54: thank goodness
#DWTDWP

Pi

Inaayos ko ang kwarto ni baby Rocket nang tumunog ang cellphone ko. I answered the call without checking who it was.

"Yow Pi!"

Eh? Cooler?

I checked my screen and it was really him. "Yes? Napatawag ka?" Lately, we're not really in touch unless with some important matters.

"Uh, I'm outside your house. Tita asked me to bring you your cookies since Ryu's out of town."

Ah, right. I think I received his text saying he'll be out of town for a day pero hindi ko lamang iyon pinansin. Duh, who cares if he goes out of town like forever?

"Thanks, you may get inside."

"Can you pick me up? Or can't get inside without any scathe. Your guards are too scary."

I mentally rolled my eyes. "Fine fine fine." Naging mas maingat talaga kami lalo na nang mangyari ang pamamaril noong nakaraan.

Pinatay ko na lamang ang tawag at bumaba upang sunduin siya. He stood on the gate with a paperbag which I'm sure contains cookies and other sweets.

Akmang kukunin ko iyon ngunit agad naman niyang itinaas.

Okay that's annoying.

"That's mine."

"Mind inviting me inside? I'm bored at home," he said with a pout.

Damn straight why is he so cute?

But hey Rocket is hot.

"Stop that pout, halika na nga sa loob," sabi ko sa kanya. He just giggled and stuck his tongue out to some of the guards before following me inside.

"Wala ka bang lakad ngayon?"

"None. What were you doing?" he asked.

"Preparing baby rocket's room."

Napasimangot ulit siya at inabot sa akin ang paperbag. "Heck, you name your child after a firecracker?" Tumawa siya ngunit agad din namang tumahimik nang sinamaan ko ng tingin. "Need some help?"

Oh, well I certainly do. I need someone to setup the crib and other baby rocket essentials. Sinama ko si Cooler sa kwarto ni baby rocket and he stood there, with mouth literally wide open.

"What?" untag ko sa kanya.

"This is for Baby rocket?" he asked, eyeing everything inside. "Sino ang namili ng mga gamit?"

"Rocket and me, why?"

"Really?" he said with a scowl. "Can't you just buy one with neutral color? I mean, why bought pink and blue of everything?" He pointed on the huge cribs, walkers, strollers and others.

"Hindi pa namin alam ang gender ng baby so we bought each," sagot ko sa kanya. We were so excited in picking the baby's things kaya bumili kami ng tigdalawang gamit na magkaibang kulay.

He facepalmed and walked towards the side where the baby bottles are placed. "At bakit ang dami nito? Are you planning on disposing each after one use?"

"No of course not, it's just that I like them all and they're safe so I bought them."

He deadpanned. "You two seriously has no idea about this huh? Why not shop things after knowing the gender?"

Oh.

Right.

But hey, so what?

"Well, we just want to buy them all, bakit ba?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong ko.

He laughed at ginulo ang buhok ko. "Nothing. I'm happy for the two of you."

Napalabi ako at sumimangot.

"Hey what's that frown about?" he asked, looking worried.

I battled with myself whether I should tell him what's bothering me lately. After all, he's his cousin and whatever happens, his loyalty is on Rocket.

"Just so you know I shoot people a lot," panimulang  sabi ko sa kanya.

He nodded. "I'm well aware of that fact."

"And if tell them things I want them to keep but they didn't, I shoot them a hundred and fifty times on their dick."

His smile faded as he covered his crotch with his hands. "O-okay."

"So here's the thing, I'm sure about marrying Rocket but he's not."

"Oh... How so?"

Iniiwas ko ang tingin sa kanya. "He's in love with someone."

"Hey you used to love me too," he said, quouting the l-word.

"But it was different. “How so?” tanong niya.

I gently shrugged and thought how it was different. Maybe when Rocket came, I stopped chasing Cooler. Wala na rin aking panahon kay Harry. See? It’s different. While Rocket... I just slipped a bit and there he goes, flipping through photos of a girl?

Nakakainis pa dahil sobrang ganda ng babae! You know that kind where you just wanna scratch her face with a carving knife because she’s just too pretty? And I hate myself for being insecure.

“Do you know anyone he likes?” tanong ko.

Nag-isip siya saglit.. “I think he like Amber before.”

Eh? Midget?

What the hell, that midget is really something! Didn’t Rocket said Cooler likes her too? And she's dating his brother. Okay so, let me get it straight. Ryu, Cooler and his brother likes that midget?

“You mean Just Amber? Didn’t you like her too?” tanong ko sa kanya nang maalala ang sinabi ni Rocket noon.

Ngumiti siya nang malawak at tumango. A proud and happy smile. “What can I do? She’s the girl everyone will like. She’s strong, unrelenting and brave. She has strong sense of justice and righteous. No man in his right mind wouldn’t like that kind of girl.”

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko.

She has strong sense of justice and she’s righteous.

Didn’t that sound like a total opposite of me?

“But...” Napatingin ako kay Cooler nang muli siyang magsalita. “That wasn’t just it. I think he liked someone more than Amber.”

“Oh.” Maybe it’s the girl I saw twice as Rocket stalked her.

“Can you keep a secret?” sabi niya sa mahinang boses.

I just rolled my eyes. “Just tell me okay?”

“I swear Ryu will kill me if he knows about this!”

I glared at him. “And I’ll kill you if you don’t tell me.”

Napabuga siya nang hangin at binabaan ang boses. “I didn’t know the exact info but Ryu is part of some group of thieves.”

Okay that’s interesting. “And?”

“Thieves with good intentions,”

Napalabi ako. “Still thieves though.”

Bahagya siyang tumawa. “And I think he liked someone from that group. I do not know the details pero ang lolo namin, he’s greedy and all but... he chose this woman over our grandfather.”

That was unexpected. I mean, Rocket doesn’t seem to be that type. Didn’t he know that blood is thicker than water?

“It means he chose the right thing to do,” wika pa ni Cooler. “Pwera bangon sa hukay pero may sa demonyo talaga ‘yong lolo namin. I admire Ryu when he chose to do the right thing that time.”

“So that involves this woman he likes?”paninigurado ko.

Bahagya siyang tumango. “Our grandfather’s death ended it all. I think that satisfied him, alam niyang magiging maayos na ang lahat ngayong wala na si Lolo. On his defense, our grandfather is really evil that we both hate him since we’re kids.”

“How do you know all about it?” tanong ko.

Nakakalokong ngumiti siya. “Just few drinks and he’ll let the cat out the bag. Mahina sa inuman si Ryu. You’ll know some of his secrets kapag nilasing mo siya.”

“So he told you about this woman he like?”

He nodded. “He said he’s happy now that she’s happy.”

“That’s it?” tanong ko. Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Rocket noon.

“Marami, like letting them go if that’s what makes them happy. Even if it means them turning your feelings down. Or jump in front of a bullet for them just to keep them safe.”

I heaved a sigh. “I guess he still likes her though.”

Umiling si Cooler bilang sagot. “I don’t think so.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya. “Paano mo nasabi?” I was debating with myself kung sasabihin ko ba ang dalwang pagkakataon na nahuli ko si Ryu na nakatingin sa larawan ng ibang babae. I cannot even say it’s infidelity. It’s not the right time to call it such, at isa pa our marriage is for convenience only kaya ayaw kong magdemand ng atensyon at pagmamahal.

He winked at me as he started arranging the things inside the room. “Just a gut feel.”

Napasimangot na lamang ako at nagpatuloy na lamang sa pag-aayos. “Wala kang kwentang kausap.”

“Hey my gut feels never miss okay?” he said with a chuckle.

“Ewan ko sa’yo.”

“Really Pi, I don’t think I’m mistaken this time.”

Nagtatakang napatingin na lang ako sa kanya, unsure what to think. I think Rocket still dwells in his memories of that woman. I sighed in confusion. Well anyway, I have a day or two to think it over before the wedding or we’ll both have regrets.

***

RYU

“How do I look?” tanong ko kay Cooler. Ngumisi siya sa akin at inayos ang suot ko. It’s my wedding day and I have never been as nervous as this. But hey I’m sure of this.

There’s no turning back.

“Chill bro, you look good although not as good as me,” sagot niya. Napatikhim na lamang si Zy dail sa narinig samantalang tiningnan naman siya nang masama ni Gray.

I don’t know why I’m shaking. I could hear my own heartbeat along with the loud sound of wedding march. Everything was a blur as I waited for titless to walk down the aisle. Nervousness kicked me hard that I do not even know why I feel like this.

Alam ko sa sarili ko na handa na ako sa pagkakataong ito. I’m sure of marrying Pi despite all the imperfections we both had. Even if she has some murderous tendencies and all, sigurado na ako sa araw na ito.

Everything was fast. I was just dealing with the devil and here I am, and in few moments we’re tying the knot. Lately I’ve been coping with her mood swings and caprices. May mga pagkakataong ayaw niyang humiwalay sa akin pero may mga pagkakataon rin na ayaw niya akong makasama. Sometimes I caught her staring at me with a weird expression on her face. And sometimes, she gives me that sad look to which I do not understand ngunit iniisip ko na lamang na dala ng mood swings ng pagbubuntis niya.

And there she goes.

Hindi ako nagkakamali nang sinabi kong mas lalo siyang maganda sa puting damit. Well, she’s beautiful in anything she wears, even so beautiful when she wears nothing.

Oh crap. What am I thinking? Nasa simbahan ako, for Pete’s sake. I tried to focus on her as she slowly take every step. Damn, here goes my future. Excitement and panic flooded through me as she approached closer.

I’m aware I have a beautfiful wife.

Despite being psycho some times, my wife is definitely beautiful.

Tila nawala lahat sa paningin ko. My attention was focused on her until she stopped in front of me and I was awaken by a tap on my shoulder from her dad who escorted her.

I’m so whipped I forgot everything including her dad.
Halos makalimutan ko nga ring huminga.

“Ryu, heto na ang anak ko,” wika niya sa garalgal na boses. “I know aalagaan mo naman ang prinsesa ko.”

I smiled, eyes not leaving Pi. “Gonna treat her like a queen sir.”

Muli niya akong tinapik sa balikat bago niya inabot sa akin ang kamay ni Pi. I was shaking as I pulled my hand from my pocket and accepted her as I forced myself to relax. Just like mine, her hands were cold and I can see her worried face from beneath the veil she wore.

“You good?” tanong ko sa kanya. And it wasn’t what I want to say. Gusto kong sabhin na ang ganda niya. I want to tell her how she looks good in the dress despite her obvious disapproval of her figure these past days.

Mahinang tumango siya at iginiya ko siya sa harap ng altar. I couldn’t focus on anything. I get distracted with her beside me. I was buzzing with the overwhelming amount of emotion right now.

Napakabilis ng mga pangyayari. I was lost in my thoughts during the service hanggang sa tinanong ako ng pari.

“Do you take Lennon Pi Bellomo, as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, keeping yourself solely to her for as long as you both shall live?”

I smiled with assurance. “Yes father, I do.”

Bumaling naman ang pari kay Pi, and asked her the same question.

“Do you take Ryu Morisson, as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, keeping yourself solely to him for as long as you both shall live?”

She stared at me for what feels like forever.

I stared back for quite some time, only to realize it took her some time to answer too.

Nakatitig lamang siya sa akin at mukhang nababahala. She looks like she’s about to cry anytime.

The priest cleared his throat, maybe to remind PI about the vow at muli akong inatake nang kaba nang makita ang pag-agos ng luha sa kanyang mukha.

Damn.

No please.

No.

Pi looked at me before looking at the people, at ibinalik ulit sa akin ang tingin. Don’t tell me she’s having second thoughts now? Isn’t it too late now? I was starting to get angry but more worried about it. Anxiety and panic kicked in again, and at the corner of my mind I keep praying she wouldn’t run from this moment.

Her lips shook as she slowly opened it to say something.

“I...I d-do.”

Thank goodness.

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