I am not sure if it's just me or he really looked dashing right at this moment. He was there standing by the door, holding the flowers with his both hands while staring intently at me. He seemed happy but I could sense a glint of sadness on those beautiful eyes.
He started walking slowly towards my direction. Sa kakatingin sa kanya ay bumalik sa akin ang pakiramdam ng pag-aalala kaninang hindi siya nagrereply sa text ko at ang takot na naramdaman ko nung inakala kong may masamang nangyari kanina at ikukulong ako ng walang kalaban laban dito. But I'm just so glad na nandito na siya. Kaya bago pa man siya makalapit ng tuluyan sa akin ay ako na mismo ang tumakbo palapit sa kanya. I put my chin on his shoulder and gave him a tight embrace while still holding the flowers his friends gave. He was obviously taken aback by my unforeseen action but I couldn't care less. Ang importante ay narito na siya sa harap ko ngayon.
"Hey, what's wrong? Namiss mo yata ako?" He loosened the embrace to hold my chin up so that he would be able to see my face.
"I texted you earlier. You never replied." Malungkot na sabi ko.
"I'm sorry princess, I just got busy preparing all these stuff kaya hindi ko nacheck ang phone ko. I thought busy ka rin maghapon eh kaya di na kita inabala. Nakausap ko rin si Lizette this morning about my plan kaya nasiguro kong sasamahan ka niya. Did the boys scare you?" Nag-aalala niyang tanong. I nodded as an answer.
"Oh, I really am so sorry baby. They could be scary at times pero mababait naman sila." He smiled to give me an assurance. "Don't worry, I'm here now. Wag kana matakot okay? By the way, flowers for my baby princess." I then finally smiled and took the flowers he handed me.
"May I take this dance with you now?" He extended his hand to take mine and I willingly obliged. Sakto naman ang pag-umpisa ng bagong kanta.
Ever since the start of time
You've had my love
Even before I knew your name
I knew your heart
In the dark of the darkest night
I can see your face
I always knew from the very start
I would find a way..
"So, what are these flowers and dancing all about?" Tanong ko.
"I love you." It was way out of the question but enough to make my heart melt. Kinurot ko siya sa tagiliran.
Even if the sun refused to shine
Even if we lived in different times
Even if the ocean left the sea
There would still be you and me
Even if the world would disappear
Even if the clouds would shed no tears
Even if tonight was just a dream
There would still be you and me
"Can I ask you something?" Tanong niya.
"Nagtatanong ka na eh." Saka ako tumawa. "Ano yun?"
"Pwede mo ba ako samahan sa ospital?"
"Ha? Bakit? Anong masakit sayo? Anong nararamdaman mo?" Napuno ako agad ng pag-aalala. Sinalat ko agad ang noo niya, baka nilalagnat pala siya hindi lang niya sinasabi.
"Nararamdaman ko na bumibigat ang puso ko.." Sinapo niya pa ang bahagi ng puso niyang yun.
"..sa sobrang pagmamahal ko sayo." Dugtong niya. Hinampas ko naman siya bigla. Akala ko napano na eh, yung pala may banat lang. Hay, ito talagang lalaking ito ang daming alam. Pero kinilig ako dun ng konti. Hihi. "Puro ka biro ha. Akala ko napano na. Wag mo na uulitin yun ha." Sermon ko sa kanya.
"Yes, Ma'am. Pero totoong sobra na ang pagmamahal ko sayo. Yun, seryoso na yun." Aish. Bakit kailangan ngumiti pa siya ng matamis habang sinasabi niya yun. Ang gwapo gwapo niya tuloy.
You've always been and
You'll always will be the only one
Until forever the only girl
I'll ever love
In the cold of a winter's chill
I'll be here to live the part
Oh girl, giving all you need for all time
No matter what
"Ikaw ha, inuugali mo na paghahampas at pagkukurot mo sa akin. Mamimiss ko yan." I saw the sadness in his eyes again.
"Bakit ganyan ka magsalita? What do you mean?"
"I have a good and bad news." Panimula niya. "Good news is, kahapon, nabigay na yung schedule namin for medical exam para sa visa application which is set next month. Anytime ay pwedeng marelease yung visa once napasa na yung medical results and the bad news is, I can't be totaly happy with it kasi maiiwan kita." Malungkot na pagpapaliwanag niya.
"Ano ka ba. Ikaw na may sabing may Skype or Facetime naman diba? Maliligawan mo pa din naman ako kahit nandun kana." Ngumiti ako ngunit hindi man lang umabot sa tenga. Hindi ko gustong maging ipokrita sa sarili ko ngunit ikinalungkot ko rin yung balita niyang yun. But still, sinubukan ko parin siyang icheer up. He should not be sad about that.
"Syempre iba parin yung personal kita nakikita at nakakasama. Paano mo na ako makukurot tuwing bibiruin kita? Paano kita maihahatid tuwing uuwi ka? Paano kong harap-harapang makikita yang ngiti mong maganda?" Malungkot pa rin niyang sabi.
"You know what, instead na isipin mo yan, why not just make the most out of the time na nandito ka pa diba? Make lots of memories para pagdating mo dun, at least tuwing maalala mo yung happy memories ay magkakaroon ka pa rin ng rason para maging masaya diba?" Sabi ko.
"Well, you have a point. But having you mention that, can I make a happy memory out of this moment?" Tanong niya pa.
"Hmm, alright." Pagpayag ko.
"May I start with a very serious question?"
"Sige, pero siguraduhin mong hindi nanaman banat yan ha kundi kukurutin ulit kita, yung masakit."
"Kristin Brigette Lorenzo, pwede na ba kitang maging girlfriend?"
Even if the sun refused to shine
Even if we lived in different times
Even if the ocean left the sea
There would still be you and me
Even if the world would disappear
Even if the clouds would shed no tears
Even if tonight was just a dream
There would still be you and me
This whole thing is undeniably a surprise. Pero hindi ko inasahang proposal na pala. Literal na nanlaki ang mata ko sa diretsong tanong niyang yun.
"A-ano?" I am stuttering because I really was astounded by the question.
"I'm sorry kung masyadong mabilis. I know hindi rin fair sayo ang ganito but I honestly want a 'yes' from you more than anything in the world right now. I've only been courting you for a couple of weeks but it seemed like I already knew you all my life. Answer me 'yes' and I'll promise na liligawan kita sa araw araw na ipagkakaloob ng Diyos. Liligawan kita hanggang sa pumayag kang maging girlfriend ko. Pagkatapos nun, liligawan kita hanggang sa pumayag kang maging misis ko. Pagkatapos nun, liligawan kita hanggang sa pumayag kang maging mommy ng mga future kids natin. Pagkatapos nun, liligawan kita hanggang sa pumayag kang tumanda tayo ng magkasama. Pagkatapos nun, liligawan kita hanggang sa magkasama tayo sa habambuhay kasi mahal na mahal na kita." Kumikislap ang mata niya habang sinasabi ang mga katagang yun.
"Sa ngayon, obviously ay wala pa akong maiooffer sayo. Ni hindi pa ako graduate ng high school. Wala pa ako maipagmamalaki sa mundo. It is even undeniable na bata pa lang ako, I can't say I can foresee what's gonna happen in the future, but one thing is for sure, I will love you more than I do today and I will more than provide you of my love. I love you, Kristin. Not because I want you to love me back but because that's what I really feel. I want to take care of you, not because I think you need it, but because I want to. I will always be here for you--well, pagkaalis ko ay hindi na kita makakasama physically. Basta, I'll always be here for you. Not because I want you to be with me but because I want to be with you. I love you Kristin. I've never been so sure in my life. That's what I really feel about you."
Ang sarap sarap sa pandinig ng mga bagay na sinabi niya. Dinaig pa nga yata niya ang nagbitaw ng wedding vows. Damang dama ko ang sincerity sa boses at sa mga mata niya. Para akong maiiyak sa sobrang tuwa, parang sasabog ang puso ko anytime dahil sa sarap ng pakiramdam.
"I really do love you, Kristin." Hearing everything he said was enough to bring me over the moon. "So.. will you be my girlfriend?" He asked again. His eyes were so full of aspiration.
I took a few moments to stare at him more and answered. "Yes, Laurent. Yes."
YOU ARE READING
Twice Mine
Romance"You said you were afraid to lose me, and then you faced your fears and left.."
