INFERNO HEARTS

The wedding.

December 25, 2022

Diana was looking at her husband Chronos with tenderness as he was delivering a speech to their guest. He looks fantastic in a white tuxedo. His soft features were made even more appealing by his silky curly hair, brown hooded eyes, thick brows, petite, pointed nose, and thin lips.

After a year of dating, they finally decided to tie the knot. Dito sa garden ng bahay na kabibili lang nila. Tanging mga close friends at piling kakilala lang ang imbitado sa kasal nilang dalawa.

Palakpakan at hiyawan ang sumunod pagkatapos ng speech at pasasalamat ni Chronos para sa mga bisitang dumalo sa simple at intimate garden wedding nila.

"Feel surreal, right?" tanong ni Chronos kay Diana pag upo.

Diana gives him a tender grin before returning her sights to the beautiful wedding ring on her finger.

"We're finally married..." Diana said in a soft voice, almost a whisper.

He grabs her hand and kisses it.

"I feel the same way, babe. Until I saw you walk down the aisle, I couldn't believe that you were finally mine. I swear to love you for the rest of my life and to never let go of you."

After Diana heard those words from Chronos, it finally dawned on her that she would no longer be alone. She will grow old alongside the man she chooses to love for the rest of her life, and the ring in her finger will be their oath.

"I love you, babe." Chronos said.

"I love you too." Diana replied.

And then he kisses her lips once again like he can't get enough of her.

"You know what excites me the most?"

"What?" she asked.

lumapit ito sa kaniya at bumulong.

"Kapag nakauwi na silang lahat at tayong dalawa na lang ang natira."

"Shh!" saway ni Diana. "Kalma ka muna. Konting hintay pa! Darating tayo diyan." natatawa niyang sabi.

Before deciding to tie the knot, they had been dating for a year, and throughout that time, he respected her choice to remain a virgin. They touch and kiss one other deeply, of course, but they don't get s****l. Chronos respects her boundary and is aware of his own.

"For now, yes. But later, I can't promise na kaya ko pang kumalma."

Siya naman ang bumulong dito. "Kahit di ka na kumalma mamaya."

Natawa siya nang napa sign of the cross ito.

"Lord, thank you po sa blessing. Promise po kakainin ko siya ng buo. Rawr!"

They both laughed at his sillyness.

That is also one of his assets that she really loves about him. His sense of humour. Walang dull moments kapag kasama niya si Chronos. Lagi siyang masaya. At alam niyang hindi siya magsisisi na pinakasalan ito.

"Oh, how good it is to be young!"

"Tita Lily!" tawag ni Chronos sa babaeng may napakagandang postura na kilala niya sa mga kwento ni Chronos pero ngayon niya lang nakita.

"Chronos, my baby, congratulations!" anito kay Chronos sabay yakap ng mahigpit.

"Thank goodness at nakapunta ka!" tuwang tuwa na sabi ng asawa niya.

"Hindi pwedeng hindi kita makita sa kasal mo! Walang makakapigil kahit pa ang ama mo!" biro nito na ikinatawa ni Chronos.

Kaagad siyang nilapitan ni Chronos at ipinakilala sa magandang ginang. Nagulat siya dahil ang kwento ni Chronos ay nasa 50's na ito pero sa nakikita niya ay parang nasa 30's lang ito! Napaka kinis at fit ng katawan, suot ang isang low neck na body con dress na dilaw.

"Tita, this is my lovely wife, Diana. Babe, this is Tita Lily. My favourite aunt."

"Sus! Ako lang naman ang tita no!" pabirong kurot nito kay Chronos.

Nagtawanan sila.

"It was nice to finally meet you, ma'am. I've heard a lot about you from Chronos, pero hindi niya sa 'kin nasabi na ang bata ninyo pa pala. I apologise, but I don't think you're in your 50's." ani Diana na pinandidilatan ng mata si Chronos.

"I like her already, straightforward and beautiful." anito sa pamangkin.

"I told you, you will like her." proud na sagot naman ng asawa niya.

"Oh, dear, I am flattered! Thank you, but I am really in my 50's. Fifty-six, to be precise. It was nice meeting you as well, and you can call me tita Lily. Congratulations on your wedding, darling. You look magnificent in your wedding dress!" nasa mga mata ang paghanga.

"Thank you, T-Tita Lily. Chronos chose this for me." na ang tinutukoy ay ang A-line, off-shoulder dress niya.

"I know he has good taste." sabay kindat ni Tita Lily sa kaniya.

"Brother!" bigla na namang tawag ni Chronos sa crowd.

A tall man in black polo shirt and white slacks emerged from the crowd.

Kinuha nito ang atensyon ng mga taong naroon.

The man looks like a walking greek god!

With his long, sleek back hair, chiseled jawline, straight nose, thin lips, and piercing brown eyes with his massive shoulders and biceps, all of which go well with the white polo shirt he's wearing, it looks like an unexpected fashion show happened.

Natauhan lang si Diana nang lumapit ito kasama ni Chronos.

"Brother, meet my beautiful wife, Diana. Babe, this is my older brother, Cassius." pakilala ni Chronos sa kanila.

Pinigilan ni Diana ang kaba nang magsalubong ang mga tingin nila ng nakatatandang kapatid ni Chronos na kilala niya lang din sa kwento ng asawa.

Cassius gaze was sharp, as if it were pierced by glass shards at the edges. The calculating coldness in the centre drew her in, but they showed no emotions.

Hindi niya alam kung paanong ipapaliwanag ang nararamdaman sa mga oras na 'yon. Hindi niya alam kung natatakot ba siya o kinakabahan. Malayong malayo kay Chronos na kampante ang loob niya.

It seems like Cassius is a man you should avoid messing with. Diana doesn't want to pass judgement on the man, but Cassius exudes a very menacing and intimidating atmosphere. And she thinks that he knows that.

Kundi pa tinawag ni Chronos ang pangalan niya ay hindi niya mapapansin na pigil-pigil niya ang sariling hininga.

"Ahh, n-nice meeting you." ani Diana.

Tinitigan muna siya ni Cassius bago tumango. Ni hindi man lang siya nginitian o binati pabalik.

Rude. Dagdag niya.

Mabuti na lang at may biglang sumali sa usapan na kapwa doktor na kagaya ni Chronos kaya nawala ang awkwardness sa pagitan nila. Hanggang sa isa isa na nilang nilapitan ang mga guest para sa picture taking.

Nakaramdam na ng pagod si Diana sa pakikihalubilo kaya sandali siyang lumayo sa crowd para huminga at nagpunta sa side ng garden na walang tao.

Aatras sana siya nang makita si Cassius habang naninigarilyo pero nang maisip niyang walang dahilan para umiwas ay humakbang siya sa kinaroroonan nito. Ni hindi man lang natinag ito sa pagdating niya.

"Are you good at running?" basag nito sa katahimikan.

Buong-buo at lalaking lalaki ang boses.

"Huh?" react niya.

Humithit ito sa sigarilyo bago muling nagsalita. "If you value your life, run."

"Excuse me?" kunot noo niyang tanong. Hindi niya alam kung tama ba siya ng pagkakarinig kaya lumapit siya dito.

"I said run. Habang maaga pa. Hanggat kaya mo pa." sabi nito habang walang paki na bumubuga ng usok.

She scoffs at what he said.

"Wait—are you saying that.... I should leave Chronos?" paglilinaw niya.

He turned to face her, startling her so much that she staggered backwards. With quick grace, he drew her closer. Their bodies touched against one another, sending shivers down her spine.

She shoved him away, feeling as though her whole body was electrified.

And then he looks at her.

"This family is not for the faint-hearted, sweetie. If one day, you decide to leave Chronos because you can't handle it, do it now."

Hindi makapaniwala si Diana sa sinabi nito.

"You know what, I am aware that Chronos admires you. So I am going to put this behind me because I can see where you're coming from."

Hindi siguro masaya ang lovelife nito.

"You will leave him. I am telling you."

Nagpantig ang tenga ni Diana sa narinig.

"I will not leave Chronos just because you say so. Hindi lahat ng tao katulad ng kakilala mo."

Pinigilan ni Diana na mapaatras para maipakita dito na hindi siya natatakot nang tapunan siya nito ng masamang tingin.

Nilabanan niya ang titig nito. Hanggang sa ito na ang sumuko. Diana watched him drop his cigarette and step on it.

"Do not say I didn't warn you."

"Assho—"

"Diana?" putol ng kung sino sa dapat sasabihin niya.

It was Chronos walking towards them.

"Babe..." She acknowledges his presence and tries to compose herself.

"What are you two doing here?" tanong ni Chronos.

"N-Nagkukwentuhan lang kami ng kuya mo. About sa childhood ninyo." palusot niya.

A very slight snort reached her ears. From Cassius, of course.

"Yeah." sakay ni Cassius.

"Really? That's new." her husband said. "Anyway, nag uuwian na ang guest natin and they are looking for you, Babe."

"Alright. Let's go?" yaya niya dito.

"And Bro, tita Lily wants to talk to you about something."

Tumango lang si Cassius sa sinabi ni Chronos pagkatapos ay inalalayan na siya ni Chronos maglakad pabalik sa mga bisita nila.

"Chronos!" tawag ni Cassius sa kapatid.

"What?"

"I forgot to say something to Diana."

Malakas na kumabog ang dibdib ni Diana nang lumapit si Cassius sa kaniya at may binulong.

Once again, naramdaman niya ulit ang kakaibang kuryente.

"Feel that?" bulong nito na ang tinutukoy ay ang kuryenteng pareho nilang naramdaman. "You can't be in love with someone and attracted to someone else."

Diana forces a smile para maitago ang pagkainsulto sa sinabi ni Cassius.

How could he say that in front of my husband?!

"What? What is it? What did you say?" tanong ni Chronos sa kapatid.

Cassius patted Chronos shoulder. "Just... some of your humiliations."

"You, fucker." natatawang sabi ni Chronos dito saka bumaling sa kaniya. "Don't mind what this motherfucker said, babe."

Diana just smiled habang palihim na masama ang tingin sa likod ng papalayong si Cassius.

Hinihiling na sana ito na ang huli nilang pagkikita.