Welcome to the end of the first installment.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

See you on the next one!

EVELYN DeMARCUS

"Ate, you have to convince kuya Ruel to move out," Eva whispered to me with a pout. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "I'm just saying! He's almost a married man! Dapat lang na bumukod na sila ni ate Kyla. Hindi 'yung ayaw nilang umalis dahil ayaw nila akong iwan. I'm sure I can take care of myself."

I chuckled at her attempt. "Eva, buti sana kung 'yun rin ang gusto ni Kyla. But they both want to stay with you until you graduate kaya wala ka nang magagawa pa doon."

She groaned. "But, ate, paano ako magkakaroon ng pamangkin niyan? Ayaw naman nilang bumukod!"

Again, I raised a brow at her. "I'm sure they'll find a way, Eva. They have enough resources."

She pouted. Napagtanto na siguro na walang pupuntahan ang usapang 'to. It didn't matter that Ruel was almost married — hindi non mababago ang realidad na siya parin ang pinaka overprotective sa'ming lahat pagdating kay Eva. Our parents, Russell, and I all support his decision not to move out until Eva graduates from law school. Tatlong taon nalang din naman 'yon kaya ayos lang.

We were at the family mansion dahil Sunday. It was also a very important lunch dahil pamamanhikan ngayon nina Third. We were really just going through formalities and all that bago kami ikasal sa simbahan.

After telling our families of our last-minute civil wedding, akala mo naman kung anong krimen na ang ginawa namin. Both our moms were so offended na ikinasal kami with me only wearing jeans and a white blouse. They were even more appalled when they found out na kahit isa ay wala rin kaming kinuhang picture. Our only witness was my secretary na tinawagan ko pa mula sa office. It was so rushed I didn't really have time for anything else.

"Hi, love." Third wrapped me in his arms before kissing my cheek. Awtomatikong napunta ang mga daliri niya sa simpleng singsing na nasa pang-apat na daliri ko. I smiled as he played with my wedding ring. Lately, 'yan na ang paborito niyang gawin. He said he loves seeing it on me.

Sumandal ako sa dibdib niya at ninamnam ang yakap niya. "You left dad to grill?"

He nuzzled my cheek lovingly. "Mhm. Sila nalang daw muna ni Russell. I think your brother wants to tell him something."

"Oh?" Bumaling ako sa kung saan si dad at si Russell. Mukha ngang seryoso ang usapan nilang dalawa. I suddenly wondered what it was about.

"Ano daw, kuya?" panguusisa ni Eva na ngayon ay nakatingin narin sa gawi nila dad. She narrowed her eyes na para bang sinusubukan niyang basahin ang galaw ng mga labi nila. I shook my head at my nosy sister.

I felt Third shrug behind me. "Hindi ko alam. Wala naman akong narinig."

"Hmm..."

Inirapan ko si Eva. "Don't even think about it, lady. Guluhin mo ang kuya Ruel mo, huwag sila."

Lumabi siya. "But kuya Ruel is busy with ate Kyla! I can't disturb those two! They just got engaged kaya!"

"Your ate and I just got married and you're here." Third chuckled at her.

Sumimangot si Eva. "Hindi 'yon counted kasi hindi naman sa simbahan. I won't bug you, too, for two weeks after your church wedding, kuya."

"Two weeks lang?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

She lifted her chin in defiance. "I change my mind. One week nalang ngayon because of what you said, ate!"

Natawa nalang ako at hinayaan na siya. I listened to her banter with Third while I remained quiet. Natutuwa ako na malapit silang dalawa at komportable ang bunso namin sa asawa ko. I am also really grateful that Third is so patient with her. Kahit ano'ng pang-aasar ni Eva ay sinasakyan lang talaga ni Third at hindi pinepersonal.

"Where's kuya Luis? Siya na nga lang kausapin ko!"

"Bakit, crush mo?" pang-aasar ni Third.

Eva's glare screamed murder. "He's like my kuya! Plus, hindi ko type ang mga lalaking ganon katanda! I won't date anyone if they're three years or more older than I am!"

I chuckled. "Three years or older, huh? Why not?"

Ngumiwi ang kapatid ko. "I can't date someone older than you or kuya Russell. That's just weird."

"Or just don't date anyone. Masyado ka pang bata para diyan," seryosong singit ni Third mula sa likod ko.

I smirked as Eva's lips parted. I remember her grumbling about having additional brothers. 'Yun daw kasi ang pakiramdam niya tuwing lagi siyang binabantayan ni Third o ni Luis. She whined about already having two older brothers who are overprotective, bakit pa daw kailangan madagdagan pa?

"Hindi talaga ako magb-boyfriend! I have no time!" she hissed then turned around. Bumulong-bulong pa siya sa sarili niya pero natawa na lamang kami ni Third.

"She will fall so hard," Third chuckled behind me.

I grinned. "I can't wait for that day. She's too stubborn."

"Give her a few years, love," aniya at mas hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap sa'kin.

I hummed and leaned my body against him. Pumikit ako at ninamnam ang pakiramdam ng mga braso niyang nakapulupot sa katawan ko. I really could stay in his arms forever.

"I love you," he whispered sweetly.

"Mahal na mahal din kita..."

Naramdaman ko ang mga daliri niyang nilalaro ang singsing ko. My wedding ring. He had a similar one pero 'di tulad niya ay hindi ako mahilig na paglaruan 'yon. He now developed this annoying but endearing habit of playing with my wedding ring. Noong tinanong ko kung bakit, dahil daw hindi parin siya makapaniwala na kasal na talaga kami. I was now Mrs. Evelyn DeMarcus - Lounge.

"Mom must be really happy. She's planning two weddings and Eva's upcoming debut!"

Natawa si Third. "Uh huh. Hindi kaya siya mahihirapan?"

Umiling ako. "She lives for social gatherings. Kung kami lang ni Ruel ang papipiliin, wala nang engrandeng church wedding, e. I'm sure he and Kyla want an intimate ceremony."

"Baka tumulad sa'tin at magtanan na rin?"

I imagined mom's fury if that happened. Siguro ay pareho na kaming itatakwil 'pag nangyari 'yon! She has always been urging us to marry early. Gusto daw kasi niyang magplano ng kasal at gusto din niya na bata pa siya para makalaro ang mga apo niya. The only thing that calmed her down when she found out na kinasal na kami ni Third ay ang pagaakala niyang ginawa namin 'yun dahil buntis ako. I didn't bother correcting her dahil ayokong magfreak out pa siya lalo. I'm sure I'll be in child's way soon, anyway... We've stopped using condoms, after all.

"No... Kyla won't allow that. She wants to please mom too much to go against her wishes."

"Inunahan pa si Russell."

I rolled my eyes and thought of my overly clingy brother. "Hindi 'yon mag-aasawa o magkakaanak. Masyado siyang clingy para humiwalay."

"That's true."

When they called us over to eat, lahat kami ay hiwa-hiwalay. We had four circular tables set up dahil masyado kaming marami para sa iisang table. It wasn't really a bother, though, dahil masaya parin kaming lahat na nagk-kwentuhan.

Russell sat beside me at napansin ko ang pagkabalisa niya. He kept on checking his phone and smiling every now and then kaya hindi maiwasang tumaas ang kilay ko. I tried to look over his shoulder at nang mapansin niya 'yon ay sinara niya ang phone niya.

Mas lalo akong na-curious. "Who's Eloise?"

Kumindat siya. "My girl."

Nagulat ako doon. I didn't know he was dating! "May girlfriend ka na? Kailan pa?"

"Who has a girlfriend?" usisa naman ni Eva sa tapat ko. She looked at his kuya in shock. "May girlfriend ka na, kuya Rus?"

"Si Russell? Hindi nga?" singit naman ni Luis. "Nagseseryoso ka pala, pare?"

Pinanood ko ang pagsimangot ng kapatid ko. I watched him in pure amusement as he pouted like a child. Para bang na-offend ng husto sa sinabi ng brother-in-law ko.

"Of course nagseseryoso ako! Bakit ba gulat na gulat kayong lahat na may girlfriend ako, ha?!" inis na sabi naman ni Rus.

"Maybe because you never had one, son!" singit ni mom mula sa kabilang table. Now everyone's attention was on us. "And who's your girlfriend? Bakit wala siya dito?"

"Nasa Ilocos, mom," sagot ng kapatid ko.

"Ilocos?" I sat up straighter. "You met her, what? Four months ago?"

"Five," sagot ni Russell.

"Serious ka with her, kuya?" Eva asked.

"Of course!" Russell hissed.

"Chill, Rus. Nagtatanong lang si Eva," Ruel intervened, always the overprotective kuya. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm serious with her, okay? At ipapakilala ko din sila sainyo!"

"Sila?" We were all shocked.

"Dalawa ang girlfriend mo?" Third asked.

"What? No!" Russell looked scandalized now.

"So bakit 'sila' ang sinabi mo, kuya? Who's the other one?"

This time, Russell's lips formed a slow grin. "Sila. My girlfriend and our baby."

Holy shit!

What?

Check out Russell DeMarcus' story in the next installment of the DeMarcus series: IN YOUR ARMS.