"Damn it!"

He hissed. He looked at me, his brows furrowed and he looked mad? For some reason, I know why. Ngumiti ako ng nagpapa-awa sakanya. Is asking about when we're going to get married bad?

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked you while you were drinking." nakangiwing sabi ko sakanya. He grab a tissue and wiped the side of his lips and his arms, pati ang damit niya ay nabasa.

"Kailan mo ba gusto? Do you want a Grand wedding?" he asked without looking at me. I smiled bitterly, of course I want a Grand wedding. Sino bang babae ang may ayaw sa ganoong kasal? It's evey woman's dream dahil once in a lifetime lang 'yon. But if you have a budget of course pwedeng ulit-ulitin 'yon.

"I don't want one." I answered instead.

Umangat ang tingin niya sa akin. Sure, I will walk down the aisle. I will wear a glamorous gown and I will be the most beautiful woman in the world if that'll happen. Pero yung maisip na scripted at hindi galing sa puso ang magiging wedding vows naming dalawa? Damn, that hurts me.

I love him from the beginning and I am sure that I will still love him until the end.

E siya kaya?

"Why? Don't you want to walk down the aisle? Just like Mj?" sunod sunod na tanong niya habang nakataas ang kilay niya sa akin. Punong puno ng pagtataka ang mala Greek god na mukha nito.

I shrugged my shoulders. "No." I lied.

"Weird."  he uttered. "So? You want a Civil?" he ask again.

"Let's just sign the marriage contract." yumuko ako para maitago ang malungkot kong ngiti sakanya.

"Hindi papayag si Mommy sa gusto mo, Bree." malamig ang boses niya. Umangat ang tingin ko sakanya, he's jaw was clenching too hard and his face was dark.

"Then..." huminga ako nang malalim. "Walang kasal na magaganap." pagmamatigas ko.

He laugh sarcastically to me while shaking his head. "I can't believe you. Finish your food, we're going home. I want to rest."

Tumango lang ako at binilisan ang pagkain. Did I say something bad? He looks so mad at me. He's aura became dark all of a sudden. I can see him greeting his teeth, kanina.

He became so silent after that confrontation. Hindi ko alam kung may nasabi ba ako na hindi niya nagustuhan, is it because I don't want to have a church wedding? If only I could tell him my reason so he can understand me. Ayoko naman na ma pressure siya to like me back.

Nagulat ako nang bigla nalang mag vibrate ang phone ko. I smiled when I saw the name of my friend, naging kaibigan ko siya noong college dahil madalas akong mapadayo sa Psychology building. I immediately answer it.

"Hi! Long time no talk, Laurent." I greeted cheerfully. Not minding Nichos with dark aura.

[Yeah, I've been very busy. Anyways where are you?] he asked. I can hear some flipping pages on the other line, he's probably doing his job while talking to me.

"Kakatapos ko lang sa photoshoot. I miss you, by the way." I smiled when I heard him chuckled softly.

[I miss you too. But please! Stop being so sweet to me, hindi mo naman pananagutan feelings ko.] biro niya sa akin.

I laughed. I can still remember how we met, nakatago noon ako sa likod ng puno habang nakatingin sa pwesto nina Kuya kasama si Nichos, siya naman ay naka upo sa sanga ng puno. Nalaglag siya noon kaya ako ang nagdala sakanya sa clinic, he's so clumsy. I asked him what he's doing there and he answer me with a sad smile. Ayun pala na basted ng isang babae dahil sa pang gagago niya.

"As if you have feelings for me, Laurent." ai fake a laugh. "Omygod! Nanligaw ka nga pala sa akin— the fuck!" mura ko ng muntik nang sumubsob ang mukha ko sa dash board ng sasakyan. I looked at Nichos, chill lang siyang nakatingin sa akin while pointing in front.

"May pusa."

[Okay ka lang? Ano yun?] tanong sa akin ni Laurent.

I didn't answer him and just looked at Nichos. He's now so focus on driving, he gripped the stirring wheel so hard that the veins on his hands up to his arms are showing. He looks so hot especially now that he looked pissed, but I am more pissed because of what he did!

"I will talk to you later, Laurent. I just need to fix something." Paalam ko sakanya at pinatay na ang tawag. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at Nichos. "Why did you do that?" I asked irritated.

"Do what?" he ask innocently. He glance at me.

"Yung ginawa mo kanina." I rolled my eyes at him. God! He's so childish!

"I didn't do anything, Bree. Why don't you just talk with your boy?" I can hear the thick sarcasm on his voice.

"Are you jealous?" I ask and leaned forward a bit so I can see his face. He glared at me for a second, tapos ay ibinalik na sa daan ang tingin.

"No." he answered. I smiled at him, sabi ko nga hindi siya nagseselos.

"Then why did you do that stunt? Pwede tayong maaksidente sa ginawa mo." kalmado kong sabi sakanya. Pasimple kong minasahe ang batok ko. He glanced at me and sigh. "Bakit mo tinabi?" I ask when he parked the car on the side.

Kinalas niya ang seat belt niya at lumapit sa akin. "Masakit ba? Come here, I'll massage it." sinenyasan niya ako na lumapit nang kaunti sakanya.

"Sa bahay nalang," pigil ko sakanya nang akmang hahawakan na niya ang batok ko. He sighed and put his seatbelt back.

"Tell me if it hurts too much." he glanced at me.  I tried to nod my head pero napa igik lang ako. Damn, malakas ang pagka preno niya kanina, nabigla ako.

He drove too fast, feel ata niya ay nakikipag karera siya sa mga sasakyan na nasa harapan namin. I tapped his leg,

"Slow down.." utos ko sakanya. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa kamay ko na nasa may hita parin pala niya. Agad ko yung binawi at kinuyom. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sakanya kaya hindi ko na nakita ang reaksyon niya.

And I don't want to see it. He's probably teasing me by now with his look, napalunok ako. Bakit kasi sa lahat ng pwede kong tapikin ay yung binti pa niya ang napag tripan ko? Hindi nagtagal ang biyahe namin dahil sa bilis niyang mag drive he didn't even bother to slow down even when I asked him to.

Nauna siyang bumaba sa akin pagtapos ay umikot at pinagbuksan ako. My eyes widened when he grab my hand and intertwined it with his big and callous hand. My hand felt so small on his.

"Hello po," I greeted when I saw his parents. They looked shock when they saw our hands intertwined.

"Hi Mom, If you want an daughter in law this instant. I suggest you to contact your favorite Judge and ready a marriage contract right now." He said before pulling me upstairs, towards my room.

I blink my eyes and stared at his back. What the hell? Did he just ordered his Mom to contact a Judge and ready a marriage contract? Is this even a arrange marriage or pikot na?

"Can I say no?" I blurted out making him stop to walk. Hinarap niya ako at binitawan ang kamay ko at pinagkrus sa dibdib ang mga braso.

"It's up to you," he shrugged. "Ikaw rin naman ang mawawalan. Mom will probably arrange me with another woman... so?" napakurap ako sa kayabangan na taglay niya.

"Ts. What will happen to us if we sign that contract?"

"I am going to be your husband and you'll be my wife." he simply answered. He sighed when he saw the worries on my eyes. "Don't worry too much, even it's just an fixed marriage. I will try to be the best husband for you."

He flashed his sweetest smile, pasimple akong humawak sa may pader para may sumuporta sa bigat ko. Pakiramdam ko hihimatayin ako dahil sa ngiti niya. Tumitig siya sa mata ko at hinaplos ang pisngi ko. My breathing stop when I felt his hand on my face.

"Sa bahay ko tayo titira. You don't need to go to your office everyday, may office ako sa bahay." he said and carefully pulled me towards my room. I removed my heels and he also removed his shoes leaving his socks.

Pinaupo niya ako sa dulo ng kama at habang siya naman ay sumampa sa kama, pumwesto sa may likuran ko. He placed his hands on my shoulders and started to massage me. I tilted my head and bit my lower lip, damn he's so good!

"Hmm... pressed it harder, please." I said but it turns out to sounds like a moan.

"Tama na ba 'to?" he asked and pressed something on my back. "Harder?" he ask teasingly.

"Yes please..." I groaned when he motion his thumb on my back on a circular motion. Tumaas ang paghagod ng hinlalaki niya sa batok ko. Tumagal ng ilang minuto ang ginagawa niya sa akin, I felt relieved after he massage me.

"Where are you going?" I ask when he quickly stood up. Nagmamadali pang lumayo sa akin.

"I need to calm down." he said and turn his back on me, dumeretso siya sa banyo.

Calm down? Namula ako sa naisip ko. Did he have a freaking boner while massaging me?!

"Geez." I hissed.

I checked my phone and check the date for today. March 10. Damn it! How can I forget this day?! Every year akong nag ce-celebrate mag-isa sa araw na 'to!

"Bree?" Napalingon ako sa may pinto. Nakasilip ang ulo doon ni Mama.

"Yes ma?" she open the door widely. Naglibot ang mga mata niya sa kwarto ko, may hinahanap.

"Where's Nichos?" she ask.

"Sa banyo po. Why Ma?"

"Nasa baba na yung Judge." she said and  walk towards me. She hold my hand and squeeze it lightly. "I want to see you walking down the aisle, Bree." she whispered.

"Ma, maybe next time? Kapag hindi na fixed yung kasal ko." I said bitterly.

Mama smiled sadly to me, "This is your dream right? To get married with Nichos?" she ask. Her sad smile turn into a naughty smirk.

Natatawa akong nailig kay Mama. They got me. Alam nilang hindi ko matatanggihan ang inihahain nila sa akin, because it's Nichos. My weakness.

"Yes, but you can't change my mind Ma. I'm not going for a church wedding." I answer.

"For sure there will be a church wedding in the future." napailing nalang ako kay Mama. "Katukin mo na si Nichos, sunod nalang kayo okay?" tumango ako sakanya at nauna na siyang bumaba sa amin.

I stared at the bathroom door. Alanganin kung kakatukin ko ba or what? I stood up and fixed my self, naglagay ako ng tint sa labi ko at nag face powder.

"Done?" I asked Nichos when I saw him come out of the bathroom. He nodded at me and spray some alcohol in his hands. Boys!

"Good, nasa baba na daw yung Judge sabi ni Mama." I said softly while putting some tint on my cheeks as my blush on.

"Tama na yan." nakakunot ang noo niya habang nakapamaywang na humarap sa akin. I rolled my eyes and quickly blend the tint.

Hinintay niya na matapos ang pag b-blend ko sa tint ko sa pisngi, kahit mukhang bored na bored na siya habang nakatingin sa akin. Nang matapos ako, ako na ang humila sakanya pababa sa sala. Andoon lahat sila, his parents and mine, my twin and Mj, my sister and I was shock that Greta is present together with her husband.

"Here, no need to do the ceremony. Just sign the contract and we're done. That fast!" sabi nang Judge.

Nichos squeeze my hand kaya napatingin ako sakanya. Sabay kaming umupo, he signed the contract first. I was just looking at him while he's signing, damn his signature was so manly. It's clean and simple. At nang ako na ang pipirma, tumitig muna ako doon.

"Gourl, hindi mata mo ang pipirma." sarkastikong tugon ni Greta, agad naman tinakpan ng asawa niya ang bibig niya.

"Tanga neto, hindi ka naman ginulo ni Bree sa kasal mo ah? Manahimik ka nga." sermon sakanya ni Mj at pabirong hinila ang buhok ni Greta.

Napailing nalang ako sakanila at pinirmahan na ang marriage contract na nasa harapan ko.

"Here's the ring." inabot sa amin ni Thrios ang singsing. It was just a simple wedding ring.

Si Nichos ang kumuha noon at pinasuot sa akin ang singsing, I smiled and did the same to him. Nakatingin lang ako sakanya habang sinusuot ang singsing sa daliri niya.

"Happy Birthday, Nichos Laur." I smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

____________________________________________

☕