We sat down in our designated chair at kumain narin ang mga taong nandidito. I feel awkward after Calissa's proposal since I'm the only one who is underdressed. They didn't inform me that this would turn out to be our engagement party. Hinila ko ang dress ni Calissa kaya napatingin siya sa akin.
"Yes baby?" She asked as she stopped preparing our food just to look at me.
"Let's greet your parents first." I said as I look across our direction. Kausap ng mga magulang niya ang mga magulang ko habang nilalaro nila si Cali. I haven't greeted them since I didn't have a chance. Pagkatapos kasi naming naghalikan ay dinumog na kami ng mga tao para magsabi ng congratulations nila natigil lang ito ng mapagdesisyonan namin na kumain na muna.
"Okay, let's go." Ani niya at inilalayan ako sa pagtayo dahil nakatayo naman na siya. We walked towards our parents and they smiled when we got near them. I'm still nervous to her parents since the last time we met Mrs. Estel didn't like me.
"Good evening po." I said to them and they gave me a warm smile pero mas maliit ang kay Mrs. Estel. I think she still didn't like me after all those years. Magiging in laws ko na sila kaya baka mahirap ito kapag hindi parin ako tanggap nila.
"Congratulations hija." Mrs. Carmel said and hugged me kaya nagulat ako. Tinignan ko si Calissa at ngumiti lang ito sa akin. I hugged her mom back. Kumalas din naman ito pagkatapos.
"Mama, I have three lola's now." My son said and jumped to me kaya kinarga ko na ito. Naramdaman ko naman ang kamay ni Cal na gumapang sa bewang ko.
"That's good, baby." I replied dahil hindi ko naman alam kung ano talaga ang sasabihin dahil awkward lang akong nakatayo roon sa harapan ni Calissa.
"Thank you for coming mommies." Ani ni Calissa habang ang kamay niya parin ay nasa bewang ko. Mrs. Estel stood up and walked in front of me. Hindi ko mabasa ang reaction niya. Sasampalin na niya ba ako? Papalayuin na niya ba ako muli sa anak niya.
"Welcome to the family, hija. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding in the past. I did it to protect my family." Ani niya habang malungkot pero may saya siyang nakatingin sa amin. I smiled a bit as a response.
"Thank you po." The only words I can utter as of the moment. Dahil hindi parin nagsisink in sa utak ko ang mga nangyayari. This is far what I have imagined.
"Anak, you should entertain your other guests. Kami na ang bahala sa apo namin." Said by Mrs. Carmel at kinuha naman ni Mrs. Estel si Cali na nagustuhan naman ng anak ko.
Nagpaalam na kami sa kanila at pumunta sa lamesa na ang katabi ay sila Rach at Miss Mary.
"Congrats bestfriend. Mag-anak agad kayo." Biro ni Rach at pareho silang tumawa ni Miss Mary I rolled my eyes on her and pinch her side. Tumingin naman ako kay Calissa na ngayon ay nakangiting nakatingin sa akin.
"Hey, I love you." I whispered in her ears before I sat down. Nakita ko naman itong namulahan bago umupo rin sa tabi ko.
"I love you." Saad niya rin sa tenga ko. In our table makikita rito ang anak ko na maligayang naglalaro sa mga matatanda. I felt Cal's hand in mine.
"Baby." I called her kaya napatingin ito sa akin.
"Cali Sun, is an adopted child. His father ran away after impregnating my friend." I sadly said. Four years ago, was still vivid in my mind.
"I heard that from your father. I'm sorry for your loss." She said and hugged me. I am impressed that she knew it already. My friend died after giving birth to my son. And I adopted it dahil wala namang gustong bumuhay nito. My son was the one who completed my heart when I was broken.
"I named him after you." I whispered in the air. She smiled at me and kissed my cheeks.
"I know. It's a beautiful name." We were interrupted when a familiar voice called my name. Napatayo naman ako sa kinaroroonan ko at agad silang dinamba ng yakap.
"Ana, Jini, how come?" I asked as I still hugged her. Ginantihan naman din nila ako ng yakap. It has been a while since we saw each other. We were busy being an adult kaya bihira na talaga kaming makapaghangout after our graduation.
"Hoy babae, mas mauuna ka pa sigurong makasal kaysa kay Jini." Hinila pa ni Ana ang buhok kaya napatawa kaming tatlo.
"Yang asawa mo inimbitahan kami. She even ordered someone to fetch us using her personal chopper." Ani ni Jini kaya napatingin ako sa babaeng mahal ko na nakangiting nakatingin sa akin.
"Yayamanin, wag mo na pakawalan girl." Tinusok pa nilang dalawa ang tagiliran ko kaya natatawa ko silang inilingan.
"I'm glad you made it here." I said while having a teary eye kaya yumakap sila muli.
"Yes naman girl. This is a happy event to all of us."
"Alam namin ang pinagdaanan mo ng mawala siya sa iyo. You deserve this happiness and we want to witness it. Pero na late kami ng dating dahil sa kabagalan ni Jini." Sumbong ni Ana sa akin kaya sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Jini. I'm just glad that they are here.
"Pero girl, why naman ganyan ang suot mo? Para kang nag gate crash." Ani ni Jini at pinasadahan ng tingin ang suot ko kaya nasapak ko ito.
"Hindi ko nga alam na engagement party pala ito. Akala ko family dinner lang."
Madaling araw na at katatapos lamang naming maligo at umuwi narin ang ibang bisita. While our parents stayed here for the night dahil bukas ay mag-uusap na kami sa plano ng kasal namin. everything has been fast pero kailangan na talaga namin bumawi dahil walong taon din kaming nawalay sa isa't-isa.
"Hmm, what are you thinking?" Cal asked as she wrapped her arms in my body. Nakasandal ako sa headboard ng kama while she's laying in my stomach with arms wrapped in my waist.
"I'm thinking about us." I answered and played her hair. Napapikit naman ito sa ginawa ko.
"Are we going too fast? I can slow down baby." She said but I shook my head and chuckled.
"Sakto lang naman. Hindi na tayo bumabata pa. We have a stable job and income kaya okay na talaga para bumuo ng isang pamilya." Ani ko naman na nagpangiti sa kaniya.
"I will court you everyday." She said at itinukod ang dalawang kamay niya sa magkabilang gilid ko para magpantay ang aming tingin. I caressed her cheeks and kissed it.
"Baka scam yan." Ani ko at tumawa pero seryoso lang niya akong tinignan.
"It will never be a scam. Kahit nga kasalanan mo, ako pa ang magsosorry. Ganiyan kita kamahal." Ani niya pero napailing naman ako.
"If ever we get into fight, please do know that we should be each other's safe space. Dapat sinasabi natin ang problema at kung sino man talaga ang may kasalanan ay yun din ang magsosorry. This will not just help our relationship to become better, but this helps us as individual to become better." Ani ko naman sa kaniya. She looked at me with proudness in her eyes.
"I'm loving you more each day." Tanging sagot niya sa sinabi ko at kinabig ang aking mukha para halikan ang aking labi.
Her lips touched mine and as if this was the first time because I can feel my soul going to cloud nine. My heartbeat raced in an abnormal pace. Her kisses were soft, and I tasted strawberry in her external flesh. Lord, what did I do to deserve this woman? Ang lakas ko naman sa iyo.
"I love you Calissa Cardell." I said after we broke the kiss. She smiled and kissed my forehead.
"I love you Rain Cyril Fuentes-Cardell."
BINABASA MO ANG
Intersected Lines
RomantikA part time instructor with a major in Math. A student that aims to be a statistician. They were intersected by their faith in theorems and love in data. Will they be able to use the theorems that they've known and data that have been gathered to...
