko, isama mo na rin pati office desk ko." I said while cupping her face and pulling her closer.
"Pangga, stop. Marami kayang tao dito. Mamaya palalabasin pa tayo dito sa cafe, sige ka." She said while avoiding my kiss and blushed.
"Eh, I can't resist you. So, yes na ba? Will you move in with me, mahal ko? Sige na, I don't want to miss you too much kasi. Gusto ko ikaw ang una kong nasisilayan pag gising ko at huling yakap bago matulog." I said while kissing her neck.
"Yes na nga! Basta itigil mo na yang binabalak mo. Public place to oh, tapos nilalandi mo ako? Hay nako. Finish your coffee and hatid mo na ako sa office." She said while trying to sit straight and sip her coffee.
"Yaaay! I love you, Mahal ko! I'm so happy you said yes. Sunduin kita later after office then dun ako matutulog sa condo mo so that we can sort things out." I said habang inaayos din yung upo ko at ininom yung kape ko.
"I love you, Pangga! Sige, it's a date! Tara na, hatid mo nako." She said while gesturing me to stand up.
"Kiss muna." I said to her while pouting.
"Sige na nga... I love you! Mwah!" She said while giving me a smack on the lips.
"Ay ano ba yan parang hindi naman ako naniniwala na mahal mo ako sa kiss na yan." I said while rolling my eyes at her.
"Dun nalang sa car. Dalian mo na diyan." She whispered to me while giggling, which made my eyes wider. She then ran out of the cafe, leaving me dumbfounded.
*OMAYGAD! Meron na bang diligan na magaganap?*
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Hey there, Mga Mahal!
Kamusta naman kayo diyan? Kagabi pa sana ito kaso lang I got busy nanaman. I hope you'll like this short chapter. Abangan niyo yung next chapters dahil for sure masisiyahan kayo sa next na mangyayari kay Mari at Annie. 😉
See ya! 🥰💕
-A