Fidelity

52nd

Wala Namang Okasyon

Hindi kami tinigilan ng mga staff ko habang papalabas ng shop. Magmula ng isurprise ako ni Austin sa Cebu ay parang laging naghuhugis puso ang mata nila Monica pag nakikita siya. They've been rooting for us even more now.

"Baka ikaw na ang susunod na sukatan ng wedding gown ah!" even one of Cal's relatives chimed in.

Marriage is something Austin and I haven't really been talking about. Kahit pa sabihing nasa tamang edad na kami para lumagay sa tahimik at isa-isa na ring bumubuo ng pamilya ang mga tao sa paligid, hindi pa nagkukrus sa isip namin ang ideya ng pagpapakasal. Or atleast that was the case for me.

Napaisip tuloy ako kung ganun din ba si Austin o sumasagi ba sa isip niya ang bagay na yon? He's older than me after all. I wonder if his family's ever pressure him to settle down too and start a family of his own since he's not getting any younger.

Kung iisipin ay mahilig magbiro si Tita Maribeth na gusto niya nang magkaapo. And it's not like kay Tim o Adam sya nagpaparinig dahil hindi ba tapos sa pag-aaral ang mga ito. Austin is the eldest so...

"Are you okay?"

"H-huh? Uh.. y-yeah.."

Iyon ang laman ng isip ko hanggang makarating sa restaurant. Ngayon na lang ulit kami kakain sa labas dahil espesyal ang araw na ito. But here I am, preoccupied with something else.

"Do you want a ring?"

Halos maluwa ko ang kinakain sa narinig.

"W-what?" I paled.

"Do you want onion rings?" pag-uulit niya.

"Oh.." I chuckled and clear my throat. Now I'm even hearing things! "I'm good.."

Austin gave me a concern look and asked the waiter for more water. Sinubukan kong ituon and atensyon sa pagkain. Desserts were served after I managed to finish my main dish.

"Please enjoy.." ani ng waiter.

It's hard to find plant-based desserts so I really indulge whenever I have one. Pangalawang beses na namin sa restaurant na ito at gustong gusto ko talaga itong vegan ice cream nila.

Napakunot lamang ang noo ko nang may lumitaw na diamond sa pangatlong scoop ko sa icecream gamit ang kutsarita.

My hand was trembling when I pulled it further using the teaspoon and confirmed that it was a ring.

"Oh my God!"

Umangat sakin ang nagtatanong na mga mata ni Austin.

"Austin— I can't— Oh, God! I don't know what to say.." I was shaking not just externally but also internally! Mabigat na usapan ang pagpapakasal. It's a compromise not just between the two of us but also the people in our lives. Can I really do that? Can I handle that? Can I commit to a lifetime promise with Austin— us, together, as one? Can I live the life he lives? And can I see him living the life I live?

"I'm s-sorry this is all too much and too sudden for me.. I haven't really thought about getting married... and I just realized that... I haven't really given much thought on our future together either—" wala akong magawa kundi mag-iwas ng tingin mula kay Austin na unti-unting umaawang ang labi.

"Please pardon my intrusion, Ma'am, Sir, we think we got the wrong table.." biglang sulpot ng nagserve na waiter kanina habang namumutla at pinagpapawisan. Panay ang yuko nito habang paulit-ulit na humihingi ng tawad gamit ang mahinang tinig.