"I'm sorry Sarah," Mr. Geronimo said as they hugged.
"Thank you Dad and I’m sorry too.”
"Don't thank me. Thank this brave young man here."
Kumawala sa pagyakap si Sarah para tumingin sa kasintahan na parang nagtatanong.
"Gerald came to the house and talked to your dad. They had a man-to-man talk. This dinner was his idea," ang sabi ng ina ni Sarah.
Sarah gave Gerald her sweetest smile, which he returned as well.
"So are we going to have dinner or not?" ang tanong naman ni Mr. Geronimo.
Naupo na silang lahat at nagsimula nang mag-order. Naging magaan ang sumunod na mga usapan. At a certain point halos nagmistulang job interview ang naganap - si Mr. Geronimo ang employer at si Gerald ang applicant. Tinanong ng ama ni Sarah kung ano ang mga pinagkaabalahan ng binata ng nakalipas na dalawang taon. Ikinuwento naman ni Gerald kung paano n’ya itinayo ang kanyang dealership.
After dinner, while they were already having coffee, Mr. Geronimo suddenly said, “Isa lang ang pakiusap ko sa ‘yo Gerald.”
Napatingin si Sarah at Mrs. Geronimo sa binata habang nanghihintay ng susunod na mangyayari. “Ano po ‘yun sir?”
“Sana ay mauna muna ang kasal bago ang pagkakaroon ninyo ng anak,” Mr. Geronimo sternly said. “I’m guessing that it is in your plan to marry my daughter.”
Ibinaba ni Gerald ang hawak na coffee cup and reached to hold Sarah’s hand. “Actually po, I have asked her to marry me and she has accepted.”
“That’s good. Don’t worry, I will support you this time.” Gerald silently heaved a sigh of relief. “Kailan n’yo ba binabalak magpakasal?” ang sumunod na tanong ni Mr.Geronimo.
“Kung ako po ang masusunod ay gusto ko po sana ay sa lalong madaling panahon,” ang sagot naman ng binata.
“Sa tingin ko mas gugustuhin ko na rin ‘yan para mapabilis ang pagkakaroon namin ng apo,” ang pagsabat naman ni Mrs. Geronimo.
“Ma, apo agad ang iniisip,” ang paangal na sabi ni Sarah.
“You’re mom is right. Kahit ako man ay sabik na rin magkaroon ng apo.”
“Paano ba ‘yan Babe, outnumbered ka,” ang panunukso naman ni Gerald.
“Bakit anak, meron ka pa bang hinihintay mula kay Gerald? May kailangan pa ba s’yang patunayan sa ‘yo? Hindi ka pa ba ready?” asked Mrs. Geronimo
“Hindi naman po sa gano’n. Syempre hindi naman po biro ang magplano ng kasal. Nakakastress po kung mamadaliin natin.”
“That’s your only problem?” her dad asked. “We’ll hire wedding planners kahit ilan pa para lang hindi ka mahirapan.”
“Daddy, ikaw ba ‘yan? Di ba dati po ayaw na ayaw n’yo si Ge para sa akin? Tapos ngayon kulang na lang po eh ibigay n’yo na ako sa kanya ng walang kahirap-hirap.”
“Anak, noon ‘yon. Now I know what kind of man this guy really is. Any father would dream to have someone like him for a son-in-law.”
“Thank you sir,” ang sagot ni Gerald.
“Hijo, I think it’s time that you call me Daddy.”
Ngumiti si Gerald at sinabing, “Thank you Daddy.”
********
Naunang pumasok ng bahay si Sarah pero di nagtagal ay pumasok na rin ang binata. She was already sitting comfortably on the couch when he came in. Then he sat next to her.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
She leaned her head on his shoulder and said, “I’m so happy. I never thought anyone can be this happy. I never imagined that I can be this happy.”
“Well you better believe it, Babe. It's all happening. And you deserve it. You have a very beautiful soul. You're such a kind and generous person. After all you've been through you remain to be that person."
"Ikaw rin naman, you deserve this kind of happiness."
"And you know what else?"
"No. What?"
"We both deserve to be happy. And now I’ve proven that we deserve each other…. we are meant for each other.”
She smiled and said, “Tamaaaa! Pero Babe, gusto mo na ba agad-agad ‘yung wedding?”
“If it were up to me, I’d want it tomorrow na. Pero there’s still you to consider. So kung kailan ka ready, I’ll take it. Actually it doesn’t really matter kung kailan basta alam ko na akin ka na talaga.”
“Don’t worry Babe, iyong-iyo na ako. Hindi na ako papayag na magkalayo pa tayo ulit.” As she said this, she raised her head to look at him. This was also the same time that he leaned to kiss her head. His lips landed squarely on hers. After the initial kiss, their lips parted a little and both smiled. But this didn’t last long because she reached for him and kissed him again - the kind that teased and urged him to give more.
Hindi na rin napigilan ng binata ang sarili at ibinuhos sa mga halik n’ya ang nagsisimulang init ng katawan. He carefully lifted Sarah to straddle him. When she was positioned on his lap, his hands searched for the end of her shirt. Nang mahanap ito ay dahan-dahan n’yang itinaas ito para tanggalin. Ganito rin ang ginawa ng dalaga, tinanggal ang kamiseta ng kasintahan at inilapag sa tabi nila.
They continue to kiss passionately as his hands explore her upper body and hers are tangled in his hair. Maya-maya pa ay unti-unti nang bumaba ang mga labi ni Gerald - down to her neck, shoulder and chest. As he kissed the upper part of her bosoms, he unlocked her bra to finally release them.
He then slowly lifter her up to reverse their position. Now he was on top. As their heated exchanges of kisses went on, they helped each other remove all the other clothing they had on left. And when both were fully naked, he positioned himself in between her legs and made her feel his hard on.
“I want you now Babe,” he softly said.
“I’m all yours.”
She wraps her legs around his waist as she felt him slowly enter her. Then their love-making began.
It was slow at first… he didn’t wanna hurry… there was no need for that. He wanted to make this beautiful woman before her feel how much he loves her… how much love he can give her. This time he felt it wasn’t about him because all he can think of was how to pleasure her. And as she hears her moan that signified her release, he couldn’t help but smile. He looked her, still with eyes shut, he said to her, “I love you so much Babe. You belong with me. This is how it’s supposed to be.”
“There’s no place I’d rather be. I feel safe and at peace with you. You are right, I belong with you. I love you, too. So much.”
