I dedicate this chapter to BalaneErich. Thanks for giving kind comments and generous votes. This is just a short update. I will try to make a longer one next time. Please tune in with Kalish Russet's story. Enjoy😉

Holly trembled as Kalish’s deep eyes bore on her scar with an intensity which apparently shook her whole being. She swallowed as he moved his foot, taking one step closer their mere distance.

She swallowed hard, trying to push down the burning lump in her throat. She closed her eyes. The memory was still fresh for her and it pained her everytime it touches her consciousness.

Nakuha niya ang peklat na iyon sa isang aksidenteng kinokonsidera ng lolo’t lola niya bilang parusa sa pagsuway niya sa kagustuhan nila. When her grandmother told her about her plan for her that she would live the rest of her life inside a convent, she runaway from home and met an accident leaving her the crescent scar on her collarbone. At dahil nga rin sa nakaraan niyang iyon ay hindi na niya maaaring makasama pa si Kalish.

But when she sensed his closeness, feeling his warmth assaulting her sensitive skin, she snapped open her eyes and Kalish’s appreciative eyes welcomed her. Ang nakalulunod nitong mga mata’y matamang nakatingin sa peklat niya at walang mababakas na pagkadismaya o pandidiri doon.

“Lovely…” He murmured and she hitched her breath when he lifted up his hand to gently touch her oddly- shaped scar. Maya- maya pa’y lumamlam ang mga mata nito at natakot ang dalaga sa biglaang pagbabago ng ekspresyon nito.

Ngunit ng bumaba ang kamay nito at naglandas patungo sa kamay niya upang hawakan iyon ay bahagyang nabawasan ang bigat sa kanyang dibdib.

“Pain makes human more beautiful, Holly.” He continued and his eyes drifted to her scar again. “But I’m sorry that I wasn’t there when you had that.” He murmured solemnly triggering tears from Holly’s eyes.

“B- But this is a scar, Kalish. I can never be fit for you anymore.” Her voice broke. Blame it to the quivering of her lips.

Kalish snaked his arm around her narrow waist, pulling her in the process. Sumubsob ang binata sa leeg niya at agad na tumaas mga balahibo niya sa simpleng paglapat ng labi ng binata sa kanyang balat.

“That’s what the tradition says, coure mio. But I am not that stupid tradition.” He breathed against the crook of her neck making her gasp.

“B- But Kalish-”

Muli siyang napasinghap ng iangat ng binata ang mukha at nanlaki ang mga mata niya ng lumapat ang malambot nitong labi sa labi niya. Magaan lamang iyon, kung tutuusin ay dampi lamang. Ngunit pakiramdam ng dalaga ay tinakasan siya ng lakas sa ginawa ng binata.

Bahagyang inilayo ng binata sa kanya ang mukha ngunit hindi niyon napatigil ang nagwawalang pagtahip ng dibdib niya. She was feeling the odd heat inside her again. It was putting her insides into a great fire and it was all because of Kalish Russet.

“I will love every blemish on your skin, coure mio. I would accept every blemish from you.”

“Kalish…” She was out of words. Everything overwhelmed her that all she could do was to stare in his powerful eyes, praying that it would be the same eyes that would look at her lovingly after 50 years and more.

Marahan itong ngumiti na naging daan upang mabistahan niya pang mabuti ang pinagpala nitong mukha. He gently wiped a tear that stained his cheek using his thumb and she caught his hand, closing her eyes as she reveled with its warmth.

“Coure mio…” He whispers amorously and she opened her eyes, “what do you say when I tell you to marry me?”

She froze. Nasabi na nito kaninang nais siya nitong pakasalan ngunit iba ang nararamdaman niya ngayon base na rin sa masidhing kulay ng tsokolate sa mga mata ng gwapong binata. Napalunok siya, pinipigilang igupo ng mga luha.

“But my scar-”

“Let’s break tradition, coure mio. Marry me.”

Everything happened so fast like a dream and Holly couldn’t keep up with the changes happening to her life. After accepting Kalish’s proposal and an hour drove by, she was already Mrs. Kalish Russet. At hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala kung gaano kamakapangyarihan ang binata. Sa loob lamang ng isang oras ay naayos nito ang kasal nila sa huwes. And they really broke tradition even to the literal sense. They got married with her on her regular dress and Kalish’s plain sleeves and linen pants with his butler and his lawyer as witnesses.

Huminga siya ng malalim bago nagdesisyong lumabas ng maluwang na banyo ng silid ni Kalish. Nakasuot lamang siya ng roba at ramdam niya ang pagiinit ngunit panginginig ng katawan sa maaaring mangyari mamaya. She was his now. Lumaki siya halos sa kumbento ngunit alam na alam niyang mayroon na siya ngayong responsibilidad sa binata at isa doon ay ang pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng katawan nito. Klish might be a royalty, but he was still a man. A healthy man in his prime.

Biglang humupa ang kaba sa dibdib niya at napalitan iyon ng pagaalala ng makitang wala ang binata sa silid. Mabilis niyang kinuha sa mamahaling wedding ring na nakapatong sa dresser at isinuot iyon. She stared at her wedding band and she doesn’t want to think how much fortune it cost. Just by looking at it, one can tell that it was more expensive than a regular car. She felt like she was wearing a whole mansion on her finger.

Mula sa kinatatayuan ay naaninag niya si Kalish sa balkonahe ng silid. Ibinuhol niya ng mabuti ang roba at lumapit sa sliding door na bahagyang nakabukas. Nanuot sa balat niya ang malamig na hanging nakapasok sa silid dahil sa awang ng salaming pintuan.

Tila ay napako siya sa kinatatayuan habang tinitingnan ang likuran ng asawa na nakatanaw sa harding nakaharap sa silid.

Asawa. The word gave her mixed emotions but to sum it up, she was overwhelmed. Asawa na nga niya ang lalaking nagmamay- ari ng dominanteng likod na iyon. Pagmamay- ari na niya ang perpektong lalaking ng sandaling iyon ay tila napakalalim ng iniisip at nagsimulang balutan ng takot ang sistema niya. Nabibilisan din ba ito sa mga nangyari sa kanila? Was he perhaps… regretting?

Her breathing trapped in her throat when Kalish turned to face her. He smiled gently and she felt the door of heavens opened when he reached out his hand to her.

Napangiti siya. She slid opened the sliding door and stepped out the threshold. Kalish paced forward, meeting her halfway then she was encaged in his powerful warmth.

Kalish slightly pulled away, lifting her chin with his thumb and index finger. Anticipating his next move, she closed her eyes just as Kalish brushed his lips to hers. She palmed his shirt as if stealing some energy there which was eventually draining because of the intimate contact.

Habol niya ang hininga ng putulin ni Kalish ang halik. Gumapang paangat sa likod ng ulo niya ang kamay nito at kinintalan siya ng magaang halik sa noo.

“I thought you ran away.” She murmured; obvious affection radiating her eyes.

Kalish let out a soft chuckle and she would do anything to hear it over again. “I won’t do it in our first night. Not ever.”

She smiled; ngiting kasing gaan ng hangin. Nagmamahal na nga siya at hindi niya pagsisisihan ang mga desisyong ginawa niya. Hanggang sa huli, paninindigan niya ito.

“Please bear with the kind of wedding I can give you now, coure mio.” He whispered softly and she can trace a ghost of apology there. “I probably shattered your dream wedding.”

She shook her head, smiling gently at him. “I never thought that I’d marry so I never really thought of my dream wedding.”

His lips curved into a fond smile. “It’s high time you think of your ideal wedding, coure mio. I will certainly give it to you.”

“I’m your wife now. It’s all that matters.” She breathed.

Kalish smiled and lowered down his head. She tensed, narrowing her eyes in utter surprise when his husband’s lipd landed on the crook of his neck giving it a teasing kiss… nipping her sensitive skin. Nanggigilalas niyang naitakip ang palad sa mga labi nang umalpas ang isang ungol doon. She can feel his skin slowly set on fire as her body started to shake.

With that, Kalish stopped doing his business. She can hear his heavy breathing as he seemed to struggle to look at her.She swallowed hard.

“I- I’m sorry…” Napapahiyang bulong niya sa asawa. “B- But I’m scared.” She croaked.

Kalish’s hands around her waist slid up to her shoulders. He heaved a deep breath and he stepped back to give a breathing distance between their bodies. Her throat parched. Paano na lang kung nadidismaya na ito ngayon sa kanya?

“Kalish-"

“Hush, coure mio.” He cut her off gently wearing the most patient expression only an angel could muster. “We have all the time in the world. I’ll wait ‘til you’re ready.”

“Pero responsibilidad ko sa’yo ‘to.”

He smiled and caressed her cheek. “Be my wife and love me. For now, it’s enough.”