Chapter 33
1130 Words
Lumaki ang mga mata niyang tumingin sa akin. At some point, I was even convinced that he totally zooned out. But his grips on me were tight, his breathing were erratic but rapid at the same time.
"s**t! Tang ina..." Bulong niya.
Hindi ko naiwasan. Tumawa ako. "Ano? I just told you I still love you and curse was your reply?" I kid to him.
Napakurap kurap siya ng ilang beses. Pakiramdam ko hindi niya dapat sasabihin ang mga iyon ng malakas.
"Ha?" tanong niya. Mas lalo naman akong natawa.
"Hun, ayos ka lang?" I asked, enjoying different expression flying across on his face right now. It was fast changing but all of it was beautiful.
Instead of words, all he did was to nod his head before burying me in a tight, soul-soothing hug. We didn't need words, warmth and the feel of his body pressed against mine was enough for me, for the both of us. It was enough to proclaim the feelings we have for each other.
He started blubbering without removing his hands, instead he tightened his hug. "Matagal kong hiniling 'to. Na marinig ko ulit sa mga labi mo na mahal mo ako. Sobrang tagal. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ako makasagot kanina. Naiwan ako bigla ng sarili kong dila." The he put me on arm's length. He was also teary-eyed, but his smile took over his handsome face.
I never seen this before. It was a smile so blinding that it can light up a whole town.
"Mahal kita. Sobra-sobra. Hindi ko kayang ipaliwanag gaano kalalim ang pagmamahal ko sayo, basta ang alam ko lang mahal kita. Mahal na mahal. Mahal ko kayong dalawa ni Sophie natin. Parte kayo ng pagkatao ko at ang pagkawala niyo ay pagkawala na rin ng sino ako."
I sniffed as I cupped his face with my palms. "Tuwid talaga ang pagtatagalog mo kapag nagugulat ka."
He half-cried and half-laughed, "Na tanging ikaw lang ang nakakagawa sa akin nito." Pag-amin niya. We stared at each other for a while, basking in the ardent feeling of our confession before he pulled me to stand.
He hug me tight again before he stepped back and shook his head. "But I'm still mad. You only confessed that you love me because I was angry. You don't love me enough."
Buhagya siyang lumayo ulit sa akin pero sa pagkakataon na ito naiyak na ulit ako. Iba na ang nararamdaman ko dahil pinagdududahan na niya ang totoo kung nararamdaman para sa kanya. "I-I'm sorry, you have to heard it that way. But please, don't ever tell that I do not love you enough because---"
Parang di pa sapat ang emosyon na nararamdaman ko ay tila bago na naman ang humaplos sa puso ko nang lumuhod siya sa harapan ko. His down on his knees and pulling out a small red velvet box.
My eyes were blurry of tears as I met his and I saw his getting cloudy.
"W-what are you doing?" I asked histerically. Don't tell me... No! This couldn't be just an act.
"Hun, if you think I haven't done my own investigation within a couple of hours... if you think I didn't exerted effort to know everything about you and our daughter, the you're wrong." he said, despite the tears pooling in his eyes.
"W-what do you mean?" I asked. "Naguguluhan ako sa inaakto mo." I hold my chest, pakiramdam ko sasabog na ako sa emosyong nararamdaman ko. 'Yong pakiramdam kong pagkabahala ay natakot ako kanina ngayon naman ay nakaluhod na siya sa harapan ko.
Mas lalo na akong napahagulhol nang buksan niya ang maliit na kahita at tumambad sa paningin ko ang pinakamagandang singsing na nakita ko sa buong buhay ko.
"W-why are you doing this? Bakit mo ako minamahal ng ganito?" I managed to asked between my sobs.
Using his free hand he wipe his tears and smiled gently at me. "You will never know how much I appreciate you for selflessly loving our Sophie, even if she's not come from you, how much you fight for what you believe is right, how much you stand firm to your principles. Let's make a name to our Sophie and build her a family to call her on her own. As I promise to love you and our daughter for the rest of my life. To be with you even at times that you can stand strong alone and specially at times when you can't anymore. I love you. Be my wife, Hun. Marry me for I believe no other woman can surpass the feelings I have for you."
"S-sinisilaw mo ba akong sa magandang singsing na hawak mo?" Iyak ko, naging sunod-sunod na ulit ang mga luhang dumadaloy sa pisngi ko.
Natawa siya. "Oo, patunay ito kung gaano kita kamahal at kung paano pa kita mamahalin. Patunay ang singsing na ito na ayaw kong mabahiran ng kahit ano ang pagiging tanyag mong guro at pangalan mo sa mata ng ibang tao. Marami na rin tayong nasayang na panahon 'wag mo nang dagdagan pa. Kaya parang awa mo na." Sabi niya.
Wala na akong maramdamang salitang nababagay na sabihin sa oras na 'to. I nodded at him, not being able to voice out my answer. Bumaba ako hanggang nakaluhod na rin ako tulad niya at ikinawit ko ang mga braso ko sa balikat niya. Nagtapo ang mga labi namin sa kabila ng mga luhang nagsisipag-laglagan pareho sa mga mata namin.
My thoughts wandered back to the first time our lips touched. His kisses before were nothing compared his kiss this time. He kissed me just like he want me to feel secure, as an act of love to replace the words we cannot utter and like a promise.
A promise of him and me together in this lifetime.
"Yes, Railen Jazz." I finally said when our lips parted. "Without a doubt the answer would always be a yes."
He smiled again as he slid the ring in my finger.
We sealed that promise with a kiss. This time his kiss is hot and deep like he was craving for my lips for a long time now as he devoured it. Para bang wala siyang balak huminto. I had to move my face away to take a deep breath. But that only gave him oppurtunity to do more. His hand moved to the small of my back, supporting me while he pushed his tongue inside my mouth.
Hindi ako nagpatalo. I kissed him back with everything I have as I matched the fierceness of his kiss while I let myself get lost in the Jazz fog I've been shying for so long.
"Hmmm. Let's continue this in the bed." He murmured with a laugh. After that, he carried me unceremoniously.
- Writer
