You're The One

Thirty-Five

You're the one.

He assured that.

"Let's make this official, Moxel,"

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso sa biglaang pag preno niya ng kaniyang sasakyan.

"Huh?" Gulat niyang tugon.

Mabilis pa ang paghinga ko sa gulat kaya huminga muna ako ng malalim.

"I said, let's make this official. At huwag kang bigla-biglang mag preno," I said.

"A-Are you sure?" Gulat pa rin niyang sambit. "And... I'm sorry. I'm just shocked."

"Ayaw mo ba?" Nagtaas ako ng kilay. Gusto kong palakpakan ang sarili ko sa pagkakasabi ko niyan. Dapat ngayon hiyang-hiya na ako.

"N-No. It's just that. I am just making you sure?" Hindi pa niya sigurado.

Tumaas lalo ang kilay ko. "I am sure." I directly said.

He gulped, I saw it. "O-Okay. Thank you..." Mukhang wala pa siya sa sarili.

"Let's go now. Baka ma-late pa ako."

Pati pagtango niya at pagbuhay muli ng makina ng sasakyan para paandarin ay mukhang wala pa rin siya sa kaniyang sarili.

Tahimik lang kami sa byahe. I don't know where I found the bravery of saying it to him but I feel really the assurance of him to me. That I may be deserving to be happy with him... for him. That I am the one for him and he is the one for me.

Nang tumigil na ang sasakyan sa harap ng paaralan ay roon palang may umimik sa amin.

"I'll... just see you later. I'll fetch you," he said.

I just nodded. "Yeah. See you."

Bubuksan ko na sana ang pinto sa gilid ko ng bigla akong napabalik dahil sa hila niya. Nagulat nalang ako ng maramdaman ko ang dampi ng kaniyang labi sa aking noo. Napakurap-kurap ako.

He looked at me with softness in his eyes. "Thank you... for giving me another chance. I don't want to make any promises but... I'll do my best to deserve the chance."

That was he said before I said a goodbye to him. Kasi roon ako nakaramdam ng hiya. Panandalian lang pala ang lakas ng loob ko.

I sighed.

Lusaw agad. Hayy naku, Scasie. There's still the same, huh?

Kahit ganoon, hindi ko matanggal ang aking ngiti at tuwa sa nangyari sa aming dalawa. I just hope I did the right decision for us.

"I wish nothing else but happiness to the both of you, Scasie," Lexi smiled and hugged me when I told her that we are, Moxel together again. It touched my heart.

I also contacted Gabby to inform her that. Baka maging kompleto na naman kami sa sunod na araw. Depende sa schedule namin.

After work, Moxel fetched me.

"Let's dine dinner?" he asked while driving.

Umiling ako. "No. Let's go on my apartment." I said.

Nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo niya at saglit na sumulyap sa akin. Wala naman siyang sinabi at pinaandar lang ang sasakyan sa apartment ko.

Nang makarating ay pinaghintay ko muna siya sa sala para makapagbihis ako ng pangbahay na damit.

"Please entertain yourself here, I'll just cook us dinner." I said as soon as I'm done changing my clothes and went to him.

"You'll cook? I can do that for us," he offered.

I smiled and shook my head. "No. Let me. Just watch here," I got the remote and open the TV and handed it to him. "I'll just cook." Tinignan ko siya at dumeretsyo na sa kusina para makapagsimula ng magluto.

I opened my ref and examine its inside, thinking what should be I will be going to cook.

I think of Adobo. The ingredients is settled and so I do it.

Habang nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagluluto, sumulpot si Moxel sa kusina. I looked at him, pouting my lips. I said he should stay there!

"I'll just get some water, can I?" He said when he saw my reaction.

I sighed and nodded. "There is the ref," I pointed out.

Kumulo ang niluluto ko kaya kinailangan kong lapitan ito at tignan.

"Adobo?" He asked so I looked at him with pouted lips, still. He is drinking now. Nilapag niya ang baso at nagtatanong na tumingin sa akin.

"Yes," tamad kong sagot tinignan ulit ang niluto, ginawa ang mga dapat gawin.

"That's nice. I've missed your cook."

Bumilis naman ang tibok ng puso ko. "Just go at the living room. I will just call you if it's time to eat dinner." I said without looking at him, only to the food I am cooking.

Naramdaman ko rin siyang naglakad na paalis.

Pinatuloy ko na lang pagluluto at siniguradong maayos lahat iyon. Nang natapos ay tinawag ko na siya and he immediately go here.

"Ako na," Kinuha niya ang mga kutsara sa akin. "Just sit already."

Tumango nalang ako at pinaubaya sa kaniya iyon. Nang maihanda at maayos na ang lahat ay nagsimula na kaming kumain.

"How was it?" Kabadong tanong ko, ni hindi pa ako nakakasubo ng sa akin.

Ngumuya-nguya siya at parang ine-examine ang lasa ng pagkain.

He looked at me seriously and smile. "I missed this. It's delicious." At sumubo pa siya ng panibago.

I sighed. I don't know if he is telling the truth or... But...

"I really liked how you cooked foods. There's something special with it that if I taste the food, I'll immediately think it was you who cooked for it," he added.

I smiled. "Thank you..." And started eating my food. I tasted it. Okay naman talaga ang pagkakaluto, okay rin ang lasa. Hinanap ko pa ang 'special' kunong sinasabi ni Moxel but I can't find it. I don't know what it is.

Nag-usap kami roon habang kumakain ng dinner ng biglang tumunog ang cellphone niya, matatapos na rin kaming kumain.

Sumulyap siya sa akin at kinuha ang cellphone. "Excuse me," he said and answer the call.

I nodded. Tinapos ko ang kinakain ko.

"Hello," he, while on his phone. Napapatigil siya kapag ang kabilang linya ang nagsasalita. "Is that so? Okay. Okay. I'll be there." Iyon lang ay binaba na niya ang kaniyang phone at tinignan ako.

I smiled at him. "You going?"

Tumango siya. "Yeah. Emergency sa hospital."

"Okay. I think you need to go now, it's kind of urgent. Tapos ka ng kumain?"

He nodded again and stand up. I stand up too.

"I'm sorry,"

"No. It's okay. It's emergency at the hospital, you need..." Hindi ko na tinapos ang sasabihin ko. He knows it already. And it's really okay.

Lumapit siya sa akin at nagulat man sa ginawa niya, ngumiti pa rin ako kalaunan.

He kissed my forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you for the food, you're good cook." He said. "I'll go now," I nodded.

Hinatid ko siya hanggang sa labas bago siya nakaalis.

That night, maayos akong nakatulog. Pagod rin naman kasi ako.

Time passes by. And I'm happy for what I am and have now. All the pain is sometimes worth it. It gives you lesson and something you can use and be yourself a better version.

I am the one. You are the one.

That words always assuring me by Moxel. He makes me feel it. And slowly, I can confidently say, I am the one. You are the one. You're the one.