Chapter 11

Primrose

My heart kept on pounding like crazy!

"Congratulations, Mr., and Mrs. Parker!" Baron cheered.

The boys clapped when we entered my room. The guy, who just became my husband a moment ago, smirked.

Yes, we got married! Hindi kasama ang SBG kaya naghintay sila rito sa kwarto ko sa hotel dahil mas malaki ito kumpara sa kanila. We only have Ate Alice and the two Korean citizens as witnesses.

Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko kanina pa na parang kinakabahan at hanggang ngayon ay nanghihina ang buong katawan ko at hindi ko alam kung bakit.

"Wala na, good bye single life na talaga si Kuya Loey," natatawang sabi ni Nate.

Noong mga nakaraang araw, kuya na ang tawag ni Nate sa lahat, pero mas madalas pa rin na pangalan lang, depende sa trip niya. Si Kaito lang talaga ang mukhang magalang at mas bata sa kanilang dalawa. Ang tanda kasi talaga minsan kumilos ni Nate, lalo na magsalita.

I shook my head. "He can still live like every single man out there. It's only his status that has changed." I managed to say, throwing my bag on the bed. I removed my wedges and walked towards the bed barefoot.

"I'll live and act as your husband, Primrose Parker."

I flinched hearing my new family name. Do I need to get used to it or maybe not since we'll also get a divorce in the future?

"Yeah sure," I replied with a tone of disinterest.

Pagod akong umupo sa kama habang nakatingin sa mga nakakalat na lalaki. Si Dred lang yata ang tahimik sa sulok at si Leigh na tahimik din habang kumakain ng chocolate malapit sa refrigerator.

"Dude, hindi yata ako sanay na may asawa ka na," sabi ni Baron habang nakayakap sa braso ni Loey. Kung titingnan ay parang silang dalawa ang nagpakasal.

Uso talaga maging clingy sa kanila kasi ramdam ko rin minsan kapag nasa opisina ako at dumadalaw sila, akala mo ay hindi kami nakatira sa iisang bahay. May isang araw nga na kahit hindi gaano namamansin si Nate ay magdamag akong sinundan saang sulok man ng building ako magpunta. Ewan ko ba sa kanila.

"Oo nga pala, Prim!" sigaw ni Nate at mabilis na lumapit sa akin. "Kailan at saan ang honeymoon niyo? Hindi ba kami pwedeng sumama?"

Naramdaman kong uminit ang aking mga pisngi habang si Loey ay narinig kong parang nasamid. Hindi ko binalak mapag-usapan iyon! I mean, uncle offered us a honeymoon trip, but hello? We're not a real couple so there's no reason for us to go on a honeymoon, right?

"Dapat kasama rin kami! We're your guardians," said Matt.

"Oh shit. A married couple with guardians," Baron laughed but soon whined when Loey harshly pushed him away. "What the hell, man? Okay fine I'll shut up."

Loey and I glanced at each other, and as if he can read my mind, he's the one who answered their youngest member's questions.

"We haven't talked about it yet. We still have a concert here, then a fan meeting back in our country."

"Pero pwede kaming sumama?"

This time, I was the one to answer, "Sure, why not?"

They all shouted joyfully. Kung mag ho-honeymoon talaga kaming dalawa, kailangan namin may kasama, for safety purposes only.

"We haven't celebrated your achievements, plus Leigh's comeback, so I guess that would be a triple celebration," I added, seeing the frown of the giant guy I married.

Everyone agreed but didn't talk much about it since they still need to practice for their concert tomorrow. Isang linggo kami rito, pero sa hotel lang halos ang ikot ng buhay namin dito lalo na't hindi sila maaaring lumabas gaano dahil sa fans nila. Mahigpit kaming pinagbawalan ni Tito Reylan, kaya rin kasama namin si Ate Alice ay para may bantay talaga. Pasaway pa naman daw ako.

Well, I think I need to talk to Ate Alice and Uncle Reylan.

He stared at me without saying a word, which I just ignored.

"Kulang ka ba sa tulog?" tanong niya nang hindi na makatiis.

I nodded slightly, looking at my reflection on the mirror. Halata ang dark circles ko ngayon at mukhang wala akong buhay tingnan. Huminga ako nang malalim bago uminom ng tubig.

Hindi ako gaano nakatulog dahil may mga inaral at inasikaso ako pagkabalik ng SBG sa kanilang mga kwarto. Alam kong dapat ay hindi ako nagpuyat lalo na't ngayon ang concert nila, hindi naman pwedeng matulog lang ako sa dressing room. Kaso gusto ko rin naman may patunayan at ayusin ang mga dapat ayusin..

"You can just rest here, you know," he said worriedly.

I could feel a burning sensation inside my body, robbing my strength and my ability to speak.

Shaking my head, I managed to say, "No. I can go. I'll support you backstage, Loey."

He opened his mouth, but I raised my hand to stop him from saying anything. My head has no strength to argue with him whether I'll go or not. His attention diverted when someone knocked.

"Good morning, Primrose," Kuya Eros greeted, which I just answered with a smile, then he turned to Loey. "Rehearsal."

When the door closed, I glanced at him. "You can go now. I'll be fine."

Loey hesitated but I assured him not to worry. My heart even melted when I saw that he's really worried about me, I could tell from the look on his face.

He clicked his tongue before he nodded unwillingly. When he turned around and walked out of my room, a small smile flashed on my face. That guy's acting like a real husband, huh?

Pumunta siya rito sa kwarto ko para lang tingnan kung gising na ako't kung kumain na ng breakfast kahit kaunti lang. Hindi nga ako makakilos gaano kanina dahil alam kong sweet siya, naramdaman ko iyon noong nakaraan pa, pero hindi talaga ako sanay lalo na ngayon na parang dumoble pa ang katamisan niya.

Ilang oras pa bago ang concert, kaya naman naisip kong magpahinga't matulog muna kahit ilang minuto lang para mas gumanda ang pakiramdam ko.

The past few weeks, I've been studying nonstop, even when we got here, I barely slept. Maybe my body needs to rest even just a little bit.

"Your husband's been worried so he called me to buy some medicine for you," she said, handing me a glass of water and the medicine she bought.

"Thank you, Ate Alice."

She smiled at me, poking my forehead, "You shouldn't let your husband worry about you. He might leave their rehearsal just to nurse you."

My eyes rolled instantly as she teased me, "He has a name, Ate. It's Loey, not your husband."

She just giggled then prepared my things. Nauna ang SBG sa venue na malapit lang din naman sa hotel dahil kailangan pa nilang mag rehearse. Hapon pa naman ang concert nila, kaya may ilang oras pa. Ang dami nilang hinanda para sa dalawang oras na concert, at alam ko naman na bitin din ito para sa mga fans kaso sa dalawang oras na 'yon ay pagod na ang grupo.

"Ate, can you make an arrangement for... well," I hesitated. This is so weird, to be honest, "for our honeymoon?" Her eyes widened that's why I added immediately, "But with the whole group!"

"Okay, sure," she smiled.

I sigh in relief when she dismissed the topic naturally. I really don't have the energy right now so I bet she'll tease me soon when I'm already feeling well.

I took a quick shower, but my body started to shiver. Mabuti na lang may kinausap sa labas si ate Alice kaya naman nag tago ako kaagad sa blanket nang makapagbihis na ako.

"Prim, let's go."

Walang nagbago sa nararamdaman ko pero sinubukan kong hindi ito ipahalata sa karamihan, lalo na kay Loey! Baka mamaya kulitin akong magpahinga na lang o bumalik sa hotel, ganoon pa naman siya.

As soon as we arrived, I gave all their staff an iced-coffee and thanked them for their hard work. The staff was all busy checking the system, stage, and so on, while the SBG's were all preparing in their dressing room.

"Good luck, guys!" I tried to sound cheerful.

They all gathered around me with a huge smile. Kinuha naman nila ang inumin na dinala ko para sa kanila at nagpasalamat, habang ang iba naman ay bumalik sa pag-aayos ng makeup at buhok nila.

Then my body stiffened when I felt his piercing stares, again. I slowly turned and smiled at him, but he just frowned. Okay, what the hell is wrong with him? I'm not that sick, my gosh Loey Parker!

Tahimik pa rin niya akong pinagmamasdan, pero hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at naupo ako sa isang bakanteng upuan habang sila ay inaayusan.

Finally, Loey approached me, still frowning. "You sure you're okay?" he asked.

"Yes. Stop worrying about me and just focus on your performance," I replied casually.

His lips parted, but in the end, he just nodded without taking his eyes away from me. I didn't mind though, I got used to it somehow since we're not just engaged before, but we also got the chance to date secretly and be more comfortable with each other.

Siguro iyong pagiging caring niya lang talaga ang hindi ko magawang makasanayan, na hindi ko rin naman gusto para kung sakaling may magbago, hindi malaki ang adjustment na gagawin ko.

"Basta magpahinga ka kapag hindi maganda pakiramdam mo ha?" he said as he cupped my face. "You obviously look like someone who needs rest," then he kissed me on my forehead before he turned around and left me and my pounding heart.

What the hell?

That guy never failed to make me feel special. It's dangerous, I know, but for once, I somehow wished everything's true... even our marriage.

The boys walked out of the room to prepare backstage, while I just sat on the sofa, processing what just happened. When my heart started to calm down, I followed others towards backstage. As soon as I went there, the roaring people filled my ears and how they all clapped when the SBG went on stage for their opening performance.

Even though my body's aching a bit, I still smiled widely seeing them singing and dancing on the stage. I may not be one of their audience out there, but being in the backstage made me feel like I'm much closer to them, which I'm really grateful for.

"Woah there!"

I stepped backward when my head started to spin, good thing Baron caught me and helped me compose myself again.

"You okay?" he asked. "They're still on stage, I need to prepare for my solo performance then I saw you who looked like you were about to lay and sleep on the floor," he chuckled when he saw me roaming my eyes, looking for the others.

Napatingin naman ako sa monitor kung saan nakita ko ang ibang kausap pa ang fans pero agad din dumilim at may nag flash na video sa screen.

"You should change now. I'm fine," I told him. "Thank you."

Concern was evident in his eyes, but just like Loey, he nodded. Binigyan ko siya ng isang tipid na ngiti bago ibinalik ang mga tingin sa monitor, ngunit hindi rin nagtagal ay para bang umiikot na talaga ang mundo't paningin ko.

"Primrose!"

I groaned as the pain throbbed violently around my head. Later on, someone massaged my temple and I could feel my body relaxed a little bit. I opened my eyes slowly, his eyes locked with mine, and there I saw in his face the kind of gentle concern my dad and mom used to have. I was soothed by the way his hand touched my head, massaging it lightly and carefully as if it would crack if he put force on it.

"What happened?" I asked as I tried to sit on the bed.

Loey helped me with his hands on my shoulder, "You fainted. We were so worried, Primrose! I told you to rest but you didn't listen, now look what happened."

I wanted to roll my eyes especially when he pouted, but I admit that I was at fault, I should have taken care of myself even more. Hindi ko naman kasi inakalang halos kakalas na pala ang katawan ko dahil sa ilang araw na busy ako't puyat. Hindi ko na nga maalala kung kumakain pa ba ako sa tamang oras, eh, lalo na noong mga nakaraang araw ay hindi kami magkakasabay ng SBG dahil may praktis din sila na umaabot na ng madaling araw minsan.

Loey stood and walked towards the refrigerator when he came back to my side, he was already holding a bottle of water.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

Napakurap ako nang maramdaman ang palad niya sa aking noo habang seryosong nakatingin lang sa aking mga mata. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa bote at sinubukang hindi masamid dahil sa ginawa. Nang alisin niya ang kanyang kamay sa noo ko ay doon lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag.

He frowned, "What's with that look?"

"What look?"

"Nothing," he shook his head. "I bought a bowl of soup for you, wait."

Hinayaan ko siyang asikasuhin ako dahil malamang sa malamang ay magpupumilit lang siya, baka lalo pa akong magkasakit sa kakulitan niya. Isa pa, medyo seryoso siyang tingnan ngayon na akala mo ay anak niya akong sumuway sa utos niya.

"I can manage," I said.

He nodded slowly before handing me the small bowl of soup. Mabilis ko naman inubos iyon lalo na't nakakailang ang pagtitig niya sa akin!

I watched him wash the bowl and refill my water. If he's not married to me, I'll really envy the girl he would.

"By the way, the boys said that they'll visit you tomorrow morning and sorry if they can't stay by your side since they also need to attend the celebration of the success of our concert."

I blinked, "Then why are you here?"

He frowned again, "What do you mean?"

"You should be there with your members not here!"

Loey blinked for a moment, and then he chuckled softly and stared at me as if he heard something amusing.

"Why would I be there if my wife just fainted after our opening performance?" he asked. "Ate Alice was the one who brought you back here, but after our concert, I rushed here just to nurse you. After all, she needs to attend a video conference."

My heart skipped a beat hearing him call me as such, and I admit that I liked the feeling. No, I loved the feeling when the word wife escaped from his lips, which again, I found it dangerous.

In the end, I just ignored him as if I didn't hear a thing.

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