SECRETS

Chapter 6 - A beautiful Suprise.

I woke up the next morning with the heat of sun splayed on my face. Time check, 8 am. I smiled, knowing that somehow, what happend yesterday was true and not just a part of my wild imagination. I rolled over and opened my eyes to the blinding light of the sun. I searched the small room for traces of him. Nothing. I sat up and strecthed, looking outside my window. Nothing. Then, the door creaks open, and I find my body tensing up.

Miguel. He was standing there with a tray of food. He smiled.

"Good Morning miss." He said and takes one step forward.

"Oh, Mm. Morning." I said, yawning softly.

"Let's eat!" He smiled his crooked smile, probably one of my favorites.

"Whats with all the sweetness huh?" I joked half-heartedly.

"I didnt think the girl I liked would want to have the mean me, so here I am." He shrugged cutely and set the food tray down on his bed. There were two plates. 3 fried chicken wings (that was what they looked like at least) and mashed potatoes on each plate. He walks toward my bed and sits on the edge with me.

"They're having fried frog legs for early brunch. I decided to try some for us." He chuckled at my disgusted expression. "Yea, I know they look like chicken, trust me, they taste like chicken. They're just.. not." He laughed.

I reached for the tray and moved the table towards us. I got one (my first) frog leg. I squinted and smelled it. "Eeew." I say disgustingly

He laughed. "Lets do it together?" he suggested.

I nodded. 

"In three.. 1, 2, 3!"

Yes, it did taste like chicken. New experience. I smiled.

- - -

We spent the next few days focusing on our research. There were so many changes and additions to it. We also included an essay dedicated to Gilbert and his whole family. We also had ourselves sink into mud just to document what life was like in Greenfields nowadays.

On the 6th day of the emersion, we ended up with an 18 page research regarding the whole district. We managed to cover a lot of aspects including how they feed the children everyday.  We included tons of extra information, it was definitely worked hard for.

But in between all the stress and weariness, Miguel never fails to make me smile. Everytime we join the Sanyo's in the fieldworks under the sun, Miguel always stays beside me making sure to wipe every sweat that comes off my forehead. He was definitely that sweetest guy I have ever met.

Very different from all the exes I've had before. Very, very different indeed.

Every night, he would take me to the lakefront, we would stare at the sky for hours . Holding hands, we would glance at each other and find ourselves falling in love even more. 

Every morning, he would wake up first and fetch me something to eat, then, we'd start on our project, doing our routines all over again..

- - -

On the 7th day of emersion (the last day) He woke me up  at 5:00 am just to tell me that the bus would be arriving at 9. We both packed  our bags quietly, both knowing that it would be our last day in a place that we had learned to love already. Slowly, we walk out the door, hand in hand, quietly bidding the room goodbye.

Jay was waiting outside, just by the lake, he was throwing stones and pebbles to the water. I approached him slowly.

"Hey there kiddo." I nudged his shoulder.

"Hi, are you guys really gonna leave already?" He glanced my way.

 "Yea, we have to." I said sadly.

"I have something to tell you.." He whispered tensely.

"Mm." I mumbled.

"We're gonna miss you." He says.

I melted at the simple statement the little boy said.. "Aww, I am too." I sad with almost teary eyes. I tried to reach out to hug him, but he pointed to the opposite direction, I looked the other way and saw what he was pointing at.

All the kids from the campfire were lined horizontally facing us. One daisy in each hand. Later on, Jay joins them too. Seconds passed and I am nothing but awestruck.. They then started to sing a familiar song. I realized that it was Turning Pages. I blushed. What is happening? 

I was definitely speechless. Shocked. Each of them handed me a daisy, white ones. When everybody was done, the music stops and Miguel comes in. He was smiling widely at me. He waved and mouthed Hi to me.

He was wearing a white t-shirt with words in bold saying.. "WILL YOU BE MY...."

That was the only time that I realized what was really happening. He. Was. Asking. Me. To. Be. HIS girlfriend. He reaches out to me, and helps me up. My eyes were welling up with tears. Nobody has done anything with this much effort to me.. He says the words out loud and I felt like jelly..

"Mia, be my girlfriend." He whispers as the children let out cute squeals from behind.

And again, all I could say was one lame.. "Y-yes.."

He smiles widely as he hugs me tightly and I hug him back intensely.

Definitely a beautiful suprise.

- - -

"Is this real?" He asks me.

"Very surreal. But trust me, it is." I reply.

He holds my hand tightly as we sit together in front of the lake, a place we kind of branded as our own. He stares at me and I smile.

"I could get used to this." I said holding our hands -which are now entwined- up.

"To what? Holding my hand?" He wondered.

"I could get used to the fact that somehow, you're mine now." I said shyly.

"Yes, princess, I AM yours." He grips my hand tightly and kisses my cheek.

Was this really happening? I wonder silently. What if this is just another dream? What if this is not true? I sigh.

"Could you promise me one thing?" I requested.

"Of course babe." He says

Babe. I marveled at the word.

"Please, do not hurt me." I said softly.

He held his free hand and touched my cheek with the back of it. "I Miguel Rono, promise to take care, protect and love you, Mia Meyor. Trust me, I keep promises." Then, slowly, he leans in kissing me with care..

- - -

The ride home was tiring. I got dizzy with all the road cracks and reminders. I slept the whole time sleeping on Miguels shoulder though..  When we got to the school, I opened my eyes and thought of one thing. My bestffriends. How the hell was I going to tell them?

Oh god.