Narration
"Ma'am Shia, may naghihintay po sa inyo sa labas!" Manang Rita knocked. I opened the door.
"Sino daw po?" I asked her.
"Noah daw po, ma'am. Ang gwapo po niya!" Kinikilig na sabi ni Manang. I laughed when I heard what she said.
"Boyfriend mo 'yon, ma'am?" Kinikilig pa siya habang nakatingin sa akin.
I chuckled and rolled my eyes. "Hindi po, kaibigan lang." Sagot ko sa kaniya.
Nakita kong hindi naniniwala si Manang sa sinabi ko, nanliliit pa ang kaniyang mga mata na parang iniimbestigahan ako.
"Totoo nga po! Kaibigan ko lang 'yon." Tumatawang sabi ko sa kaniya.
"Wala naman po akong sinabi na hindi, ma'am. Masyado po kayong defensive." Pang-aasar niya pa. Tinawanan ko nalang ang mga sinasabi niya.
"Mauna na po ako, manang. Baka naghihintay na 'yon." Paalam ko sa kaniya.
"Mag-iingat ka, ma'am." She smiled at me. I smiled back.
"Thank you po." I mouthed.
Wala ngayon sila mommy, daddy at ang bruha kong ate. Lumabas silang tatlo at hindi na ako sumama dahil alam ko namang hindi ako mage-enjoy doon.
Napaayos ng tayo si Noah nang makita ako. Binuksan niya ang pintuan ng front seat. Sumakay na ako at agad din siyang naglakad papunta sa driver's seat.
"Your seatbelt." He pointed the seatbelt. Kinuha ko ito at isinuot.
"Saan tayo pupunta?" I asked him.
He looked at me while driving, "In my favorite place." He uttered.
"Favorite place?" I was confused.
"You'll see later," he smiled.
Minutes had passed and we already arrived. I saw the sunset at the end of the cliff. The beautiful place was covered with trees and flowers that makes the place look comfy and beautiful.
This place was breathtaking.
"Halika, ipapakilala kita sa kaniya." Hinila niya ako papunta sa malaking puno.
"Ha? Kanino?" Hindi siya sumasagot at patuloy pa din sa paghila sa akin. "Hoy! May multo ba dito?" Kinakabahan na tanong ko sa kaniya.
He chuckled at my statement.
"Hi mom!" Pinagpag niya ang isang puting lapida malapit sa puno.
Raiella Nica Rivera-Sarmiento
November 5, 1969 - October 10, 2012
"It's been a long time, ma..." He looked sad right now.
"I'm with my favorite person, ma. I want you to meet Shia Alcazar." He looked at me and smiled a bit.
"Hello po, uhm... T-tita." I stuttered a bit. "Nice to meet you po." Kinausap ko din ang lapida ng mama niya.
"She has a cancer... Leukemia. She died when she was 25 years old. She's too young." He said.
"I know this sounds cheesy pero sabi niya kapag nakita ko na ang babaeng gusto ko dapat dalhin ko 'to sa kaniya..." He mumbled.
Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya.
"Mom, this is the girl I want to be with." He whispered.
Tumingin siya sa akin pagkatapos sabihin 'yon. His eyes are full of emotions right now. He's talking to me using his expressive eyes.
"In front of my mom... I want to ask your permission. Can I court you?" He asked softly.
I was dumbfounded. I didn't know what to say. It was as if my lips were zipped.
"Hey, shia? Alam kong sobrang bilis masyado. Kaya ko namang maghintay kahit ilang taon pa but I will respect whatever your decision is." He told me. His eyes were telling me that everything he said were true.
"I'll think about it... I don't know what to say," I stuttered a bit.
"I understand." He smiled genuinely.
