Chapter 44
"Ready?" napatingin ako kay Permian nang sabihin nya iyon. Ngumiti ako sakanya bago tumango. Habang nasa byahe ay nakatingin lang ako sa harap habang ang kamay naman ni Permian ay nasa hita ko.
Agad akong bumaba nang makarating kami sa pupuntahan namin ngayon. Hawak ni Permian ang bewang ko habang papasok kami sa isang sikat na restaurant. Madali rin naman naming nakita kung sino ang dahilan ng pag punta namin dito.
He's wearing a black coat while seriously drinking a wine. Nang makita nya kami ay agad itong tumayo at nag beso saakin at tumango lang kay Permian. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba talaga ang problema nila sa isa't isa. Nag order muna kami bago namin simulan ang gusto nitong sabihin.
He cleared his throat. "It's been a while, Eritrea and I heard that your memories are back. " napangiti ako dahil sa sinabi nito. He's been a good friend and a co-worker to me.
"Yeah, that's right, Agustus." yeah, we're meeting Agustus now. He help us to find the location of Claudia and he is also the one who has many connection kaya mas napadali ang pag papakulong kay Claudia and we're here to thank him personally.
"We're here to thank you for all the things you've done for or family and to our children." I sincerely said to him. He gave me a genuine smile before talking.
"THat's all I can do for you, Eri" sabi nito bago dumating ang in-oder naming pag kain. Habang kumakain ay tahimik lang kami. Nararamdaman ko na din ang awkwardness sa buong paligid. Napahinto ako sa pag subo ng pag kain nang bumulong sa tenga ko si Permian.
"I'm going to take call, it's Felix, baby don't be jealous" sabi nito. Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin, Nag excuse ito kay Agustus bago umalis. SInundan ko ito ng tingin hanggang sa mawala na ito sa paningin ko. Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Agustus na nakatingin din pala saakin.
"Eri, so, you and Permian are in a relationship, huh?" he said.
"Yeah." maikling sagot ko dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko sakanya.
"I've always admire you for being a good leader and a co-worker. You didn't let me down when you had your first business meeting and I felt proud because I'm with you on that day. Noong araw na hinatid kita sa construction site ng araw ding iyon, nagtaka ako kung bakit ka anduon, pero binalewala ko din iyon." mahabang sabi nito. NAnatili akong nakinig at nag hihintay sa susunod nitong sasabihin.
"When that accident came, I saw how your family and friends are worried about you especially Permian, I also help him that time for finding you body. It takes 3 days for your things to recover but no body is found. Permian never stop believing that you're still alive. That made me realize everything, yung pinunta mo sa construction site is Permian, right? " tanging tango lang ang sinagot ko sakanya.
"Days, months and years had past by and Permian is still looking for you, until that he's company is built he named is after you. I loved you, Eri. When I first saw you I know that I love this you. I realize many things, I am not worth of your love because I gave up easily, I believed that you're already dead, but Permian don't. He's worth of all the love you can give. Now, I'm already happy seeing you alive and being in love. Be happy, Eritrea that's all you can do for me." hindi ko maiwasang hindi maiyak dahil sa sinabi ni Agustus.
He wiped my tears. "Don't cry, baka isipin ni Permian pinaiyak kita." pag bibiro nito.
I gave him a genuine smile. "Thank you for all, I hope you will find someone who can give all the love she can offer, I wish for your happiness, Agutus" tugon ko.
Hindi din naman nag tagal pag katapos ng pag uusap namin ni Agustus ay dumating naman si Permian. After finishing are food we say our good bye to Agustus. I can see sadness in his eyes but I know there will be someone who can love him more than he deserve.
Habang nasa byahe ay napatingin ako kay Permian nag pisilin nito ang hita ko. "Let's go somewhere before we go home." napatango nalang ako. Nang huminto kami ay tumingin agad ako sa bintana at halos manlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita kung nasaan kami ngayon.
HInawakan ni Permian ang kamay ko at hinila ako papunta sa stone na hagdan. Wala pa din itong pinagbago, andito pa din ang mga bulaklak sa gilid at dumagdag ang mga ilaw na naksabit sa gilid. Mas gumanda ang buong paligid.
Nang makarating kami sa pinaka taas ay agad hinangin ang mahaba kong buhok. Permian is still holding my hands while walking inside the house. The portrait is still there and there is a new picture of our children. The whole place looks clean.
"Turn around." sinunod ko ang sinabi nito. Napapikit ako nang makita ko na ilalagay itong blindfold sa mata ko. He held my hand and guide me walking. Sweet music invaded my ears. MY heart starts pounding because of unknown reason.
(Play the music above)
Been thinkin' 'bout you, baby
And I don't know what to do
All I think about is you
Seems everything around me
Things I've never understood
They all make sense when I'm with you
Oh, I've heard it all before
Finding so called love then you leave it behind
But now I feel so sure
I listen to my heart this time
So I lay it on the line
Permian removes the blindfolds and my eyes is adjusting to the light. When everything is clear to me, my hands went on my mouth. My heart starts beating faster. The whole garden are is full of red petals of roses, there is a candle that forms a heart shape and I looked at the other side of the pool and there is my family, friends and our children.
I looked at Permian and he's now kneeling on the grass. My eyes start heating because of the tears that started to roll to my cheeks. He's holding a velvet box, while looking at me. He opened it an oval silver engagement ring with a small diamond inside.
"Eritrea,my baby, I've waited for you to come back to me and God know how I wanted to see you again and now he granted my prayers. You'll always be the forbidden fruit that I am not scared to pick, because I know everything will be worth it. In front of our family, friends and out little babies..." sunod-sunod na tumulo ang mga luha sa mga mata ko habang nakatingin at nakikinig sakanya.
Permian is always the strong one in this relationship.
I know that what I've found
Is once in a lifetime
And I know there's no way out
'Coz it's once in a lifetime
I've always been so lonely
No one there for me to hold
And every night was just so cold
Oh, don't get me wrong I've been around
But I've resigned myself to thinking
Mine is just another story often told
"Will you marry me?" I cupped his face and nodded.
"Yes, I will marry you, Permian" he didn't gave me an answer because he kissed my lips and I happily responded. I close my eyes while tears are rolling down to my cheeks. Magkapat pa din ang mga noo namin habang nakangiti sa isa't isa.
NApatingin kami sa ibaba nang may yumakap sa mga legs namin. There is our little angel smiling at us. Permian carry ZVezda while Elio and Ciel are hugging my waist. I squatted and they give me a kiss on my cheeks. Lumapit na idn saamin sina mommy at niyakap ako.
I know that what I've found
Is once in a lifetime
And I know there's no way out
'Coz it's once in a lifetime...
"I'm so happy for you, sweetheart. You found someone who can make you happy." napangiti ako dahil sa sinabi ni mommy. All the pain, the sufferings and all of the things that happened to our family is all worth it if I will have this kind of happiness in the end.
Napatingin kami sa langit nang sunod-sunod na pumutok ang mga fireworks. The kids are screaming because of different colors and because if it's sound. Permian wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my temple.
"I love you, baby" he whispered to my ears.
"I love you too" sagot ko.
***
Song: Once in a lifetime
