Taurus (COMPLETE)

Twenty

"–Fine! I, Constantine Donovan III, in front of my whole family and the family lawyer, swear to marry Christina Alarcon if, and only if! If I failed to get Isla before I turn twenty-seven."

"If It didn't work six months before your birthday, you need to work your relationship with Christina."

"No, I won't until she rejects me straight on my face! I want her for so long, Grandpa. I'm not yet married because she's still studying, not because I don't want to get married! It's her, or nothing. I won't get married if it's not her I'm marrying!"

"–And, the recording stops there."

"Uhm..." That's all I could say.

Hindi ako makatingin ng deretso sa kanya. Hinahanap niya ang mata ko pero pilit ko 'yong iniiwasan. Siguradong pulang pula ang pisngi ko. Wala na dapat akong ikahiya lalo ngayong parehas kaming hubad sa kama dahil katatapos lang namin. Pero hindi ko maiwasan lalo na sa narinig ko sa recording.

He wants to marry me for a long time? How come?   Tatlong taon pa lang siya dito sa bansa. When did he decide that? Gusto kong itanong 'yon pero masyadong nakakahiya kung babanggitin ko ang kagustuhan niyang pakasalan ako.

Now that I know we have mutual feelings, does this mean, we are in a relationship now?

"So, you ran away because you thought I would marry another woman." Asar niya bigla.

Napipikon na kinurot ko siya sa tagiliran. Maagap niyang pinigilan ang daliri ko pero nagawa ko na siyang makurot ng kaunti bago pa niya 'yon mahawakan. He grunted like what I did hurts him so bad.

"Shut up!"

He touches his side and acts all hurt on me. Nagpapaawang tinignan niya ako.

"Paano na lang ako kung mapanakit ang mapapangasawa ko? Am I gonna be a battered husband?"

Natatawa ako sa lukot niyang mukha. Pinigilan kong ngumiti at nilamusok ang pagmumukha niya. Muli siyang umarte na nasasaktan ng sobra. Now I can't help but laugh.

"Then don't marry me, you jerk!"

Biglang umayos ang ekspresyon niya at umakto siyang parang walang nangyari. He even smiled widely while trying to snuggle on my neck.

"No way. We're getting married in three months."

Napabalikwas tuloy ako sa gulat. "Huh?! Three months, you say?!"

Biglang naging masungit ang mukha niya. Sinakop niya ang bewang ko at pilit akong muling pinapahiga sa dibdib niya. Tinukod ko ang kamay ko doon para pigilan siya. I sneak a slap on his chest as a sign of protest. Mas sumimangot tuloy siya.

"That's too early!"

"My birthday is in four months, baby. I want to marry you before that. I want a baby as a gift."

Namamangha ko siyang tinignan. His eyes were sparkling in excitement. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang ganito kasaya. He looks happy...and in love. How long has he been looking at me this way? Ngayon ko lang 'yon napagtanto.

I want to be with this man for the rest of my life. Habang buhay kong pagsisisihan kung mawawala siya sa akin. To avoid that, I need to hold on to something that will surely bind me with him.

"Akala mo ba, madaling magbuntis? Tell your swimmers to work hard. It's not up to us, you know."

Hindi ko kayang sabihin ng deretso sa kaniya na pumapayag ako sa kasal at handa akong magkaroon ng pamilya kasama siya. I'm weak when it comes to words of affirmation. I'll just leave this up to him to understand.