TRG ~ XXXV
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Freesia
Time flies so fast when you want it to slow down. And it seems so slow when you want it to pass like a blur. Hindi ko napansin, lumipas na pala ang isang linggo. And tomorrow's gonna be the day that I've been dreading to come.
"Can't you reschedule it again?"
I gave him this puppy eyes to show him the adorable side of me. Pinapungay ko iyon habang nakatitig sa seryoso niyang mga mata.
"I gave you a week. Isn't it enough?" He sighed while looking unbothered at my cuteness.
Sabi ko nga hindi iyon tatalab ngayon. I stopped doing it since I just look like a fool in front of an unwavering stone.
"Nope. My gown's still not yet done. Hindi pa iyon naipa-ship."
"Freesia.." May babala sa kanyang tono.
I rolled my eyes at him. "Oo na. Hindi na mabiro." Nakasimangot kong saad at tumayo upang dalhin ang plato sa sink.
Buti na lang talaga nalusutan ko ngayong gabi ang tatlong ugok. Akala yata nila hindi ko napapansin ang kunwaring pag-divert nila ng attention ko. Pati pa si Dad ay kinuntsaba nilang magsakit-sakitan para lang hindi ako makapunta kay Apollo. They keep on inviting me outside, saying I have to tour them for it's been a long time since they last visited the country.
Minsan kahit na pagod na ako sa trabaho, they will call me after work to invite me wherever they want to go. Then I'll end up sleeping in the mansion sa sobrang kapaguran. Hindi na tuloy ako makauwi sa condo.
Madalas tuloy magtampo itong si Apollo pero lowkey lang. Ayaw ipahalata ang pagiging clingy. Hanggang video call na lang kami. He said he doesn't like typing for a message so..
At sa wakas nga ay natakasan ko ang tatlo at nakauwi rin ako sa unit ko. And now we just had our dinner.
"I'll wash the dishes.."
I can feel his presence at my back and it made my heart pounding. His scent filled my nostrils. It added to the drumming of my heart. We've been together for months now and I'm still like this. Ni hindi man lang nabawasan ang nararamdaman ko para sa kanya.
"Nah.." I tried calming myself. Inisip kong mabuti ang sinabi niya. "Kung ikaw ang maghuhugas ng pinggan, baka abutin ka ng old age 'di ka pa rin tapos."
Humahagikhik ako. Totoo naman kasi, one time he tried doing the dishes. He was so slow and careful. I understand that he doesn't want any of the plates to be broken but it's exaggerating to watch him! Akala mo naman made of gold iyon when in fact marami siyang pera pampalit doon. Halata mong walang alam sa gawaing bahay. It's sort of understandable naman. He's got someone else to do those chores.
"Are you laughing at me, huh?" His baritone voice sent my heart in frenzy.
Lalo pa't inilapit niya ang kanyang bibig sa aking tenga. He's almost hugging me from behind.
My laugh was caught in midair and my hands almost released the plate I'm holding. I can feel my cheeks changing it's colors from white to scarlet.
"Apollo!"
Halata ang kilig sa pagtawag kong iyon at natatawang dinampian niya ng halik ang pisngi ko bago siya dumistansiya.
I gazed heatedly at him and he didn't seem to mind. His eyes was dancing with mirth.
"I missed you." He whispered. "I hate those scoundrels for their tricks."
Halata ang inis nito kapag naiisip ang tatlo kong pinsan. Well, the feeling's mutual. My cousins also developed animosity against Apollo even when they only met once. Napapailing na lang ako tuwing naiisip ko kung may magagawa ba ako para sila'y magkasundo. It seems next to impossible. They grew a bad blood with one another.
I didn't tell Apollo about the tricks of the three idiots but it looks like they already constructed a plan to mess up with my boyfriend. They followed my boyfriend on instagram and keeps on tagging him with our pics together.
Some of their captions are taunting too, especially Indigo's.
One time his caption says: Well, it's always cousin time. No more for boyfriends. 😝
I never expected them to act like this but I can't always monitor their acts so it's pretty hopeless. I scold them all the time and then nothing ever happens. Ang titigas talaga ng ulo. Sa case naman ni Kuya Luca ay pina-pabayaan lang niya ang dalawa. He's not reprimanding nor consenting them.
"But Vox, I'm really not prepared." I told him while we're having our rest together.
"Just wear whatever you want. But don't ever think of ditching. We will announce our engagement during the dinner."
"So I can wear bikini?" Natatawa kong pahayag.
I didn't mind every word that he said.
But then, he didn't laugh and so I stared cluelessly at him. What's the matter?
"So, you're agreeing with our engagement?" He's grinning.
"What engagement?"
What? Who said something about engagement?
**
"I think I'm gonna pee.."
"Freesh.." There's a warning in his voice.
Napasimangot ako sa tono niya. Kanina pa kasi ako hindi mapakali kahit na nag-aayos pa lang ako. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko.. I'm so panicking inside and I'm damn nervous! Daig ko pa ang nanood ng horror movie nito at nakita si Valak in person!
If only I have a choice, I would just sleep and let this whole day pass like a blur. But nah, mahirap nang makipag-break pa sa akin si Apollo nang dahil lang sa chickened out akong makilala ang family members niya.
Naku, mahirap na baka ipagpalit pa niya ako kay Venice na iyon na saulado ang family tree ng pamilya niya..
I bit my lips from nervousness. Daig pa nito ang kaba ko nang makipag-usap ako kay Dad at makipag-ayos.
"Don't be nervous. They won't eat you." He tried calming me. "I wanna strangle my sister for scaring you like this." He shook his head.
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. "Naku, huwag naman! Siguradong lagot ka sa DSWD."
He smiled at me then held my hand. Malamig iyon dahil sa kaba. Ganito pala ang feeling kapag imi-meet mo ang parents ng boyfriend mo. Kaya siguro ang daming teens na hindi na ipinapakilala ang magulang.. Or they just don't feel like doing it. Marami rin kasi sa kanila ang hindi seryoso sa relationship.
I'm the luckiest girl for having the chance to be introduced by my bf to his family. Ang swerte nga.. nakaka-kaba nga lang.
"Sige ka, kung ayaw mong sumama kay Apollo, ako na lang ang magpapakilala sa pamilya niya na girlfriend niya." Banta sa akin ni Soffia noong nagpatulong akong magpaayos sa kanya.
Sinimangutan ko lang siya. "Neknek mo, doon ka magpakilala sa parents ni Dazzel!"
Para tuloy papatay ang hitsura niya habang nakatitig sa akin at parang nais akong sabunutan kong hindi lang niya iyon naiayos na.
Malaki talaga ang pagnanasa ng pinsan kong iyon sa boyfriend ko. Ba't hindi na lang iyon makipag-ayos kay Dazzel para may kalampungan na at mabawasan ang kamalditahan..
"We're here."
I think nawalan ako ng kulay nang marinig iyon mula kay Apollo. I stopped breathing and held my breath for a second.
"Hey.." Apollo urged me to look at him and I did with much hesitation.
He can see how much I'm in doubt right now. I know it's written all over my face.
He caressed my cheeks softly and tried meeting my eyes. "This dinner doesn't mean anything. No matter what they say, it will mean nothing to me. I just want you to meet them formally and to show them my bride."
"Apollo!" I feel like I woke up from my reverie.
Akala niya siguro hindi ko na naman mapapansin iyong huli niyang sinabi! He's been telling me that I'm his fianceé, ngayon ay bride naman! Siyempre naman nakakakilig iyon pero dahan-dahan lang muna.. Masyado kasing naaakit sa alindog ko.
"Why?" Natatawang tanong niya.
Pinandilatan ko lang siya at natatawang bumaba na siya upang pagbuksan ako ng pinto.
I straightened my beige lace short dress with sleeves na nagusot ng kaonti sa pagkakaupo ko. My hair's in a messy bun that looks so artistic yet simple, some strands falling in the sides of my heart-shaped face. Soffia said I have to look simple but elegant.
Hindi ko na raw kailangan mag-gown pa dahil hindi naman party ang pupuntahan ko. Biro ko lang naman kasi iyon na magsusuot ako ng gown. Parehas talaga sila ni Apollo na parang timang, seryosohin ba naman ang biro ko! But I'm glad she's there to help me dress up. Kahit na ba mas marami pa siyang hinaing kaysa nagawa.
Hello, total package na ako no. Hindi na kailangan pa ng make-over. Gusto ko lang mas pabonggahin pa ang image ko. I need to look the best in front of my in-laws. Total ay kini-claim na ako ni Apollo as his fianceé, sino ba naman ako para tanggihan ang fabulous offer niya 'di ba?
"Damn, you're so beautiful.." He softly cursed under his breath.
I gave him my most alluring smile even when my cheeks flushed with sudden embarrassment.
"I know right!" Idinaan ko na lang sa biro ang dumadagundong kong dibdib.
His gorgeous face and remarks doesn't help with my uneasiness. It simply added up to the pressure.
Kinakabahan na nga ako sa meet-up namin ng in-laws ko, dumagdag pa iyong heartbeat ko na sobrang lakas sa mga nakakakilig na sinasabi niya!
He grinned and shook his head. He took my hand and escorted me to a wide and trimmed lawn.
It's night time but there's light all over the place. They shone like fairy lights in the dark. It showed me where to step my black heels.
I raised my head to wander my eyes in the surroundings and was greeted with a jaw-dropping view of a widespread and totally huge mansion!
What did I miss? Did we went out of the country while I was fidgeting in anxiousness?!
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