60: the calm before the storm
#DWTDWP

RYU

She pulled me inside and hugged me tight.

That was sweet of—

What the fuck?

Napahawak ako sa panga ko kung saan dumapo ang kanyang suntok. Woman's hand was getting fatter but still hurts like a boxer's punch.

What did I put myself into?

"Really titless?" I smirked, shaking my head and adjusted the pain in my jaw.

"It took you 8 fucking hours— no, 8 hours 45 minutes and 26 seconds to say that?" nakapameywang na wika niya, fuming in anger.

Huh, psycho.

And another punch on the gut. Damn. Sooner or later I will become part of the battered husbands!

"What the hell titless?"

"And it took you that long with just those words?!" maktol niya. "And why are you so unromantic?"

See? I know better. Hinila ko siya palapit at isinubsob ang mukha niya sa dibdib ko. "Because you're acting bitchy and locked the door! Hindi ka man lang ba nagutom? Ganyan ba katigas ang ulo mo?"

She pulled away with a frown. "As much as I hate to see you because you made me confess, hindi ko naman hahayaang magutom ako at si Baby Rocket."

Tumingin siya sa dako ng kwarto at nang mapatingin ako roon ay napamura ako sa isipan ko. There was an empty box of pizza, empty ice cream tubs, half-finished chips and others. Mas lalo akong napamura nang makita ang microwave at fridge. 

"Thanks to your uncle, the master bedroom is complete," sabi niya. "The fridge is full of food at napakahirap pumili ng kakainin. Wait, kumain ka na ba?"

I hugged her again, trying to sooth my annoyance over this matter. So habang nag-aalala ako kung nagugutom ba siya, she's actually enjoying her stay inside the master's bedroom. Ang galing.

Mayamaya ay tiningnan niya ako nang masama. "Bakit amoy beer ka?"

I shrugged a bit. "Had some few with the boys."

She arched a brow. "The boys?"

"Cooler, Gray and Z."

"Oh my God, you drank without me?" she asked raising her voice.

"You're not allowed to drink."

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, but still you drank without me?!"

"It's boys' talk."

"Where are they?" she asked.

"At one of the bedrooms."

"Huh, so you drank without me and even sleep in one of the bedrooms? The audacity?!"

Okay, this is annoying. Why is she mad over the fact that we drank without her presence?

"Bakit gusto mong nandun ka?" this time I am the one arching a brow. Why is she making this a big deal.

"Because that's gold!" she said excitedly. "I wanna see you four together, that's just so cute!" she giggled like a kid samantalang napasimangot ako.

Just for that reason?

"Is Midget around?" tanong niya. I have to remind myslef tbat she's referring to Amber.

"No."

"Why the hell did she allow Gray to drink without her?! But that's not my concern, nalasing ka ba?"

Nagtataka man ay napatango pa rin ako. "I guess. Mababa ang tolerance ko sa alak kaya mabilis akong malasing. I can't remember when I doze off, basta paggising ko tumba na rin silang tatlo."

"Tsk! Ano ba naman 'yan!"

Lumayo siya sa akin at naupo sa kama, pulling the sheets up to her body and resumed watching some movie.

Don't tell me she's annoyed?

Lumapit ako sa kanya at naupo sa tabi niya. "Galit ka ba?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Really?"

She pushed me away. "I'm not mad, hindi ko lang gusto ang amoy mo. Lumayo ka nga."

I reminded myself she's a woman plus the fact that she's pregant should be enough for me to hold my temper. Inamoy ko ang sarili. Ah, maybe she doesn't like the smell of beer. 

"I'll take a bath," sabi ko at tumayo. I saw our luggage na malamang noong "kinidnap" ako, ini-transport din dito sa bahay ang aming mga gamit. Agad akong kumuha ng damit at pumasok sa banyo.

*** 

Pi

Napangiti ako sa sarili. He said he loves me and he sounded sincere. There were moments when I wish I could read people's heart and now's one of those times. Sana ay totoo ang sinabi niya.

But still I'm annoyed I didn't know they had a drink. Sayang naman! Inalala ko ang pag-uusap namin ni Midget noong kasal ko.

She followed me to the side without a word. Hindi ko rin ramdam ang pagkailang niya.

"My name's Pi," panimula ko.

"Okay. I'm Amber."

"And I used to like Cooler, also I love Harry Styles so don't even try liking him too." Napakunot ang noo niya at tila naguguluhan sa sinasabi ko. "Cooler said Rocket liked you, and Rocket said Cooler likes you. Anong shampoo mo?"

"Ha?" she looked at me with confusion.

"Not really my question," sabi ko sa sarili at umayos. "Okay, here's the thing. I know alam mo kung bakit kami nagpakasal—"

"Can we get straight to the point?" midget asked directly. 

"How did you make Rocket liked you?"

"Ha?!"

"Don't try denying!" This is annoying. I sounded like a desperate bitch, right on my wedding day.

"Did you play with their hearts? Those three?!"

"Seryoso ba 'yang mga tanong mo?"

Midget is so inquisitive! I can sense her annoyance. Mabilis akong tumango. "Yup, seryoso."

"Let me get this straight, tinatanong mo ako—"

"Kung paano nangyari na nagustuhan ka ni Ryu. You're a midget, a titless—" she frowned at me at napatingin din sa dibdib ko. My gown has made a miracle of showing some bump by pushing up. "And yes you're not ugly but you're also not that stunningly beautiful."

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "Iniinsulto mo ba ako?"

"No, I'm stating facts. I think I like Ryu, at alam kong alam mo na magkakanak kami. I want him to like me too, even for the sake of our kid."

She stared at me blanking bago natawa. Anong nakakatawa roon? I could go slapping bitches. Nakuha pa talaga niyang tumawa?

"Look, how should I address you, Ate?"

I frowned. "Whatever."

"Okay, whatever. Kung gusto mong itanong kung paano ka magugustuhan ni Ryu, I think there's no need for that. I mean, look. You two are married amd Ryu's so evil and self-centered, he wouldn't marry anyone kung wala siyang nararamdaman."

I blinked at her. "You think... he feels something for me?"

"Definitely."

Muli akong napasimangot. "Interesting concept."

"Totoo! That devil would not allow anyone invade his hell— until there's you. Hindi ko alam kung minalas ka ba or sinuwerte sa kanya but one thing is sure, your feeling is not one-sided."

I stared at her for sometime. "Hindi kaya sinasabi mo lang 'yan just to make me feel better?"

"Why would I? We're not even friends."

Well, midget has a point.

"Paano ko mapapatunayan na totoo nga ang sinabi mo?"

She smiled and leaned closer to whisper. "This tip is from Cooler. He said the Vanders are way too honest when drunk. They will show their true feelings when under the influence of alcohol." Napatingin siya kay Gray na kasalukuyang sinasakal ni Rocket ng wedding garter. "Proven and tested."

Napangiti ako sa sarili nang maalala ang pag-uusap na iyon. Kaya nanghihinayang ako! Maybe I should get Rocket drunk some other time.

It didn't take that long before he came out of the shower in his pjs. He rubbed the towel on his wet hair at pinatay ko naman ang TV bago tinapik ang espasyo sa tabi ko.

"Come here Rocket."

He gladly complied, pulling me up to his chest. 

"Are you still drunk?"

Mabilis na umiling siya. "No, I think I'm sober."

Ah sayang talaga.

"Pi?"

"Hmmm?"

"I was thinking we should go somewhere for our honeymoon. I'd like us to get to know each other more. Gusto mo bang mag-Hawaii tayo? Maldives? Amanpulo? You know, just the three of us."

Napangiti ako at isinubsob pa ang mukha sa kanyang dibdib. "That would be great pero paano ang trabaho mo?"

"A month or two leave wouldn't hurt," sagot niya. He started smoothing my hair with one hand samantalang ang isang kamay naman niya ay hinuli ang kamay ko. He pressed our palms together and intertwined our fingers.

"Okay... but..."

"But?"

"I just told Dad's men I'll be incharge of tomorrows shipment." I'm still my dad's daughter and I have to be responsible with things.

"What?!" medyo OA na bulalas niya. "But you're pregnant!" I know this sound from him. It's his sound of disapproval.

"Four months pregant, hindi kabuwanan duh. No need to overreact like that," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Can't you just make your lap dog take charge?" iritableng tanong niya. Lap dog? Does he mean...

"Zero?"

He sort of snort at me. "Whatever his name is."

I don't know but Zero and Ryu didn't seem to get along. Noong araw ng kasal namin ay hindi nakapunta si Zero and Rocket was quite pleased with such idea.

"That's suppose to be the case but there has been some problems at iyon ang aayusin niya bukas. Daddy's supposed to be the one who will attend pero masama ang pakiramdam niya. And I don't trust Ugly Flavio kaya ako na lamang ang nagvolunteer," pagbibigay-alam ko.

"Can you not go?" he asked in a begging voice. "It's our honeymoon, pwede bang icancel o di kaya ay ipostpone na lamang?"

"No, this is a big client Rocket. And it won't take that long."

He sighed. "Can I go with you?"

"No, of course not."

I felt him kissed the top of my head. "Don't go. Please?"

"Rocket, Don't be hard-headed, okay? I'll leave in the morning and I'll be back by evening."

I felt him pulled me to him closer. "Promise?"

I smiled a smile of assurance. "Promise."

"I love you," he said near my ear. Pinigilan ko ang sarili mula sa pagngiti kaya kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi.

Damn this man, he's making me so gay with what he said! He got me drawn to him quite bad. I was delirious with the way his hand wrapped around me as he said the words I didn't think I'll hear from him.

He made look forward for a future that felt so distant.

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ShinichiLaaaabs✒️