Phase 41
#EFphase41
"Good evening," pormal na pagbati ni Cyprian, nang tanguan siya ng aking ama ay naupo na siya sa aking tabi na tila iyon ang permiso niya.
Hindi ako makapagsalita, ni pagbati sa mga Zobel ay hindi ko nagawa gaya ng parati kong salubong sa kanila tuwing magkakainan na sa hapunan. Hindi ako makapaniwala na makakaharap ko si Carisse Segovia sa gabing ito, masyado akong windang sa presensya niya at ang dami kong iniisip na maari niyang sabihin sa aking pamilya ngayon.
Hindi ko siguro kakayanin kung makakapagsalita siya ng hindi maganda ngayon at baka mawalan na ako ng respeto rito. I won't let her hurt me in front of my father and sister, I won't let her throw me things against my life again. Pero si Prian ang importante, kung gagawin ko iyon ay para narin akong nawalan ng respeto sa kanya, hindi ba? I'm fucking torn now.
Naging tahimik lamang ako nang ibigay na ang aming mga pagkain ng mga serbidora roon, inuunahan ko ang mga kilos ni Cyprian upang hindi akalain ng ina niya na inaalipin ko lang ito. Cyprian was consistently taking care of me the whole time we're having our dinner, hindi naman ako makapagbigay ng konsentrasyon sa pagkain dahil ang puso ko ay kabado sa lahat ng maaring mangyari ngayong gabi.
"What are you thinking?" Cyprian said in a whisper as he wiped the side of my lips using his thumb.
Hindi ako sumagot sa kanya.
Bahagya siyang naglapit ng mukha sa akin upang titigan ang mga mata ko, he looked so serious and frigid while staring straight at me. Umiwas ako ng tingin at kabadong sumulyap sa aking ama, naramdamam ko ang paghugot ng malalim na hininga ni Cyprian sa aking tabi.
Nagtaas ng kilay si Papa sa akin at tipid na ngumiti, kasalukuyang nasa lamesa namin ang pampahimagas ngayon at sigurado akong umpisa na ang kalbaryo ko dahil sa nalalapit na usapan.
"Altair... can we talk about the main reason why I'm here?" Carisse Segovia started in a formal tone.
Cyprian turned to her and just looked at her with straight face.
"We're here to apologize for what you told Inocencia last time you faced her, Ma."
Namilog ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Prian, nilingon ko siya agad pero hindi siya nagsulyap sa akin.
"What?" singhap ni Carisse Segovia. "This isn't what we talked about."
Cyprian sighed and turned to my father this time, he looked at him apologetically. My heart hurt for him. Nagngalit ang panga niya na tila iritado na agad sa apila ng kanyang ina. Pormal lang ang ama ko, si Izabeth at Statice naman ay napabaling kay Carisse Segovia.
"Sir Amadeo, I'm here for Inocencia and I decided to bring my Mom here to fix things in between. I'm sincerely apologizing for what my Mom told your daughter last time they confronted her."
My heart ached. Hindi naman dapat siya ang nagpapaumanhin sa ginawa ng kanyang ina, mas maayos na sa akin na wala akong matanggap mula sa mama niya pero hindi dapat si Cyprian ang manghihingi noon. Wala siyang kasalanan sa akin
Dad chuckled a bit, pormal siyang nagpunas ng table napkin sa labi niya at sumulyap sa akin.
"Juancho Bernaldez mentioned that, wala akong karapatang tumanggap ng pagpapatawad diyan dahil anak ko ang pinagsalitaan at minaliit nila." Papa said formally. "Carisse and Juliana should be the one asking for forgiveness, not you, Cyprian. You've done too much for my daughter. I know your sacrifices for this."
Kumunot ang noo ko, naiintindihan ko ang ilang parte pero hindi ko maintindihan ang ilang parte na malabo para sa akin ngayon. Wala pa akong naririnig mula kay Cyprian tungkol sa kanyang lolo at sa lahat ng pinaggagawa niya habang hindi kami magkasama.
Cyrpian looked at his mother again and sighed, matigas niyang tinitigan ang mama niya na tila may nais itong iparating. Nagtaas ng kilay si Carisse Segovia at bumuntong hininga kalaunan, sumulyap siya sa akin at pumikit ng mariin saglit.
She then cleared her throat and gazed at Prian beside me, lumambot ang kanyang mga mata kahit na malamig lamang si Cyprian na nakaabang sa kanya. His jaw was clamped, pasimple akong nagbuga ng hangin at hinawakan ang hita niya sa ilalim ng lamesa. He sighed gently, calming himself down with just my touch.
Hindi niya kailangan magalit sa mama niya dahil may dahilan naman ito sa mga ginawa at pinagsasabi sa akin, though it really hurts me until now. Nagtambay na kasi ang lahat sa isip ko at hindi ko alam kung kailan mawawala.
"All right, son." Carisse Segovia sighed a bit and nodded at Prian.
Huminga ng malalim si Cyprian at hinawakan ang kamay ko sa kanyang hita, marahan niyang pinaglaruan ang ilang daliri ko bago iyon nahinto sa singsing na sinuot niya sa akin. His lips cornered slightly even without glancing at me.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Carisse at nakita ko sa kanyang mga mata ang bahagyang pag-amo, marahil ay sa hiling ng kanyang anak. We all looked at her directly.
"I've done wrong to you, Inocencia. I'm apologizing tonight for the sake of my relationship with my son and... for the future in-law, you." she said casually. "I know my son will really settle down with you and build your own family as what he's telling me countless times when he confronted me because of what happened last time. I'm so sorry for trying to break you off, I'm just a mother who wants the best women for my twins—"
"Are you telling that Inocencia is not the best for your son?" pormal na singit ni Izabeth Zobel, basag sa sinasabi ni Carisse.
I was surprised. Napatingin ako sa kanya. Hindi ako makapaniwala na makikisali siya sa usapang ito. I'm fine with whatever Carisse will give me, even she doesn't look sincere at all. At least she apologized for Cyprian.
Suminghap si Carisse at umiling, sumulyap siya kay Prian pero binalik din kay Izabeth.
"No, i-it's not like that. I'm just telling this now because that was how I saw Inocencia the first time, and you know the situation between her and Uncle Juancho. She married an old man, specifically related to Segovias, sapat iyon upang makitaan ko ng pagkakamali ang relasyon niya sa anak ko. Sino bang ina ang gugustuhin iyon, Mrs. Zobel?" pagbabalik ni Carisse.
My heart crumpled while listening. I want to explain my side, gusto ko paring magpaliwanag ng katotohanan kahit na alam kong sarado siya sa paliwanag gaya noong una naming pagkikita. I just want a clear explanation on this for Cyprian. Kahit papaano, kahit na may kagaspangan ang ugali ni Carisse ay gusto ko parin ng maayos na relasyon sa ina ng aking mahal.
"Even so, you weren't sure about it but you still threw insulation. Ngayong nalaman mong Zobel siya ay magugustuhan mo na siya para sa anak mo, hmm." Izabeth said.
Damn. I don't know what to think now. Hindi na maganda ang tono nilang dalawa at kabado ako na hindi pa ito maayos ngayong gabi.
Ngumisi si Carisse, halata ang iritasyon at pagkahiya.
"Of course not, Izabeth. And why are you cleaning yourself here? Hindi mo anak na tunay si Inocencia, hindi ba? It means, you threw a lot more insults to her, then."
What the hell? Bakit ganito siya?
Sumimsim sa baso ng tubig si Izabeth at pormal muling bumaling kay Carisse. Mukhang walang balak atrasan ang paratang ni Carisse.
"I didn't insult her, I insulted her mother without her. Inaamin ko na ininsulto ko ang kanyang ina, pero hindi kailanman sa harapan ni Inocencia. I thought of her as a bad fruit of the past, hindi ko ikakaila iyan dahil kasama roon ang galit ko sa nanay niya."
It's true, though. She didn't ever insult me, si Mama ko lang ang naalala kong ininsulto niya. Iyong mga araw na hindi niya pa ako kailanman nakilala at nakita, alam kong galit siya at talagang si mama ang gustong insultuhin. Iyon ay mabigat na talagang pangyayari, hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ako nakatanggap ng insulto kay Izabeth simula pa noong matira na ako rito. In fact, I know deep inside that she probably accepted my existence in their lives.
She smirked at Carisse and inhaled.
"Pero ikaw? Anong dahilan mo para maliitin ang mamahalin at gustong makasama ng anak mo nang hindi man lang sinigurado ang mga totoong rason bago sumugod? Nagsama ka pa ng isang matapobre, two versus one, huh. When in fact, si Juancho naman ang nagpahaba ng annulment na iyon?"
Napalunok ako, tiningnan ko sila Papa at Statice. Kaswal lamang si Papa na nakikinig sa debate ng dalawa, samantalang si Statice naman ay tila walang naririnig. She's just playing her salad with straight face.
Ako lang ba talaga ang kabado? Hindi ba nila patitigilin ang fliptop ng dalawa?
Tumalim ang tingin ni Carisse at namula ang kanyang mukha sa sobrang kainisan.
"Then, I have my right reasons to dislike your stepdaughter, also. Unang una na roon na kasal siya para sa pera, pangalawa na hindi maganda ang kanyang estado sa buhay. I've done my research about her, of course. And now that she's a Zobel, nothing's changed."
Agad kong naramdaman ang pagsikip ng hawak ni Cyprian sa aking kamay, mabilis niyang binitiwan ang kamay ko na tila iniiwasan iyong saktan. Suminghap ako at muling hinabol ang kamay niya. My heart is hurting, marinig palang mula kay Carisse iyon ay masakit na pero hindi noon wawalain ang kagustuhan kong ipaglaban lang ang nararamdaman para kay Cyprian.
Cyprian gasped irritably while throwing daggers at his mom.
"Ma, will you stop being like that? I didn't bring you here to give your blessing or to like Inocencia! I brought you here because you hurt my woman and I want you to apologize for what you did! Hindi niya kasalanan na si Lolo ang pinakasalan niya, at kahit kasalanan niya pa ay wala akong pakialam. Just stick your nose out of us, Ma."
Suminghap si Carisse sa gulat at may iritasyong bumaling kay Prian.
"You see that, I'm apologizing, Altair... but they don't just accept it. Anong gusto mo? Magmakaawa pa ako para sa forgiveness nila? Humihingi ako ng despensa kay Inocencia pero ang pamilya niya ang nagsasalita ukol dito. Bakit hindi ninyo hayaang si Inocencia ang magsalita?"
"Because you are not sincere. Apologizing for what you did wrong should be sincere, to be forgiven." pormal na sambit ni Statice nang bumaling na kay Carisse Segovia.
Hindi makapaniwalang natawa si Carisse, halatang naiinsulto na ngunit nanatili ang kaelegantehan sa aura.
"Then we should leave now, Altair. They don't want us here, the apologizing part is now done and I don't have anything else to say! Hindi ako magmamakaawa para lang dito at alam mo iyan, Cyprian. Hinayaan kitang dalhin ako rito para humingi ng dispensa at sinabi ko na iyon pero ganito parin silang makitungo. They're just insulting us in their own territory. Umalis na tayo, Altair!"
Suminghap ako at uminit ang mga mata dahil doon. I don't know how to make them stay! Baka sumama rin si Cyprian sa nanay niya dahil ramdam ang insulto ng mga Zobel sa mama niya, ayaw ko iyon. He should stay here or he should take me with him. Hindi ko na siya papalayuin ulit!
Akmang tatayo na si Carisse pero biglang bumoses ang kalamigan ni Cyprian sa hapag kainan.
"This is my life to take, the life I want to have with Inocencia. Please, just shut it down for the second time, Ma! If you don't want to apologize then fine, I will apologize for you 'cause I want them to forgive you. I want you to have a good relationship between this family."
"Altair!" gitil na sambit ni Carisse Segovia, nanlalaki ang mga mata sa litanya ng kanyang anak. "What have you done to yourself? Iniinsulto na tayo pero iyan parin ang iniisip mo? Let's go now!"
Nagngalit ang panga ni Cyprian at umiling sa kanya. Kumuyom ang kanyang kamao, gustuhin ko man mangiwi dahil sa higpit ng hawak niya ay hinayaan ko iyon at hinawakan siya pabalik. He looked so angry and hurt.
"You did the same thing to Cali years ago, and I won't let you stick with mine. I'm sorry, Ma. I am not disrespecting you in front of them, I'm just telling this to show you that I am more than serious about everything with Inocencia."
Cyprian closed his eyes tight and inhaled to calm himself, suminghap ako at pinigil ang aking sariling emosyon habang nanginginig ang kamay na hawak parin ang kanya. Oh fuck, I am hurting for him. I know this isn't easy.
He opened his eyes again that now inflamed in pain and hatred for Carisse Segovia. Mas lalong namilog ang mga mata ni Carisse na ngayon ay nabubuuan na ng mga luha.
"Let me have this, please, Ma. We've talked about this and I told you how much I wanted to marry this woman. Intindihin mo ako, Ma. I fucking love you but this time, hate me all you want pero hindi mo mababago ang gusto ko sa buhay ko, hindi mo ulit mahahawakan o makakausap si Inocencia." umiling siya at huminga ng malalim. "I won't let you lay a finger on my family."
Napanganga si Carisse Segovia habang titig na titig kay Cyprian, tumulo ang kanyang mga luha at halos manlambot dahil sa mga sinabi ni Cyprian na talagang nagbigay emosyon sa kanya. Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko at parte rin ang labi habang pinoproseso ang bawat salitang lumalabas sa labi ni Cyprian na hindi ko mapaniwalaan.
"I told you, I have accepted her to our family! Bakit ganyan kang magsalita? Tanggap ko na kayong dalawa, Altair! Hindi mo na kailangan magsalita pa ng ganyan! Huwag kang sumunod sa kapatid mo, I can't lose another!"
"You are losing me by just hurting Inocencia, Mom. Same with Caspian! You are slowly losing us because of that kind of prejudice you have, if you don't really wanna lose your sons then why are you doing bad to our damn women? Two years ago, you did too much to my brother and now you can't do that to me." he shook his head and chuckled painfully. "Can't you just accept what we love and be happy for us?"
Umiyak si Carisse, hindi siya makapagsalita sa lahat ng sinabi ng anak at punong-puno ng pagsisisi. Hindi ko iyon maintindihan kung bakit, mas lalo siyang naiyak sa pagbabanggit ng pangalan ni Cali at sa mga ginawa niya rito.
Ano bang ginawa niya at ganito ang epekto sa kanya noon? Just awhile ago, she was strong and competitive! Bakit ngayon ay sising-sisi siya at iyak ng iyak? Sobrang lala ba ng pinagagagawa niya sa buhay ng mga anak niya?
Hindi nagsalita si Carisse noong oras na iyon at walang paalam siyang umalis ng mansyon, Cyprian looked apologetically at my family.
"I'm sorry for what happened tonight, Sir... Ma'am." he said in a formal tone, medyo nagmamadali rin iyon na tila may kailangang habulin.
Tumango sila Papa at Izabeth.
"It's okay, we understand Carisse." sambit ni Papa.
"Maybe you should follow her, Cyprian." pormal na sinabi ni Statice.
Namumula ang ilong ni Cyprian nang tumingin siya sa akin, frustration and sadness colored his eyes. Suminghap ako at tinanguan siya kahit na parang ayaw ko.
"Sundan mo na siya, hindi niya alam dito." tipid akong ngumiti sa kanya at nagtango ng ulo.
Huminga siya ng malalim at mabilis akong hinalikan sa noo bago tumayo sa kanyang upuan at magpaalam sa aking pamilya, naging tahimik ang dining area lalo nang mawala si Cyprian para sumunod sa kanyang mama. Hindi ko alam kung ilang segundo o minuto akong nakasunod lang ng tingin sa kanyang pinaglabasan.
Sadness infiltrated my heart and system. Pakiramdam ko ay nilalamukos ng sobrang higpit ang puso at dibdib ko sa pagkawala niya, alam kong importante ang mama niya at ang mga nasabi ni Cyprian ang lubos kong pinaniniwalaan ngayon. He wouldn't back out! He won't leave me again! I'm sure! Kailangan lang talaga siya ng mama niya ngayon kaya kailangan niyang umalis sandali.
"She's just jealous because her sons wanted their own lives now, without her." Izabeth Zobel sighed.
Tipid na ngumiti si Papa sa akin, pampalubag loob. Tumango lamang ako at inintindi ang nais iparating ni Izabeth, she wanted to comfort me with it. Baka nga hindi lang handa si Carisse na bumuo ng kanilang mga sariling pamilya ang kambal. Nakakalungkot nga naman para sa isang ina.
"I felt the same thing, with Bryleigh's life. I felt territorial over her but then at the end of that, I accepted everything she wants now." sabi ni Izabeth.
"Yeah, and very late. She doesn't want it anymore." Statice smirked.
Bumuntong hininga na lamang si Izabeth na tila alam ang kanyang pagkakamali sa parteng iyon sa buhay ni Embry.
"I expected them here tonight, Cencia." Papa affirmed.
Kumunot ang noo ko at tumingin sa kanya. Ang mag-ina? Alam nilang bibisita rito ngayon gabi?
"K-Kilala niyo po pala ang pamilya nila..." mahina kong sinabi.
"We were once a business partner in the field, but I didn't expect your relationship with Altair Segovia."
Tipid akong nangiti lang. Huminga ng malalim si Papa at ngumiti pabalik.
"I thought at first, he was asking for Eminence when we had a meeting in Malaysia with Juancho dahil panay ang pagsang-ayon niya sa lahat ng kagustuhan kong mangyari sa renovation. It's like he's courting the AZE! I was sorry for that because I'm not arranging my daughters anymore for business so I didn't mind any of his proposal to AZE!" tumawa siya. "Hindi ko akalain na para pala sayo, and as far as I could remember, you are not yet ready to know the Zobels that time. I can't believe that Segovia was already digging in for you!"
Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko habang nakikinig, I blinked my eyes and gasped in disbelief while looking at him. Statice was smirking on the other hand, si Izabeth naman ay napapatango lang sa sinasabi ni Papa.
"T-Talaga po?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.
"Yup, Cencia. And I bet you don't know that he's the one who broke the annulment? Mm?" nagtaas ng kilay si Papa sa akin.
Mas lalo akong nalaglagan ng panga roon. Kumalabog ang puso ko at nagtindigan ang mga balahibo sa braso at hanggang batok na tila binuhay noon ang aking dugong natutulog ngayon.
"W-What?" napapailing kong tanong sa mahinang boses at hindi makapaniwala.
He chuckled while nodding.
"Though, I don't really know the details how he did that. Basta noong pribado kong kausapin si Juancho para ayusin at walain ang inyong kasal ay sinabi niyang napirmahan na niya ang annulment papers bago pa siya nagpatawag ng meeting sa Malaysia, at wala na kayong legal marriage contract sa batas simula pa noon. That's just what I know." humalakhak siya. "Juancho actually requested your hand for his grandson instead. He looked so problematic and stressed because of Cyprian that time."
Hindi ako makapagsalita noong mga oras na iyon, gulat lamang ako at nawawala sa sariling isip dahil sa nalaman.
Sa kuwarto ay para akong tanga na umiiyak dahil doon, so that's what Papa told earlier in the middle of their talk with Carisse. That Cyprian have done too much for me? He sacrificed a lot? I don't know what to say but I'm so fucking happy and overwhelmed by that! I cannot believe he'd do things like that for me! Ang sakit sa pusong isipin at para akong hinahati sa sobrang galak na hindi malaman kung may isosobra pa.
Cyprian broke the marriage between me and his Lolo. Damn it! Who would believe that? I mean, how can he managed to fix the crumpled part of my life, right? Ako dapat ang umayos noon, ako dapat ang nagplantsa ng mga gusot ko pero siya parin pala ang nagdiretso noon para sa akin.
The next morning my blurry sight viewed a Lord's masterpiece beside me, hindi ko namalayan ang kanyang pagdating kagabi dahil nakatulog na yata ako sa kakaiyak. Ni hindi ko alam kung paano ako nalipat sa kama dahil ang huling alaala ko ay nakaubob lang ako sa study table at doon umiiyak. I was actually waiting for him to come back, nagtext ako sa kanya noon at nagtanong kung babalik siya pero wala akong natanggap na text pabalik kaya umiyak lang ako.
I don't know when did I become a cry baby but thinking everything about him is making me feel emotional and insane. Maybe, I am so in love with him that I'm becoming emotional because of my drowning heart beat by just a simple image of him inside my head. Tuwing naiisip ko siya ay nakakapag isip na agad ako na "hindi ko kayang mawala ito, hindi ko kayang maiwan nito, hindi ko na siya iiwan." somethings like these.
Pakiramdam ko ay nilulunod ako ng sarili kong paghinga, pagtibok ng puso, pag-iisip at lahat ng pakiramdam na kayang lumunod sa isang tao. Lahat iyon ay apektado ni Cyprian kaya hindi ko mapigilan ang sariling maging emosyonal.
It's just too overwhelming and too much to feel in my system that I couldn't find way to evade the waves of my emotions. It feels like an ocean in the middle of stormy season with tornados and ferocious waves that's hitting the peaceful stones on the shore without justice for my quiet heart beat.
Napangiti ako at maingat na tinahak ng aking daliri ang tulay ng kanyang matayog na ilong. He's sleeping peacefully, eyes are closed, lips were a bit separated in so red, his eyelashes were normally curled and thick as his brows, his eyes were chinky and so beautiful even close... lalo pa kapag nagmulat na iyan.
Huminga ako ng malalim at mas niyakap siya, binaon ko ang aking mukha sa kanyang dibdib na mabango at doon siya nilanghap. His arms around me tightened and a small howl slipped out of his separated lips, naramdamam ko ang mainit niyang hininga sa aking buhok, he kissed my temple sleepily.
"Love you... I love you." he whispered in a raspy and sleepy voice.
Pumikit ako at ngumiti habang yakap siya.
"I love you, more. Thank you for coming back." I grumbled.
"Always, bibi." he chuckled sleepily. "Mom set another dinner with the fam tonight, we'll go back to Laguna after lunch."
Ngumuso ako habang nakapikit parin at dinarama ang init ng kanyang katawan.
"Okay... maayos na ba siya?"
I'm accepting it, wala na dapat akong ikabahala pa kahit saan kami pumunta dahil kasama ko naman si Cyprian. Ayoko na ulit matakot sa mga bagay na maaring magpalabo pa sa amin. I will take risk and face my fears as well the challenges fate will give this life. This would make me feel better with him. Alam kong sa huli nito ay pagtanggap at pagpapatawad lamang ang mananaig.
He nodded idly. "We talked for a bit, and I'm sorry for her actions last night, hope you can give her another chance."
Shit. Of course, I want to make my side better to his mom, iyon ang gagawin ko talaga dahil iyon ang dapat at tamang gawin ngayong si Cyprian na ang sigurado kong makakasama sa buhay na ito.
"Prian, hindi naman ako galit sa mama mo at naiintindihan ko ang kanyang hinaing. There are reasons to dislike me, hindi naman ako perfect. Ganda lang pero may flaws parin ako at may mga maling nagawa. Naiintindihan ko na naayawan niya ako para sayo."
Naiintindihan ko ang mama niya sa parteng umayaw sa akin kaya hindi ko rin siya masisisi sa unang pagkakakilala niya sa akin.
He chuckled roughly and embraced me even more.
"Ganda mo talaga, bi. Hindi na bago 'yan. Sobrang ganda mo, nababaliw na nga ako, e. But before your physique, I already love the way you talk, the sound of your voice that gradually made me fall too deep and your damn kakulitan. May iba ka pa bang ibabahagi at lulunod sa akin? Stop killing my heart, Cencia. Feeling ko wala ka nang ititira sa akin." he said it while looking at me adorably.
Humagikgik ako at kinagat siya sa dibdib. He copied my giggles then cupped my cheeks tight, hinalikan niya ang iba't ibang parte ng aking mukha at nag-iwan ng madidiing halik sa labi ko.
"Tangina, napapamura nalang ako dahil hindi ko talaga alam kung paano pa i-express ang pagmamahal ko sayo. Mahal kita very much, uberlodi." humalakhak siya at gigil na naman akong hinalikan sa pisngi, kinagat niya pa ang ilong ko.
Napangiwi ako sa sakit kahit tawa ako ng tawa. Oh my gosh, I really like my mornings like this. Sana ganito palagi, sana hindi magbabago at mas lalo lamang tatamis.
"Malandi ka, sa akin ka lang lalandi, ha! Sinasabi ko sayo, Prian. Pagbubuhulin ko kayo ng babae mo kapag nambabae ka."
"Tsk, as if mambabae ako. You're more than sapat! Ikaw lang gusto ko at love ko for life."
"Wow, nag comeback si conyo tongue!" halakhak ko at ngumuso habang pinipisil ang magkabila niyang pisngi.
Nakakagigil lang, I bit his cheek and suckled a small skin there.
"Hell, baby. You're leaving a hickey on my cheek!" he said like a kid.
"Ay, sorry. Naexcite lang." tawa ko at mabilis binitiwan ang pagkakasipsip sa kanyang pisngi, tinitigan ko iyon at nakita roon ang maliit na namumulang parte.
I gasped, mabilis kong hinaplos iyon at pinisil para mawala ang pagkapula pero namumula lang lalo. Humalakhak siya at nakanguso na pinapanuod ang mukha ko.
Ilang sandali pa ay huminga siya ng malalim.
"Pero seriously, bi. Give my mom another chance, she's just hard to understand but I know her... she loves me and my brother. Though, I also know she got everything done wrong." he said like it's frustrating him.
He sighed and kissed the side of my head and continued talking. Napatigil ako sa paghaplos sa kanyang pisngi upang titigan lang siya at pakinggan.
"I'm really really sorry for everything she told you, whatever it was. It wasn't true." he said sincerely. "This is the truth, Cencia. Ikaw at ako, magkasama at magsasama habang buhay. You are my one and only choice to make, you are my fire in the world of hopelessness and I want to be burned into you forever."
My heart scampered and melting at the same time. I blinked my eyes and pouted. I looked at his face preciously, I want to treasure his words and actions but how can I do that? I want to frame them inside my head and heart, I want them to be remembered everyday in my life. Days will surely become so nice and beautiful.
He grinned at me like a dare devil in the morning, he inhaled and I was shocked when he started singing some line of the song he always play on our night roadtrip back then. Ang kaibahan ay siya ang kumakanta ngayon, hindi ang speaker.
"When a day is said and done, in the middle of the night and you're fast asleep, my love.
Stay awake looking at your beauty, telling myself I'm the luckiest man alive."
"Cause so many times I was certain you was gonna walk out of my life.
Why you take such a hold of me, girl,
When I'm still trying to get my act right..."
My mouth separated when he started singing with his cold as ice voice, I shuddered immediately while looking at him. Kumalabog ng husto ang dibdib ko sa kanyang pagkanta bigla habang nakatitig lamang sa akin.
"What is the reason, when you really could have any man you want,
I don't see, what I have to offer.
I should've been a season, guess you could see I had potential.
Do you know you're my miracle?"
He smiled boyishly and placed his forehead against mine, he kissed the bridge of my nose and continue singing his lines.
"I'm like a statue, stuck staring right at you,
Got me frozen in my tracks.
So amazed how you take me back,
Each and every time our love collapsed.
Statue, stuck staring right at you,
So when I'm lost for words
Every time I disappoint you,
It's just 'cause I can't believe,
That you're so beautiful.
Don't wanna lose you, no..."
My heart tightened firmly because of my loud bouncing heart inside my chest. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang kakaibang hatid noon sa akin habang pinapakinggan lamang siya. I feel every words coming out of his mouth and how he delivered the song for me together with its lyrics. Suminghap ako at pumikit, he kissed my cheek sweetly and just hummed the tune of the song he sang.
"Did you like it? That's really for you, bibi. I'm fucking stuck whenever you're in front of me, and now I'm luckiest man alive because you're mine..."
This day I realized more, that he's every true words around the thing called love. He's truer than a nightmare, he's truer than my good dreams... he's truer than the fire of my life that I wouldn't escape even burning me until I get into ashes. He's just so true and mine...
I'm the luckiest woman, actually, 'cause he came in.
My heart is squeezing my insides completely that I broke down, I cried and kissed him flamingly while shedding tears of happiness. I thank God for giving me this once in a lifetime man of my dreams in this certainty. He gave me his arms and he embraced me in between even well-informed I was a fire that burns.
"I love you so much. Please, marry me now, Prian... I cannot wait to be your wife any more longer." I said while crying.
I can't really wait, I want to fix our things out with his family and that I can finally marry him. It won't be easy as that but being with Prian will make things around a lot easy... basta kasama siya.
He chuckled delightfully, he wiped my tears away using his kisses and chuckled in awe.
"I will marry you no matter what happens, you'll be my world without end wife, Inocencia..."
I smiled while shedding tears silently, I just stared at him for too long. Never minding if I look ghoulish or whatever in front of him, I just want to look at him and see daylight how lucky I am to have this chance to be with him.
Cyprian is my most favorite shade of obsidian that's hard to surmise and fathom if there's such shade.
I will love him without anything but only him...
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This is the last phase of Bistre's viewpoint. Thank you for reading, learning and appreciating the story of them. God bless.