The Best Thing I Never Had

5.50

“Jen. Don’t leave.”

“I won’t Mark. Di ba nag promise ako sayo na I’ll be your best friend forever?”

Jenna and I were drinking at a park. It is dark there, only the reflection of the dancing fountain lights is the reason why somehow, we can see each other. Jenna and I are straighty lying on the grassy ground upside down. Her feet is at the west, and mine is in the east. Our cheecks are stuck together, that’s why I can manage to play a strand of her hair while gazing at the stars. 

“Talaga? You must keep your promise.” I turned my head into Jenna. At dun ko lang na realize na yung ilong ko nakadikit na sa cheeks nya.

“Ilang beses ko ba sasabihing…”

Jenna turned his head into me. Napahinto sya at nanlaki yung mga mata nya nang mapansin niyang sobrang lapit ng mukha namin sa isa’t isa. And, natulala na lang ako sa kanya. I can’t fight what I feel. I touched Jenna’s cheecks and I pulled her face into mine…

*Kriiiiiiiing!*

I Immediately woke up when I heard the 11th alarm. And yea? I am fully awake but my dream is still keep on playing. And I… I dreamed of me and Jen was about to kiss? Huwat? Why? How come? Tss.. Grabe talaga tama ng alak. I was about to go to the bath room to wash myself then, I heard my phone alarmed again. I felt really pissed. Kasi sa totoo lang, I hate alarms. I know you know what I mean. Hahayaan ko na lang sana na mag alarm yung phone ko but suddenly, parang may tumulak sakin para patayin yung alarm. But to my shock, di lang pala alarm yun. It is a REMINDER. And, shame on me! How could I forget na birthday pala ng nag iisang bestfriend ko ngayon! And, tss.. wala akong plano? Anong gagawin ko? Then, I have decided to take a bath first while thinking about the today’s dilemma. Amoy alak pa kasi ako.

After I took a bath, I immediately called on someone for my surprise. What is it? You’ll find out later. After I call on someone, I Immediately called Jen. I ask her to be at our university at 7pm. After planning on everything, I went down our house to check on some news inside it. Ang bahay kasi namin, I can compare it to the world na may iba’t ibang bansa. we are all the same wordl but different dimensions. I want to talk to my brother Glenn but our maid approached me and told me that Jenna left my car on the sea side. Pagkatapos kong malaman yun, lumabas agad ako at nag commute. After I rode a jeepney from our house, I took airconditioned bus papunta sa seaside. When I am finally there, I drove my car snd park it to the nearest mall’s parking lot and I went to the flowershop to buy a dozen of red roses and ofcourse chocolates and kiwis. I checked my phone. It’s about 5:00 pm. Pabalik na ko sa kotse ng matanggap ko yung tawag ni Grace.

“Grace?”

“Uhmm… Are you at your house now?”

“Uhmm.. No. why?”

“I…Just wanted to talk to you if… you are not busy right now. Are you free?”

“Yes. I am at the sea side. See you here?”

“Yea. Sure thing. I’ll be there less than an hour.”

I felt so happy and I immediately went to the sea side. Good thing I brought some flowers and chocolates. Bibilhan ko na lang ulit si Jen after namin mag usap ni Grace. I waited there for almost an hour. And yea, I admit. Naglalakad pa lang si Grace sa malayo, kilala ko na sya. Lumapit sya sakin with her calm face. She Just starred at me for a moment then finally, talked to me.

“Uhmm.. Mark. I just wanna have some heart to heart talk.”

“Huh? W-what? You wanna have some heart to heart talk?” *nice! For the first time!*

“Yea. And I think we should have one before we accept what will going to happen between us later on.”

“s… so. You m… mean that…”

“Yes. I have decided that I’ll marry you. I won’t go back. But… Mark, let me tell you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“You know what, Marriage is something I do not want to doubt…”

“I am sure you won’t doubt it, Grace.”

“I know. Thanks to Jenna who told me everything. Since we were seven, you did a lot of efforts for me. And I think that those reasons is enough for me to be comfortable that I won’t doubt our marriage.”

“You mean… Jenna…”

“Yes. You are so blessed to have a friend like Jenna.”

“Yes, I am. But Grace, what  you mean is…”

“I admit it. Knowing all the things you have done for me, knowing all the thing you have sacrificed and the things you are willing to sacrifice, I felt like I’m secured. I felt like I will never be betrayed. And… most of all, I felt like I was going to love… you.”

“Uhm… Grace… a-are you sure you are telling these things?”

“But to tell you frankly, Syempre Mark. You know whom I love. But I-I do believe that love can be learned.”

I went to the car the get the roses I brought for Jenna. I went back to talk to Grace.

“Grace, I just wanted to do this in a proper way.”

I knelt in front of her. I looked in to her eyes as she look on mine. This is it finally. I just can’t believe that I’ll say these words to the woman I always want.

“Grace Ching… I- I know I don’t have the formal thing which is the ring, and I only have this roses that withers easily. B-but, don’t think that…”

“Mark. You don’t have to do this.”

“don’t think that my love for you will pass away like this roses. I will take you forever even until death. So, Miss Grace Ching, will you marry me?”

Grace just nod. But even though I haven’t heard the word “Yes”, I still felt happy that I can’t help my self from hugging her. I checked my watch, I almost forgot about Jenna. It’s already 7pm!