"Here....make a wish...." Rj gave Maine a coin while tossing one over his shoulder at the Fontana di Trevi, Rome's famous wishing fountain. Maine closed her eyes and thought deeply, she kissed the coin and tossed it over her shoulder. Rj watched her in amusement.
He took her hand and wound his fingers in hers as they walked away from the fountain and explored the other beautiful sites of the city. Rj expertly explained things to Maine who was all ears and attentive to everything. She was enjoying this travelling time with her love.
As the sun set and evening fell, they were in the center of the Piazza San Pietro and were lucky to have no one else but the Pope officiate the Angelus. Maine was stunned and in tears seeing the Pope up on his balcony, blessing the people.
The crowd soon thinned out and caretakers moved away the barriers and were cleaning the grounds when Maine thought she saw a familiar face amongst the few people who were still milling around looking at the outside of the Basilica. Maine just shrugged her shoulders and walked toward the balcony to have a closer look although it had been hours since the Pope's appearance.
She felt Rj tug at her hand so she turned back and as he took both her hands. Behind him was "Giovanni" and a girl. When they started singing, Rj knelt down and presented her with a small box.
"I wonder what God was thinking
When He created you
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
Because He made all my dreams come true
When God made you
He must have been thinking about me...."
Giovanni paused his singing as Rj tried to sing the chorus, choking up a little with his own tears. Maine looked at him for a long while. Rj brought her hands to his lips. When he looked up at Maine, smiling through tears, she slowly nodded. Rj stood up and embraced her tightly.
"She....said....yes...." Rj said tearfully as Giovanni and the girl continued singing. A small crowd, which had gathered around them were now clapping. When Maine let go of Rj, she saw that the crowd was composed of her parents and Mai, and Rj's parents.
Back in an embrace, Maine buried her face in Rj's neck as he spoke in her ear.
"....I may not be the most perfect person and I know that I can be a brat and mayabang and masungit at times but I thank you for your patience and love....I want to spend the rest of my life with you because you mean everything to me....I promise to love you and take care of you forever.....you will always be my one and only Sungs....I love you, Sungit! Forever and ever!"
Maine hugged Rj tighter. "Thank you....thank you for everything....."
Maine looked confused when she finally recognized the group of people who were around them.
"Sinabihan na kami nina Ricky at Chat noong dumating kayo sa Milan...." Tatay Deo told Maine. "Ka-email ko si Nanay at Mai dati pa....." He continued as he hugged his daughter.
"Yes, iha...." Mommy Chat nodded, smiling and in tears.
"....anak...." Tito Ricky opened up his arms and gave Maine a big hug as well.
"....these are Marco...and his wife, Lucia.....they were my classmates in highschool....." Rj introduced the two foreigners in the group.
"....sorry if I freaked you out....it was all Rj's plan....gago din e, no?" Marco shook Maine's hand and chuckled.
"Yes....marunong din naman kami mag-Tagalog.....we grew up in Manila but moved back here after highschool.....I met Marco in Manila...." Lucia explained when Maine's eyes grew big upon hearing them speak in Filipino.
The group then walked to a nearby trattoria. It was inside a compound of one the villas in the surrounding area. Only a few other patrons occupied the tables indoors while Maine and Rj's group were served outdoors.
Later in the evening, as Rj and Maine settled in bed, Maine hugged Rj a little tighter while they were cuddling in bed.
"Are you crying?" he whispered
"No....." although she wiped her tears with her hand. "I'm just happy....very happy....thank you...." Maine said slowly and kissed Rj on the lips.
"....and I'm happy that you are....." Rj replied as he kissed Maine on the top of her head.
