A Glimpse in Paradise

Chapter 20

A year after.

I am planning to surprise Cyrus for our first year anniversary. I bought some balloons, ribbons, cake, and etc. It'll be just a simple surprise for him, but I don't know what to do. So, what I did was, I watched tutorials on YouTube. I asked some help from manang. I think, it will be a long work to do. I don't know why these kind of things are so simple to others, and it is very hard for me. Maybe because it's my first time to have a boyfriend?

Anyways, Cyrus called me this morning and didn't even greeted me! How annoying. I waited on him to greet me, but nothing came out from his mouth, I wanted him to greet me first, like duh.

"Manang, paabot nga po nung gunting." sabay turo sa kaniya kung saan nakalagay. She handed it to me. "Thank you."

I need to curl these ribbons in front of me to look nice. Binombahan na rin ni manang ang mga balloons na kailangan. I chose pastel colors because it looks so attractive and very eye-catchy.

The cake is in the ref so that the icing won't melt. The big ribbons were pasted on the wall and I also put some balloons on both sides with a gold "Happy 1st Anniversary" on it. It's so cheesy for me before Cyrus came into my life, but now, I think it would be the most memorable day of my life. Iba talaga ang pakiramdam 'pag ginagawa mo ang mga bagay para sa taong mahal mo. You always feel worth it.

I have so many first with him and it felt surreal. We surpassed the year full of bully and love. And of course, 'di mawawala ang kasungitan ko. Na-lessen na nga lang. Unlike before. Looking forward to more years with him. Lifetime, maybe.

Ano ba? Dapat sa kaniya ko 'yan sinasabi nang personal, hindi sa sarili ko. It's almost dark when I finished preparing and Cyrus haven't given me a call or text yet. What is he up to this time? Hays.

I kept on calling him, but no answer. I even texted him to come over at the house, but still, no reply. Nag-aalala na 'ko. Imposible namang nasa site pa siya ng ganitong oras?

Alas otso na pala at umuulan pa sa labas. Delikado nang mag-drive. Nasaan na ba ang mokong na 'yon?

"Ma'am, kalma ka lang."

"I'm trying, manang." I kept on biting my fingernails and my hands are sweaty. After a minute or twi, I was walking back and fort when I heard a knock at the door. I was about to step, but manang took over and quickly opened the door.

I thought it's Cyrus, but a different man showed up, wet. "Ma'am, ikaw po ba ang kasintahan ni Engr. Vallejo?'

"Opo. Why, what happened?" my heart is pounding too fast. "May nangyari po kasi, ma'am. Sumunod na lang ho kayo sa 'kin." we quickly grabbed an umbrella and went outside. "Dito lang po kayo maghintay."

I can't see any signs of Cyrus. Magkaharap lang kami ni manang at 'yong lalaki kanina ay ang tagal dumating. "Nasaan na siya, mamang?" halos nanginginig na ang boses ko sa sobrang lamig. "May dugo sa damit nung lalaki kanina. What if.. oh Lord. 'Wag naman sana. Hindi pa kami kasal pero ayoko nang mabyuda."

Nang tumingin ako kay manang ay parang ang saya ng mukha niya. What the hell? "Relax ka lang, ma'am." sabay hagod niya ng likod ko. "Ano ba manang?" tanong ko pero ngumuso lang siya na parang may itinuturo sa likod ko. "Ha?" nababasa na 'ko. Gosh. "Lumingon ka, ma'am."

Lumingon naman ako at nagulat sa nakita. "Cyrus?" he's standing in the middle of the road while raining. He has a bouquet of flowers with him and he's so wet. Agad naman akong tumakbo para payungan siya pero sinalubong niya 'ko ng, "Happy Anniversary!" sabay ngiti. "Nakakainis ka! Alam mo bang sobra ang pag-aalala ko?!" kumalas ako sa pagkakayakap at agad na sinuri ang katawan niya. He has bruises and a cut on his forehead. "Anong nangyari sa 'yo, ha? Ba't gan'yan ang itsura mo?"

"Umm.. surprise?" agad akong natigilan sa sinabi niya. Hinampas ko siya sa dibdib at tumakbo papasok sa loob. "Ewan ko sa 'yo! Puro ka kalokohan."

"Carrel, I'm sorry. Gusto ko lang naman sanang surpresahin ka kaso may nangyari kasi. Hindi ko naman sinasadya eh. Sorry na. Kanina pa dapat ako."

Hindi ako nakinig sa kaniya kaya pumasok na lang ako sa kwarto. He followed me upstairs. Kumatok siyan nang kumatok pero hindi niya alam na hindi 'yun naka-lock kaya hindi ko binuksan. Tss. "Mahal, sorry na." panay pa rin ang katok niya. "Bukas 'yan."

"Carrel-" he broke off when he entered my room. Nagtalukbong lang ako ng kumot. "Para sa 'kin ba 'to?" tanong niya. "May iba pa ba akong boyfriend?" hindi siya umimik sa sinabi ko. Why is he so quiet all of a sudden? Kaya bumangon ako. I saw him standing while his eyes are wandering on my supposed to be surprised for him. "Cyrus, okay ka lang?" he nodded. Nang nilapitan ko siya, "Are you crying? Surprise ko sana 'yan sa 'yo. Don't you like it?"

"No." he answered. "No, I'm not crying. I'm just happy na nagawa mo pa akong surpresahin ng ganito." sabay singhot. Umiiyak nga ang tukmol. "Ngayon ko lang kasi naranasan maging ganito kasaya sa buong nuhay ko, at nagpapasalamat ako dahil sa 'yo ko 'yon naramdaman." saka siya humarap sa 'kin at hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko. "Salamat dahil ikaw ang binigay sa 'kin ni Lord. Nang dahil sa 'yo, nagkaroon ng saysay ang buhay ko at, dahil sa 'yo mas sumaya pa 'ko, Carrel. Sa 'yo ko natutunan ang tunay na halaga ng pagmamahal, at pangako ko na kahit hindi ikaw ang una kong minahal. Ikaw pa rin ang huli kong mamahalin sa buong buhay ko. Pangako 'yan. Mahal na mahal kita." saka niya 'ko hinalikan sa noo at niyakap. "I couldn't ask for more." saka siya kumalas sa pagkakayakap at may kinuha sa bulsa niya. "Happy Anniversary."

He opened the box. It's a watch and he's wearing the same. "A couple watch?" I asked. "Yeah. Dahil kahit magkatampuhan man tayo, tumingin lang tayo sa relo at isipin ang mga oras ng ating magagandang ala-ala. Magiging okay tayo ulit at malalampasan ang mga problema." tsaka siya ngumiti. "Happy Anniversary ulit. Mahal na mahal kita."

"Happy anniversary, love. I love you." I then kissed him on his lips.