EMBRACING ALL THE UNEXPECTED (COMPLETED) PART II

XLVIII ART

Kabanata 48

Art

I don't know why she keeps on drinking but I let her. Hindi ko inalis ang paningin ko sa kaniya. Napangiti ako ng bahagya niyang sampalin ang sarili niya. I called Zeun to ask if what's happening to Andrea.

"What happened?"

"Ayoko magsalita pero lasing na siya, may masasabi at masasabi yan kaya sana makunwwari ka na lang na hindi mo alam kapag nagkataon."

I don't understand what Zeun said. Pinuntahan ko na siya ng makita ko na muntik na siyang matumba. I can't stop myself from smiling.

"Wanna go home?" I whispered. "You're drunk."

"No, I'm not," she whispered.

"Why are you whispering?" I asked.

She hooked her arms on my neck as she tried to open her eyes. She is drunk now.

"You whispered first," pahabol niya pang sabi.

Nagpaalam ako kina mama bago tuluyang umalis. Sina Zeun na raw bahala magsabi na nauna na kami. Nauna na rin umalis ang family ni Andrea kaya dumiretso na kami sa parking lot matapos ko magpaalam sa pamilya ko. Nakatulog na rin si Andrea kaya hindi ko na napigilan pa ang mapailing habang nasa loob na kami ng sasakyan.

Karga ko si Andrea hanggang sa k'warto. Pawis na pawis na siya kaya naman no choice, I removed her clothes. Pinapitan ko ito ng T-shirt ko bago ko pinunasan ng basang bimpo ang mukha niya. Inalis ko rin ang makeup niya using her cleanser.

"Are you okay?" I asked when she opens her eyes a bit. "Hey, baby."

"I thought you'll propose to me." Natigil ako sa pagpupunas ng wipes sa mukha niya sa sinabi niya. "I heard you, I thought you'll going to propose to me. Zeun and Zuen know it too. It's okay, tumawa ka. Tawanan mo ako. Gusto ko na lang talaga lamunin ng lupa kanina. I'm not disappointed but I felt so embarrassed."

"Why you want me to propose now?" I asked.

"No, but I am ready to say yes whenever you want. I love you," she said while resisting her drowsiness. "I'll go with you, I will say yes to when you proposed now."

I chuckled.

I took out my necklace that I am wearing but it is under my clothes, it was from her before I went to Germany. There's a ring so I removed it from my neck first so I could get it. I immediately put it on her finger so she lifted it to see it even though she's drowsy.

"I love you," I whispered. "Sleep now, baby. I will marry you so soon." Nang tuluyan na siyang pumikit ay inayos ko muna ang mga gamit niya. Pinagmasdan ko mabuti ang k'wentas na ibinigay niya noon.

I hid your gift. I told myself, I will come back to you because you are my dream. I will do everything to improve and make you proud. I always pray that I will come back. I hope one day I will see you and you still love me when that time will come.

Binili ko ang singsing na iyon matapos may nangyari sa amin noon. I don't want her to think that I have run away from her. I am not that type of man. I'll always cherish all the memories we had. She's the dream that comes true and I'll never let her go.

Nang nasa Germany ako hindi ko maiwasan na isipin na sana okay lang siya. Na sana maayos lang ang lahat sa kaniya. Gusto ko sisihin ang pamilya ko, galit na galit ako sa lola ko noon. I never want to go home to the Philippines because of what they have done to my girl.

There's a lot of girls who approached me but I didn't even get to know them more. All I want is to graduate, find a stable job, and find Andrea. All I want is to be with Andrea Ryleigh Santiago and now my soon-to-be Mrs. Hernandez.

Nang magising ako ay tulog na tulog pa rin siya. All I did is stare at her face and smile. What is good in the morning? When you woke up beside the girl you want to be with you until your last breath.

I kissed her temple of the nose before she opens her eyes. Itinulak niya ako saka siya umalis sa kama at dumiretso sa bathroom. Sinundan ko and we do our morning routine together.

Nang maglagay siya ng cream sa kamay niya ay doon niya lang napansin ang singsing na inilagay ko sa daliri niya kagabi. She cant remember what happened.

"Did you put this?" Turo niya sa singsing at nagkibitbalikat lang ako. "Hey, I'm asking you."

"Say I love you first." I teased her. "I wanna gear it, baby."

She sighed.

"I love you with feelings," walang kaemo-emosyon niyang sabi kaya nakipagmatigasan ako. "I love you nga."

"I thought you want me to propose. Sabi mo pa nga I'll say yes if you propose now so yeah we're already engaged."

"Don't lie! When did I say it? Dude, you're probably lying."

"Whatever. I heard it right last night. You're now soon to be Andrea Ryleigh Santiago Hernandez. Good morning, baby. I love you too, "I said before I kissed her lips and leave her alone in the bathroom.

"Art Luther Hernandez!" she screamed.

Napailing na lang ako. Naiimagine ko na ganito na kami tuwing umaga. I'm the boss but she's the real boss. Hindi ko inaasahan na ikatutuwa ko pa.

Damn! I really love her.

"Art, did I say something? Did you give me this ring coz I say something? Hey, tell me the truth!" Lumapit ako sa kaniya saka ko pinatakan ng pitik ang noo niya. "Art!"

"Hm..."

"Tell me."

"Hm..."

"Art Luther, isa pa talaga malilintikan ka! Tell me."

"Hm..."

"Baby, tell me the truth. Did I say something kagabi like about sa wedding ot proposal kaya ka naglagay ng ring sa daliri ko? Tell me."

I grab her hands and led the way to come close to me. Pinaupo ko siya sa lap ko habang nakaupo ako sa upuan. She's now overreacting.

"I put that ring to your finger coz I wanna marry you. Mahal kita kaya may singsing diyan. Wala kang sinabi. Bakit ano ba dapat ang gusto mo sabihin?"

"Sure ka?" I nodded. "Wala. Forget it. Lets it." Wala pa akong naluluto. "Okay, forget it again. Wala naman makakain. Let's eat outside na lang."

"Kiss me first." I chuckled when she gives a smack on my lips. "Okay, we'll eat outside."

"I love you," she said.

"I love you more."

When you meet the love you wanted to be your last it makes you be a better person. If kayo, kayo talaga. Adding some effort and affection will lead you to each other forever. Expect the unexpected and fight for what makes you happy with your loved ones. When you love someone, you'll love her or him at the very last.