Chapter 2. Stunning Legs

CHAPTER TWO: STUNNING LEGS

★HOPE RYKER LEE★

"Hope."

Napalingon ako sa likod ko nang marinig ang boses ni Mommyla, na ngayon ay papalapit na sa table namin. Ilang hakbang na lang ang layo niya mula sa 'min nila Summer, Love, at Tita Baby, kaya agad akong tumayo para salubungin siya.

"Hi, Mommyla," bati ko nang nakangisi habang hinawakan ang braso niya bilang paggalang. Nagkita na kami kanina pa sa church, pero hindi kami nagkaroon ng pagkakataong mag-usap dahil parehong busy—lalo na at kumanta pa 'ko, at siya naman sa pakikipag-usap sa mga bisita simula nang dumating kami rito sa reception.

Bumati rin siya sa anak niyang si Tita Baby at sa dalawa kong kapatid. Pero sa 'kin lang agad bumalik ang tingin ni Mommyla. "Nagkausap na kayo ni Elisse?" tanong niya, hindi na nag-aksaya ng oras.

Napakamot ako sa batok. "Uh... hindi pa po, Mommyla," sagot ko nang medyo nahihiya. "Kanina pa siya doon sa kabilang table, busy makipagtsismisan sa mga kasama niya. Ni hindi nga ako nililingon kahit saglit. Balewala sa kaniya ang kaguwapuhan ko."

Bahagyang natawa si Mommyla. "Come on. Ipakikilala kita. Ako'ng bahala sa 'yo." Agad siyang kumapit sa braso ko at hinila ako sa papunta sa direksyon nila Elisse. May kasama ito sa table, tatlong babae na mas may edad sa kaniya.

Paglapit namin sa table nila, agad siyang tinawag ni Mommyla kaya nalapingon siya sa amin. Saglit niya lang akong tinapunan ng tingin bago niya ilipat ang mga mata niya kay Mommyla at ngumiti rito nang malapad.

"Hi, Mrs. Vivar." Tumayo siya sa upuan niya at nakipagbeso kay Mommyla.

Habang nagkukumustahan sila, I couldn't help but study her closely. Every movement she made was elegant, her grace almost effortless. The way her dress hugged her figure, the soft waves of her hair cascading over her shoulders—it all added to the undeniable beauty she carried with her.

Her skin had a warm glow, almost like it captured the light in just the right way. And her eyes, even though they had barely glanced my way, held a depth that made it hard to look away. I noticed the delicate curve of her lips as she smiled at Mommyla, and I wondered kung ano'ng lasa ng mga labi niyang 'yon. Kasing tamis ba ng itsura nito?

Even the way she held herself, poised and confident, spoke of a quiet strength. There was something mesmerizing about how she interacted with the people around her. I found myself admiring every detail—the arch of her brows, the subtle blush on her cheeks, the way she moved with such natural elegance.

In that moment, it felt like everything around me faded away, and all I could focus on was her. How could someone be so beautiful and yet so distant? I wanted to say something, anything, but the words just wouldn't come. All I could do was stand there, captivated by the sight of her, wishing I had the courage to close the distance between us and says, "Hi. Ako nga pala ang mapapangasawa mo." But damn. Para akong natuka ng ahas ngayon.

Hindi ko na alam kung ano'ng pinag-uusapan nila ni Mommyla, dahil ngayon ay bumaba ang tingin ko sa isang legs niya na nakalitaw dahil sa slit ng suot niyang dress na color baby pink. Medyo mataas ang slit kaya naka-display ang mahubog, mahaba at makinis niyang binti, na lalong nakakaakit tingnan dahil sa suot niyang silvery heels, na bagay na bagay sa maputi niyang paa. A sudden, intense thought crossed my mind—what would it feel like if those legs were wrapped around my waist?

I instantly felt a rush of heat from within, like a fire suddenly igniting. I tried to look away, but the image was seared into my mind. Kahit saan ako bumaling, nai-imagine ko 'yong legs niya na nakalingkis sa baywang ko. The idea of such close contact, of feeling her warmth against me, made my heart race.

F*cking sh*t. I'm done for.

"Hope?" Parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig nang tawagin ako ni Mommyla. Agad kong tinanggal ang tingin ko sa mga binti ni Elisse at humarap kay Mommyla, na nag-aalala ang tono ng boses. "Are you okay, honey?" tanong niya.

Napasulyap ako kay Elisse, na nakakunot ang noo at nakatingin din sa akin. "Yes, Mommyla. I'm fine," sagot ko, pilit na inaayos ang sarili ko. "Uhm, ano nga bang gagawin ko rito?" tanong ko, kunwari hindi ko alam ang layunin niya sa paghila sa 'kin dito.

"I said, dance with your fiancée," Mommyla said with a smile. "So you can have a chance to talk to each other. I know this isn't the perfect time for you two to meet, since Faith and Poppy are the highlights of this event. But I want you to get to know each other at least. Don't worry, I'll set up a dinner in the coming days or weeks where you two will be the main focus, okay?"

Walang nakasagot sa 'min ni Elisse. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit sa tinagal-tagal kong nabubuhay sa mundo, ngayon lang tila umurong ang dila ko. Hindi naman ako ganito.

"Come on. Dance already. You two look good together." Mommyla pointed to the dance floor, where a few couples were swaying to the soft music, aside from the bride and groom.

Napatingin ako kay Elisse, na mukhang hindi gusto ang ideya na sumayaw kami. At 'yon ang lalong nagtulak sa 'kin para isayaw siya.

"Well, looks like we don't have much of a choice," sabi ko, bahagya pa akong napangisi nang i-offer ko sa kaniya ang kamay ko.

Dahil hindi nakatingin si Mommyla, nagawa niya akong irapan sa hindi ko malamang dahilan bago niya ipatong ang isa niyang kamay sa palad ko. Inakay ko siya papunta sa dance floor. As we reached the dance floor, noong magkaharap na kami, I could see her hesitating, clearly unsure about how to hold onto me.

Feeling the weight of the situation, I took the lead and gently guided her hands to rest on my shoulders. "Magiging fiancé mo na 'ko kaya huwag kang mahiya sa 'kin. Puwede mo 'kong hawakan kahit saan mo gusto, darling." Nginisihan ko pa siya nang bahagya, pero mukhang hindi niya 'yon nagustuhan kaya isang matinding irap ang pinukol niya sa 'kin. "Aba, aba. Bakit mo 'ko inirapan? Kilalanin mo kung sino'ng binabangga mo," pabiro kong sabi.

But my attempt at being playful didn't go as planned. She shot me a fierce glare that made me flinch slightly. "Wala akong panahong kilalanin ka. Busy ako. I'll let you dance with me for five minutes, but after that, you can get out of my way."

Her straightforwardness caught me off guard. It was clear she had no intention of playing along with my jokes. Still, I couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Totoo pala 'yong kasabihan na don't judge the book by its cover. Ang sweet mong tingnan kanina sa upuan mo. Para kang 'yong sister-in-law ko—si Poppy. Pero ngayong kausap na kita at kaharap—wow, ala-Chloe."

She raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Chloe Samonte? The one who pretended to be Herald?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice. She let out a soft laugh. "Wanna know a secret? Watch out, because I'm even worse than she is. Tipong mas gugustuhin mo pang maging single habangbuhay kaysa matali sa 'kin."

Her confidence and the way she laughed at her own words made me appreciate her even more. There was something undeniably captivating about her directness and the playful challenge in her eyes. It was clear that Elisse wasn't just a pretty face; she had layers and depth that I was beginning to unravel, and I was intrigued to see what else she had in store.

As Elisse's smirk turned into a confident challenge, I couldn't help but match her demeanor. "Challenge accepted, darling," I said, a playful grin spreading across my face. "Can't wait for you to be my wife."