Clocks and Pens

Semi-Epilogue

Andrew's POV

Six months later..

I can't believe this. Of all things that I have experienced,  this is something I never looked forward to happening again.

Malapit na 'ko. Got a surprise for you. - Maxine

Late si Max sa usapan namin. Ulit. What have I done for this to happen to me again?

Kanina pa dapat siya nandito. What the heck? Hindi niya ba alam kung gaano ka-importante 'tong lakad na 'to? Or maybe hindi naman 'to kasing importante para sa kanya kumpara sa trabaho niya. Puro na lang trabaho.

You're over thinking. She's just half an hour late, bulong ko na lang sa sarili ko. Yeah, maybe I'm just thinking worse than reality. Imposible namang ibalewala nya 'tong lakad na 'to. No, my Maxine is not that insensitive.

However, hindi ko pa rin mapigilan mainip. Today's trip is so special, I can't believe she prioritized something else over this.

Naka-ilang stretch na 'ko mula sa pagkakaupo nang dumating na rin sa wakas si Max.

"Where have you been?" I said without preamble. I can't help the annoyance that crept in my tone.

She didn't seem to mind. Ang ganda pa ng ngiti niya. "The frown, love. It doesn't suit the handsome face," she teased as she gave me a peck on the cheek.

"Well, you haven't told me kung saan ka ba talaga pupunta," I countered.

She just rolled her eyes at me. "Edi hindi na surprise! Hello?" I heard the silent duh in her tone.

The curiosity won over annoyance. "What's the surprise, anyway?"

She reached into her satchel, taking out a folded paper. She handed it to me.

"What's this?" I asked stupidly.

I got another eye-roll. "Read it, smart@ss."

So I did. The paper was a stationary from the office she works at. When I finished reading, I looked up to her with a confused look.

Buffering..

"Separation papers?

Nag-resign ka?" Dumbfounded was an understatement.

She smiled sheepishly. "Well, after you proposed to me, nagpaalam na 'ko sa office. Hindi nga lang naging effective agad dahil wala pang papalit sa pwesto ko. Nung may natanggap namang bagong writer, ako pa mismo yung nag-train sa kanya. Plus there are my editorial responsibilities that I should settle, so medyo natagalan."

It's still too much to process. "I don't understand. Bakit kailangan mong mag-resign dahil lang sa nag-propose ako sa'yo?"

"Why do you sound so surprised?" takang-takang tanong nya.

"Well, as far as I can remember, journalism was your dream since the dawn of time. Ngayong writer/editor ka na, tsaka ka nag-resign?"

She looked at me incredulously. "You still don't understand, do you?" Then she turned serious. "When you asked me to marry you, nawalan ng saysay lahat ng mga career ambitions ko, lahat ng makamundong goals ko. I realized, what career could be more lucrative than being your wife? Yun na yun eh, my defining moment. I know you wouldn't ask for it, pero ito talaga yung gusto ko eh. Napagtanto kong I'd like nothing more than to spend my life giving you and our future children my undivided attention and love. Nothing could be greater than that..

So there. That's the surprise. Do you like it?"

I didn't know what to say. Heck, it was the last thing I would ask of her. Still, she did it willingly. It transcends every single sacrifice that I did for her.

For a long time, tiningnan ko lang siya. Then I pulled her close and gave her a kiss.

"I love you," I said after a while.

"I know you do, and I love you too."

"So, our bags are all packed. Ready to go?" maya-maya'y tanong ko.

She gave me the warmest of her smiles. "Aye, aye, Captain!"

I had to laugh at that.

And so tinungo na namin ang spot kung saan nakadaong ang yate na nirentahan ko para sa lakad na 'to. Sinalubong kami ng caretaker.

"Good morning, ser. Ready na po kayo?" nakangiting bati nito sa'min.

Tinulungan niya kaming isakay ang mga bagahe namin. Then a few reminders in yacht-driving 101.

"Bakasyon nyo ho, ser?" tanong nya sa'min maya-maya.

I looked at Max and smiled. "Parang ganun na nga."

My wife then came to me and said, smiling, "Honeymoon ho namin, kuya."