Beyond The Square One (BTSO2)

S q u a r e T h r e e ( H E )

Everyone else starts gathering around us. I'm happy for my decision of asking for the blessing of the people around Ariel first before the executions of my plan. I look at her, and the same happiness I feel deep inside is reflecting in her eyes. My angel and my demon are both quietly congratulating me, too, for such an awesome proposal.

"Congrats, buko!" Cash greets as he catches Ariel in his arms.

Jace gives me a brotherly hug followed by Ariel's brothers and a bunch more of that congratulations. This is the first time I'm happy being very successful. Naomi is teary-eyed, too, as she gives Ariel a bear hug. And then, Cash hugs Ariel again.

Truth is, I'm no longer jealous of my brothers. Except of course for the rare times that Cash is embracing Ariel for too long just like now. It kills me.

"O, tama na. Baka hindi na makahinga, hindi pa nga kami naikakasal," I say to Cash, pulling Ariel away from him.

They just smile at each other like idiots and this is just one of them times that I want to punch Cash in his face again.

"Congratulations, Caramel-Macchiato Love Team!" Cash yells, giving Ariel and I another hug. Okay this is too much.

"Thank you. Please, stop harassing Ariel. It's annoying. Really, Cash."

How he learned about the Caramel and Macchiato thing, I don't know. But I bet he heard that from Ariel. Hindi ko rin malaman kung bakit sobrang close nitong dalawa na minsan talaga, nakakaselos na. Siguro dahil walang girlfriend si Cash kaya nararamdaman kong threat pa rin siya sa'kin. And as long as Ariel isn't married to me, I think I'd be jealous of everyone around her. Yeah, forget what I said about not being jealous of my brothers because I still fvcking am.

"Okay ka lang?" Ariel asks.

I nod at her and touch her face. "Special holiday ngayon sa Fuentebella Empire."

Her brow arches. "Ano'ng meron?"

"Engagement party ng may-ari."

She stares at me like I've just grown wings.

"Ako. Engagement party ko. Natin. Bakit ba parang nagtataka ka pa?" I clarify.

"Talagang confident kang mapapa-'oo' mo 'ko, ha?"

"You love me. You will not say 'no' because you want it, too," I murmur salaciously in her ear, and kissniff her temple.

And that smile she's giving me is the best reassurance I can ever have.

"When is the wedding?" Jace asks, placing his arm over my shoulders.

As Ariel entertains her side of the family, I'm left entertaining Jace and Naomi. Cash asks to be excused and tours himself around the building with Mama and Papa and I don't understand why I just became a series of 'yes' and nods today. Maybe, things are just too good to spoil.

Kausap ni Ariel ang mga kuya niya at nagpaalam siyang ilibot din sila dito sa opisina. Though I don't want to miss the sight of Ariel even for a second, hinayaan ko na rin siyang i-entertain muna ang mga kapatid niya para makausap ko rin sila Jace. I usher them into my office.

"I have to talk about it with Ariel first. Mamaya siguro once we get out of here," I answer.

Lumapit din si Naomi. "This year na ba agad?"

"Kung papayag nga lang siya na bukas na, mas maganda."

Naomi laughs. "Siraulo. Edi naging sukob ang kasal niyo ng kapatid mo?"

"Jesus, Naomi. You believe in shits like that?" I ask in disbelief.

"Maybe Ariel does, too," says Jace. "But don't get married in haste. I know you love each other, but there's so much more to enjoy before getting married quickly."

"Honestly, Jim, it's so romantic of you to do this for Ariel. Pero payong kaibigan lang, 'wag niyong madaliin. Ang totoong pagmamahal, marunong maghintay," Naomi adds.

I scowl at them. "I don't get it. What should I be waiting for? She said yes."

"Oo nga, she said yes. But give her time to sink everything in," Jace explains. "Iba ang buhay mo sa buhay ni Ariel. Paano kung mahirapan siyang mag-adjust? Or mapa-oo mo na lang siya dahil na-pressure siya sa pagmamadali mo?"

"Mahal ka ni Ariel, Jim. Pero 'wag mong gamiting dahilan 'yon para itali niyo agad ang sarili niyo sa isa't-isa. Enjoy individualism and independence first. Mahirap ang buhay mag-asawa," Naomi says, shooting Jace a sharp stare.

"Bakit sa'kin ka tumitingin? Ikaw 'tong nagmadaling maikasal sa'kin," Jace teases.

And they start laughing at their private jokes that I suddenly feel like I've been missing Ariel for too long now. "Hanapin ko lang 'yung caramel ko. Kadiri kayo, naglandian pa kayo sa harapan ko."

The lovebirds just laugh at me and I walk out of the office, searching for the love of my life. I know, it sounds gross and stupid and ridiculous but that's how you are when you're in love. You'll get this, too, when you catch the love bug. Duh.

"Where's Cash?"

I frown at her as she approaches me with her brothers and that silly question. Really? She's looking for Cash when I'm looking for her? "I don't know. Why are you looking for him, anyway?"

She shows me her phone and all I can see is a picture of us. Her lock screen.

"What?" I ask, confused.

She drapes one arm around my waist and I have my arm thrown over her shoulders as she checks on her phone. "Ay, sorry. Nakita mo pa tuloy 'yung pantasya ko. Here."

With her nod, her brothers start tapping my shoulder one by one and they leave us to ourselves standing in front of the elevator as they walk back to the production floor. She shows me her screen again...

+639176561111

Una na ako, buko. May kailangan akong ayusin. Congrats ulit, paalam mo na lang ako kay James at kila ate Yomi. Labyuuu!!! :* —Fuentebella, Cash (My Buko)

"Ba't ganiyan ang pangalan ni Cash sa phone mo? At bakit may 'labyu' pang nalalaman 'yang unggoy na 'yan? Anong symbol 'yang nasa dulo ng text niya?" I react in a snap.

She scowls at me. "Tae, inintindi mo pa mga 'yan? Paano kung may problema 'tong kapatid mo?"

"'Wag mong intindihin si Cash. Walang mga suicidal tendencies 'yan na kagaya ko," maikling paliwanag ko.

"Ang weird lang ni Cash lately. Medyo naging tahimik. Baka naman may problema 'tong si buko?" she worries.a

I roll my eyes. "Pwede bang kahit man lang kapag tayong dalawa, iwasan mong banggitin 'yang kadiring tawagan niyo?"

She laughs at me. Look who's multipolar here. "Pinagseselosan mo na naman si Cash. Napag-usapan na natin 'to. Ikaw na nga pakakasalan ko, ang dami mo pang reklamo."

I stare at her for a beat and I can't hide the smile that is slowly forming on my face.

"Napaka-bipolar mo," she comments, giving me a chaste kiss.

Caramel surely knows how to use her power over me.

"Grabe, lagi na nga kayong magkasama, hanggang dito ba naman, pinagdadamot ka ni James?" Naomi says as we enter my office.

"Ewan ko sa impaktong 'to. Namimiss agad ako. Buti na lang namimiss ko rin siya agad," Ariel says with a wide grin, hugging Naomi.

I briefly remember what Jace and Naomi were doing before I left them here. Maybe it's time for a little payback. Show them our kind of sweetness so they'd feel irritated, too.

"Cara, hindi ka ba nagugutom?" I ask all too sweetly.

I can't see Naomi's or Jace's reaction because I have my eyes focused on Ariel's. But I can imagine Naomi raising an eyebrow and Jace smirking.

"I'm too happy to feel the hunger strike, Mac," she answers with a sweet smile.

And suddenly, my intention disappears. She's not the only one who's happy. I carefully tug her arm to get her closer to me. "I'm the happiest person," I murmur in her ear.

"Sana nalaman kong may paligsahan pala ng happiness dito para nauna akong magsabi niyan sa'yo."

I smile and kiss the top of her head. "Thank you for not rejecting me."

"Ikaw pa ba? Ang lakas mo sa'kin kahit impakto ka."

"Okay, I feel like we're interrupting something. Shall we, Gwi-Yomi?"

I grin at Jace. "Yeah. Thank you for stopping by, alright? And Cash already left so don't look for him. Hahanapin ko na lang ang Mama at Papa mamaya, I think they're in the production floor."

"James?"

Just in time, mother enters the office after two knocks. "Mama, where have you been? Nasaan ang Papa?" I ask.

"Nako, anak, naglibot pa ang Papa mo dahil ngayon lang din siya nagka-oras na tingnan ang lagay ng opisina mo."

I nod at her and she smiles.

"Congrats sa inyong dalawa," she excitedly says and throws Ariel a big hug. I have to remember that today is the free hugging and bugging day. That being said, of course I get my turn, too.

"Thanks, Mama," I reply shortly.

When she lets go, her eyes are already watering with tears. Girls. "I'm so proud of you, James," she says in between sobs.

I touch her face and kiss her forehead. "This day has been very melodramatic for everyone. And I've not started talking about the wedding yet."

They all laugh. Great. They think I'm kidding.

"James will make a great husband. He's a great brother," Jace breaks.

I chuckle. "Save that for the messages part of the wedding. I'm pretty sure they'll have that kind of drama, too. It feels uncomfortable hearing you say that for no apparent reason."

They laugh again. Wow. Since when did I start improving my humor?

There's another knock on the door and Ariel walks to see who's there. Seconds after, my father enters with a meaningful smirk on his face.

"Congratulations."

Si Cash na lang ang kulang at kumpleto na ang buong pamilya. Usually, si Cash, never nawawala ang batang 'yon sa ganito. Now I'm starting to wonder about the same thing that Ariel said. What if may problema si Cash? I worry, too, alright. He needs to get his head straight dahil malapit na ang certification niya.

"Okay ka lang ba?"

I already feel tired when the visitors left. It's probably the unreadable expression on my face again that pushes Ariel to worry about me. I sit in my swivel chair and lean my head backwards. "I'm too happy to worry about things but Cash is honestly a large distraction."

"You're worried about your brother," she says and it's a statement, not a question.

"Come on. It's not like I care or anything. It's just simply annoying that he acts weird." I look up at Ariel who sits on the table in front of me. "He wanted to be in the unit yesterday but he didn't show up. May aasikasuhin daw siya. Cash is never like that."

"Bakit hindi mo siya kausapin?"

"Ariel, alam mo namang mas matangkad pa sa Fuentebella Empire ang pride ko. Ikaw na lang. Tanungin mo kung ano ang problema. If he needs anything, just tell me."

She rolls her eyes. "Eric, iisipin mo pa 'yang pride mo? Si Cash nga kapag alam niyang troubled ka, hindi nagdadalawang isip na tumulong sa'yo. Tapos ikaw, itatanong mo lang kung anong problema, parang mas nahihiya ka pang gawin 'yan kesa mag-background check ng taong wala namang ginagawa sa'yo."

I brush my palms over my face, obviously feeling annoyed. I can't do that. "He's such a pain in the ass."

"Says another yet pain in the ass that is Eric," she says in wry amusement.

I just glare at her and she smiles in return.

"Eric naman..." She jumps down, not leaving eye contact, and sits on my lap as she wraps her arms around my nape. "When will you learn to choose love over pride?"

"I chose you over pride, Ariel. That's something I wouldn't do for anyone else."

"Yes, I get it. I'm special and I truly appreciate that." Smiling, she gives me a trail of kisses from my forehead, tip of my nose, both cheeks, and lips. "You have to understand that showing how much you value the people who love you will help us all see that you care. Caring, like love, is not an obligation. But merely an act that signifies how much you appreciate a person for being there when you need him the most."

I just stare at her without saying anything.

"Kapatid mo si Cash. Sa nakikita ko, mas kailangan ka niya ngayon higit kanino man."

I drape my arms around her and bury my face in her neck. I hate it when Ariel wins over in convincing me to do things that I don't normally do. It makes me feel weak. "Fine. I'll talk to him."

But as much as I hate it, she's always right when it comes to matters like this so listening to her isn't really a bad thing. This is why she's the only person I actually listen to. Her act to persuasion is way better than a wager-master that is me. Perhaps because she's the only one who really accepted me together with all my indefinite conditions. I love her, period.

"Let's just enjoy the day and talk about Cash tomorrow. Okay?" I murmur in her ear.

"Okay."

"We're going home," I add.

"Half day."

"No. Now."

She pulls away and I stare back at her. There is no way in hell that I'm letting her persuade me in talking to Cash about whatever the fvck is wrong with him and then let her convince me to stay here until after lunch. "Sige na nga. Ipagluluto mo 'ko dahil diyan."

I kiss her lips. "May bago ba? Lagi namang ako ang nagluluto."

"Ayaw mo naman akong turuan."

Syempre dahil prinsesa ang turing ko sa'yo. "Ayoko. Baka sirain mo pa kusina ko."

"Hinayaan nga kitang panghimasukan ang realidad ko. Umayaw ba ako kahit naisip kong pwede mong masira ang buhay ko?"

I frown. "Naisip mo talaga 'yan?"

"Ba't hindi ko iisipin 'yan, e, umpisa pa lang na nakilala mo 'ko halos saksakin mo na ako sa talim ng mga sulyap mo."

I surprisingly laugh. "Pasalamat ka, sinusulyapan kita. 'Yung iba nga, halos maghubad na ni hindi ko pa rin tinitingnan."

Now, it's her turn to frown. "Umuwi ka mag-isa mo, ha? Impakto ka talaga," she mutters, standing up to walk out.

I quickly grab her hand, dragging her back. "I love you, my Princess Ariel."

And just like that, okay na kami ulit. Hindi ko rin alam kung sino talaga ang bipolar sa'ming dalawa. After a quick kiss, she beams at me. "I love you, my Prince Eric."