You are a Part of Me

16.

            PUMUNTA si Blaire sa kusina ni Xavier at binuksan niya ang mga kitchen cabinets. Luckily, she saw an unsealed Whiskey bottle. Pero ba't pa ba siya magtataka kung bakit may Whiskey lagi sa tirahan ni Xavier eh ma-Whiskey din si Xavier.

            As newly engaged couple, she decided to stay with Xavier. Pero kailan nga ba siya hindi tumira sa bahay ng kanyang nobyo? Eh halos dito na nga manirahan talaga. This set-up is not new to them anymore. Isa pa, sanay naman na ang lahat na rito siya tumutuloy.

            Para siyang informally pumayag sa kagustuhan ni Xavier noong manirahan na siya talaga rito.

            Blaire suddenly woke up in the middle of the night. Hindi niya alam kung bakit, but even though she tried to get back to sleep ay hindi siya nagtagumpay. She failed kaya she decided get up from Xavier's bed and to put on one of Xavier's white office shirt from his wardrobe.

            Gusto niya kasi ang bagong laba at plantsang amoy ng office shirts ni Xavier kaya minsa'y iyon ang nagiging pambahay niya. Hindi rin naman nagrereklamo si Xavier doon and he even finds it cute when she does that.

            Binuksan ni Blaire ang Whiskey and poured herself a glass before downing all the glass' contents in one go. Ilang beses niyang inulit iyon before setting herself down on the kitchen stool and looking at her hand that is holding her now empty glass.

            Then, she saw the ring. It is the perfect engagement ring. It's not too extravagant, but it's enough to remind her that she's engaged.

            It has been three days now since they got engaged.

            Xavier even postponed his flight to Sydney for work para mas magkaroon sila ng oras as newly engaged couple bago umalis muli. Blaire and Xavier both have agreed that they will be having their wedding once Xavier's company and Blaire's second restaurant are officially operating.

            Pinagmasdan ni Blaire ang singsing na suot-suot.

            She took it off, then back on her again. She took it off, then back on her again. Then again. And again.

            She took it off again at itinapat iyon sa mga mata niya. Pinagmasdan niya ang simple pero magandang singsing. Xavier still flew to France just to buy her an engagement ring. Ito pala ang sinadya nito roon samantalang si Blaire naman ay nasa Maldives noon.

            Binaba ni Blaire ang singsing sa ibabaw ng kitchen counter.

            "AND you'll miss me?" malambing na tanong ni Xavier kay Blaire before putting both of his hands on either side of Blaire's waist again.

            Nakatalikod si Blaire kay Xavier kaya hindi nakita ng kanyang nobyo kung pa'no siya natigilan at hindi napangiti sa tanong nito. Blaire closed her eyes, then turned herself to Xavier while smiling and said, "Of course, I will."

            "Good," nakangiting sagot ni Xavier sa nobya.

            Pinaglaruan ni Blaire ang singsing sa ibabaw ng kitchen counter.

            "NEVER did I feel that I loved you less. All the days and times with you made me love you more and more. But tonight, forgive me, because after tonight, I will love you more than I have loved you."

            Then she remembered something that she, herself, told her friends before.

            "SECRETS are lies as well. Keeping secrets from someone is no different from lying to them; it's still dishonesty," paliwanag ni Blaire sa kanyang mga kaibigan.