Laura
I was at his condo first thing in the morning. I told him dito na ako maghihintay.
After I cooked us some food and prepared refreshments, I looked around at his place.
Ang dami na naming photos over the years! Ethan liked taking photos and displaying them, here in his flat, at our social media accounts, on his phone ready to be shown to whoever asks. He had photos of our local and international travels, moments with our families and random date night.
Looking at our photo from Saigon's post office, I recall our conversation.
"Sobrang ganda nito. It was influenced by France, right?" He commented.
"Yes daw. Ethan, one day let's go to Europe?"
"Yes! Ni, nagsesave na talaga ako para madala kita dun eh."
"Talaga?! Let me help para mas mabilis! Tapos let's plan ano mga uunahin natin..."
That night, at our hotel, we discussed the fund he had set up and how much to set aside monthly so that we could take a European trip in two years.
That two year timeline would have been this year.
"Matutuloy pa kaya?" I wondered out loud.
I heard the jingle of keys and the doorknob turning. Jumping up, I held my breath until the door revealed...
Ethan.
He dropped his bag and I ran to him.
"Hello," he whispered as he held me. "I missed you."
For my part, all I could say was, "Ethan. Ethan. Ethan."
Our hug lasted for what felt like an hour - in reality, maybe ten minutes, but even when we moved to the couch, we didn't let each other go.
I held his face. "How was your trip?"
"Nice. Quiet. Nasa Tagaytay lang naman ako. I walked around most days. You'd like the weather and the view," he shared.
I hesitated when I asked, "C - can WE go sometime?"
He kissed my nose, but said nothing.
My heart broke, but I wasn't going to give up yet. "I prepared food for us. Gutom ka ba? Let's go?"
He nodded and followed me to the kitchen counter. I asked him to sit and scooped some lasagna and a salad for him. As I was about to prepare a plate for me, he spoke up. "Why are you getting another plate? Palagi naman tayong share di ba?"
I looked at him, gave a small smile and nodded. I put the plate back and took a seat beside him.
"Laura?"
Hindi na ako sanay that he calls me by name. "Yes?"
"Have you ever considered being with someone else?"
My eyes widened, and I hated that I was tearing up again. "Of course not! How could you even ask that?!"
He took my hand and kissed it. "Sorry! Sorry. Don't get mad. I was just wondering if... you know, naisip mo to be with someone else kaya ayaw mong magpakasal sa akin."
"Eth, it's not that I don't want to marry you. I want you, it's marriage I have trouble with."
"Paano na tayo?"
I took a deep breath. "Ikaw? Ano bang napag-isipan mo?"
"I really want to get married... but I only want you," he said, a bit sadly. "Ikaw ba?"
