What does it really feel like to have a home? To have a family of your own? To have children to raise and a family to grow?
Marriage.
Ever since I was a kid, I've been dreaming of finding a man who will cherish me and will make me happy 'til the rest of my life.
Sobra kong hinahangaan ang relasyon ng mga taong kilala ko especially my parents. I grew up watching them make each other happy. Their relationship was my definition of 'endless love' and I wished that someday, I will have my own.
I have always wondered how they can keep their relationship alive and the fire burning and my parents would always say the same thing,
"Because we choose to."
They choose to keep it alive
They choose to keep the fire burning
They choose to wake up seeing each other first thing in the morning despite the struggles.
And as a kid, I wanted that too.
Na sana hindi ko hiniling dahil ngayong nasa harapan ko na, hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko.
"What do you say, Ara? Do you wanna take the road to forever with me?" Austin said while on his knee as he held my left hand.
Tinignan ko ang mga tao sa paligid. Some were cheering, some are tearing up, some of them are documenting the whole thing but one thing's for sure. All of them wanted me to say yes.
Lahat sila inaasahan akong um-oo. I know I dreamt of having the perfect relationship ever since I was a kid but not now,
..not with him.
Tinignan ko ulit si Austin na nakaluhod sa harapan ko.
His hopeful eyes stared at me as I witnessed mix of emotions flash in it when he realized I wasn't answering.
I looked at his parents and mine once again. I could never disappoint them. I could never hurt them.
Humingi ako ng malalim at lumingon ulit kay Austin.
"Yes" I said and smiled. Tumayo siya at niyakap ako kaagad pagkatapos kong sabihin yun even forgetting to put the ring on my finger.
Bumitaw siya at tinignan ako, "Sorry, I got too excited. For a minute there, I thought you'd say no." Sabi nito at sinuot ang singsing saakin at niyakap ako ulit.
"How could I?" Sagot ko at niyakap siya pabalik.
Paano nga ba ako hihindi kung lahat sila gustong um-oo ako?
We finished up the celebration that night and went home afterwards. Hinatid ako ni Austin sa bahay dahil nauna nang umuwi ang mga magulang ko bago pa matapos ang party.
"Thank you, love. I promise to make you happy for the rest of our lives." Tugon ni Austin pagkahatid niya saakin sa pintuan ng mansyon.
