I'm Guilty, My Beauty

Jenna"s eyes teared with joy to see the two kissing and loving each other after all the years and after what they had gone through.

"Dear, where are we going to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary?" asked Ronald as he wiped Jenna"s tears with the back of his hand.

"Sweet, I think we have to think well for that. You know, we have two boys in college. By the time we"ll celebrate our 25th anniversary, Johnny would be graduating Senior High. Do we still have a budget for that?" She moved his eyegla.s.ses properly for it slipped his nose.

"Dear, I may not be as rich as your cousin but I"ll make sure you and our children won"t lack anything." He patted her hand to a.s.sure her that he was in control.

After Clarence and Beauty"s wedding 25 years ago, they followed two years after. They had their ups and downs as a couple as well but when it comes to decision making, Ronald prevailed. He had proven that he may not be strong physically, but he was strong mentally.

Jenna was so proud of him. She saw this all in him when they first met but his potential wasn"t tapped because he lacked confidence. She was the missing link for his latent qualities to emerge.

She looked at Ronald who was slightly thin compared before for working very hard.

He surpa.s.sed himself in terms of resourcefulness and creativeness. Thanks to his experience as the company"s food investigator, his knowledge expanded. From such odd job, he climbed up to higher positions with bigger responsibilities. Four years ago, due to his ideas and with Clarence"s support of his project proposals, he became one of the Board of Directors of the Fancy Elegant Food Ltd.

His brows creased as he planned and imagined a unique program for their 25th anniversary. Though he was now advanced in years, his skin was still not that old, preserved by his beauty secrets of which Jenna enjoyed using as well.

He was a good provider, a loving husband, and a caring father, though pa.s.sive when the boys fought. He would only say, "They"re boys, let them use their fist. They"re just letting they"re steam out. After, they"re relieved and back again as buddies." She couldn"t bear to see her sons fighting. Oh, why she didn"t give birth to daughters, she complained a lot openly.

Ronald felt her stares and glanced at her. Their eyes met and he planted a kiss on her nose; made her laugh.

Ronald kissed the back of her hand. "Dear, I think we should also go back to Camotes Island, like them, they came back here. We should do the same."

"Sweet, we can"t afford a lot of guests with our budget this time." She gave him a lopsided grin. "I know you, you loved to invite as many people as you want." She pointed a finger on his nose.

He bit her finger. "Dear, we still have time. 100 guests won"t be that much. Trust me on this, please." He pursed his lips and showed his poor puppy look eyes.

"Stop that, will you. You"re now fifty years old and you still act like a youngster." She covered his lips with her fan.

"Hahahahaha, but you enjoy seeing me doing this." He s.h.i.+fted the fan from his face.

"You know my weakness, you." She stuck out her tongue.

Clyde saw the two and smiled. He was glad to find Ronald, who now became Clarence"s main support in the company. "Guys, the ceremony is almost over."

They laughed at each other. "Okay, Uncle, we"ll follow after the rest have gone to the reception area." She waved her hand to her four das.h.i.+ng young sons sitting at the back. "Go ahead, your father and I will follow later."

Ronald watched her with doting eyes. He thought he couldn"t get a beautiful wife like Jenna. For certain, he still couldn"t believe how he made Jenna fall for him. Whenever he asked, Jenna"s answers were the same, "You make me laugh."

Looking at himself, he thought he had no chance on her but he didn"t know her eyes were already set on him. He thanked G.o.d for giving him his Jenna.

His eyes went to his sons, his pride and joy, who waved their hands on him and he nodded. None of his sons a total copy of him, aside from their squared jaw and long forehead, the Kidlat family traits. Jenna"s half American blood produced four tall sons with heavily built bodies, like her father. Even the youngest got Arnold"s blue eyes.

He tried hard and succeeded in overcoming his weakness, low self-esteem, for their future. His newly built house beside Clarence"s was his dream for them. A home where they were safe with good neighbors, their cousins, whom they enjoyed playing since young.

"Dear, we"ll stay here for three days more. I want to spend more time with you and the boys before I"ll fly to Chicago with Clarence. His projects there are getting bigger and I won"t be back for a month."

"Can I not go with you? One month is too long. I"ll be missing you a lot." Her eyes got misty. "And I haven"t visited Mom and Dad for quite some time now."

"It"s only for two years, dear. I also want you to go with me but who will look after the boys?" He took a hanky from his pocket and wiped away her tears.

"Sweet, can they not look after themselves, they"re old enough. In their age, I was already traveling here and there."

"How about your Club? Your students will miss their pretty and s.e.xy Taekwondo master." His gaze went to her slim figure.

"Sweet, you forgot? Your children and Beauty"s sons are the dojo instructors. They can handle the club well in my absence."

"Let"s ask the boys first. Okay?" He combed his fingers through her auburn curls to fluff them. He loved touching this soft hair and never grew tired of it.

She nodded.

He kissed her forehead. "Come, let"s eat."

They walked holding hands.