Ara was about to cover her face when Kanoa quickly held her hands and pulled her for a hug. He buried his face in the hollows of her neck and hugged her tightly. Ara automatically caressed Kanoa's hair.
"I really wanna say yes last night, but I was too nervous," Ara sniffed. "Ikaw, madaya ka. You literally had me thinking if it was even true!"
Kanoa chuckled against her skin. "Sinilip kita kung gising ka ba. Gumalaw kaya 'yung mata mo kaya alam kong hindi ka talaga tulog. Hindi ko rin talaga kasi alam kung paano ko itatanong."
"Ha! So, you settled with acting as if I didn't hear anything?" Ara tsked. "Madaya."
"Sabi mo kasi noong may nakita tayong public proposal, mas gusto mong surprise na gugulatin ka," Kanoa pulled away and bit his lower lip while staring at Ara. "Kaya ayon, sinurprise talaga kita kagabi. Akala ko nga babangon ka, eh."
Sinamaan ng tingin ni Ara si Kanoa na natawa. Tumayo ito at pumasok sa loob ng kwarto. Naiwan siyang nakatitig sa pinto, iniisip kung totoo nga ba talagang posibleng mag-engage na sila. Of course, she wanted to marry him! No doubt, she knew Kanoa was the one.
Hindi alam ni Ara kung bakit nagsimulang manubig ang magkabilang mga mata niya habang iniisip lahat ng pinagdaanan niya simula nang makilala niya si Kanoa. It wasn't rainbow and butterflies.
It was more like bows that stabbed her heart and lies.
Ara looked down and started sobbing silently. Her heart was beating so fast that she started scratching the back of her hand to calm herself and think that everything was gonna be okay.
Lumabas si Kanoa ng kwarto at nakita ang sitwasyon ni Ara. Agad niya itong nilapitan at hinawakan ang magkabilang kamay. Lumuhod siya sa harapan nito at hinawi ang buhok na nakaharang sa mukha. Kita niya ang sunod-sunod na pagbagsak ng luha dahilan para mag-alala siya.
"Ara, kung ayaw mo, okay lang," aniya at hinalikan si Ara sa pisngi. "Kahit sa susunod na lang kapag sigurado ka na, kapag handa na."
Umiling si Ara at sinapo ang mukha niya. "It's not that. I was just . . . reminiscing. After all the pain, tears, and everything, I never expected this one. I wanted to. I wanted you to be the one, but after everything . . . after breaking up with you, kahit na magkasama na tayo now, it's still here." Tinuro ni Ara ang isip. "And here," pati ang puso. "Everything."
Hindi alam ni Kanoa ang sasabihin. Napayuko siya dahil doon. Kahit na ilang taon na ang lumipas, kahit na ilang buwan na silang magkasama ni Ara, hindi iyon mapagtatakpan. Kahit na halos araw-araw silang maayos, kahit na siguro ibigay niya ang lahat, maiisip at maiisip iyon ni Ara.
"Sorry," bulong ni Kanoa.
Naramdaman niya ang pagkakahalik ni Ara sa tuktok ng ulo niya bago ipinalibot ang dalawang braso sa batok niya. Amoy na amoy niya ang pabango nitong halos hindi niya makalimutan kahit na noong magkahiwalay sila.
"I know that everything's gonna be part of us. There are times na iiyak pa rin ako, malulungkot, but you're still the only one I wanna be with," ani Ara. "Are you sure you wanna marry me tho?"
Nag-angat ng tingin si Kanoa at mahinang natawa. Nakita ni Ara ang pagbagsak ng luha ni Kanoa sa magkabilang gilid ng mga mata habang nakatingin sa kaniya.
"Sira. Ikaw nga ang dapat kong tinatanong, eh." Inilabas ni Kanoa ang isang maliit na kulay puting satin pouch at ibinigay kay Ara.
Ara wasn't stupid to ask what it was inside because she can feel it. Her tears automatically rolled down her eyes and Kanoa sniffed while waiting for her to take the ring out. No words, they were just looking at each other until Ara finally took it out.
"Hirap na hirap akong bumili niyan kasi palagi kitang kasama," natawa si Kanoa at suminghot. "Kinuha ko pa 'yung isang singsing mo para maging basehan ng sukat kasi sorry, Love. Mahina ako sa tantyahan ng sukat."
Nakagat ni Ara ang ibabang labi habang nakatitig kay Kanoa. Ngumiti siya at umiling. "Then how did you manage to buy this?" Inilabas niya ang singsing mula sa loob ng pouch. "Oh my gosh."
It was a Tiffany True Diamond and a Platinum Diamond band ring from Tiffany & Co. Her mouth literally dropped while staring at Kanoa who was smiling at her.
"This is . . ." Ara breathed. "Kanoa, you can even ask me without this."
Kanoa shook his head and leaned to kiss her lips. He took the ring from her. "Pakakasalan mo ba 'ko?"
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T H E X W H Y S
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