Epilogue

RYU

"Can anybody just shoot her in the face? What a useless skank! Anong gagawin mo ngayon?"

My head automatically turned towards the direction where my wife stood, talking to her brother on the phone. The way her fist crumpled shows how frustrated she is knowing she can do nothing to whatever dilemma she received on the phone.

My eyes roamed down to her body. She really had that hips to die for, god, what did I do to deserve such? I love how her bikini hangs on her body, showing her olive inked skin that puts the sun to shame. Such beauty stood in front of me, too beautiful to touch but too real not to give it a go.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya, hugging her from behind and planting a sweet kiss on her neck. 

"I am a jealous husband Pi, we're suppose to be on vacation but you're on the phone for an hour," sabi ko sa kanya.

She made a face at me, rolling her eyes as she looked at her phone. "Do not exaggerate Rocket, it's been only three minutes."

I slightly pulled her to face me and get the phone from her hand. "Yow John, give us a break, we're on a vacation."

"Suit yourself asshead, give back to phone to Pi," sagot ng nasa linya, which definitely isn't John. It's her other brother, Zero.

"Go to hell douchebag," sagot ko rin at pinatay ang tawag, pulling Pi by her hips so I could take a peck on her lips. Pagkatapos ay nakangiting tinitigan ko siya. Even if I close my eyes, I know every detail of her face. I know where her moles are and that tiny pimple at the side of her ear. I memorized her, every inch of her and she was so satisfying to see like the combination of 1 and 0's in the binary code.

"What?" biglang tanong niya, tila ba naasiwa sa paraan ng pagtingin ko sa kanya. I tried to suppress my smile but failed big time kaya nagpainis lamang iyon sa kanya. "What?" she asked again, this time more annoyed.

"Nothing. I just noticed you look good in yellow," I replied, taking time to tuck some strand of her hair behind her ear with a sunflower.

Gumanti siya ng matamis na ngiti at iniyakap ang isang kamay sa katawan ko. "Damn Rocket, I wish I could make love to you right here right now."

Hindi ko mapigilang matawa. "You're so horny!"

She shrugged. "On my defense, it's your fault. If you're not that hot, I wouldn't be this horny." Napatingin siya sa malawak na dalampasigan kung saan nagkalat ang mga turista na gaya namin ay nagpasyang magbakasyon.

Right, if only she agreed to rent one of the private islands around the world, her "thirst" would have been sate by now.

And speaking of thirst, I am a little thirsty.

"Do you want a drink?" tanong ko sa kanya.

She smiled and excitedly nodded. "Yup, I heard this place's pinacolada is delicious."

Bumitaw siya mula sa pagkakayakap sa akin at hinawakan ang palad ko. "Let's go get some."

We walked hand in hand towards a stall where she said the drink she wants is great. Kahit maraming tao ay nakuha pa rin naming makasecure ng upuan matapos umorder.

Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na ang order namin. A woman carried it on our table. Una niyang inilapag ang inumin ni Pi bago sa akin. She was a little forceful when she laid down the glass, causing some liquid to spill on my bare chest.

"Oh my god, I'm sorry!" natatarantang sabi ng serbidora. She flipped her blinde hair as she immediately turned to wipe my chest with a table napkin as she panicked.

"No it's okay—" Oh shit. I'm forgetting something.

I AM WITH PI!

When I looked at her, she looked like she was ready to gun her down. Mabilis na kinuha ko ang napkin at pinunasan ang sarili.

May I remind myself my wife is a bit possessive and she hates it when others are paying too much attention to me. Eye contact is warning level, smiling is a no no and being touchy is a dead end.

There was a time a woman was winking at me, the next day I heard she lost an eye.

Damn, here goes my psycho wife.

Yet adorable.

So adorable I could kiss her right now.

Right, that's what I should do.

Tumayo ako at hinila na lamang palabas si Pi na tila namumula na sa inis.

Oh no.

We haven't even tasted the pinacolada!

Maybe next time.

Nang makalabas kami ay binawi niya ang kamay mula sa pagkakahawak ko. "Let me go Rocket that woman should lost a limb!"

"Just let it go Pi!"

Naningkit ang kanyang mga mata. "Are you seriously telling me that?"

Pilit ko siyang kinakalma. "Yes."

Now she looked like she lost it. "A woman just touched your bare chest and you expect me to let it slide? No, I'm going to chop her arms!"

I frowned as I made her face me. Pouting a little, I looked at her in the eyes. She loves that look in me. Kapag ginagawa ko iyon ay palagi kong nakukuha ang gusto ko. I found her off button by pouting and looking intently at her. She said I look like an angel in that which is considerably odd because I am the "devil" according to her.

She is the devil though, not me.

Mabilis na nag-iwas siya ng tingin. "No, don't do that Rocket. Do not pout!"

I pout even more.

"Oh shit," she slapped her forehead before standing in her toes to reach for a kiss. Mabilis na inikot ko ang kamay sa kanyang baiwang, taking over to the sensation she started.

"I love you," sabi ko nang maghiwalay ang mga labi namin.

She sweetly smiled at me. "Love you too!"

"Marry me," sabi ko na nagpanganga sa kanya.

"What?!" she stepped back a little to see if I was talking seriously.

"I said marry me," pag-uulit ko.

Humakbang siya sa akin at sinalat ang noo ko. "You're not sick."

Mahinang natawa ako. "Of course not."

"Then why?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. She looked so puzzled right now and I love seeing that look in her face.

Gustong-gusto ko ang mukha niya sa tuwing masaya siya, nagugulat, nalilito— even her angry expression just made me more whipped than ever.

Damn how could this woman be capable of those?

You know before, the only thing that satisfied me is watching the how I crossed firewalls by making my own track and deleting any trace of my entry. I am satisfied by watching firewalls and any security crumbled as I start to scan on every government files, protected documents by people and whatever it is.

Guess my preferences has changed over the time. I do not get the same satisfaction by doing those things now. It starts to get boring, it's like a piece of cake. It's just something that seems normal to me.

What satisfies me now?

Waking up next to my wife.

Hearing the sound of the toaster.

The smell of morning coffee.

And the giggles of my six-year old daughter Fibby.

"Is it a yes?" tanong ko kay Pi.

She rolled her eyes and frowned. "Seriously Rocket, you're not sick this time."

Mabilis na tumango ako. "Yes, I'm perfectly fine."

"The last time you asked me to marry me is because you're delirious due to your high fever!" sagot niya sa akin.

"You said yes anyway," kibit-balikat na sagot ko sa kanya.

"But—"

Hindi ko siya binigyan ng pagkakataong tumanggi. Inilabas ko ang maliit na kaheta na bitbit ko at binuksan iyon, revealing a ring inside.

"But Rocket..."

"Do not even think of rejecting me," mabilis na sabi ko. I am not up for rejection now. No way.

She looked upset. "Sigurado ka bang ayos ka lang? Isa pa, if I say yes right now, this will be our fifth wedding! Can you just chill for a while?"

Ah yes. First time was when we "accidentally" formed Baby Rocket. At first it was a dilemma because we thought it's one-sided and obliged only by Pi's pregnancy.

But hey I was ready to commit that time. Hindi ako ang tipong magpapakasal sa taong hindi ko gusto gaano man ang kalaki ang responsibilidad na kaakibat niyon. Maybe I really like Titless way back that time.

Despite her psycho nature and titless figure, I was actually smitten. So bad.

And since we got back together for good, I have always asked her to marry me. One time when I was so happy upon knowing she's pregnant again, we got married in a garden wedding.

The third time we got married is when our daughter Fibonnacci— Fibby in short (damn, why is my father in law so obsessed with names relating to Mathematics?) was five years old. Kid was upset she wasn't the flower girl in our wedding kaya muli kaming nagpakasal para maging flower girl siya or else another personal bodyguard would have a sore balls because of her. She loves to slingshot people in their balls.

Yup, she took after a lot of her mom's attitude. Do not try to upset her or you will regret it. I remember there was a time when we were called at school because she stabbed her classmate with a newly sharpened pencil in the hand!

At bakit? Fibby said her classmate was touching her things and pushed some other kid. She was nursery that time!

I also recalled the time when she slingshot our neighbour because she saw him beating their dog!

Sa dinami-rami pa ng pwede niyang manahin kay Pi, why the psycho attitude? But Fibby is also very kind but dangerous. There was a time when we were eating in a fancy resto and saw a homeless guy outside.

Fibby left our table with her food and shared it to the guy. She hates people who threw plastics or any forms of garbage in the ocean because it will kill the turtles, she said. She loves to lead charity works and would personally wrap gifts for kids in an orphanage or foundation.

She looked exactly like me but most of her attitude is from Pi. She's too close to Zero and Cooler too. In fact, they are her favorite people which sometimes made me feel jealous.

I AM HER FATHER, WHY DOES SHE LIKES THEM MORE? Just like how Pi likes Cooler and Zero.

Damn those two.

Makikiagaw pa sa mga napakahalagang babae sa buhay ko.

Last time, we got married again because I was so sick that I started asking her for another wedding and yes, we did. It was a simple ceremony and just few people like friends and family are invited.

Isa pa ay hindi ako magsasawang pakasalan si Pi. Kahit pa sabihing sa lahat ng simbahan, papakasalan ko siya ay gagawin ko. I just love the idea of marrying her. I love the idea of having her as my wife in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer and everything.

Napahawak siya sa kanyang noo. "Pero Rocket—"

"I fell in love more with you every day Pi. Every part of me is devoted to you, just say yes, will you?"

Napakurap siya at niyakap ako. "Minsan naiisip kong ano ba talaga ang meron sa akin bakit patay na patay ka sa akin?"

I giggled a bit. Damn right, I was wondering about that one too. Maybe I can only say all the wait was so worth it. All the pain was never in vain.

Hindi kami perpekto, sooner or later alam kong masasaktan namin ang isa't-isa sa ano mang paraan but this time we both know now that running away will never solve it.

And we know how to apologize to every fight no matter who is at fault. Pi has learned that too. Ngayon ay pinakamahaba na siguro ang dalawang oras na walang kibuan sa amin sa tuwing nag-aaway kami.

I love her so bad. I love everything about her. No relationships are perfect but if you learn to be happy and contented of what you have, you will find true happiness.

And that's what I found right now.

Kinuha niya ang singsing at isinuot iyon sa sarili. "Of course Rocket, I will marry you over and over again!"

Muli ko siyang hinalikan at niyakap nang mahigpit. "You have no idea how you made me the happiest man right now."

"I love you Rocket," she said before pulling away at naglakad palayo. Nagtatakang sinundan ko siya ng tingin.

"Saan ka pupunta?" pahabol na tanong ko.

She smirked at me. "You know I love you and our engagement deserves a celebration but I have some things to do. I told you that woman has to lost a limb!"

Napailing na lamang aka at natampal ang noo. Damn this woman why is she so adorable?

Mabilis na sinundan ko na lamang siya upang pigilan sa kung ano mang balak niya. As I walked towards her, I cannot help but think that my world was now complete and there's nothing I could ask for more.

... Just some patience everytime she decided to throw a fit when something upsets her. Still, I love every bit of her devil side.

It was hard dealing with the devil, but in the end it was so worth it.

#

END OF DEALING WITH THE DEVIL
VANDER #1

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