Chapter 12 Where it all end

HE'S PUSHING the cart while Frances is putting the goods she needed. Ito ang nakatoka sa Grocery, surprisingly, his friend now know how to cook. Edible naman ang pagkain na niluluto nito kaya willing siyang maging food taster.

"So, you have a lot of secrets to me now?" Nakangiting tanong sa kanya ni Frances habang pumipili ito sa dalawang plastic ng manok.

He nod his head. "I didn't mean to. Hindi ko naman kasi basta basta ma bukas sayo." He tried to explain.

"Why are you even explaining to me?" Nakakunot na noong tanong na niya ngayon at bahagyang tumawa. "Kiel, all I want is your happiness, if that man will keep you happy. Then," She shrugged.

He bit his lower lip. "It's not a man, Frances."

Months from now, he stopped calling her Mamsh. Hindi niya alam pero lahat ng mga ginagawa niya dati, naglalaho na lang na parang bula.

Nabitawan ni Frances ang manok na hawak nito. "It's a woman then? Goodness, Kiel." Lumapit ito sa kanya, she cupped his face and pinch his cheek. "Kiel... Nag-aalala ako sayo hoy!"

Natatawang tinanggal niya ang kamay nito sa mukha niya. "I met her in a bar, malay ko ba na sa kanya ako mahuhulog. Ikaw nga, diba? Hindi mo alam na mamahalin mo 'yung bubuntis sayo. Kinasal ka pa nga."

"Pakakasalan mo? I need to meet her!" Pumalakpak pa ito na parang bata.

"You know her. Actually." He answered and Frances eyes widened. Tinaasan pa siya nito ng kilay. It's like she's telling him to feed her more a lot of story. "Help me to choose a ring for her after this. Then I'll tell you everything. Except that one part. Alam mo na kung ano 'yon."

Frances faced him, her face looks so innocent. "Hindi ko alam."

"Paano nabuo ang anak niyo? Tigilan mo ako, Frances." Sarkastikong tugon niya sa kaibigan.

She formed her mouth into an 'O', pagkatapos ay nanahimik na ito. Tila nagmamadali ang kaibigan niya sa bawat pag kuha nito ng mga kailangan, kahit ang gatas na madalas nitong iniimom ay mali, he picked the milk and replaced it with the usual milk they drink.

"Tama na 'yan. Si Dylan nalang sa iba!" She hissed and pulled him towards the counter, nakahinga ng maluwag ang kaibigan niya nang makitang walang tao at nauna silang nakapag bayad.

Hindi niya inaasahan na aabot sa dalawang kahon ang pinamili nito.

"Ako na. Hindi ka pa pwedeng magbuhat." Inunahan na niya ito bago pa simulan ang pangongonsensya sa kanya.

Dinala muna nilang dalawa ang mga pinamili sa sasakyan bago pumasok ulit sa mall. Frances was just pulling him. Hanggang sa makarating sila sa Jewerly shop na pag-aari ng Mommy nina Deilan. He gulped and pulled Frances.

"Can we choose another store?" Yamot na tanong niya sa kaibigan.

"What? Mas maganda dito. Magugustuhan sigurado ng bebe mo!" Frances said and pulled him inside. Yeah right? Magugustuhan? E halos hindi nga magsuot ng alahas si Deilan.

"Hello, Mrs. Cortez!" Bati ng mga staff kay Frances, at bilang na busy na ang kaibigan niya sa kakapili ng singsing sa woman section, hindi na nito nabati pabalik.

"Kiel! What about this one? This is perfect!" Itinuro ni Frances ang isang singsing. Masyadong pambabae.

"I'll look over there." He said and pointed the male section. Naka hiwalay kasi ang mga alahas na para sa lalaki at para sa babae.

"What? Babae diba? Bakit doon?" Ngawa ni Frances sa kanya. He shushed her and chuckled. Hindi na pinansin.

He was looking carefully for a ring that will not make her uncomfortable. For a woman who doesn't like jewerly, he needs to choose something light. 'Yung hindi agaw pansin.

Then he saw a small and thin ring that will probably suit Deilan.

"I want this one. Pwede bang ma adjust?" He asked.

"Yes sir, anong size po ba ng daliri niyo?"

"It's not for me, wait. Frances! Come here." Utos niya sa kaibigan.

"Nakapili ka na?" Tanong agad nito at tumango lang siya.

"Give me your hand." Utos ulit niya. Kiel intertwined their hands and feel her fingers. Napangisi siya nang mapansin na kaunti lang ang pinagkaiba ng daliri ni Frances kay Deilan.

Deilan fingers were long.

"The size of her middle finger." He said and smiled. Agad naman pinasukat ni Frances ang gitnang daliri nito.

"Paano mo nalaman?" Amazed na tanong ni Frances.

"I like holding her hands." He said simply. Hindi naman niya pwedeng sabihin na lagi niyang hawak ang kamay ni Deilan kapag nag se-sex sila.

They waited for an hour, bago nila makuha ang singsing. He didn't bother to accept the paper bag. Ibinulsa nalang niya. He was planning to give it to Deilan later. After her busy day, finally he'll see her.

Hindi naman siya masyadong in demand ngayon dahil maganda ang performance ng mga hairstylist niya. Bumabawi ang mga ito dahil umuungot sa kanya ng bakasyon. They became an obedient staff when they learned that Deilan is the owner of the resort, kung saan nakatayo ang isang branch ng Spa niya.

Tahimik ang bahay nina Frances. Malamang ay tulog ang bata at nagta-trabaho naman si Dylan. Nauna nang pumasok si Frances at naiwan siya sa labas. He rolled his eyes as he picked up the boxes of his friend groceries.

Saktong kalalapag lang niya sa mga kahon na dala niya nang makitang pababa si Deilan. He cleared his throat, loud enough for her to acknowledge his presence.

Kumunot ang noo niya nang makitang sobrang putla nito. Fuck. Inilang hakbang niya ang pagitan nilang dalawa at agad hinawakan ang mukha nito. She's too pale. Kinapa niya ang noo nito pati na din ang leeg.

Deilan chuckled. "Wala akong lagnat."

"Still vomiting?" Mahinang tanong niya.

"Laway lang. Naiirita na ako." Reklamo nito sa kanya.

Kiel chuckled at her cuteness, mabilisan niyang hinalikan sa labi si Deilan. "I missed you." He whispered.

Pasimpleng tumingin si Deilan sa hagdanan. Nang masiguro na walang tao doon, pumalupot ang mga kamay nito sa katawan niya at ibinaon ang mukha sa dibdib niya.

"I missed you. I missed your scent." She whined and sniff his neck. He hugged her back and brushed her hair, humahaba na ang buhok nito pero ayaw naman nitong pagupitan. She was just tying the half of it.

"Ehem!"

Sinamaan niya ng tingin si Frances nang malakas itong tumikhim, agad na humiwalay si Deilan sa kanya at umayos ng tayo. Hindi makatingin kay Frances na may nakakalokong ngiti.

"Kung hindi lang kita kaibigan baka hindi ka na humihinga ngayon." He sarcastically said making Frances laughed.

"Hi Ate! Ituloy niyo lang 'yan. Ikukuha ko lang ng meryenda si Dylan."

"Ahm... No, aalis na din ako. I have an appointment." Deilan said frantically. Kumunot ang noo niya. He slid his hand on her waist and pulled her, Deilan grasped and looked at him with wide eyes.

"I thought we're having a dinner?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya rito. When she say the word 'Appointment' that means she's going to be busy again. The dinner is off. No time for him.

"Yeah, sandali lang naman 'to. I need to see Lane." She answered na mas lalong ikinakunot ng noo niya. Unti unting lumuwag ang hawak niya kay Deilan bago tumango.

"I'll wait for your call then," Pilit siyang ngumiti. "Balik muna ako sa Salon." He said. Hinalikan muna niya ito sa noo bago naunang umalis.

Damn. The green monster inside him is slowly eating him. Lane was her ex girlfriend.

He started the engine of his car, he was ready to leave when Deilan showed up and entered the car. Kiel blink his eyes.

"Move, Kiel. I'm not feeling well." She said as she put her seat belt.

"What are you doing? Akala ko ba may appointment ka?" Nagtatakang tanong niya. But his voice were dripping with bitterness.

Deilan removed her seat belt, bahagya itong tumayo at hinuli ang mga labi niya. She smiled and he can feel every fiber of his body were melting.

"This is me dealing with your jealousy towards Lane. She's my ex. At mananatili nalang siyang ex girlfriend ko okay? I don't know what exactly our arrangement or relationship as of now. But... Yeah. Whatever."

"Do you want to put a label on it?" He asked. He look at her gently, he smiled and pressed his forehead against her.

"Do you want to end this arrangement?" She asked back.

"Yes. Matagal na." He answered honestly and caressed her cheek with his thumb. He can't wait any longer, alam niyang mabilis but who cares? He'll take care of her dearly para magtagal ito sa kanya.

DEILAN WAS holding dearly for her sanity. Ending this arrangement will be the end. And they will start a new life. Bahagyang gumalaw si Kiel sa kinauupuan niya, her forehead crease when she saw a very familiar box. Of course, it's familiar to her because that was their family crest.

"Will you be my fiancee?" He asked. And Kiel looked awkward while asking her.

"Be honest with me first..." She wanted to know the truth before she answered him. "Did you shoot your semen inside me?"

"Ayan talaga ang tanong mo?" Natatawang tanong ni Kiel pabalik. She nod her head. Kiel leaned his head on the steering wheel.

He was smiling at her playfully, biting his lower lip. Sa klase ng ngiti nito alam na niya ang sagot. This man is really cunning. She can't believe that he was a Gay. Pabiro niyang inirapan si Kiel at bahagyang tinampal ang pisngi.

"I guess this is where it all end." She smirk teasingly. "It's a yes."

"May laman na ba? Kasi kung wala pa, pwedeng pa cancel muna ang appointment mo? Gawa muna tayo." He said and caressed her legs.

"Hindi mo pa nasusuot ang singsing sa daliri ko, Kiel." She laughed when Kiel rolled his eyes. Halata sa mukha nito na gustong gusto niya nang may mangyari sa kanilang dalawa.

But he need to hand on his dear life. She needs to know if her hunch were right. She need to know first if she's pregnant.

Kiel slid the ring in her finger, saktong sakto 'yon sa daliri niya. She smiled when she saw the design, there's no diamond in the ring. It looks manly at the same time. Deilan looked at Kiel who's staring at her hand.

Ang inaakala niyang malaking pagkakamali, pakakasalan na niya ngayon.

The Colossal mistake of Deilan, was now replaced by a Serene and secured life with a Man.