Cruel Summer

ika-21

He hugged me tight and kissed me on my forehead. "Thank you. You have no idea how happy you made me."

I smiled and rested my head on his shoulder while we are busy watching the sunset. Hindi pa rin natatanggal ang ngiti sa aking mga labi.

He brought his guitar and he even played it for me. I closed my eyes to enjoy the music along with the different natural sounds around us.

Kasabay ang masarap na simoy ng hangin, mas masaya sa pakiramdam lalo na't kasama ko na naririto ang taong mahal ko. I stared at Bryson while thinking what will happen now that we are officially together.

"I love you, Georgianna."

"I love you, too."

Hindi na rin naman kami nagpaabot ng gabi sa park at umuwi na pagkatapos. He kissed me on my cheeks before going inside his unit.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said. I nodded and smiled at him.

I couldn't sleep tonight. I just keep thinking things that may actually happen in the future. Aabot kaya kami sa kasalan? I hope so too.

As I've said, I'm not rushing things. I just want to enjoy every single moment that I have with him, and that'll be okay for now. I believe everything's going well according to plan.

I smiled to the idea that the Bryson Allastaire Rodriguez is now my boyfriend. Well, I haven't known him since the beginning because my focus was all on my academics. I didn't knkw he is a young businessman, and a man with principles back then.

Can you just imagine it? Kung noon, ang una naming pagkikita ay noong nadapa ako habang nagj-jogging, ngayon magkasama na kami lagi at nagkagusto sa isa't isa.

I was just smiling all night. It's like I've never felt this kind of love before. Never naman akong naging ganito sa mga past boyfriends ko, e. Or maybe because my previous relationships weren't that serious before. Ewan ko ba.

Dahil hindi pa ako makatulog ay nagpahangin muna ako sa labas. Nagulat naman ako nang nakatayo roon si Lolo Roman, mukhang nagpapahangin rin.

"Hindi po kayo makatulog, Lo?" tanong ko. Lumingon naman siya sa akin at tumango.

"Oo apo," he said. "Matagal tagal din akong hindi nakakalabas nang ganitong oras. Masarap ang simoy ng hangin."

"May iniisip po kayo 'no?" tanong ko nang pabiro pero seryoso ako.

He chuckled. "Well, meron nga."

He looked at the vast view of the city of Rotterdam. "I just remembered how your Lola and I were enjoying and spending all our quality time together noong nabubuhay pa siya. We were very happy, and we always cherish every moment."

Naroroon lamang ako, nakikinig sa mga sinasabi niya.

"Maybe I just miss your Lola right now, apo. Lalo na't nalalapit na ang kaarawan ko, at ito ang unang birthday ko na hindi siya kasama."

I couldn't say anything, but I just hugged him because I think that hug can express what I'm trying to tell Lolo. That it's okay, and it will be okay.

Then I remembered. It's Lolo's birthday tomorrow!

I have to prepare some surprise party for him para kahit papaano naman ay sumaya siya sa birthday niya. Dahil may trabaho bukas ay pwede namang sa hapon na lamang iorganize ang event.

All I need is people to help me organize it. Sigurado naman akong kasama ko na si Bryson, at mag-iimbita rin ako ng ibang mga kaibigan dahil mas masyaa kapag mas marami ang magsasalu-salo.