Stonehearts 8: Peridot

Thirty Seven

There was a chime at the door so I bobbed my head to see. And of course, sino pa ba ang magiging bisita ko ng tanghali sa trabaho kundi ang mag-ama ko na may bonus na bitbit na pagkain.

"At bakit kayo naparito?" Palabirong tanong ko.

Both of them flashed an almost the same smile. "Well, gusto namin makisabay ng lunch sa'yo, so I figured why not buy some take outs and eat here." 

He put Vi on her high chair and dropped the boxes of take outs on my table. I instinctively fixed my table to give way to the food we're about to share.

"Babe, have you thought about the house I showed you?" Kiel asked as we're digging our way through the bottom of the take out box.

I nodded my head, "Yes, but I'm enjoying our stay sa condo. Is it too soon to switch homes? I mean, can we wait a little bit more?"

"Transferring to a bigger place doesn't mean we have to let go of the unit. I'm not planning on selling it, I have a lot. I mean a looooooot of good and delicious memories there." He said with a devilish grin while wiggling his eyebrows.

Inakma ko siyang batuhin ng kutsara, "Seryoso ako, Kiel. Pwede ba tayong maghintay bago lumipat?"

"Ikaw bahala, baby. You're the boss." Then Vi made a chuckling sound making us both laugh. "I mean she's the boss, you come in second." Pabirong tugon nito.

"Hangga't mag-one si Vi. Then we can move."

He gave me his genuine smile, one of which for my eyes only. "Yes, baby. Anything you want in the world."

We ate in silence after that, with a small talk here and there. Until it's time for him to go back to his office.

"Iwan mo na si Vi dito, Kiel. Ako naman ang mag-ba-baby duty." I said as I watch him take Vi from the high chair.

He shook his head, "Nope, mom will visit at three pm and she specifically requested Vi to be there. And you know mom, there's no point of not doing what she said. It will just bite me in the ass later."

"Alright, please say hello to her for me." I said as I walk them towards the door.

He nodded his head, kissed me goodbye, and waved Vi's little hand before they disappeared towards the aisle of flowers. I shook my head as I remember the very first sentence he told me the first time we met.

"Ikaw ba 'yung mabaho?"

And now look at him, wala ng karekla-reklamo. Kahit patulugin mo pa ata rito sa shop, wala kang maririnig na kahit na ano.

I went back inside my office and saw that they left Vi's little body bag. I mean, wala naman laman 'yon, but Vi's really fond of wearing it. Minsan nga iniiyakan niya pa.

I just shook my head and grabbed the back, intending to call Kiel to tell him that I'll drop by his office to give this. Pero pagka-kuha ko sa high chair may nahulog na maliit na box galing sa loob.

It's a little, green, square box. 

Kinabahan ako, nanginginig habang dahan-dahan kong pinulot 'yong kahon. I opened it and it made a popping sound, inside is a white, folded, piece of paper.

"GO HERE WHEN READY." The note said with an address written at the bottom of it. With no second thoughts, I took my car keys and off I went.

Nagulat ako nang nilagay ko sa waze ang address, dahil hindi ito kalayuan sa shop. Mas lalo akong kinabahan ng napansin kong parang kilala ko nga ang address na iyon.

ZIRCON & CO. 

It read when I parked my car. My hands are sweating and my heart is about to pound right out of my chest. The shop have unusual black curtains covering their see through windows. I was second guessing if I should go down and take a look because it seems that they were closed. But when I hop out of my car, a huge signage greeted me saying "CLOSED FOR PRIVATE VIEWING."

I gulped. The security guard saw me standing by the parking lot and went to greet me and ask for my name.

"Yes, that's me." I whispered. He ushered me in and the coldness of the room didn't help the anxiety that's creeping over me.

"Hey, babe. You saw the box right away." Kiel said with his signature playful smile.

"Kiel...." I gulped. "W-what's happening?"

He scratched the back of his head, looking unsure. "Baby, I'm sure you know what's happening. I mean you're mine forever and there's no changing that but I'm making things official. And what's being official without a ring, right?"

"K-kiel...."

"I want the ring to be perfect, as you are, but nothing beats you, baby. Isn't that right, my angel girl?" He asked Vi which Vi returned with a smile. "So here we are, I want you to pick the ring that you want my love, because as I always say to you, I want to give you everything, anything you may want in the world."

"Kiel, this is too much. I would have gladly accepted anything you'll give me."

He chuckled, "Where's the fun in that, baby?"

The lady then ushered me towards a table with a soft cloth over it. She started to pull out rings after rings after rings, showing me, selling each and every one of them to me. Maya't-maya ko nililingon si Kiel na nakatitig lang sa'kin na may ngiti sa mga labi.

"Ma'am, can I see what Kiel have chosen for me?"

She smiled at me, "Of course, right away, ma'am."

She came back holding a ring with a huge tear drop shape green stone surrounded by tiny diamonds. I was in awe.

"It's beautiful." I gaped.

"This is our 10 carat tear drop shape cut Peridot. Natural grade is AAAA. Accent stones are diamonds and the setting is 18k white gold."

I didn't understand a word she said. Basta alam ko napakaganda ng singsing na iyon. "Kiel, I'm choosing this." I said breathlessly while looking at the ring and then to him.

He stood up, took the peridot ring and slipped it on my left ring finger. "I'm choosing you. Everyday. Any day. Always."