Entangled

9

They didn't have to worry about ringing the doorbell. Her family streamed out the door one by one, until the front porch overflowed with her screeching sisters and two appraising males.

Tinawagan na sila ni Deniah ahead of time para sabihin na engaged na siya. At syempre, gumawa siya ng kwento na may contact parin sila ni Dark as a friend over the years at napagtanto nila na they have feelings for each other, that they are more than friends, and so the impulsive engagement.

Yumakap muna sa kanya ang dalawa niyang nakababatang kapatid bago ibaling ang atensyon kay Dark. Danica and Delaney launched themselves into his arms for a big hug, chattering at once.

"Congratulations!"

"Welcome to the family!"

"Dani, I told you he'd turn out to be gorgeous. Ahhhh! How awesome is this? Childhood friends and now husband and wife!”

"Naka set na ba ang wedding date?"

"Pwede niyo ba akong isama sa bridal party?"

Natawa na lang si Deniah at inilipat ang tingin sa lalaki na halatang 'di komportable at parang gusto nitong kumawala sa mga kamay ng kanyang mga kapatid at maglaho.

Tinampal niya ang kamay ng dalawa at hinila sila palapit sa kanya at niyakap silang muli. "Guy's, 'wag niyo namang siyang takutin. I finally got a fiance and you're scaring him with your hundred questions." Yumuko siya at bumulong ng pabiro, "don't ruin this for me."

Humagikgik ang dalawa. A double vision of two sixteen year old girls with chocolate hair, navy eyes, and long skinny legs stood before her. Isang may braces at isang wala. Siguradong thankful ang kanilang guro dahil meron silang pagkakaiba. Sabihin nalang natin na simula nong mapanuod ng dalawa ang Parent Trap ay palagi nilang ginagawa ang 'switch game' as a prank.

A demanding squeal pulled her attention away. Binuhat niya ang tatlong taong pamangkin at pinupog ng halik ang mukha nito. "Parker, my trouble maker niece. Meet Dark Arkel Huxley." Kinurot niya ng bahagya ang ilong nito, "Tito Dark for you, baby girl."

Binaling ng bata ang atensyon sa lalaking nasa tabi niya with the careful attentiveness only a child exudes. Dark awaited her opinion with patience. Then her face broke in a sunny smile. "Hi, Ark!"

Ngumiti din ang lalaki sa bata, "hi, Parker."

"Hmmm, mukhang approved siya sa iyo." Pabiro niyang sabi, "let me make the rest of the introductions. Ang kambal, Danica and Delaney, now all grown up- huli mo silang nakita na ka diaper pa sila." Hindi niya pinansin ang daing ng dalawa at nagpatuloy.

"Ang sister-in-law ko, Jess, and you know my brother Drew at ang parents ko. Everyone, this is Dark Arkel Huxley, my fiance."

She didn't even stumble over the word. Good job self. She mentally patted herself for that.

Ang nanay niya unang lumapit kay Dark at hinila pababa at hinalikan sa magkabilang pisngi. "Arkel, you're all grown up." Habang tinatapik nito ang lalaki sa pisngi. "At napaka gwapo pa rin."

Namamalikmata lang ba siya o talagang may bakas ng pamunula ang mukha ng lalaki? Pinilig ni Deniah ang ulo sa naisip. Dark doesn't blush.

Tumikhim ang lalaki, "umm, thank you Mrs. Lagazca. It's been a long time."

"Naku iho, kung papakasalan mo ang anak ko tawagin mo na akong Nanay Daisy."

"Okay, po."

Drew gave him a friendly punch in the shoulder." Hey, man. Hindi kita nakita ng halos isang decada ah. Now I hear you're going to be part of the family. Congrats."

"Thanks."

Susunod ang kanyang amang lumapit and stuck out his hand. "Tawagin mo na akong Tatay Chris at hindi na tito," sabi nito. "Naaalala ko na sa tuwing maglalaro kayo ni Drew dito sa bahay palagi mong binu-bully ang dalaga ko. I think her first official curse word came out with you in mind."

"I think I still have that effect," sabi ng lalaki.

Tumawa ng malakas ang kaniyang ama. Kumalas ang kanyang sister-in-law sa yakap ng asawa at niyakap si Dark. "Now maybe I'll have someone to even out the odds around here," may halong birong sabi nito. "You can get outnumbered in family meetings."

Deniah laughed, "lalaki pa rin siya, Jess. Syempre, mas pipiliin niyang kampihan si Drew."

Hinila ni Drew pabalik sa kanya ang asawa at pumalibot ang mga kamay nito sa kanyang bewang. "Tama si Naya, baby. Sa wakas, got another man around the house to battle all the PMS."

Kinurot ni Deniah ang braso ng kapatid dahil sa biro nito at tinampal naman ng asawa ang kabila.

Suminghap ang kaniyang ina, "Drew, hindi ka dapat nagsasalita ng ganyan sa harap ng mga babae." Tinapik niya ito sa balikat bago magpatuloy, "o siya. Tara na sa loob at don niyo ituloy ang chikahan. We'll have champagne toast first, eat, then have a good espresso."

"Can I have a champagne?"

"Me too?"

Bumaling ang ina sa dalawang dalagita at umiling. "Tsaka na pag 25 na kayo, girls. For now, you'll have lemonade."

"Me too! Me too!"

Sigaw ng batang buhat buhat niya. "Okay, trouble maker. Lemonade for you, too." Ibinaba niya ito sa sahig at tumakbo ang bata papuntang kusina.

The embracing warmth of her clan settled around her like a fuzzy cloak, and fought with the nerves jumping in her belly. Could she pull this off? Casting a love spell to meet a nameless, faceless man with money to bail out her family was one thing. Dark Arkel in the flesh for one full year was another.

Kapag nalaman ng kanyang magulang na nakipagkasundo siyang magpakasal para maisalba ang kanilang bahay, hinding hindi nila siya mapapatawad. Or themselves. Sa kabila ng mga maraming medical bills dahil sa heart condition ng kaniyang ama ay tumanggi silang humingi at tumanggap mg tulong mula sa iba. At kapag nalaman nila na sinakripisyo niya ang sarili para mai-ahon sila, that would break their hearts.

Pinagmamasdan siya ni Darl na may kakaibang eskpresyon sa mukha nito, as if trying to figure something out. Her fingers clenched to keep from reaching out to touch him. "You okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine. Let's go in.

Sinundan niya ng tingin ang lalaking papasok sa loob ng bahay and tried not to feel hurt by his clipped words. He'd already warned her he didn't like big families. She shouldn't be childish by taking his actions so personally.

She stiffened her resolve and her chin and followed him.