Fleeting Moments

Chapter 24: Forever

#HHFM Chapter 24:

Forever

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"Magpapakasal tayo. Malapit na."

When Ryo said those words, I didn't expect that we would get married literally in a few weeks.

"Ngayon na?" I asked. I was halfway through buttoning up Raiko's sleep sack. Malamig ang hangin sa labas, at sigurado akong hindi siya titigil kaiiyak hangga't hindi nagigising ang mga kapitbahay kung hindi makapal ang ipasusuot ko sa kaniya. He seemed to not be fond of the cold.

Ryo looked like he just finished taking a bath. Nakapandong pa sa ulo niya ang tuwalyang gamit habang bahagyang pinipiga ang buhok para matuyo. He is already in his dark blue jeans and light gray polo shirt, while here I am with a department shirt from college and floral pambahay pants. Like always, he looks dashing. Parang nakahihiya siyang tabihan sa itsura niya.

"Oo," natatawa niyang sabi habang tumatango. "Maligo ka na kaya? Ako na ang magbibihis kay Raiko."

He walked towards the bed and picked up Raiko's socks. I remained standing on my spot, waiting for a punchline. Any minute now, I am sure that he will laugh at me and admit that he's just joking. Pero naisarado ko na lahat ng butones ng damit ni Raiko, wala pa rin. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin na parang walang pinaplanong kung ano.

I narrowed my eyes at him which made him chuckle. Parang alam na niyang pinaghihinalaan kong may kalokohan siyang iniisip. Malay ko ba kung masyado siyang natuwa noong nalaman niyang umasa ako sa singsing noong nakita ko kaya nilulubos-lubos niyang pag-trip-an ako ngayon?

"Ano, Kie?" he asked, one of his brows jerked upwards. His eyes roamed around the room and stopped at the wall clock. "Pero alas-sais pa lang naman e. We have two hours."

"Seryoso ka ba?" paglilinaw ko. May plano naman talaga akong maligo pagkatapos bihisan si Raiko, pero hindi ko alam na may pupuntahan kami ni Ryo ngayon. Hindi naman niya ako sinabihan kagabi.

He shook his head, smiling. I was forced to step aside as he carefully slipped a sock through Raiko's little foot. "Hindi kita binibiro. Mukha ba akong nag-jo-joke noong nag-propose ako sa 'yo?" Nilingon niya ako, nanghahamon ang tingin. I scrunched my nose.

I observed him with mouth agape, trying to see if he would slip. Baka makita ko siyang nagpipigil ng tawa o ano.

He asked, chuckling as he put on Raiko's hand covers, "Ano, Frankie? Baka ma-late tayo ro'n."

"This is not a good joke, Ryo. Magagalit ako," I told him, which obviously wasn't true. I wouldn't be mad because of something this petty. Pero kung nagbibiro siya, aminin na niya ngayon pa lang. Hindi iyong kapag nakabihis na ako, saka niya aaminin.

He breathed a quite heavy sigh. "Hindi nga kita binibiro." One of Raiko's fists reached his cheek. Iniwas niya ang mukha rito. "Maligo at magbihis ka na. Pupunta tayo sa munisipyo."

I checked the time. Ang sabi niya, alas-otso raw ang schedule. Judging by his get-up, mukha ngang may lakad kami. Still, I kept my eyes glued to his face as I opened my cabinet to get some decent clothes. Pero wala akong nakita kundi ang pagme-make face niya sa tapat ni Raiko na mukhang natutuwa sa lukot-lukot niyang mukha.

He frowned upon noticing that I was just standing there and holding my clothes. "Maligo ka na nga, Frankie. Ako pa ba ang magpapaligo sa 'yo?"

I rolled my eyes, then I heard him laugh. Mamaya, marinig siya ni Tatay, e di napagalitan kaming pareho. Tingnan lang namin kung makatawa pa siya.