Arvic is a consistent guy. Wala akong masabi when it comes to setting his goal and knowing his priorities. Lagi niya ako gustong ihatid pero pag may emergency sa work ay 'yun ang inuuna niya.
Minsan hinahatid niya rin ako papasok ng office kahit na maaga. The thing I don't understand is why he is willing to sacrifice his sleep over this. Kahit na sabihin kong wag na ay makikita ko pa rin siya kinabukasan sa labas ng bahay.
Lagi kaming nagtatalo dahil hindi naman niya ako kailangang ihatid. Alam ko rin na late na siya nakakauwi galing sa cafe pero mapilit siya kaya hinayaan ko nalang.
And he always bring me breakfast. I can only imagine how early he has to wake up. Ang sabi lang niya ay sanay na siya kay Trisha dahil siya ang tagahatid nito dati.
"Dinner tayo mamaya. Hintayin kita." Aniya bago ako bumaba ng kotse.
Nasa pantry kami nila Nicole having our snack when an unknown number is calling me. Hindi ako mahilig magsave ng number kaya sinagot ko nalang dahil baka importante.
"Ma'am good afternoon. Grab po. May package po kayo."
"Wala po akong pinadala." Sabi ko.
Naisip ko 'yung mga scam na nababasa ko sa Facebook.
"Ms. Mandy po ito? Pangalan niyo kasi nandito. Andito po ako sa labas ng building. Bayad na rin 'to, for pick up nalang."
Nagtaka ako dahil bayad na 'yung package kaya bumaba ako.
Bumungad sa akin ang roses na nakaarrange sa box. May card rin doon na nakadikit.
"Sa akin talaga 'yan, kuya?"
"Yes ma'am."
Nginitian ko 'yung rider. "Salamat, Kuya."
"Huuuuuy!" Napasigaw si Nicole.
Lumapit sila ni Farah sa pwesto ko. Pinagkaguluhan nila 'yung bulaklak. They even took pictures of it.
"Valentine's Day na ba?"
"Friends pala ha!" Tukso nila.
Hindi ko nalang sila pinansin. Sanay na ako at titigil naman sila maya maya.
I opened the note at may sulat kamay ni Arvic doon.
See you tonight, love.
Napakagat ako sa labi ko para pigilan ang kilig. That endearment really gets me everytime!
Tinusok ni Farah ang tagiliran ko. "Ang landi mo!"
Nung umaga may breakfast tapos ngayon naman bulaklak.
I don't think I can see him tonight without being kilig.
Pinicturan ko 'yung roses at nagchat kay Arvic.
Me:
Anong pakulo 'to? Sayang lang sa pera.
Arvic:
Bakit sayang kung sayo naman?
Lalo akong kinilig. Hindi na ako nagreply dahil nadidistract ako at hindi makatrabaho ng ayos sa mga reply niya.
Nung pagsundo niya sa akin napatingin ako sa kanya dahil parang lalo siyang naging gwapo sa paningin ko.
"Nagpagupit ka?"
"Hindi."
"Ah may iba kasi sayo akala ko nagpagupit ka."
"I'm just happy. 'Yun ang iba since meeting you." Nginisian niya ako.
I made a face. "Alam mong hindi uubra sa akin 'yan."
"Eh bakit nakangiti ka? Aminin mo na kasi na in love ka na sa akin. Sus pakipot ka pa."
"Feel na feel mo talaga, noh?"
I didn't expect him to bring me to Criss' bar where we had our first date.
"Alam kong sawang sawa ka na dito but this is where we had our first date so.." He look embarrassed.
"Ok na ako sa japanese pero choosy pa ba ako?"
The last time I'm here si Arvic ang nagprepare ng pagkain at wala pa silang menu pero ngayon meron na. I let Arvic choose for me dahil halos kalahati ng nasa menu ay mga pagkaing hindi ko mabasa.
"So anong kasalanan mo at kanina ka pa sweet tapos dinate mo pa ako?" Tanong ko pagtapos namin kumain.
"What makes you think may kasalanan ako? Hindi ko ba pwedeng gawin 'yung mga bagay na 'yun dahil gusto ko lang?"
"You don't really do things like that though." I frowned.
This is the best version of Arvic but this is not the guy I fell in love with. Makulit 'yun, malakas mang-asar at maraming kalokohan. Not the guy who would bring me to a fancy restaurant or give me roses.
"Arvic, do you really have to be this proper? Lagi kang may binibigay tapos lagi mo akong sinusundo. It is great pero hindi na tayo nagkakausap. We don't talk like how we used to."
He pursed his lips and shook his head, "You're right, I don't. You want me to take you out on a date so here it is. I just thought na 'yun ang gusto mo."
"What I want is for you to talk to me and tell me stuff like how was your day. Namiss ko rin mga pang aasar mo sa akin. Things like that is what I want."
He grinned. "Hindi mo naman sinabi agad. Pinagastos at pinahirapan mo pa ako. Sa susunod hindi na tayo lalabas at magtawagan nalang tayo. 'Yun lang pala gusto mo."
There's the Arvic that I like.
Arvic smirked and cleared his throat. "Mandy."
"Hmm?"
"I know I already asked this but this time I'd like to ask you properly."
Alam ko na agad kung anong itatanong niya.
"Mandy, you know that you are the best decision I have ever made, right?" He smiled. "Will you be my girlfriend?"
"Yes." I rolled my eyes. "Duh, yes."
Napangiti siya at tumungo.
"Umiiyak ka ba?" Natatawa kong tanong.
"What? No. Of course not. I just don't think you'd say yes."
"Bakit naman?"
He shrugged, "I'm not funny like Nico at wala rin ako ng diskarte ni Vince. I don't even know if I'm doing this right since I absolutely have no idea how relationship works. Baka lang ayaw mo sa akin."
"Do you have any idea how smooth you just sounded? And I don't believe for one second that you have no idea how this works. Ikaw pa, you know everything." I grinned.
"Wag kang ganyan, baka lalo akong mainlove sayo."
"That's my plan. Hindi naman pwedeng ako lang ang nahuhulog." Sabi ko.
Tumagilid ang ulo niya at tumawa siya. "Come here."
He ask me to sit on his lap. "Love, I can call you that right? Love, I'm already in love with you kahit wala ka pang ginagawa. I fell in love when we were in college and I loved you even more when we became friends. And I still love you everyday kahit na masungit ka."
I smiled and brushed his hair. "Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for being here."
"All that and I just get a thank you?"
"Anong ineexpect mo?"
"Fine. Baby steps it is." Aniya.
