Chapter 41: Proposal

"TAPOS na lahat, boss."

"Did you bury those dead bodies?" Agon asked.

"Opo."

"Prepare the chopper for us. We need to get back in the mansion," he commanded.

Nabaling agad si Agon ng umalis sa harap namin ang inutusan niyang tauhan. Hinapit niya ng walang kahirap-hirap ang bewang ko at hinalikan ako sa harap ng mga tauhan niya.

Agon's men avoided their gazes and turned their backs to us in unison. As if Agon said something to them, na ganoon na lang ang reaksyon nilang lahat.

Mahina kong hinampas ang dibdib ni Agon at namumulang napatitig sa kaniya.

"Walang pinipiling lugar talaga, eh 'no?" angil ko pero tumawa lang siya nang mahina at hinalikan ulit ako.

He was about to kiss me when his phone rang. It shows that Raji is calling him.

"Yeah?" bungad ni Agon matapos na sagutin ito. Agon nodded as if Raji could see it. "Yeah. We will be there shortly."

When the call ended, I looked at him asking for what Raji said.

"Levin's in the mansion already, we need to get home."

Napatango  ako at tahimik na naghintay kung okay na ba ang sasakyan naming chopper.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Napihit ko ang katawan at napalingon kay Agon.

"Wala bang nangyari kay Levin?" alalang tanong ko.

"Nope. He's safe."

Napatango ako, pero pansin ko ang paninitig ni Agon.

"Ano?" takang tanong ko.

"Ask me."

"Ha?"

"Ask me if I'm okay."

Nangunot agad ang noo ko at pinagmasdan ang buo niyang katawan. Wala namang kahit ano pero ginawa ko pa rin ang sinabi niya kahit naguguluhan.

"Okay ka lang ba?"

"I'm okay as long as I can protect you and you're safe, I'm okay."

Pinilit kong huwag ngumiti, pero hindi ko mapigilang lumabas 'yon sa mukha ko.

This silly mafia boss! Psh! Magpapakilig lang ang gusto, eh.

Without a word, Agon wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him. I didn't pull away, instead, my hands rested peacefully on top of it. Hindi ko rin alintana ang mga tauhang nakatalikod sa 'min at tila ayaw makita ang ginagawa namin ni Agon.

Agon's eye screamed love, gentleness, and fear, far from the mafia boss that I first met. I bit my lip as my heart beats rapidly.

Agon's hand moved, brushing the strand of hair on my face. "I'm far from the perfect man that you've ever dreamed of. Fuck! I hate to admit it, but I really am. You're the only thing that is perfect to me in this world where guns and bullets meet."

I smiled. "You're not perfect, but I love it when you're flawed."

"You're the reason why I come home. You filled my lifeless world without you knowing. You've been my constant and reason to fight."

"Agon. . ."

Halos mabingi ako sa tibok ng puso ko.

Binigyan ako ni Agon ng matamis na ngiti. Hindi ko akalain na sa taong 'to, na puno rati ng bato ang puso, ay sobrang lalambot ng ganito.

"My hands are stained with blood and sin, but I swear I'll do everything for you to fit into your life. I'll do everything to keep you safe. Let my hands be tainted with blood over and over again if someone hurts you. I know that we are married in papers, but I want to give you a more memorable wedding that you could ever have," he paused.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small red box. The moment he opened it seemed long, everything in this world seemed to move at a slower pace. A diamond ring revealed itself between the box, screaming elegance and power.

Napahigop ako ng hangin at napatakip sa bibig. Tears are dripping down on my cheeks like waterfalls. Sa kabila ng gulong 'to ay ngayon pa talaga, but how can I complain? I love it! I love how Agon does it in his own way. Wala na akong mas mahihiling pa.

"Jeyk, I promise to love you forever and cherish you for the rest of your life. Jeykcil Ryen Eleutero, will you marry me?"

I cried even more, unable to utter some words. Nakaluhod lang si Agon sa harap ko at hinihintay ang magiging sagot ko, na alam kong alam naman niya na oo.

Napatango ako at napahihikbing sumagot. "You're always surprising me in everything you do and doing things your way. Yes, I will marry you," I happily answered.

A rare, genuine smile appeared on Agon's lips as he put the diamond ring on my finger.

"I promise you that you will never regret choosing me. You're my world, baby."

Agon pulled me again into his arms, and we shared a long kiss, along with his men cheering and clapping their hands. I almost forgot that they are also here.

***

"ATE! KUYA!" Levin shouted happily when he spotted us at the mansion's door.

"Levin!" masayang bati ko at napayakap sa kaniya.

Nakasunod sa kaniya si Karen na halos ikasira ng ngiti ko, pero isang banayad na tapik ang nakuha ko kay Agon.

Bigla kong naalala ang pinag-usapan namin kanina sa chopper patungo rito.

"Ano?!"

"We need to do that."

"Pero bakit?! Mapapahamak tayo kapag pinanatili natin si Karen!"

"We need her to track down Jandron and Jogo's hideout. We can't let it slip."

Napabuntong-hininga ako. He's right, if we wanted to know where the enemy hides, we win. It's a risk after all.

"Act as if you don't know anything. We need to act."

Karen smiled. "Ayos lang po ba kayo, ma'am?" bungad niya pero napapansin ko na na may iba nga talaga sa kaniya.

Why I didn't notice it? Napakatanga ko.

"Hala, ma'am! Nawasak po ba ang keychain na bigay ko?" malungkot na aniya.

Hindi ko pa man nasabi ay iyon agad ang napansin niya. Hindi naman agad mapapansin ng ibang tao kung sa cellphone talaga nakatuon ang atensyon at may motibo.

Napasulyap ako nang panandalian kina Agon, napatango lang ito at tinuloy ang pag-usap sa mga tauhan niya at mga kaibigan.

"Ah, ano. . . nalaglag kase kaya ayun, nabasag. Pasensya ka na Karen, ha?" nagpapawang sabi ko.

She gave me a faked smile. "Naku, okay lang po, ma'am. Bibigyan na lang po kita sa susunod.

"Ate, is this a diamond ring?!" sigaw ni Levin kaya napatingin sa 'min ang mga kaibigan ni Agon.

Sa kaniya rin ako napabaling at nawala amg atensyon kay Karen.

"Woah, did you do it already, bro?" Nick asked, amused. "Wooh! Ako ang ring bearer, bro!" dagdag pa niya.

Napangiwi ako sa kaniya, dahil bigla kong na-imagine na ganoon nga siya sa kasal namin ni Agon. Kung siya lang man ay 'wag na lang!

"Finally!" Ardeen commented. Dali-dali siyang lumapit at kinamusta ako. "Congratulations, babe."

"Congratulations," Raji said genuinely. "Agon is the most happy man in this world right now. He seems cold, but it was just a cover, you know what? Sometimes he just was like a kid wanting affection and love," Raji added.

I giggled. "Definetly," I commented.