Ryan Lee Sanchez – POV
Pagkatapos ng klase ko ay sabay kaming pumunta ni Brix sa apartment ni Lee—rooftop ng apartment pala. Nandoon na si Brie at Czar nang makarating kami doon. Tatawagin pa sana namin ang iba pero mukhang sarili din silang pinagkakabusyhan.
"This is so tacky. Still romantic though. Malaki ba ang kasalanan mo sakanya?" Czar teased rught away. Abala ito sa pagkalat ng rose petals sa makeshift na red carpet. May mga scented candles na nakahilera sa magkabilang isle at ito ang lalakaran ni Lee mamaya.
"Anong proposal ba ang hindi tacky sa mga babae?" tanong ko.
"Sinasabi lang naming mga babae 'yan, pero ang toto it's the action itself that counts," singit ni Brie na nag-aayos naman ng mga LED lights. Ako nga ang nagplano dito pero sila naman talaga ang nag-ayos ng lahat. Hindi ko rin kayang mag-isa kaya naman nagpapasalamat ako na nandito itong mga 'to.
"Makaksunod ba sina Ray? Gawin narin sana natin itong reunion," iba ko ng usapan. Medyo kinakabahan na nga ako, tinatakot pa ako ni Czar. Ilang beses ko ng tinangkang ulitin ang proposal ko pero laging nauudlot dahil wala akong kaide-ideya kung paano ulit iyon gagawin. Nang mabanggit ko ito kina Brie, sinabi nilang sila na raw ang bahala basta't bigyan ko sila ng ideya. May pa-tacky tacky pa si Czar eh sila naman ang maraming dinagdag.
"Papunta na sina Thom at Ray, may dinaanan lang daw," tugon ni Brie.
"Ayaw ko kayong madaliin pero kabababa lang ni Lhaine sa taxi," singit ni Brix habang nakadungaw sa dulo ng railings. Sumilip agad ako at nandoon na nga siya sa baba.
"Bakit ang aga niya? Mamayang nine pa dapat siya matatapos ah."
"Everything's ready so you should too. I'm happy to witness the first ever event of Ryan Lee for Lhaine Lee. Team Lee!" pumapalakpak na sabi ni Brie.
"Maraming salamat talaga," baling ko sakanilang tatlo bago tumungo sa dulo ng lalakarang carpet ni Lee. Nilabas at hinawakan ko ang bouquet ng red roses. Pumuwesto si Brie at Czar sa dulo ng entrance. Nawala si Brix pero masyado na akong kinakabahan para alamin pa kung saan siya pumunta.
Ilang sandali pa ay lumitaw si Lee rooftop. Tinanggal niya ang coat niya at nagulat ako nang makita siyang naka white dress imbes na unifirm. Sa likod niya ay lumitaw din si Brix na nakahawak ng gitara. Lee took a step and at the same moment, the sound of the guitar echoed around the place. It was an unfamilar rhythm. Habang dahan-dahang naglalakad si Lee sa red carpet ay kumakanta siya. Punong-puno ng ngiti ang mukha niya.
You could've gone somewhere else,
But you chose to be next to me.
You could've loved someone else,
But you chose a girl like me,
I couldn't thank you enough,
So I hope this song might.To you, I offer my life and love,
For you I would erase all of my doubts,
For us, I would give everything,
So my dear Lee, will you marry me?She stopped walking halfway to finish the song. Brix double crossed me huh. Nabitwan ko ang bouquet na hawak ko nang marealize ko kung ano ang huling linyang sinabi niya. Nang matapos ni Lhaine ang kanta ay panay ang palakpakan nina Brie at Czar. The place fell into silence. Slowly, Lhaine walked towards me.
"Ryan Lee Sanchez, will you—m...marry...me?" She was already tearing up.
"That's my line," nakangiting tugon ko.
"Now I know why girls don't do this..." Lumapit ako para punasan ang luha niya.
"Tapos na ba?!" Biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng rooftop at bumungad si Ray kasama si Thom. Sakanila tuloy nabaling ang atensyon namin.
"Late kayo, kaya kayo ang maghuhugas ng pinggan," sabi ni Brix sakanila.
"We should leave you two alone," baling ni Brie sa amin.
"Thank you," sabay naming sabi ni Lee.
"You are really made for each other. You even had the same idea," natatawang sabi ni Czar. Magkakasunod silang bumaba hanggang sa kaming dalawa nalang ni Lee ang naiwan.
"Uhm, saan na nga tayo?" Hinarap ako ni Lee.
"You were proposing," sagot ko. Hindi ko matanggal ang ngiti sa mukha ko.
"Oh yes. So, Ryan Lee Sanchez, will you formally marry me?"
"Formally? Like regitered?" hindi makapaniwalang sabi ko. Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang kamay ko.
"Yes. After what happened earlier, I realized that I have been playing safe at everyhting. You've been taking care of me even though you were really tired. I was so satisfied with the idea that I don't need those trivial things and that us being together like this is already enough. Now, I'm ready to step it up. I want to celebrate every monthsary, anniversary— whatever 'sary it is that we should,"
"Yes, I will definitely marry you. Malakas ka sa akin eh. Also, I love you so much," yumuko ako para kunin ang bouquet. Bago ko nga lang 'yun inabot sakanya ay yumuko ako para halikan siya.
"And I love you too," tugon niya sa gitna ng bawat halik. I let her loose just so that I can play that sweet background music I planned. Kinawit ko ang kamay ko sa bewang niya at siya naman sa leeg ko.
"Did you make that song?"
"Oo. Kakantahin ko dapat 'yun noong birthday mo pero nawalan ako ng lakas ng loob. It's not much but those words are my heart and soul."
"You're the best gift I ever had. Thank you so much. Without you, I'm nobody. I love you," bulong ko sa tenga niya.
"You are my dream come true. I love you too, my Lee," she answered.
I wish this moment would never end. After this day, we'll be facing another chapter of our lives. Everything I believe in changed because of her. I am nothing without her. I'm Ryan Lee Sanchez and I'd do anything to make this love last forever. She's Lhaine Lee Ramos and she's my girl.
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THE END
BINABASA MO ANG
SHE'S THE GIRL
Teen FictionLhaine Lee Ramos had just adjusted to a new life after her Nana died a year ago. Now, she must face another sudden change in her life. Her world flipped 360 when she found out that her Nana wasn't a blood relative at all and that she was being force...