Sirang Puso

The night passed with no other disturbances. Ely felt that he wouldn't need to push for his plans since it was all falling into place all on its own.

She fell asleep by him in a peaceful state, with no care for safety. She had no doubt rippling inside her. Maybe she thought dishonesty was a foreign trait when it came to who she loved.

'A childish way to think.'

That night Ely never closed his eyes—he never faced away from Tamari. Since she was already on board he could do the small things to make her feel like she wasn't in love with a stranger.

To be more drawn to bonding herself with him.

After that day the two visited countless restaurants, beaches, karaoke, and art galleries with each passing day.

Each time Tamari only became happier—Ely knew all the ways to keep her feeling so. He got better at knowing which words her ears were keen on hearing and acts that she seemed to love the most.

He had to play the part if he wanted to get what he wanted.

The one day that stuck out to Ely out of all the dates was the one in the rain, their last date. He came to pick her up randomly after being bored at home. He sent the text, "I'm here," as he was standing outside her door. In hand a single flower, he picked from the grass as he walked to her place.

Tamari came out in tears as she swung the door open. Her arms reached up to him, Ely dropped the flower and let her arms cradle his neck as he held her waist. She didn't invite him inside—instead, the two sat on the outside porch with hands intertwined.

Ely thought to himself how strange it was to have a place like this just a few blocks away from where he lived. Tamari's place looks like a home that belonged somewhere in the country, while his looks like some old rich dude's studio.

Drenched in the pouring rain Tamari cried into his chest. She didn't try to be pretty today, she didn't wear fancy clothes nor did she try to look good in his eyes.

'What an ugly crier,' Ely's face was maintained a serious expression but that thought almost made him break character.

He learned that Tamari's mother was in a fatal stage of heart disease, "She wanted to be there for my wedding," between sobs, she kept calling out for her mother.

Ely comforted saying she will and that he'd accompany her to go see her mother.

That night they drove up to a hospital that was hours away, Tamari clenched her hands at the ends of her shirt as they drove till the skin showed yellow at her fingertips. Ely never met her mother nor did he have a reason to be as sad since he wasn't in the family as of yet.

Almost as if the wind had no effect Tamari's face was damped in tears and rain. Though she no longer held Ely, she quickened her walk to the entrance as he followed behind.

The two reached the room and Tamari melted next to her mother's side. Ely stayed by the door frame, one could've mistaken it for a family reunion. Sarai, their father, and all the relatives gathered in the small room.

The aunts flew next to Tamari everyone had tears welled their eyes, all except Ely. Who felt like an outsider watching a sensitive moment.

'Crying was genetic in their family,' in the Calvillo family every funeral he had been to amongst his family—they all had no reaction to any of it. It could be a way of coping or by literal means.

Heartlessness was genetic in his family.

Sarai noticed him lost in thought and motioned her head to talk outside of the room.

Out of formality, Ely spoke first, "How is she?"

"She doesn't got long," Sarai's arms were crossed as she spoke.

For the first time, Ely took notice of the cigarette smell she carried. He found comfort in having his hands remain in the pockets of his coat.

Sarai looked at him as she spoke, "I'm sure Tamari blabbered to you—Mom wanted to see her get married."

Ely's eyebrow raised, 'Why only Tamari when she had Sarai as well?'

Her eyes lowered, raising her hand to show her ring, "I'm already married idiot."

Ely looked at the ring intently, 'How did someone like her get married?'

He thought back to the past, the time Sarai drunkardly showed up at one of her sister's dates. Holding onto her sister as she whined, laugh, and complained.

That day he learned that the two shared more than commonalities in their life, especially their location.

At first, Ely didn't get it but settled with the thought that he'd never understand since he was an only child. So he let the two laugh their hearts out as he sat opposite from the two.

A sisterly bond.

Yet again he was seeing that love before him, as Sarai looked up to him.

"You love her right?"

'Do I?'

He wore a businessman's smile, "To the end and back."

"I know you want to get married to her—I get how it's all rushed and everything. But it's Mom's last wish. I," Sarai paused biting at a scar on her lip, "I don't want to see her gone before that happens. I've been keeping tabs on you and you haven't treated her poorly nor do I see you with any other woman behind Tam's back. Hell, I think she might be the only contact in your phone."

Ely's heart stung at this but he nodded to every word Sarai spoke.

"I know you got money for a ring but this one means much more to Tamari than any store-bought one," Sarai pulled out a small ring from its small case, "This was our great grandmothers, she wanted Tamari to have it since she was young."

Sarai pulled out Ely's hand from his pocket and placed the ring into his palm.

Her voice seemed to brighten up when she spoke of her sister, "Tamari's a good person, she'd make a wonderful wife."

Ely tightened his hold on the ring, "When should the wedding be?"

Sarai crossed her arms more tightly as she leaned against the wall, "Tomorrow would be better but 12 days is more ideal. They gave Mom till the end of this month."

She patted the side of his arm before heading back in. Ely played with the ring a bit before putting it back in case. A smile grew on him until he couldn't contain it.

He met eyes with one of the three nurses who watched the whole thing afar and gave their flushed faces a bright smile.

He almost wanted to laugh but decided to tuck the ring into his pocket before heading inside as well. Everyone was reminiscing on the good times and Sarai had managed to already cuddle next to her mother with a sullen face.

Tamari got up as she saw Ely holding his hand with hers, "Sarai's gonna stay here with Mom let's head back, I'll bring some things for Mom tomorrow morning," her voice at pain with the more she spoke.

He led her out of the hospital room after greeting their father, a round-bellied man with an unshaven face and a distant look in his eyes.

Tamari was silent the whole time as they exited the hospital.

Ely felt how perfect this opportunity was, he didn't even have to move oceans for it to happen. It came all on its own.

Once they got to the parking lot, it was almost like there were no cars in the vicinity. Like it was only the two of them there.

"Ely?"

His heart almost dropped from his body—he thought he had been exposed but kept collected, "Yeah?"

She stopped him from walking anymore, standing in front of him. Dressed in a white wedding dress, her hair had pretty accessories and she was wearing the ring Sarai gave him.

"Do you think I'm pretty?"

The top of her white dress began to stain crimson red, her skin looked as if it was peeling right before his eyes and her tears were-

'Blood?'

Tamari looked at him with an angered blaze this time she was screaming at him, "Why would you marry me, you bastard!" A sound similar to a body being ripped apart rung in his ears to the point of more than discomfort.

She got closer to him with an inhumane frown, her teeth were all blackened and her skin looked as if it were all to come undone like melting plastic. Like that, her hand struck his face with a hardeness until the sound echoed in his face and he could feel blood in his mouth.

Ely gasped, the cars were all parked closely together and they were still walking.

'Did I just imagine that?'

Something like that wasn't going to stop him, Ely decided that it was probably a guilty conscious since Tamari was a good person.

"What's wrong?" Tamari held his hand closer to her face.

"Tamari," he stopped walking while shuffling in his pockets.

"What is it, Ely?"

He got down on one knee, "I know it's sudden but I think it's a must for everything that's going on right now," He opened the ring in front of her swiftly as if he had it in his possession for months, "Tamari Rosemary, will you marry me?"

She dropped before him to the ground, her messy hair covering her reddened eyes.

She let him slip the ring on her finger before she held him tightly, "I do."