Divine Intervention

XII

Early in the morning, I got a text message from Naomi.
Heeeey guys! Miss ko na kayong lahat! Tara bonding dito sa bahay! ;)

To: Naomi
Tara! Kailan ba?

From: Naomi
Bukas! 1pm?

To: Naomi
Sure! Count me in!

Nagkitakita kaming magbabarkada sa Monumento at sabay sabay kaming pumunta sa bahay ni Naomi. Two o'clock na nang makarating kami.

We went there and all of us got shocked.

"May birthday ba?" Geneva asked.
"Nakakahiya. Wala tayong dalang regalo." Beng said.
"Look guys! Si Prof. De Leon!" Leah said.
"Bakit nandito mga professors natin?" Gary asked.
"Hindi naman ngayon birthday ni Naomi di ba?" Ian asked.

Naguguluhan na talaga kami.
May balloons, cake, buffet, maraming tao, nandito professors namin... Ano ba talaga 'to?
Finally we saw Naomi and she saw us.

"Finally!" she beamed.
"Kain muna kayo." Then she lead us to our seats.
"May birthday ba?" Marco asked.
Naomi laughed and said, "wala".
"Sis, ano meron?" Leah asked her.
"Basta. Mamaya malalaman nyo." She answered and smiled.

Naomi left us. She's entertaining her other guests.
While kami, we're eating and still wondering, anong meron?

After a while, Naomi held the microphone.
"Excuse me everyone. Thank you very much for coming. Marami sa inyo ang nagtatanong kung birthday ko ba at kung sino ang may birthday. Ang totoo po nyan, may balloons at handaan lang pero wala pong may birthday."
"To my professors, thank you very much for coming po. Sa mga kamag-anakan ko, parang reunion na po natin to, di ba? Kumpleto tayong lahat. Mom and Dad, salamat po for arranging this event. I love you both! At syempre sa mga kabarkada ko, punta kayo rito."

We got confused. Ano ba binabalak nya? Walang kumikilos sa amin.

"Tara na friends! Don't be shy!" Naomi said.
Unang tumayo si Gary. Sinundan namin sya.
"I want you all to meet my friends. This is Gary, Leah, Marco, Ian, Beng, Geneva and TJ."
We waved our hands and smiled awkwardly to the crowd.

Naomi went beside me.
"This is Thomas John Cruz. The man I love."
WHAT IS SHE DOING!?
She kneel in front of me and said.
"TJ, can you be my boyfriend?"

The crowd cheered. Confusion flushed on the face of my professors and friends.
Her mom and dad are smiling and her cousins and relatives are shouting YES.
I'm trapped. I said YES.
She stood up and hugged me. I hugged her back......awkwardly.

Afterwards, the party had ended. Our professors and her relatives already went home. They said congratulations before leaving, by the way.

Naomi's Mom and Dad came to me.
"Take good care of our unica hija, son. I know you're a good man." Her Dad said and tapped my shoulder.
Her Mom hugged me.
"Our Naomi loves you so much. Please love her the way she loved you."
I just.....nodded.

Afterwards, nagpaalam na kami sa mga magulang ni Naomi.

Hinatid kami ni Naomi sa sakayan. Habang naglalakad kami, wala man lang nagsasalita samin.

Naomi cleared her throat.
"Uy, guys. Salamat sa pagpunta ha. Lalo na sa'yo TJ. You really made my day dahil finally, you're now my boyfriend." She held my hand and squeezed it gently.
We just looked at her and smiled.

We're already in Monumento. Wala pa ring nagsasalita sa amin. Nauunang maglakad si Marco sa amin when he stopped and faced us.
"Bro, pwede ba kong tumuloy sa inyo?" He asked me.
"Ako rin!"
"Ako rin!"
"Ako rin!"
"Sama ko!"
The rest said.