I Met A Stranger Online

Chapter 9: The Vow

 I can not promise you that I won't make you cry but I can promise you that everytime you cry, I will be there to wipe it away. I can not promise you a whole journey of only laughter and happiness, but I can only promise you to make you smile, every day. Today, I promise to you that I will be looking at you every day when the morning comes, and you will be the last person I see when I close my eyes to sleep.

Justin took a box from his pocket and smile while holding out the box with a pair of golden rings on the inside. He snatched the smaller ring and gave to Josh saying "Will you be with me 'til the rest of our days? I know, I can not marry you here but I wanna be with you forever."

"No person in his right mind will say no to you and who would think that it is the two of us in the end. From a simple duo to this, showing the ring in his ring finger, I always feel that every day you are a fairytail. A dream that I never think of coming true. But now you are my reality and I want it this way. To celebrate this, I have a surprise for you, Josh open his backpack and snatched the red small box. With all smile, he showed the box to Justin and open, inside is a pair of white gold rings with their initials J & J engraved. Tears of happiness fill in the silence that has been welling up in the moment. Josh picked the bigger ring and said, "Will you be with me as well?". Justin did not say a word and he suddenly lift Josh's head for a kiss.

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"Manligaw? Itong lokong-loko talaga. Kung ano-ano na lang ang naiisip." Josh gave a smirk and roll his eyes.

"Bakit ayaw mo maniwala? Pero nakatawa ka e. Ano ba?"

"Kasi parang timang. Manligaw daw.", blood rushes to Josh for he is turning red from the idea.

"Oo nga, maniwala ka sa akin. Mabait, matalino at higit sa lahat pogi pa.", Justin is somewhat trying not to smile and make a straight face.

"Ngek, pogi daw. Mabait at matalino lang siguro. Pero sa matalino parang hindi din ako sure e."

"So pwede na?"

"Ewan ko sa'yo."

"Di nga. Punta ako sa inyo para malaman mo na totoo talaga.", Justin sounding confident with his words.

"Bahala ka dyan di mo naman alam saan ako nakatira.", Josh trying to calm himself with the situation on hand.

"Nasabi mo kaya sa akin at andito ako sa inyo medyo malapit lang ako. Kita tayo bukas sa may McDo sa tabi ng overpass. Antayin kita hanggang 2:00PM."

"Teka lang. Kailan pa? Hindi ko alam if makakahanap ako ng oras."

"See you. Sige na mag-work ka na dyan. Bye."

"Oi. Ito naman. Sandali...", Josh was left hanging for Justin already ended the call.

With all the working papers that he must prepare and the recent news he just found; Justin is rolling in a limbo. However, he can not hide the fact that butterflies have been nesting in his stomach waiting to fly upon hearing the news. He just can not hide his smile. He will finally meet, his man.

Josh did not notice that his cup noodles is already cold as well as the toast bread. However, with a little option on hand, he finished the food and with all his energy up finished all the working paper. It is only two days before tax season ends.

Josh head home feeling tired and hungry all over again. He did not mind taking a bath and changed his clothes but instantly crawls through his bed and sleep.

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Josh wakes up having a headache from last nights dream and tiredness. He instantly takes a bath and prepares his backpack and laptop for work. Euphoria is bidding through his blood however he doesn't know why, maybe it is because he will now finally meet Justin in person or his dream. He finally came to his senses after remembering he will have to meet Justin later. Yet, he clearly remembers not saying yes to the idea as well. Ugh! This person is annoying.

Breath. Everything is going to be all right, telling himself. Wait, I do have a work, I can always make this as an excuse for not meeting him. But he travelled so far, and I do not want to put it in vain. Ugh! Focus on work.

Josh head out and had an avocado toast for breakfast. Walking, he spat the McDo, their meeting place. Suddenly, a hand grabs by his shoulder. Panic. Scenarios started to run through his mind, is this him already?

"Good morning.", says the man in a low voice.

Josh hesitating to turn his back replied, "Good morning?"

Then, a series of hands pats his back saying Good morning.

With a relief, he turns his back greeting Kenjie and his friends.

"Kamusta? Hindi man lang kayo nagsabi na papasok pala kayo.", Josh inquired.

"Bakit kailangan ba naming sabihan ka talaga, jowa ka ba namin?", Van replied.

"Bilisan niyo na para makatapos na tayo puro kayo chismisan.", Gaia retaliates.

Kenjie walk by Josh's side and hand him a taho drink.

"Libre ni Gaia kanina binilhan ka na rin namin.", Kenjie explains.

"Thank you."

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1:45 PM

Justin is already freaking out since he has finished his to dos. No way that his senior is letting him just sit in there. He roams around the office looking for work, asking if there is anything that he could do but there is none. No way.

Josh found Kenjie in the Komedor, siting all by himself in the corner.

"Merienda?", he asked Kenjie.

"Hmmmmm... McDo tayo gusto ko kumain ng fries.", Kenjie responding immediately.

"Sige. Ikaw bahala."

The two take the stairs to go down. Giving Josh time to prepare and calm himself. He is still considering the idea that Justin is just joking when he told they will meet in McDo. As he walks, little by little, the distance in the future is becoming clear. With no expectations of the result he came head on. One, two, three, and now Josh can now clearly see the sign. There, the logo is waving, smiling to the situation that is about to happen.

Kenjie, giggling as he walks. Thinking of a meal to partner with his fries not knowing that Josh is about to meet someone, a stranger, no he is more than a stranger. Ha. You can do this, motiving himself.

From afar a man is walking towards them, with a white plain shirt, black jacket and ripped jeans then he suddenly stopped in front of Josh waving his hand, saying Hi!