You Make Me Smile [COMPLETED]

SPECIAL CHAPTER

SPECIAL CHAPTER - WHEN RAIN PLANS

RAIN'S POV

"Hello, Mom? Are you ready for next week?" I excitedly asked my mom over the phone.

(Of course, Alfonz. Are you with her now?)

I looked outside my car. "Not yet, Mom. I bought her breakfast though." I went out of the car and took the bag of cookies and a cup of iced coffee. "Sa tingin mo, Ma, magagalit kaya siya kapag nalaman niyang pinlano kong pakasalan siya kahit 'di niya pa ako kilala?"

(I'm not quite sure about that, Alfonz. But I do know that being a stalker is weird.)

Napangiwi naman ako sa sinabi ni mom. "Ma, uso pong mag-move on."

I heard my mom chuckle. (I still can't believe I raised a stalker.)

I felt my face heating up. "Gotta go, Mom. Babye."

She laughed again. (Goodbye, stalker.)

I ended the call. I know it's weird to stalk, but it's my way of getting to know her. I couldn't help but pout as I walked towards Isavell's house. I checked the time before knocking. Maaga pa naman, maybe she hasn't eaten breakfast.

I smiled when she opened up the door. "Good morning—eh?" I looked at the bags she was holding. "Aalis ka na agad?" I once again checked the time on my watch. "It's only eight-thirty AM, akala ko ba nine AM ka pa umaalis?"

She just stared at me and it already made me feel nervous and conscious. "Ikaw? Anong ginagawa mo rito?" she asked.

Ipinakita ko sa kanya ang bitbit ko. "I brought you breakfast. Don't worry, I have no plans entering your house, may pupuntahan kasi akong malapit lang dito, eh katatapos ko lang din mag-breakfast dyan sa malapit na cafe so, I thought I could bring you breakfast too."

Wala talaga akong pupuntahan. I just really want to bring her breakfast. I wanna get closer to her. Make her feel comfortable with me. And hoping that she would actually want to be with me and accept my rushed wedding proposal.

Kinabahan naman ako nang naging blangko ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya.

"Bakit?" She was dead serious while asking me.

Ito na ba? Is she going to ask me to stay away from her? She's doubting my actions. I mean it must've been really weird for her. And she's smart and she might see me as a threat.

"H-Huh?" Please, don't ask me to leave your life. "'Di mo ba narinig yung sinabi ko?" I frowned at her.

"Bakit ka ganito? Bakit ka mabait?"

Naramdaman ko ang pagkawala ng kaba sa katawan ko. You ask me why? That's because I love you.

But I can't tell her that or she might freak out this time. So, I told her the simplest reason I have. "It's because we're friends." I smiled at her.

"What do you need?"

You... in my life... until my last breath.

"A friend, Isavell."

In the meantime, though.

I saw her smile and it seemed to me that she was considering me in her life.

And that's enough for me...

Well, for the time being.

Finally, after a week, my plan started to work just fine.

(Alfonz, Isavell is in Rivas' residence as of now.)

"That's good to know, Dad. How's Tita Sam?" I'm driving my way to the jewelry shop. The owner just called this morning at pinapasabing handa na ang pinapagawa ko.

(She's really grateful to you, but she said she ended up messing up. Kaya naman gusto niyang masiguro na hindi mo raw sasaktan ang anak niya dahil ayaw na raw niyang madagdagan pa yung hirap na naranasan ni Isavell.)

I smiled. "Dad, kapag sinaktan ko si Isavell, para ko na ring sinaksak ang sarili ko. Whenever she feels pain, nasasaktan din ako. And why would I hurt the woman I waited for almost twenty years?" I heard dad chuckle.

(You really are serious about her.)

"I am. I really am." I saw the shop and drove faster. "Hey, Dad, I'm already at the shop. Gotta hang up now. Just remember, I'll be late because of—"

(Traffic!) both of my parents shouted, which made us all laugh.

"Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad."

(Anything for you, Alfonz.)

I smiled at my mom's words. "Gotta go now, bye!"

(Bye!)

I ended the call, killed the engine, and got out of my car. I can't hide my excitement as I went inside Von's shop. Agad ko naman siyang nakita dahil nage-entertain din siya ng customers.

"Von! Where is it?" I asked him, still not removing the smile on my lips.

"Right! Wait for me here." Von went inside his office kaya naman tumingin-tingin pa ako sa shop niya. Ilang saglit lang ay papalapit na siya sa akin. "Here it is." He opened the light brown box and showed me the ring. "Light brown is less expensive than that dark brown diamond, so ba't yan yung pinili mo?"

I stared at the ring. "She has dark brown eyes and she was wearing a dark brown dress in her photo." I smiled as I remember the first time I saw her. Dark brown eyes, straight black hair, and a beautiful smile. I looked at Von. "Thanks again, Von."

"Welp, anytime. I just hope I'll be able to feel the way you feel about that girl."

I pat his shoulder. "Don't worry, bud, the time will come, and you'll meet the woman for you." I walked towards the exit. "Thanks again!" He just waved and went back to entertaining his customers. As for me, I went back to my car and drove my way to Rivas' residence.

"Anyways, we'll be talking about their marriage, ain't that right?" I heard my dad's voice when I came inside the house.

"That's right, all we need is your son—"

Tito Joseph was talking but then, I heard Isavell's voice filled with firmness.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you, Mr. Rivas, but—" Kinakabahan ako sa bawat salitang sinasabi niya. She told me about her parents' marriage and her opinion about it. "—I don't want to—"

"I'm sorry, I'm late." I'm sorry, Vell. I'm not sure if you're comfortable with me already but I'll try.

They all looked at me, and Isavell was the last one to turn. I acted as if I didn't know what exactly was going on, in order to not surprise her with my intentions.

"Isavell? I—I thought something bad happened to you. Hindi ka sumasagot sa tawag ko, tapos hindi ka pa pumasok—"

"Wait wait wait... A-Anong ginagawa mo rito?" Looks like she's buying my acting.

"Well, my family was invited for dinner to—wait!" We can do this, Rain.

"Ikaw‽" We both shouted. She really seemed surprised and confused about what was going on.

And then the dinner started. I stared at the woman across me, she really seemed preoccupied. Did she really hate this kind of idea? I know how much she treasures the words love and marriage, and now I'm feeling guilty for putting her in this kind of situation. But all the guilt flew away when I heard her say...

"M-Ma'am, th-there would b-be a chance po..."

Yes! Yes! God! I want to stand up and just jump! I feel my heart's about to burst!

I thought everything was going smoothly, but then Isavell asked, "Umm... December... That's four months from now. What... What if those four months wouldn't be enough for both of us to fall in love? Pwede po bang hindi matuloy yung kasal?"

Ayaw niya pa rin ba? Sabagay, she only said that there might be a chance. Still just a chance.

But I will not give up, just because of that, especially with that chance laid in front of me. I just have to prove that I really am worthy of your love, Isavell.

And I plan to make you fall for me, just like how rain falls to the ground.