Fading Echoes

Cuarenta (Part 1)

Greggy

Time flies! Irene is now in her sixth month, we're over the moon when we found out that we're having a boy!

Kakauwi lang namin galing sa pre-natal check-up niya, and I've also decided not to go to work full time until she gives birth dahil gusto ko siyang tutukan this time. Kaya starting next week, I'll be working from home to accompany Irene. Gusto ko na ring sulitin dahil once our baby comes, sigurado akong hindi ko na 'to maso-solo uli nang ganito.

I smiled at that thought...

Even though she won't tell me, I know it bores her a lot staying here in our house all day, then waiting for me to come home at the end of the day.

But as on what we have had agreed, we would want to keep everything as private as possible, until we get married.

We're just watching a film dito sa kuwarto, her head resting on my chest while my left arm is wrapped around her.

"Love..." I called her, she looked at me and smiled, "yes?" she reacted. I smiled as I stare at her.

I won't ever let you go... Ever again. I thought and kissed her lips.

"When do you want to get married again?" I asked. Inayos naman niya ang upo niya, "Oh..." she mumbled and looked at me then at the avocados she'd been eating.

"I... I'd like to have it sana before we have our baby bean with us. Alam ko kasi mas magiging busy tayo once he's here" she smiled.

"So... Where do you want to get married?" I asked as I popped some grapes into my mouth. Kahit ako hindi kumakain ng kahit anong junk foods or bawal sa kaniya. I always make sure that we're in this together.

There, she pouted and hugged me... "Love, I want to get married sana in Spain... Just us, family and our closest friends... I don't want the public attention that we could get here in the Philippines... I want to cherish special moments with you intimately... Would that be okay with you, love?" she asked. I looked at her and caressed her hair.

"Of course, my love... I was also thinking the same too. I just want to know your thoughts about it first... And of course, we'll do that" I assured her and kissed the tip of her nose.

"I love you very much" I mumbled and kissed her forehead, which made her giggle. "I love you too, hon" she replied.

As Irene slept peacefully beside me, her breathing soft and steady, a wave of love washed over me. She looked so serene, wrapped in the warmth of the blankets. I had spent so long thinking about this moment, and tonight's quiet exchanges made it clear: I wanted to propose to her again. I know it's a bit overdue, but I want to make her feel that she's the most special person I have in this world.

I carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake her, and headed into the living room. I needed to talk to someone who could help me pull this off, and Cath was the perfect person. She was a good friend of mine, someone I trusted, and she had also become close with Irene. I grabbed my phone and dialed her number, my heart racing at the thought of what I was about to do.

"Hey, Greggy! It's late. What's going on?" Cath answered, her voice still a little sleepy.

"Hey, Cath," I said quietly. "Sorry for calling so late, but I really need your help. I want to propose again to Irene, and I want it to be something special, something she won't expect."

There was a brief pause before her voice brightened. "Oh my gosh, really? That's amazing! I'm so excited for you! What do you have in mind?"

I took a deep breath, pacing the living room. "I want to set up a surprise date night. I want it to feel romantic and intimate but also unique. I need your help to plan it out."