KIEFER's POV
FLASHBACK
Me: "Ate Coi, kumusta?"
Ate Coi: "Ok naman. Kayo kumusta na dyan?"
Me: "Ayos naman po.... Ate, nalaman ko kasi na pauwi ka raw ng Pinas. Baka pwede ako humingi ng favor."
Ate Coi: "Sure, ano yon?"
Me: "I'm going to propose to Miks, Ate. Baka pwede akong magpatulong. Gusto kong samantalahin ang pagkakataon na kompleto kayo. I want all of you to witness this significant event.
Heard Ate Coi screaming out of excitement and happiness.
Ate Coi: Oh my God! I dont know what to say. Kinikilig ako.. Uhmmm! Alam na ba nina Daddy at Mommy?
Me: Actually bago kita tinawagan Ate, magkakasama kami kanina pati ng parents and siblings ko. Namanhikan without Mika around. Haha! Wala pa po syang kaalam-alam. Sinabi ko na nga po yung intention ko to marry her. Ayoko na kasing patagalin pa. Dun din naman ang punta.
Ate Coi: Wow! Wala na ako masabi. Oh God! I'm really out of words Kiefer. Masaya ako para sayo and my baby sister. Naiiyak ako, promise!
Me: Actually Ate, lahat kami napaluha kanina. Lalo na sina Daddy Migs at Mommy Bhaby. Answered prayer nga daw nila ang lahat nang ito. Iniimagine na nga raw nila kung ano ang magiging reaction ni Miks pag nagpropose ako. She's clueless. I want everything to be kept confidential until I finally make my actual proposal.
Ate Coi: Ok, wait, so when do you intend to propose? And where?
Me: Di ba pupunta kayo ng El Nido Ate? Naisip kong dun na lang po magpropose.
At sinabi ko nga kay Ate Coi yung naisip kong plano.
Ate Coi: How much is your budget, if I may ask.
Me: Kahit magkano ang abutin Ate. All for Miks. Simple lang naman ang gusto ko. And I'm sure ganon din ang gusto nya. Basta nandun ang buong pamilya natin, mga malalapit na kamag-anak at kaibigan. Ang mahalaga, mapasaya ko si Mika. At ang pinakamahalaga, ang mapa-OO ko sya. Haha!
Ate Coi: Haha! Yun lang. Baka sprak sya by that time. Biglang uuwi lahat tayong luhaan. Hahaha! No..Kidding aside, sigurado naman akong OO ang sagot non. Sprak or not...Anyway, going back to the budget..this is juz a big sister's advice my dear..ALWAYS set a budget not only for occasions like these. I'm telling you Kiefer.. you cannot just go on a splurge without taking everything into account. I'm sure your Manager and Accountant might have reminded you about this countless of times.
Me: Uhmmm, ano nga ulit yon Ate? Hahaha! Ang totoo po nyan, di ko na po minsan pinapansin yung gastos. Kinucontrol ko naman po. Pero most of the time, sige lang po nang sige. Gastos lang po nang gastos. Basta nakikita kong may laman pa naman po yung bank account ko, ok na ako.
Ate Coi: Ouch! Masakit yan sa pandinig ko. Di yan pwede for Accountants like me. Kung marinig ka ni Miks, isang running spike siguro ang ibibigay sayo non para mabigyan ka ng konting lesson. Hahaha! And I'm sure, if she ever finds out that that is how you handle your money, better get ready. Juz a warning though, humanda na rin yung Manager at Accountant mo. Coz with what I am hearing, somebody must be held responsible. I am not questioning how much do you have, as I know you've been working your ass off for years, I just find it fitting that everything must be accounted for. So from now on, I will help you build that mindset. It's fine to pamper oneself and spend money lavishly once in a while. But know your limits. Control your spending. Know how to manange your unexpected expenses. I am confident that your future bride will be of big help in terms of handling your finances. In the meantime, let's start from scratch....Now, give me a rough estimate of how much you are going to spend on your marriage proposal. Sorry ha, I sounded pakialamera. Haha! You know what I am trying to point out, di ba? It doesn't take an Accountant to know the basics of "wise spending".
