Beyond the Horizon of Love (Ryker Series #1)

BTHOL [24]

"Ate..." Ashley knocked on the door of my room.

Sean and I just got home from spending our day together since it was our first anniversary today. Lumabas lang kami, nanood ng sine, at kumain. 

"Yes?" nakangiting tanong ko.

"Baba ka raw sabi ni Kuya Sean. He didn't tell me why."

I nodded before putting my coat back on. Pagkalabas ko, hindi ko kaagad siya mahanap kaya naman kinailangan ko pang lumapit kay Tito para magtanong. 

"Si Sean po, Tito?" 

"I think he's outside. Kanina ka pa pinapatawag kay Ashley."

"Salamat po."

I put both of my hands in my coat's pocket before heading outside. I carefully opened the gate and found Sean waiting there.

"Bakit?" I asked him right away. "May ipapagawa ka raw?"

"Hop in, I've got a surprise for you," nakangiting sabi niya.

"What surprise are you talking about?" My brows furrowed. "Akala ko ba no surprises and gifts?" I asked him.

Sean opens the car door for me, and I gracefully slide in. He then confidently gets behind the wheel. As he starts driving, I curiously glance around the car, searching for the surprise.

"Where's the surprise?" tanong ko nang wala akong makita sa loob ng sasakyan niya.

"Patience, love. We're taking a little detour before I reveal it. Trust me, it's worth the wait," malambing na sabi niya.

He pulls up at a beautiful city park, filled with blooming flowers, lush greenery, and a picturesque lake. Namangha kaagad ako sa nakita.

"Oh my God! This place is stunning. What are we doing here?" 

He grinned. "I thought it would be the perfect spot to reveal your surprise. But first, close your eyes."

I giggled and obliged, closing my eyes tightly. Sean opens the car door for me, guiding me out, careful not to let me peek. 

Nakahawak siya sa bewang ko habang ang kabilang kamay naman ay nakatakip sa mga mata ko. After a few steps, tumigil na kami.

"Open your eyes," he whispered.

As I open my eyes, my jaw drops in astonishment. A beautifully arranged picnic spread awaits us, complete with a bouquet of flowers.

I was speechless.

He pulled the chair for me kaya naman maingat akong umupo. 

"I know we agreed on no surprises or gifts, just a pure date," he began. "I just can't help but to prepare something like this for you. I wanted our first anniversary to be memorable, that's why I made a little effort to surprise you."

Little effort? If my guess is right, he probably rented this whole park just for this surprise! Ni hindi man lang talaga pumasok sa isip ko na may posibilidad na gagawin niya ito. 

"Thank you, love," I was teary-eyed when I said that.

He gently kissed the top of my head. "You deserve the best."

I will forever cherish celebrating Christmas, New Year, and first anniversary with Sean and his family. Never in my life could I imagine that I'll be able to experience such celebrations like this.

"Is everything okay na?" I asked my friends. 

We were preparing my surprise for Sean. Today is their graduation day.