"Chynns! Tulungan mo ako please!" Halos mangiyak ngiyak na sabi ko sa best friend ko.
Andito kami ngayon sa favorite coffee shop namin and I'm already making a scene. I've been wracking my brains since last night and till now my brain won't cooperate with me. This is something na kailangan na smooth ang plano and I don't want to mess this up that's why I need my very best friend to help me with my problem.
"Alam mo Galura, nakakapang init ka ng ulo. Umagang umaga ganyan ibubungad mo sa akin," sabi ng best friend ko nang umupo siya sa tapat ko.
"I'm sorry, okay? I just...I just really need your help. So bad."
"What kind of help? Ano bang problema yan at napaka urgent naman?"
"I'm gonna propose to Rhian...."
Nakatingin lang siya nang diretso sa akin. Hinihintay ko ang reaction niya pero it looks like may hinihintay din siya from me.
"Uhhh...hello Chynns? Did you hear what I just said?"
"Oo, you're proposing to Rhian. And?"
"That's it! I'm proposing to Rhian. I need ideas. I want it to memorable for the both of us."
"Jusko naman Glaiza! Akala ko naman kung ano. Mag popropose ka lang naman pala. Akala mo naman nakamamatay."
"Grabe ka sa akin Chynna. Syempre it's a big thing. It's a one big move for our relationship kaya."
Humigop muna ito sa kanyang kape bago nag salita. "Fine, fine. Pero teka lang, anong nakain mo at naisipan mong mag propose? Akala namin eh mamumuti muna ang buhok namin bago ka mag propose sa kanya."
Hindi naman sa ayoko pa na gawin siyang asawa, hindi lang talaga time noon na mag propose ako sa kanya. Bukod sa we are in a long distance relationship, we are on the verge of succeeding in our own careers. I want us both to grow and be stable until we can say that finally we are ready to tie the knot and live hapily ever after together. Hindi naman kasi minamadali ang mga bagay na yan. We both know naman that we are in love with each other and the fire is still burning even after 5 years of being in a relationship, and we intend to keep it that way until such time that we everything is in place. Ako honestly, I'm working my ass off to support my family and at the same time to be financially stable for my future family. Lahat naman nakaplanado eh. I want to secure myself first before diving into a deeper commitment. I also want her to do the same, she knows that. Marriage is far from a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship because we're talking about lifetime commitment and bigger responsibilities here. In my case, pinaghandaan ko muna nang maigi before jumping to a higher level.
"Ayun na nga, kausap ko siya kagabi sa skype. We were talking about her childhood friend na malapit na ikasal. All of a sudden, napunta yung conversation namin about marriage. About finding the right person to spend the rest of our lives with. About what it feels like to have our own family," kwento ko sa kanya.
"So, you feel pressured and now you wanna propose to her?"
"Can't you see? She's dropping hints. And it's definitely not the first time she did. I remember 2 weeks ago ata yun, she was moping around, telling me she can't wait to spend the rest of her life with me. Days after naman, nag kukwento siya na sinamahan niya yung childhood friend niya para sa last fitting nung wedding gown nito. There was something in her eyes habang ikinukwento niya yun sa akin. I just feel it, you know."
Ayan na naman yung mapanghusgang tingin ng best friend ko sa akin. Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang pisnge ko at sa mapanghusgang tinig ay nag tanong, "Ikaw ba, ready ka na magpakasal?"
Ready na nga ba ako? For years of preparation, hindi pa ba ako ready? Syempre naman ready na ako! Para saan pa ang pagpupursigi ko ng ilang taon kung hindi naman ako ready na pakasalan siya, di ba? Sigurado ako na di dahil napepressure ako kaya ako may planong mag propose sa kanya. I love her and if she's already dropping hints that she's ready for a lifetime commitment with me, then that's my cue to ask her hand for marriage.
Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago sagutin ang tanong ni Chynna. "Chynns, I am very much sure of this. I've never been so sure in my entire life, ngayon lang. I want her forever in my life."
There's a glimpse of contentment in her eyes. Alam kong masaya siya sa naging sagot ko. Nagmistulang mother-daughter moment ang pangyayari ngayon. She looks like a proud mother na emotional dahil ang anak niya ay magkakaroon na ng sariling pamilya. With her widest smile she said, "I'm happy for you. Sobra."
Tumayo ako at lumpait sa kinauupuan niya. Binigyan ko siya ng yakap na puno ng pasasalamat. I don't think I could ever survive life without my best friend. She has always been my constant. I always thank the Lord for her.
After a while ay bumitaw siya sa pagkakayap. "Tama na yan. Masyado nang madrama." Kahit kailan talaga basag trip din tong best friend ko. "Let's start, shall we?"
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
I'm on my way to Rhian's family house to ask for her mom's permission. I have so much respect for her and her family that's why I need to do it the right way. Kahit na kinakabahan, may tiwala naman ako sa naging relationship ko with her mom and sister. Parang anak na rin ang turing nila sa akin. Ramdam ko yun sa ilang taon na rin na pagsasama namin ni Rhian, hindi na iba ang turing nila sa akin.
I'm now sitting across her mom and her sister in their living room. Kung kanina ay sobrang determined ko para humingi ng permiso, ngayon naman ay para akong dinadaga sa lamig ngnkamay ko at pagkablanko ng aking utak. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisimulan.
"Glaiza, anak, tungkol saan ba talaga ito? Pinapakaba mo naman ako eh," may pag aalala na sabi ni Tita Clara.
"Mom, chill, will you? Let Glai compose her thoughts." Nadine gave me an assuring smile. May kakaiba sa tingin niya sa akin. Parang alam nito ang pakay ko sa kanila.
I cleared my throat first before I spoke. "Tita, Nads, I know that you know how much I love Rhian. She's my better half. She's the love of my life. For years, I tried so hard to prove myself worthy of her love. I did everything that I could to show her what real love is. And I plan to do that until my very last breath." Humugot muna ako ng lakas ng loob bago ipaalam ang totoong intensyon ko. "Tita, Nads, I love her so much that I couldn't love anybody else other than her. I love her so much that I want to surrender myself to her. There's nobody else I want to spend the rest of my life with other than her. Tita, this is me humbly asking for your blessing to marry your daughter. It would mean so much to me if her family would give out their all support for the next chapter of our life. I don't want to promise, instead, I simply want to show her that she is my world and that I would love her unconditionally. Always and forever."
May namumuong luha sa mga mata ni Tita Clara habang ipinapaalam ko ang pagmahahal ko sa anak niya. I could say that she's touched but still I wanna hear it straight from her that she approves my decision. Si Nadine naman ay mas lumapad ang ngiti na may kasamang panunukso na.
"Ayun naman pala, my. Lalagay na sa tahimik si Yoyon," sabi ni Nads na may kasamang tawa.
"What can I say? I guess my daughter has found her perfect lifetime partner in you. Glai, I've been a witness of your unconditional love to my daughter and I've seen how happy she is with you. Who am I to hinder the love that you have for each other? I'm just a mother who wants all the best for her daughter." Tumabi sa akin si tita at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. Kakaiba ang dulot na kasiyahan na ito sa akin. This is all that I've ever wished for. And now, isa isa nang natutupad ang mga iyon.
"Take care of my daughter, Glai."
"I will, tita. I will."
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Nagpapahinga na ako sa aking kwarto at ready to sleep na pero napabalikwas ako ng bangon ng makita ko na tumatawag sa skype ang future wife ko.
"Loooveeee! I'm sorry if this is urgent and I also apologize if I may have disturbed you in some ways. I just have a surprise for you," sabi ng magandang babae sa screen.
"Love, it's okay. You don't have to apologize. What is it?"
"My flight got moved tomorrow. I'm coming home soon!"
WHAAAAAAAT?!
[A/N] :
Hi mga besh! Sorry ngayon lang nakapagupdate, bitin pa. 😢 Sobrang tag tuyot ang utak eh. Sensya na ✌
Super thank you na rin sa mga nagtitiyaga na magbasa ng mga katha ko. It means a lot to me. ❤
