"Listen, Jerol. I take all the blame for what has occurred. I planned it all, and she tried talking me out of it several times. Don't hold anything against her, please." Grego pleads.
Would you look at that power couple of the century! For better or for worse, huh? They are both covering up for each other. Amazing! I am annoyingly loving this. At least they have something admirable!
"Unfortunately, I can not pretend that I don't find her guilty. I am willing to let this go for the sake of Father and Mother. But if you two try anything funny, anything at all, I will personally drag your asses to the jail cells!" Jerol roars, and as if that was not a threat, everyone breathes out their suppressed breath which I hadn't noticed.
It's like, the decision all lay in him!
"Thank you, little brother!"
"What am I? Ten years? Call me that again and I will break your nose!" My! My husband looks so dangerously cute when throwing tantrums.
"You broke it two days ago already, bro! You want to turn your older brother into a cripple?" Grego teases, though unsure of his choice.
"I will not hesitate to if you don't man up. Your child will have a cripple for a father if you don't use this chance well." Jerol says, standing up and pulling me with him since our hands have been intertwined all this while.
He must be forgetting that we haven't eaten yet. We haven't even touched our juices. And, what's the hurry, after all? The night is still so young!
"I will not give you a reason to, brother. I promise!" Grego says as one by one they spring to their feet.
"You better not, because I have much important things to do right now than punching your face. We have a wedding to prepare for in a month! I am wedding my wife in a church wedding!" I snap my furrowed face at him.
Huh?! He hasn't let this go? But, why would he now after this?
Forget about the lull that befell in this room, I am elated but I don't have a way of expressing it.
A wedding?! I will be a bride in a month?! I... I... Oh, my goodness! I am freaking going to marry my husband in a month!
"Well, isn't anyone happy for me?" Jerol asks, touring his eyes around our shocked faces.
"You took us all by surprise, son! We didn't expect this but, who would not be happy with such news for God'd sake!" Father says, and as giggles and loud cheers of claps fill the room, I fall into Jerol's arms, pulling him for a hug.
I'm on cloud nine, swimming in overwhelming bliss. I feel like bleeding tears of joy.
"Don't cry now, please, okay?" Jerol whimpers to my ear as he pulls us apart.
He must have sensed my emotions amassing.
"How can I not if you take me by surprise like this?" I implore, taking in deep breaths to steady my emotions.
"If you cry I will kiss you right in front of my parents. Would you want that?" He teases.
He knows that will make me shy for the rest of my life.
"Thank you, love. I promise to be the best loving wife this world will ever have. I love you!" I say, failing to contain the tears.
"And I will be the best husband this world will ever have, baby. I love you so much!" He says, drying away my tears.
"Alright! Here is a toss." Father says, summoning everyone's attention as we take our glasses. "To my first son, Grego McCall, we missed your presence in this family. We all sincerely did. Welcome back, son." We click our glasses to that, and Father continues. "To my son, Jerol McCall, thank you for always being there. We appreciate your dedication to this family. And, congratulations on this big step." We click on that.
"Thank you, Father." Jerol and Grego chorus together.
"And to the newest members of the McCall family," mother speaks, "my daughters, welcome to the family. Feel at home." She says, and we click our glasses to that.
"This calls for a celebration!" Father says, and Mother orders for the food to be served.
"We can also start the preparations for the wedding of the century!" Grego jokes as he takes steps towards Jerol and me.
"I am yet to decide whether you are invited to my wedding or not." Jerol retorts.
"My younger and only brother is getting married and that too, before me. I have to be your best man whether you like it or not, brother!" Grego says, and Jerol rolls his eyes.
"Will you forever be this annoying?" He implores.
"You are not anything less either, so can we try and bear with each other?" Grego teases, stretching his arms wide for Jerol.
I step aside, giving them some space. I thought Jerol was going to kick his brother again but after a moment of staring at Grego, he pulls him for a hug, a hug that blows away any sense of negativity in this house. Everything settles, and peace echoes.
I tour my eyes around mother and father, and I can't help but feel contented with the happiness they are exuding. Even Ellie, the little witch is smiling. I don't what she is smiling about because this doesn't lessen her crimes, but what matters is that we are all happy. This is what I dreamt for this family. What I wished for.
"Ouch!" We all scream together with Jerol as he staggers back, a blow landing perfectly on his nose.
I think, I was wrong?
I run to him as he lifts up his face, Grego stepping back.
What the...
"Sorry, bro. You don't just beat your older brother the way did. We are cool now!" Grego says, but keeping a cool distance.
I look at Jerol, but he isn't infuriated as I expected. He is actually smiling. Well, I guess it's true. We are all happy if he can afford a smile after that punch.
"Is that enough, or have you still got some energy for another one?"
Okay, now I step aside!
Grego walks closer with a big smile on his lips, and they pull each other into another tight hug which I hope won't result in another punch.
They have such a way of resolving issues huh? A punch, and he smiles, even asking for another punch? Well, that's...
"Sister-in-law?" I snap to Grego. His arms are stretched wide, inviting me. "I never thought of all people, a stranger would be the one to slap some sense into me. You did well. You made me wake up to reasons. And all this, the reunion of this family, is all thanks to you. Thank you." He says, stretching his arms wider.
Huh? This one that is taking revenge? I don't want a slap because Jerol will forget that he just forgave him. And I? I won't that shit from him, I swear.
"Come on, chubby cheeks! I won't give the slap back. I know I will be dead before it even reaches your chubby cheeks!" Grego teases, and now I find him more annoying than ever!
Goodness! No one ever called me chubby cheeks.
All the same, I don't want to ruin this for anyone, so I welcome his hug but he better stop with that annoying nickname after today.
The hug doesn't long. We pull away, and he walks to Ellie while I walk back to Jerol.
Poor Ellie!
I look at Jerol, asking him if he doesn't have any word for her. She looks like a rained cat.
"Ellie?" Jerol calls her, and she strives with all her bravery to face him. "Let's leave everything behind us. You have a life with my brother, and I have mine with my beautiful wife. We are both happy this way, so, peace?" He says, stretching his hand to Ellie who she doesn't waste a sec to shake.
"Peace! Thank you." She says, and their handshake doesn't last long after that.
So, let's bask in this peace?