The plane landed. I was finally here.
Scotland.
The only country no one would suspect I would stay to. Hindi ko sila masisisi. Mismong ang lugar na ito ay wala sa karakter ko. I was a city person. I love lights and noise. Paris, New York, Barcelona, everywhere where fashion and life, as I call it, would exist for me. Not here. Not where in every spot, you would see green grass, mountains and nature. And I was never a nature person.
“Good day, Ma’am. The house is ready for you.”
Napalingon ako sa driver na nasa unahan ng kotse. Banyagang banyaga ang kanyang itsura. He had the native accent of Scottish.
“Is Maria there?”, I asked quietly. Maria was the only housemaid I had in the Philippines I asked to come with me here. She had no family.
“Yes, Ma’am”, I flinched at that word. It reminded me of him. Muli, ibinalik ko ang tingin sa labas ng bintana. Halata ang pagkatahimik ng lugar.
“Would you like to go somewhere else, Ma’am”, tanong n’ya. Umiling ako nang hindi s’ya nililingon. This place reminded me of Batanes. Gino’s dream place to get married. Mapait akong napangiti. Ilang minuto akong pumikit dahil sa pag-iinit ng mga mata ko.
I miss him.
“Pardon, Ma’am?”, I gasped quietly. Did I said that aloud?
“Nothing, Marco”, I smiled a bit and he did, too. I sighed heavily. Nababaliw na agad ako hindi pa ako nakakaisang araw dito. Maya-maya pa ay nglubak-lubak ng kaunti ang daan pagkatapos ay sa patag na ulit. Sa banayad na pagtakbo ng sasakyan, pakiramdam ko ay inihehele ako. hindi ko napigilan na pumikit ng tuluyan at maidlip. I wanted to forget everything even if for a short time. I just wished I would not see Gino in my dreams.
Nang magising ako ay nasa isang kwarto na ako. rinig ko ang ilang huni ng ibon sa labas. May malaking puno malapit sa bintana ng kwarto. Manipis at putting-puti ang mga kurtina. The room looked cozy and homely. Marahan akong naupo pagkabangon.
Did Marco brought me here? I guess it’s alright. Napansin ko ang isang maliit at itim na bag sa lamesitang malapit sa pintuan patungong balkonahe. Hindi ko natatandaan na may ganoon akong bag na dinala. And looked like it belonged to a man. Was it Marco’s?
I was about to get up completely from the bed and have a tour around when the door opened. Agad akong napalingon doon at hindi ko alam kung nananaginip ako. I froze on my spot looking at him.
Was I thinking about him too much that my mind decided to play tricks and put an illusion for me?
“You’re awake”, his baritone voice was softer than I remembered. Agad akong naluha. Bakit ang sakit pakinggan ng boses n’ya? Bakit ang sakit makita s’ya?
“G-Gino…”, I cried his name with all the pain I had in my heart.
Sa isang saglit ay naabot n’ya ang lugar ko. Lumuhod s’ya sa harap ko at agad ikinulong ang mga pisngi ko sa kanyang mga magagaspang na palad.
“Hey… Why are you crying? Are you hurt? May napanaginipan ka bang hindi maganda?”, he asked.
“You’re not a dream? Please tell me you’re just a dream”
He continuously wiped the tears in my face and my tears continuously fall from my eyes. Basang-basa ang kamay ni Gino at ganoon din ang pisngi ko.
“What are you doing here?”, yumuko ako para makaiwas sa kanyang kamay.
“Tsk. Stay still, your eyes will hurt from crying so stop, please”
“I am asking you”
I saw his forehead crumpled at me when I looked back at his face.
“You’re here so why wouldn’t I be here? Nasaan ako dapat?” may kaunting inis ang pagkakasagot n’ya.
“No. Umalis ako para—‘
“At nandito ako dahil gusto ko. Do you really think I will allow away from me? Pagod na akong isipin ang ibang tao, Cresia. Gusto kong isipin naman ang sarili ko. Gusto kong sumaya. And you’re my happiness”, his eyes glistened.
“Mahal na mahal kita, Cresia. I may not look like it but I do”
Mas lalo akong naiyak sa sinabi n’ya.
“Why are you always making me cry?”
Gino smirked.
“You always make me fall for you”
Ngumuso ako. “Kailan ka pa dumating?”
“Nauna ako sa’yo. Your father told me everything so I had it all planned. I talked to my father and went here after I got the news of you leaving”
Gino held my hand and put a kiss there. Pinunas ko na ang sarili kong luha. It was then when I felt him putting something on my ring finger.
“What—“, nanginig ang kamay ko sa ginawa n’ya.
“You’re shaking, baby”, he chuckled at my reaction. Nakatingin lang kami parehas doon hanggang sa maiayos na n’ya ang singsing doon. “Marry me, Cresia”
Katutuyo ko lang ng luha ko, pero bumuhos na naman. Iyak lang ako ng iyak hanggang sa naramdaman ko na s’ya sa tabi ko at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. “I need your answer, baby.” Bulong n’ya.
“Hindi naman tanong ang narinig ko”, Gino’s laugh vibrated through me.
“But please say yes”, he kissed my temple. Tumango lang ako.
“Thank you. Everything’s set. Ikaw na lang ang kulang”
Agad ko s’yang naitulak doon.
“What?!”
“I’m just kidding. I would let your choose your own of course. But I will just give you until tomorrow. After that, wedding day”
Gino sounded like he really had it all planned well.
“Walang nang urungan. We will be happy. We will travel the world and have children who look like you”, he kissed my lips softly. “I love you”
“I love you, too”
“You will be my wife. Sa wakas”, he then embraced me so tightly. Parang wala nang makakapaghiwalay sa amin.
Or so I thought.
