"Love, will you marry me?"
It felt like it was just yesterday when he knelt in front of me to ask to be his prom date. When in fact, it was already six years ago.
Pero heto nanaman siya at nakaluhod sa harap ko. Ang kaibahan lang ay hindi bouquet ng tulip flower ang hawak niya, but a shiny ring that I knew perfectly fit me even though I couldn't clearly see it because my eyes were blurry from intoxication.
We got into an argument because I forgot that today was our 6th anniversary.
He didn't actually get mad at me because he never did. He didn't even raise his voice at me but I still stormed out and I went clubbing with my friends until he picked me up hours later with alcohol filling every inch of my body.
"Love?" he called.
I heard the nervousness in his soft voice.
I chuckled and blinked my eyes because the alcohol was taking over my body.
"Huh?" I uttered and slightly bent down. "Ulitin mo nga. I didn't understand it," I said, even though I knew what he was doing.
His Adam's apple moved as he swallowed hard and the velvet box that contained the ring trembled in his hand.
I really liked my effects over him. Ako lang ang nakakapagpakaba sa kanya nang ganito.
He licked his lips before opening his mouth to repeat what he said.
"Will you marry me?" His voice was now firmer and determined.
I stared at him and at the ring on his hands.
Kanina pa siya nakaluhod kaya sigurado akong nangangawit na siya pero never siyang tumayo or even adjusted himself to a more comfortable position, hanggang sa humalakhak ako.
My body folded and I held my stomach to help myself from laughing while he stared at me na parang ako ang pinaka weirdo na taong nakilala niya.
His brows furrowed.
"Seryoso ako, love." he said—still kneeling and raising the velvet box.
I bit my lower lip to stop laughing and wiped the corner of my eye, and then I knelt down in front of him to level his eyes.
His eyebrows were still furrowed so I lifted my hands to fix it, and then I smoothened it until his face softened.
"Sagutin mo na, love. Hindi ko na maramdaman paa ko sa ngawit," he whispered but he wasn't complaining.
I was so sure of that dahil kapag sinabi kong lumuhod siya nang isang taon ay walang pagdadalawang isip niya iyong gagawin.
I trained him very well. Good boy siya.
Tumayo na ako at pinagpagan ang suot kong dress habang siya naman ay tumingin pataas sa akin using his wide eyes because he thought I'd walk out.
But he was wrong because I extended my hand—fingers were straight to let him wear the ring on me.
His lips parted, while I rolled my eyes.
"Pag ako nangawit dito, babawiin ko 'tong kamay ko," I warned.
Within just a blink of an eye, the ring was already around my finger.
His knees were trembling kagaya noong inaya niya akong maging prom date niya.
"Walang bawian! Padlock tapon susi!" he exclaimed—repeating the words he said six years ago.
And just like what I did that day, I rolled my eyes and nodded.
