The Wild Animal (Cross Enterprise #4) || Completed

Chapter 23

EVERYTHING is simple, intimate and elegant. Mga katangian na nararapat lang naman para sa aking minamahal na Viola.

Me, Artemis, my mom and my aunt kasama na ang mga hipag ko ay nagtulong-tulong sa pagsasaayos sa isang family dinner. Samantalang ang mga pinsan ko ay nag-iinuman sa garden at naghuhulaan kung ano ang magaganap sa gabing ito.

Kahit kulitin ako nila mommy ay hindi ako nagpapa-apekto lalo na pagnagpa-puppy eyes pa ito. Because I want to keep it secret hanggang sa tamang panahon na makarating na rito ang papa ni Viola at si Viola mismo.

Kinakabahan rin ako at the same time kaya kung minsan, nakikipaglaro ako kila Calvin, Zadkiel, Blue at Red. Samantalang ang iba naman ay sinasamahan ko kung minsan mangupit ng sweets na ginagawa nila mommy. Their mothers will yell at me but we will just run and stuck our tongue out toward them. Pero hindi rin nagtatagal iyon dahil mas nagfofocus sila sa paghahanda ng pagkain sa hindi nila malamang dahilan.

My phone beeped and I smiled when I read her message na malapit na sila.

Agad akong tumakbo papunta sa front door at lalong lumuwang ang ngiti ko ng makita ang kotse niya kung saan lulan sila mag-ama.

Nagpapasalamat ako na kahit paano ay nag-uusap na sila. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pinag-usapan nila pero mas masaya na ako na kaya na niyang kausapin ang ama niya kahit alam ko na deep inside, hindi pa niya ito napapatawad.

I know her thoughts are field with questions on how did I learned that there is something between them. But maybe, I will confess it to her soon, when the moment of truth comes.

"Good evening Sir. Welcome to our humble family house. Please make yourself at home." Nakangiti kong bati sa ama nito na ginantihan lamang ako ng puno ng kagalakan na ngiti.

"Humble family house, huh." Pang-asar na ulit ni Viola sa aking sinabi.

"Which is the truth, honey. This is our family house kung saan magiging parte ka rin at magiging anak natin." Nakangiti kong tugon rito.

Kita ko ang pamunula ng pisngi nito na binigyan ko ng tig-isang halik kasunod ang matamis at mabilis na halik sa labi nito. I grabbed her hand and kiss the back of it as I guude them inside the house.

Everyone is there, waiting, excited and delighted. And all I can do is to be proud of it while I am escorting the two persons that will soon be a part of Cross and Barron family.

'I wish you were here, daddy.'

Apollo came too while he's wiping his sweat na napaghahalataang nagmadali talaga siya na makarating. And I thank him for that dahil halata sa kaniya na botong-boto siya kay Viola.

"Mommy, you already met her, my beautiful Viola, and here is her father, Mr. Gabriel Bently. Sir, Viola, here is my beautiful mother, Luchia Athena." They shared sweet smiles and greetings, kasunod nu'n ay ang pagkain namin.

Everyone's almost exhausted dahil marami kaming hinanda. Pero kahit pagod ako'y 'di ko iyon ininda para lamang sa gabi na kasama ko si Viola at ang ama niya.

I stood up and slightly clink the wine glass to get their attention.

Viola looked at me with her sweetest smile dahil alam naman namin na ito na ang panahon na kailangan na naming umamin sa lahat. Mula sa umpisa ng love story namin.

"Thank you for coming and helping to make this memorable moment in my life. I know everyone is wondering. Why the hell this veterinarian called for this family dinner? Well, to answer the questions. Me and my beloved are here to confess something to all of you."

Tumayo si Viola at sinamahan ako na harapin ang mga mata na nag-aabang sa aming sasabihin. We hold each other's hand and started talking.

"More than seven years ago, we already met each other. We didn't know that after what happened to us that night, fate still have a wonderful plan for us. I am scared to be judged by my imperfection but this woman beside me showed me that my imperfections always making me perfect in her eyes. I thought that after we part each other's ways a couple of months ago, everything will fall apart. I thought, its the end of the world. But she came back to my arms and gave me the assurance that she will be mine and I will be hers until death do us part." Hinawakan ko ang kamay nito at buong pusong pinakatitigan ang kulay lila nitong mga mata.

"He showed me how to be a stalker to a stranger. He showed me how precious I am. He showed me that I must be loved and cherished. He showed me what true love is. That's why...."

"We're getting married." "We're getting married!" Sabay naming anunsyo na nagpahigit sa hininga ng lahat.

My mom covered her mouth with her hand while tears are falling. Artemis is crying because of joy, my cousins left their mouth hanging open, my sister-in-laws squelled with excitement, Viola's father smiled with tears of happiness and the kids stopped eating that made their food in their mouths fall out from their mouth because of shock. Everything is epic that made us laugh our heart out and enjoy the scene.

Wala na siguro akong mahihiling pa. Wala na kahit isa. Maliban na lang sa...

"Tumigil ka Cedrick Jackson Barron! Alam ko iniisip mo at ayoko niyan!" Viola pinched my nose that made it as red as tomato.

"Huwag ka ngang inosente. Ilang beses na nating nagawa pabirhen effect ka pa." Pabulong kong sagot dito.

Kita ko ang labis na pamumula ni Viola sabay malakas na hampas sa balikat ko na nagpatalsik sa akin. Agad niya akong dinaluhan at nag-aalala at natatawang niyakap ako ng mahigpit.

"Ang bigat ng kamay mo." Reklamo ko.

"Huwag ka magreklamo na mabigat kamay ko, Cedrick. Dahil ikaw ang pumili sa akin kaya masanay ka na mabugbog sa bawat kalokohan na iyong gagawin." Anito na nagpaputla sa akin.

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A.N: Prologue of CE5 will be out soon.