We Said Never (City Series #3)

Chapter 34

"Thank you for dinner, Tita." I smiled at Tita Jenny as Ezra and I prepared to leave.

"Oh, sure, sure! Nako, dapat bumalik ka dito, ha? Kayong dalawa ni Raffy! Para naman mag-bonding tayong tatlo." Tita Jenny laughed before giving me a beso.

"Raia, phone mo, nagc-charge." I reminded Ezra.

He nodded and grabbed his phone and charger near the TV. Lumaki naman ang ngiti ni Tita Jenny nang marinig niya ang sabi ko.

"Raia?"

"Mommy." Ezra sighed.

"He used to hate it when we called him by his second name." Tumawa si Tita Jenny.

Tinaasan ko ng kilay si Ezra, at umiiwas naman siya ng tingin sa akin. Hindi siya nagsalita. He just placed his hand on top of his head, kaya naman nagpigil ako ng tawa.

Bineso ni Tita si Ezra bago kami tuluyan na lumabas at dumiretso sa sasakyan.

We had dinner at Ezra's parents' house before seeing the house. It's finally finished, at titignan ko na ang itsura ng pinaghirapan nitong gwapo kong boyfriend!

"May ibang finishing touches lang—"

"I'm sure it's great." I smiled at Ezra as he drove. "Why are you so jumpy anyway? I know you did a great job naman."

"Nothing.."

Ngumiti ako at tumingin sa labas. Nakalubog na ang araw at unti-unting lumalabas ang ilaw galing sa gitna ng Baguio. The house is quite far from town, but the view makes up for it.

It's been eight months, and I can't wait to move back here. I've already settled everything I needed to settle. I can work here. I can still easily vlog here, and I have enough savings for me to put up a business here.

Dalawa ang upcoming businesses na pinaplano ko. A franchise of a famous restaurant, and an airbnb by La Union. Ibig sabihin, may ipapatayo rin kami na bahay doon.

This is the first time I'm seeing the house. The actual house. I've been in Manila for the longest time, and I haven't found the time to visit. Si Ezra ang pabalik balik ng Baguio. He kept insisting on making me visit, but I trusted my boyfriend's judgment. Aside from the fact that his house in Manila is gorgeous, I know that whatever the outcome, I'll still end up loving it.

"Kinakabahan ka ba?" I laughed. "You know I trust you, right?"

"Right."

I smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

We got to the house sooner than I expected. As he parked in the garage, I could already see the view from here. Paano pa kaya sa likod ng bahay?

It was beautiful. Baguio never ceases to leave me in awe. Hindi man ako dito lumaki, pakiramdam ko, dito ako nakadestina.

Naalala ko dati, naiinip inip pa ako habang nag-aantay ng jeep. Hindi naman kami mayaman no'n. Hindi ako nag-hangad ng mas aangat pa. Ang gusto ko lang ay maibalik kay Papa lahat ng binigay niya sa akin. I had to take up a course that was not something that I was passionate about. I ended up graduating that said course, but I didn't even try to work as a medical technologist.

Instead, I took a leap of faith.

Ezra showed me that I could be more. That I could do more. People say it's stupid to go with your passion, because you'll just end up hating it.

But people who say that are the practical ones. They're the ones who think that the only way to be successful is by doing something practical.

I had nothing to lose. I lost the guy I loved. I lost.. my child. My whole world was falling apart, and I chose to go with my passion.

Ngayon, hindi na ako naiinip inip sa pag-antay ng jeep. Ngayon, hindi ko na minumura ang driver ng sinasakyan ko. Ngayon, nandito na kami sa bahay na pinag-hirapan ko. Pinag-hirapan namin.

Ezra was always there to push me to become better. To go for more. Even if it's not the most practical thing to do.

He was there.

And although he left, he came back.

"Hey," I softly said as he removed his seatbelt. "Thank you."

"Saan, babi?"

"For.. everything." I smiled. "Kung 'di mo kaya ako tinulak na gawin ang gusto ko talagang gawin, baka hindi ako nakapagpa-tayo ng bahay."

He sighed and held my hand. "Your wins, your victories, your journey.. they're all you and the Lord. Wala ako doon. You chose to get up.. and I'm so proud of you."

I smiled. "Thank you."

"Atska, kahit naman hindi ka nag-artista, I would still build you a house."

I rolled my eyes and laughed as I gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Bababa na sana ako ng sasakyan, pero bigla niya akong pinigilan.

"Hep, hep,"

"Hooray?"

He chuckled and got a bandana from the glove compartment. "Siyempre dapat surprise."

"Ang dami mong arte, Raia!" Tumawa ako at umiling. "Ayoko nga!"

"Sige na." He grinned. "Come on, just pretend to be surprised."

Inirapan ko ulit siya at hinayaan siya na isuot sa akin ang bandana sa bandang mata ko. I couldn't see a thing, so Ezra helped me out of the car and led me towards the house.

Tahimik ang paligid namin. One of the perks of being away from town is also being away from the business of the city. Walang mga maiingay na sasakyan.

As we entered the house, I could only hear the echoes of our footsteps. Alam kong wala pang laman yung bahay. I don't see the need for a blindfold!

"Okay.." Ezra took a deep breath as he let go of my hand. "Wait lang one minute."

"Posporo ba 'yon?" tanong ko.

"Shh." Ezra chuckled. "Okay. You can take it off now."

Tinanggal ko ang bandana na naka-lagay sa mata ko at napa-awang ang labi ko pagkabukas ko ng mata.

Roses were everywhere, and there were candles, too. Kami lang ang nandito. Walang gamit, walang laman. Just us.

"I lost six years with you, Ena."

Lumunok ako. He was down on his knee, holding a small black velvet box in front of me. Is he..

"Alam kong biglaan, but.. I don't want to lose any more time with you. There's no one else here. You can say no.." He smiled. "Marry me, Selena."

Hindi na ako nag-dalawang isip pa.

This is the man I honestly don't want to see my future without. Kinaya ko naman na wala siya. Pero ngayong may pagkakataon na makasama siya habangbuhay, hihindi pa ba ako?

"Yes. Yes! Kahit limang libong oo pa 'yan, Raia." I smiled and threw my arms around him. "I'll marry you."

And there, with no one else around, I've never felt happier. Para akong nakapagpahinga sa pag-iisip. Parang sinabi sa akin, okay na. Tama na pagod mo. Tama na yung sakit. Everything's smooth sailing from this point forward.

So as I walked down the aisle, in front of our friends and family.. I couldn't help but cry. Because all of that pain, all of the suffering that I went through. That he went through. It's all finally over.

And we can finally start living our lives together.. with nothing else holding us back.