Love in Bangketa

48

"Xynnah, you left this at home pa oh," I was talking to Aezy thru facetime at pinakita niya sa'kin ang mga naiwan kong gamit before.

I left my most favorite pair of boots. I remember the last time when I freaked out because I thought that I lost it. Hanggang sa hindi ko na naalalang naiwan ko pala 'yon. Gosh!

"Do you still want me to get that?"

She laughed. "Kung gusto mo pa?"

By afternoon, pupuntahan ko si Aezy sa kanila. Katulad ng dati, nagprepresenta si Yuan para ihatid ako, but hindi rin naman ako magtatagal.

I dropped by the nearest supermarket to buy fruits for Aezy. Five months since nanganak siya and I have never visited her, kaya ngayon pa lang.

"Love, I am sorry, something came up, hindi kita mahahatid," Ani Yuan.

"Don't worry. I already told you that I can handle it na, right? Ayusin mo na lang diyan," Nilagay ko sa backseat ang binili kong fruits.

He sighed. "Alright. I am so sorry. Babawi ako, alright?" After that, pinatay ko na ang call dahil kailangan ko na mag drive. Mabuti na lang ay hindi masiyado traffic kaya agad akong nakarating sa house nina Aezy.

I was so glad na sinama niya rito si Manang Tina. I bought a cake na rin para may makain sila rito.

I pressed the doorbell at lumabas na agad si Aezy, wearing her maternal dress. Nanay na nanay ang dating, while me, I looked like a real business woman na handang maningil ng utang.

"Sino po hanap niyo?" Aezy chuckled.

"Maniningil ako ng utang. Isang milyon na utang mo," I jokingly said. She opened the gates for me and gave me a slight hug.

"Nasa loob na lang yung pambayad ko,"

This was the first time I entered their house. It was built just for them lang talaga. A house good for their family and maids at mga kasama sa house. When I saw Manang Tina, I immediately ran towards her like a baby.

"Mananggg!"

"Hija!" Singhal niya. She hugged me back nang yakapin ko siya.

"Kamusta ka na po?"

Walang masiyadong pinagbago kay Manang Tina. Even her physical appearance, parang noong nag stay lang ako sa bahay nina Tito Gerard dati.

That was... 8 years ago. Ang tagal na rin pala.

"Eto, hija, nagtratrabaho pa rin. Ikaw, kamusta ka na? Mukhang... galanteng-galante ka na, ah? Nagpapautang ka ba?" Tumawa si Manang Tina sa sarili niyang tanong.

"Papautangin kina Manang, basta ba, makasama ka namin ulit sa house?"

"Naku, baka magselos ang mga bata ni Aezy niyan panigurado. May anak ka na ba, hija? Na saan na ang asawa mo?"

I smiled at Manang Tina. "Wala pa po, Manang. May boyfriend po ako, pero wala pa pong anak,"

"Ganoon ba? Ah eh... kailan ang kasal ninyo kung gano'n?"

Yuan and I have already talked about this before. I told him that I wanted our business muna to launch bago kami mag settle. Maybe, in my early 30s, I will decide to marry him.

That was my plan. But, I know, anytime, it could change. I love being sponty with Yuan.

"Kain muna po kayo, Manang Tina. Xynnah, ito nag prepare akong snacks,"

Sa living room pa lang nila, obvious na obvious na may bata na sa bahay because of the natural baby smell ng mga newborn. We ate peacefully hanggang sa bumaba si Aezy mula sa pagkakakaakyat dala-dala ang baby niya.

"OMGGG! That's my pamangks na ba niyan?" I went near her. Mabuti na lang I disinfected, and I can now freely touch the hands of the baby.

"Yesh, Tita Xynnah. Heyow pwo!" Aezy used her voice para magtunog baby. The newborn was sleeping peacefully, pero nagigising na rin. Good thing, the baby didn't cry.

"Hello, Dewy boy. How are you?" I carried him in my arms and I was amazed kung gaano siya kabigat. May natuyo pang milk sa gilid ng labi niya. Mukhang kakagaling niya lang talaga sa pag drink ng milk.

"Hay. Pwede ka na mag Mommy, Xynnah. Marry Yuan now at gawa na kayong maraming babies," Ani Aezy.

Napailing-iling akong tumatawa. "You heard that, Dewy? Baliw talaga Mommy mo 'no? Sana huwag kang gumaya sa kaniya,"

"Hoy! Hindi ko dinala si Dewy for 9 months para lang magmana siya sa Daddy, ha. Dapat sa'kin talaga,"

Kinantahan ko si Dewy at sinasayawan habang kausap si Aezy. For so long, dati, nas stress lang itong si Aezy sa schoolworks. Ngayon, nas stress na siya sa pagiging Nanay.

Nang makatulog ulit si Dewy, nakita ko na lang na nagtext si Yuan.

From: Yuan

Pauwi ka na?

To: Yuan

Almost. You need something, love?

Ilang saglit pa ay nagreply na siya.

From: Yuan

Condo rooftop. I wanna see you, my love.

Nagtagal pa ako ng ilang oras bago nagpaalam kay Aezy. Binigyan ko rin ng gift si Dewy dahil baka sa mga susunod na buwan pa muli ang bisita ko.

I drove all the way to Yuan's condo. I didn't know what he was doing sa rooftop at doon ako pinapapunta. I just thought about him while driving.

I called him nang makarating ako sa parking. "Where are you?" Sumilip ako sa rooftop, pero hindi ko na makita masiyado dahil gabi na.

"Rooftop. Ingat, love," Aniya, parang pagod. Nag-alala naman ako sa kaniya kaya agad akong pumunta ng rooftop. When I pushed the door, sumalubong sa'kin ang isang romantic design na may engrandeng pakulo.

It wasn't our anniversary naman. What is this for?

"Yuan?" I called for his name. Walang tao. Pero, nang makaabot ako sa gitna, he suddenly appeared.

He was wearing his formal suit pa rin, pero parang hindi man siya galing sa trabaho. He still looks fresh af! I had to spread my arms to hug him, pero hindi siya lumapit sa'kin.

Nagtampo ako. "You didn't want to hug me?"

"Wait lang," Tumawa siya. Ilang sandali pa ay tumugtog ang isang familiar na instrumental song sa'kin.

"Giovannah Xyrish Dizon, a.k.a Miss Sungit. Hello there,"

I rolled my eyes na kinatawa niya naman.

"We have been for four years together. Alam mo namang... ever since nag-aaral pa tayo, hinihintay na kita, right? But, I think, this will be the time that I will fail waiting for you, dahil gusto kong maabot na nating dalawa ang finish line natin," He went near me, wearing his smile that he was wearing ever since we met.

"We both... still have priorities, Xynnah. Pero, I just can't... wait to finally ask you this. Araw-araw, binabagabag ako kung kailan ko itatanong 'to sa'yo. Now, it can't wait..." Niluhod niya ang isang binti niya while holding a velvet case. When he opened it, a ring diamond welcomed me.

"Four years may seem to be so early for others. Pero, ang tagal na nating magkakilala. We have surpassed more than 5 years na. We will still take many more years, pero... this time, we'll make it longer pa. Giovannah Xyrish Dizon, can you be a Romualdez? Will you marry me?"

I took a deep sigh. I didn't want to be emotional, baka mamaya ay dumating bigla ang mga ininvite niya. Nakakahiyang umiiyak ako.

Pero, hindi ko na rin napigilan when I said...

"Yes, Yuan. I will marry you," I smiled as tears fell from my cheeks because of too much happiness. Nanginginig ang kamay niyang nilagay sa ring finger ko ang ring, he hugged me after that.

My heart has never been this happier. "I love you, Yuan," I whispered while hugging him.

"I love you more, soon-to-be Mrs. Romualdez. You will always be my strength,"