"Dev, come in," my smile widens when I saw her infront of our door. She'll help me plan for my proposal soon. And i can feel na saglet lang kaming mag uusap ni Dev.
"Hi, Magalona," she greeted me as she went straight to the living room.
"Kelan mo nga balak magpropose?" she suddenly asked before sitting down.
"I dont know yet, Dev. I haven't got the ring," i confessed. True that i still dont have it.
"ANO? BABALAK BALAK KA NG MAGPROPOSE, WALA PA PALANG SINGSING. PINAGLOLOLOKO MO BA AKO, MAGALONA?" she shouted, half mad.
I chuckled. Oops. My bad.
Napakamot ako ng ulo as I talked again. "May gusto kasi akong singsing... "
"Asan na??? Tara, bilhin na natin!" she stood up, held her bag and about to step when i held her shoulder and motioned her to sit back down.
"Dev, relax. Okay?" we both took a deep breathe.
"I already ordered the ring," i began.
"Yun naman pala eh. Edi tara na nga," pagpupumilit niya. I took a deep breathe and said, "Nasa Las Vegas pa. I need to get it personally."
"Aaaah, Las Vegas," she repeated what I said and after a second, her eyes bore on mine. There she was with her surprised look.
"Las Vegas?! As in Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS?!!!!" She said over and over. "Seryoso ka?"
I nodded. She stayed quiet.
"Holy sht! It's still in Las Vegas!" matatawa na ako sa reaction ni Dev. Akala niya nagbibiro ako eh.
"So pano yan?" her face turned into serious one. Girls, really. Ang bilis magbago ng mood and expressions or whatever they call it.
"I dont know yet. I cant leave the country. She'll ask me. And you know Julie, mangungulit at mangungulit yun why I need to go to Vegas," mahabang sabi ko and she seem to understand what i said and nodded. She's biting her nails when i thought of a better idea.
"Oh Dev! You can go get the ring!" I beamed.
"What? Bakit ako?"
"Ikaw na lang yung naiisip kong pwedeng kumuha," i sighed. We know it's not that easy to go out of the country.
"Oh Moe! Wag ka kasing shushunga shunga!" she laughed and my brows met. "I know who can get that ring," she winked at me.
"Who?"
"Your Mom!" she smiled.
Oo nga noh? Why didnt I think of Mom?
"Dev. You're definitely clever!!!" i let out a soft laugh.
"I know, Moe. Happy National Asssuming Day!" and then she laughed again.
"No, seriously Dev. Salamat!" i grinned.
"Wala yun. Para toh sa bestfriend ko," she gave a tap on my shoulder and sat down again.
"So.. Pano ka magpopropose?" she asked. Bigla akong kinabahan. Paano nga ba? I tried to think.
"I dont know yet. But im thinking about proposing to her while watching the sun set. Or...."
"...or.. You can ask her on your birthday. While watching the sun set." end of the conversation.
I looked at her seriously. Her one brow arched as she stared back at me.
"That's righttttt!" I hugged Dev and we both laughed.
"Moe, utak!" she teased. Puro puso eh.
I laughed. "thank you talaga. Bahala na ako. Basta at least may date na when. Yung singsing na lang," i excitedly said.
"Yes. Bahala na akong oorder ng flowers and all that," pagpiprisinta niya. I giggled and nodded.
We were eating pizza when her eyes stuck at my laptop. She's probably looking at my wallpaper which is Julie - sleeping peacefully.
"Naaalala ko," she began.
I sat properly and moved to see her clearly.
"Hindi siya nakakatulog ng ganyan kahimbing nung wala ka sa tabi niya," she tried to smile but there was the sadness on her face: reminiscing.
"Minsan hindi na siya natutulog ng gabi. Kasi takot na takot siya. Mag isa siya. Walang kasama. Tatawagan ko siya ng madaling araw, nasa sala siya, tumutugtog ng piano, nagkakape. Para daw hindi antukin," mahabang kwento ni Dev. I stayed quiet for awhile as i wait for more of the story.
"Nakakatulog siya sa rehearsal during day time," she looked at me this time as she continued, "Kaya Moe, wag na wag na wag mo na siyang iiwan ha? Ang hirap kasing tignan siyang ganun," a tear fell from her eyes.
I sighed. "I promise you im not gonna leave her side. Not again."
And then out of the blue, said suddenly said, "I remember how she lovingly whisper your name in her sleep. Over and over and over. It bruised my heart to see her tears run down her face - dreaming of you."
My heart melted after hearing Dev's story. Ganun na pala yung impact before. Na sobra sobrang sakit yung naramdaman niya nung iniwan ko siya. I wanna hate myself but i know it's too late. I promise myself to make up to her. And i have forever to do that.
I hugged Dev as i run my hand on her back, comforting her. I know no one ever love Julie the way Dev does. The way she took care of Julie before was something na kailanman hindi ko mapapalitan. Kaya ang laki ng utang na loob ko kay Dev. And im happy Julie have her.
For the gazillion times, i repeated, "Thank you, Dev. For everything."
She nodded and smile while wiping her tears. "Pinapaiyak moko! Isusumbong kita kay Julie." We laughed.
"Basta andito lang ako para sa inyo," she said and i hugged her again.
After a minute, Will called.
"Yes. Yes. Okay, honey. Oo. Andito ako kila Elmo. Yes. Sira ulo tong lalaking toh eh. Oo. Sige. I'll see you in fifteen minutes. Okay," tuloy tuloy niyang sagot and then she ended the call.
"Hinahanap ka na ba ni Will?" i asked.
"Oo eh. Moe, you know im just a call away. Kailangan na ako ng bestfriend mo. I'll see you next week. Yung singsing ha?" she reminded me as we both went to the parking area.
"Yes, yes. Thank you, dev." we gave each other a light peck on the cheeks as we bid a short goodbye.
"Dev, ingat sa pagdadrive ha?" i waved goodbye after seeing her nodded and then she drove away.
I went back to the living room and stared at my laptop's wallpaper.
"I knew it. Inlove na inlove talaga ako sayo, San Jose," and i stayed there frozen, smiling like an idiot.
