Chapter 3

-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO POV)-

"We will get married next month, Tito." He answered with a smile.

Next month? Is he freaking serious?

"I guess na nagkakamabutihan kayo? Maganda yan para di na namin kayo pinipilit na magpakasal sa isa't isa." Sagot ni Dad sa kanya, a smile plastered on his face.

"Wait. Next month is a little bit too fast, is it Agathe? Bakit parang ang bilis naman? They barely know each other and your daughter just turned 18." Mom butted in, her brows slightly furrowed.

"I agree with you Mom. I think it is a bit too fast para agad silang magpakasal." Kuya denoted, his arms folded over his chest.

"Lez, why don't you just let them decide? It's as if ikaw ang pakakasalan." Ate Seraphina butted in, eyebrows furrowed.

"I agree with Ate Sera, Kuya." Ani Clydel at King.

"Just let them be Kuya. Ate Corlyn is old enough 

para magdecide." Ani Maria na nasa tabi nito.

"Old enough? She just turned 18 three days ago. I'm just worried about her dahil di natin kilala ang naka bethrode sa kanya and they barely know each other." Kuya retorted as he rested his back on the swivel chair.

"And why would you worry about that? Hindi naman ako miyembro ng mafia or a fucking cult para mag alala ka." Sabat ni Gelal, his expression seemingly pissed.

"Oh shut the fuck up Gelal." Sagot ni Kuya as he furrowed his brows.

"No, you shut the fuck up. Hindi ikaw ang magdedesisyon samin kung kailan kami magpapakasal or what, it ain't even your fucking business." Sagot muli nito.

The tension in the air was getting thick so I stood up, diverting their attention to what I was about to say.

"Father, my decision is final. Kahit mag protesta kayo na bata ako or what, we will still be getting married next month. Now if you'll excuse us." I grabbed Gelal's hand at hinila siya palabas ng conference room. 

"Where the heck are we going?" He asked nang makalabas na kami sa conference room.

Patuloy lang kami sa paglalakad patungong backyard. My heart was pounding as I held his hand.

"I'm asking you." Sambit nito na parang naiinis.

"Sa backyard. Mag uusap tayo." Sagot ko habang hawak ko ang kamay nito.

"Can you just fucking slow down for a moment?" He stated solemnly.

Ngunit nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad habang hawak ko ang kamay nito. Lumabas kami ng backyard and let him stand below the tree.

"Bakit mo naman sinabi na next month tayo magpapakasal?" I asked, my brows furrowed as I stood in front of him.

"You said to act all lovey dovey like a goddamn couple. Ngayon na ginagawa ko ang plano na gusto mo, bakit parang tutol ka?" He retorted, his hands both in his pockets.

"Sinabi ko nga pero hindi ko naman expect na sabihin mo yun. Lalo na kay Dad." Saad ko na naiinis.

He laughed softly as he shook his head. "So anong gusto mo? After two months? Three?" Tanong nito, bakas sa tono niya na naiinis siya.

Hindi ako sumagot dahil ako rin ay hindi makapag isip. I don't know when's the right time to get married.

"Sumagot ka." He answered solemnly, his one eyebrow raised.

"Hindi ko lang naman kasi expect-" Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang sumagot ito.

"Sagutin mo ang tanong ko. Kailan mo gusto? Para masabi ko dun sa Dad mo." Saad niya, his eyes narrowing.

I heaved a sigh and looked away. Hindi ko rin kasi alam kung kailan pwedeng magpakasal kasi hindi rin ako ready.

"Answer me, goddamnit. Kung hindi mo sasagutin ang-" Naputol ang sasabihin nito nang sumagot ako.

"Wag na, next month nalang." I retorted, pouting my lips as I looked away. 

"Don't pout your lips kung ayaw mong magpahalik." Saad nito na naging dahilan upang lingunin ko siya.

"Ano?" Tanong ko, my brows furrowed.

"I said…" He closed the space between us. "Don't pout your lips." Saad nito, looking down on me.

"At bakit naman kita susundan?" Tanong ko, my one eyebrow raised.

He smirked. "Bakit? Gusto mo ba mag pahalik? Is that why you were pouting your lips?" He asked, his tongue touching his inner cheek.

"Pag sinabi kong oo, anong gagawin mo?" I asked, my hand making its way to his shoulder.

"Edi hahalikan kita." Sagot niya, biting his lower lip.

Damn, his thin red lips look tempting. I still can't believe that I'm the first one to kiss those.

 It matched with his perfectly pointed nose, smooth flawless cream skin, thick eyebrows, curled and thick eyelashes and his cognac brown eyes to top it all off. 

Matched with his chiselled jaw and body. A perfect creation that God has made indeed.

Hinaplos nito ang pisngi ko and looked into my eyes. He bent over to kiss me pero hindi natuloy yun dahil may narinig kaming pumalakpak mula sa likod ko.

We both looked behind, only to see my brother. Clapping his hands na parang nanood siya ng isang pelikula.

Kuya stared at him so seriously before we heard him speak.

"Wala pa ang kasal pero hahalikan mo na? Really out of your mind?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

He put his two hands on both of his pockets as he raised an eyebrow. "Does it have to be your problem?"

I saw how Kuya clenched his jaw, yet he remained calm.

He licked his lips and smirked. "I'm her brother and I have the right to care."

"So? What does it have to do with kissing her?" Gelal asks nonchalantly.

"You're pushing me to the limit, Gelal" He answers, narrowing his eyes

"Really? Do I care?" he asked, his eyes darkening.

Kuya cracked his knuckles at lumapit agad dito. Tinulak niya ito sa balikat na naging rason para humakbang ito paatras.

"Ano ba talagang gusto mong gago ka? Are you challenging me?" He angrily asks brows furrowed.

"Tangina mo pala eh, ikaw ang nauuna ngayon ikaw ang pikon. Mas gago ka." Sagot nito at tinulak si Kuya.

"Kuya, can you stop it? Para kayong mga bata!" Sigaw ko habang inaawat sila.

Bwisit tong mga 6 footer nato. Ang lalaki dimo maawat.

Pumagitna ako sa mga ito para tumigil na sila pero wala ni isa sa kanila ang nagpapatinag.

I screeched for the guards to come forward but they were too late. Kuya immediately threw his fist on him.

"Gago ka talaga eh no!" Gelal shouted bago niya suntukin si Kuya.

Umalis agad ako at pumunta sa mga guards para maawat nila ang mga ito. 

"Kuya Julius! Paki awat nga po yung dalawang lalaki sa backyard! Nag aaway po! Magsama po kayo ng kasamahan niyo!" Sigaw ko habang papalapit sa kanila.

"Bakit anong nangyari?" Tanong nito habang nagkakape.

"Misunderstanding lang po. Please, paki awat po sila." Sagot ko nang makalapit na ako rito.

Sumunod agad ito at nagsama ng isang kasamahan niya. Pumunta kami ng backyard at itinuro ko agad kung nasaan ang mga ito.

Bwisit naman kasi. Bakit ba ngayon pa sila nag aaway?

 I watched them as they struggle to get a grip on Gelal's arms and standing him up dahil naka ibabaw siya kay Kuya. But luckily, naawat nila ito. 

But Kuya's face was drenched in blood as he tried to stand up, the guard supporting him.

Gesturing for the maid, inutusan ko ang mga ito to help Kuya Lez treat his wounds. Sumunod agad ang mga ito at inalis na siya sa backyard. 

"Yaya give me a first aid kit please." I ordered the maid who passed by.

Sumunod naman ito. Agad akong lumapit kay Gelal as he sat on the bench below the tree.

Inangat nito ang kanyang tingin, his eyebrows furrowed. Kita ko na pumutok ang kanyang ibabang labi with a few bruises and cuts on his face.

But why is he still handsome? Shocks…

"Ano?" He asked, his eyes burning with fire.

"I'm sorry about that. Hindi ko expect na gagawin yun sayo ni Kuya." Sagot ko as I sat beside him.

"It's alright. Hindi mo naman kasalanan. Pati pasensya na dahil nakita mo pa ako kung paano magalit." Sambit nito, ramdam ko muli ang kanyang braso sa aking baywang.

"It's okay. Has your anger gone out?" I asked him anxiously.

He shook his head before looking at me. "No, but I need a reliever right now." Sagot niya, his eyes focused on mine.

"What kind of reliever?" I asked, my brows slightly furrowed.

"You know what I mean, sexy bunny." Sagot nito, his eyes looking at my lips.

"Do you want a kiss?" I asked but he shook his head.

"I need a dose… of you…" He mumbled as he looked at my eyes again.

Ramdam ko ang pamumula ng aking mukha as we stared at each other. Ito na naman tayo eh, mag aaya siya kahit nandito kami sa bahay.

"I'm just gonna pack my stuff. Babalikan kita." Saad ko, making an excuse as I stood up.

"Bakit saan ka pupunta?" Tanong niya, which caused me to face him.

"For sure, ilalayo ako ni Dad kay Kuya. Kaya ako mag iimpake. Pag may dumating na maid, ipagamot mo na yung mga sugat mo." Sagot ko bago umalis.

Naglakad na ako palayo. Kahit na tinatawag ako nito ay hindi ko na siya pinansin pa.