Right away, coach Juno announces to the team that they will be having a victory dinner. After packing their stuffs from the locker room, Sarah and I, with the La Salle Green Archers immediately proceed at the parking area. Since Jeron brought with him his car, Sarah and I will be joining him there instead na sumabay sa service bus ng archer. Inaasar ko nga si Sarah na sa bus nalang sumakay para kasama nya si Thomas. Hindi sya pumayag at baka iwan ko daw at hindi na sya makabalik sa Bicol. Para talagang engot 'tong kaibigan kong 'to.
Since medyo distant ang venue for the victory dinner, as usual, Sarah fell asleep. Masyado atang napagod sa kakasigaw. On the other hand, Jeron and I keep on chatting a lot of nonsense stuff. He's kind of weird, but then, I like that side of him. Very different from the typical serious Jeron Teng. Siguro ito yung sinasabi ni Ahia na improvement ni Jeron after he comes back from Bicol.
“Alam mo kong ano ang tawag sa anak ng grasa?” Jeron asked.
“Batang kalye?” I replied thinking that he was pertaining to taong grasa.
“Mali.” He said.
“So ano?” I'm definitely curious.
“Eh di baby oil!” Then Jeron laughed. I almost laugh but I tried to control it since it was very baduy.
“Corny,” I claimed.
Then Jeron holds my hand. He was looking straight in front with all the smiled drawn in his face. Kahit side view, nakaka-inlove pa rin ang smile nya. Pinisil ko ang kamay nya and smile. He looks at me and kiss my hand. He is really sweet. He really knows how to melt my heart. Kaya naman mahal na mahal ko ang taong ito.
“I love you.” I told him. “Sabi mo kanina, I don't have any idea kung gaano mo ako na miss. Pwes, you have no idea din kung gaano kita na miss.” I took a deep breath. “And you have no idea din kung gaano kita ka-mahal.”
Jeron stop the car on the roadside for a while. Humarap sya sakin with both his hands holding mine. He smile. I can see the sincerity in his eyes. It's like he's giving me an idea kung gaano nya talaga ako ka-mahal. Kung assured na ako before with his love, this time, masasabi kong mas-assured ako. It's his magic. King archer's magic.
“No matter what happen, lagi mo lang tatandaan, mahal na mahal kita.” He dearly said. Inikot nya ang singsing na binigay nya sa akin before. I look at it. “By the way, I want to tell you something.”
“Ano yun?” I said.
“I was thinking,” His voice was kind of serious. I pay attention. “I was thinking of telling your parents of my intention to be engage with you.”
Nagulat ako. It was like I'm frozen for a minute before I finally realize the thought of his words. Tama ba yung narinig ko? Engagement? He smile.
“Engagement pa lang naman. Siguro kapag stable na tayong dalawa, saka na natin pag-usapan yung, alam mo na.” He explained. “So is it okay for you?”
Mukang tama nga ang narinig ko. Finally, nag-sink in na ang lahat sa utak ko. Sa hindi maipaliwanag na nararamdaman, my tears just fall and I hug him very tight. He is indeed serious. Gusto nya talaga akong makasama for the rest of his life. At sino ba naman ako para mag-inarte? Syempre pumayag ako. Mahal ko yung tao and I'm glad na hindi naman sya nagmamadali. He wants us to have a stable life first before getting into something very serious. Gusto nya, yung tipong handa na kaming bumuo ng sarili naming pamilya. I'm glad that he's mature enough para isipin ang mga ganyang bagay. At this very moment gusto ko lang pasalamatan si Lord sa pagkakataon na ito. Sa taong ito na nasa harapan at yakap-yakap ko.
