The End of Your Song

Chapter 12 - First Anniversary

"Are you enjoying the day so far?, malambing na tanong ni Matthew. "Of course, halos buong araw tayong magka-kasama, why wouldn't I?", nasa kotse kami papunta sa surprise place daw. It's our first year anniversary as sweethearts, and by some luck, wala kaming pasok ngayon. May mga delegates sa school namin, so the administrators probably want a student-free campus for the day.

As usual, nag leave siya, para daw whole day kaming mag-kasamang mag-celebrate. He fetched me after breakfast, we went to our school's chapel para magpa-thank you. All the angels and saints in our university conspired and brought us together, so we thanked them all.

Parang kailan lang, we met, we got to know each other, we became official...and now it's been a year. Everyone can see how happy I am with Matthew, I've known him for about one year and seven months pa lang, but it seems like a lifetime. Who would have thought that out of all the people in this world, kami pa ang pinag-tagpo? Despite the glitch of me almost falling in love with his nephew, fate made me wait for him, the more deserving one.

We spent almost all summer together, sumunod siya sa akin sa Philly after two weeks. As arranged, Kuya Alex let him stay in his apartment, sa couch nga lang (dahil one bedroom lang ang place ni Kuya), pero mas tipid kesa naman sa hotel. He comes to me sa house nina Mommy, we visit all the touristy places together. Those places that I never appreciated before became more interesting because I'm with him.

I think naging mas vibes sila ni Kuya when he was staying with him, though mornings and evenings lang sila nagkikita halos. Busy na si Kuya sa kanyang work, and he is enjoying naman daw. He also tried to be closer to Mommy and her family. I felt guilty that he's more at ease with them, than I am with them. Anyway, Matthew has a winning personality, so it's not difficult for him. Lola Amelia has to stay in the Philippines, may mga family reunions na pupuntahan, mga relatives niya sa province, she doesn't want to miss those.

We went to Vegas together, there, he only stayed for ten days, since he's consumed more than three weeks of his filed five-week leave in Philly. I would have preferred that he spent longer time in Vegas with me, dahil di ko naman na kasama si Kuya pagpunta kina Daddy, di pa siya pwedeng makapag-leave ng matagal. He stayed with his friend, Richard, from his high-school days. He brought me there once, to meet him.

Medyo natagalan bago naging warm ang pakitungo ni Daddy sa kanya, di gaya ng family ni Daddy na nakuha niya agad ang loob. I guessed, Matthew persevered, because bago siya bumalik sa Pilipinas, tina-tanung-tanong na din ako ni Daddy kung anong oras ako susunduin or iha-hatid pauwi nito. I even saw them talking once, parang masinsinan.

One night, Daddy asked me how things are with Matthew and me, I told him that I'm very happy. I saw him just smiled, then he told me na huwag lang daw muna akong mag-aasawa, na tapusin ko muna ang pag-aaral ko. That was at most, the father-daughter-talk that I ever had with my Daddy.

When the school year finally started, I am very excited, I am now starting my final year in school. Konti na lang ang bubunuin ko, then I'll graduate. Then after my board exam, finally, I will be starting a new world where Matthew and I will be the same---working, not together, but at least magiging pareho na ang mundong ginagalawan namin. As early as now, I decided that I will try to look for a job in Makati, para pareho kami, hindi na siya masyadong mahihirapan kapag magkikita kami.

At the moment, I'm enjoying our special day. We had lunch at a hotel, syempre special occasion, special celebration din. "Saan ba talaga tayo pupunta?", medyo malayo-layo na ang nilalakbay namin, "Antipolo area ba ito?", we had retreats in this area noong high school ako, kaya familiar ang lugar.

"Yup, don't worry, malapit na tayo", he looks more gorgeous today, o baka sa isip ko lang dahil sa amin ang araw na ito. "Hoy, baka ki-kidnapin mo ako ha. Wala kaming pang-ransom", biro ko. "Don't worry, mai-uuwi kita at a decent time sa inyo later", kinindatan pa niya ako.