The Talk (2)

" Grandpa Dave, Papa can I ask four more days? And I want to be by myself during these days." Fem spoke looking at Dave then turning to her father who was all ears beside her.

Mark widened his eyes upon hearing his woman ask for four more days. She wanted to be alone? What was she planning to do? They did not talk about this, she never said anything about her plan either!

Seeing Mark's confused and frightened countenance, Fem assured that her decision has nothing to do with her parents. She just needed to carry out her personal plans.

"Do you need any help with whatever your plan is?" Dave asked with all attention to her unripe grand daughter-in-law. Hr calling him Grandpa Dave was like music to his ears.

"I think I can manage it Grandpa Davr. I want to try it on my own to test these genes of my father." Fem said twitching a smile as she side glanced her father at her right side. Greg twitched a smile almost at the same time with his daughter.

Mark saw their interaction and became captivated by their smiles. It dawned to him that his woman was the exact replica of her father. He felt helpless and shook his head hiding his admiration of the father-daughter dou.

"But you have to promise to show up on your wedding day, that will be in the 7th right?" Dave was the one speaking up for his helpless grandson. Not that his grandson had lost his voice but this grandpa was too excited and domineering that he wanted to take advantage of his privilege as the most elderly.

Greg chuckled. "Mr. Major General, don't I know that you're capable of spying everyone's affairs and kidnapping people of your interest? Let my daughter be by herself. Don't underestimate my discipline in her" Greg found it funny that this old military man speaks and acts petty in front of a helpless lady.

"I plan not to, but now you reminded me. So I can use it if I must. How does that sound grandson?" Dave turned to Mark.

Mark didn't bother answering his grandpa. He looked at his woman tenderly and said, "Fem.... I didn't know you have other plans. What is it? Can we atleast know?" Mark was a little worried.

Fem smiled and as she thought of how she would say it, Mrs. Law came out with the jar of rice wine followed by Hannah who held some glasses on a bamboo tray. Mrs. Law slowly scooped the rice wine into the glasses while Fem attentively helped distribute each glass to each one of them. After everyone has had their glass of rice wine, Fem remembered to answer.

"I have some personal things to run. Don't worry, its job related. It shouldn't send any suspicion to you." Fem dismissed their suspicion confidently.

"Oh, about that! Yeah, I know. Mark, didn't the company reserve a position for Fem in the planning department? We need an architect in the construction company. You can be working with Engr. Stanley your cousin. Or do you have other target? Most companies require some experience from applicants, you know?" Dave said. In his mind, he actually didn't want his grand daughter in-law to work. If she can just stay at home and look after them and bear his great grandchildren, that would be perfect! Why do women these days feel so aggrieved staying at home?

"My profession is not so strenuous Grandpa Dave. I can work while bearing your great grandchildren. Have I known that you have a position for me in your company, I should not have floated my applications. I actually wanted to follow-up two of them. If I fail to get one, I'll come and work full time at your company." Fem maintained a reassuring smile.

Mark was elated upon hearing this. He made up his mind to accompany her wherever she goes. After all, he is in an indefinite leave. He cannot afford to lose his bride. It was etched in his mind that his woman has the tendency to leave him hanging or is too strong willed wanting to manage her own. Way back three years ago, she left him without a proper goodbye, never giving him a hint to where he would find her. This traumatized him that everytime his woman wants to go somewhere or do something, he felt that she was purposely deserting him. Not this time, not ever. He had waited long enough.

The talk concluded that the Arevalo-Law nuptial will be in January 7th at the Fem Manor compound on Mount Sleeping Beauty. Having decided everything, Fem was also reminded to go to the city to fit her wedding gown. She will just go and visit her old employer before whom she had worked during her one year non-school year and where she worked summer job about two years ago. Dave will just have to inform his comrades about the change of the date.

After all was settled, it was now time for lunch. Trell has prepared the dining table with native foods and dishes and some fresh fruits.

Mark approached Fem before they entered the kitchen. The elders all went ahead inside. Mark held Fem's hand and looked at her eyes as if questioning her decision and asking for an explanation.

Fem smiled back without uttering a word. She held his hand and pulled him inside the kitchen. "We didn't have a good breakfast this morning, let's eat first." she said. Mark followed her helplessly.

They all enjoyed the native broiled chicken, the wild mushrooms which Mrs. Law managed to gather this morning, the fresh organic vegetables and fruits on top of a very aromatic locally grown brown rice. The rice wine they had been drinking earlier seemed to have worked as a great appetizer. Ivee Arevalo who was always watchful of her diet went to eat as much as two servings of rice. Although Dave tried to avoid extreme indulgences, he could not help but refill his plate. On the other hand, Mark ate silently like a military trainee glancing at his woman every now and then sending her a signal to eat faster so they can talk afterwards. He wanted to know what his woman was thinking. He realized he even didn't know her plans.

"What do you think you are doing? You didn't tell me about this early on!" Mark whispered to Fem upon excusing themselves from the dining table. He guided her to the meadow towards where the chopper was landed.

"Why Mark, what am I doing? Am I not allowed to plan for myself? Are you restricting me from doing what I love to do?" Fem tilted her head to look at him.

"No, not that!, Of course not, sweetheart. Ha! " Mark suddenly grabbed her and enveloped her in his arms as he kissed her temple long enough. " I just feel I'm dying each moment looking at you and knowing I can't possess you yet. I just feel you're deliberately prolonging my agony." He whispered. His voice was so warm and husky.

Fem allowed Mark to hold her like he didn't want to let go. She rested on his firm chest with a scent of masculinity enhanced by some of his sweat this morning. She found it sexy and appealing specially when his chest and diaphragm reverberated as he spoke. There was nothing in her life she could ask more if she was in this embrace....That was so different from his father's hug though. This one is one being a woman, her father's was being a daughter. They are both pleasant to the feeling yet completely different.

"I understand that Mark. So its best not to see me before the wedding right? I might not be able to resist you also. I also have my weakness you know that." Fem said softly.

"But I planned to accompany you wherever you go." Mark poked her nose. He cannot tell her his fear or she might think that he doesn't trust her at all. He was just too anxious and traumatized that her leaving will lead to their separation again.

"No, you have to trust me Mark! " Fem protested as if she read his mind and knew about his fear. "I'll be in touch, you should do the preparation because I may really be busy traveling here and there. Oh, right! About our wedding attire, do you have any idea where to go? If not, we can go to my former boss some years ago. We need to go there ourselves to check their package though. It will save us time. What do you say?" Fem rattled without giving Mark any space to answer.

Mark was speechless. He didn't see this coming! He didn't know his woman was capable of stating all of her mind in one go! Funny and cute but she sounded so tensed. Mark thought for a while before answering.

"Okay, my lovely bride. As you say!" He planned to call Sunny again to do the same service he did before although he was sure his grandpa has already thought about this.

.....

On the other far end of the mountain range, a certain tall rugged middle aged man was up the tree holding his binoculars and long range fire arms strapped at his back. They have just arrived to this site three days ago and planned to camp for a week due to some injury his men have sustained from sudden clash with the soldiers in the other district. They traveled two days and two nights just to reach this safer place where they could heal their wounds. The hovering sound of the helicopter this morning alarmed them and each one started to camouflage themselves with leaves and hide under the bushes. The commander immediately climbed the tallest tree with his binoculars. He saw that the Army chopper landed in the private land of the richest villager where they frequently visited before. He gripped his binoculars and started zooming close meadow. He saw two old people emerged from the chopper. He stayed there to watch what was going on. It seemed there was no body besides the two.... but wait, two more people arrived by foot! Probably a couple too! What was going on there? He zoomed as close as possible to see that the woman was actually the one he recalled as the witty daughter of the cowboy. He smirked and planned to continue watching even if it took him whole day up on the tree.

At noon, he saw the young couple emerge from the yard and was approaching the chopper but did not get in. They seemed to be talking as they hugged each other. He felt a pang of strange feeling like his heart was being pricked by a very long needle. Was he actually capable of being jealous? For what? Was he really jealous? Someone must be kidding him! He remembered the villagers daughter whom they tried to recruit years ago. She was a bright young woman who was capable of expressing herself and defending her beliefs. He was captivated by how she fearlessly carried herself around them when they tried to indoctrinate her. A plan formed in his mind as he watched the two go back to the house. Unfortunately for him, the yard was covered by bushes and trees so he could not see any further what was happening in the front yard of the house. He got down from the tree and immediately instructed his next in command to stay in that place until they get better. By that time he must already have carried out his plan.