A Summer to Remember

Epilogue

1 year later...

By the way, Marco's gift was a silver charm bracelet, with hearts, and flowers on it. On its center, the main pendant is a watch.

Kakatuwa no? Parang destiny lang? He came unexpectedly at the right place, at the right time. The question is, siya na nga kaya talaga? Is Marco the one?

The day after my 19th birthday, niyaya ako ni Marco na itour siya sa resort. He seems really eager to meet me, kaya pumayag naman ako. When Daniel learned that Marco asked me to tour him, hindi pa nga kami nakasakay sa Vespa ko, hinarang na niya si Marco. Their conversation went like this:

Marco: Daniel, what's up?

Daniel: And just what do you think you're doing?

Marco: What?

Daniel: Oh, may pa what what ka pa diyan ha. Don't you ever hurt Janine!

Marco: Hey, who's hurting who? Mamamasyal lang kami. And if that's what's worrying you, I'll never ever hurt Janine.

Daniel: Okay, mabuti nang malinaw pare!

Kaya yun, when I heard him say that he will never ever hurt me with strong conviction, I believed him right away.

I like Marco. They're really opposites, sila ni Daniel. He's evidently a gentleman, he's soft and he's always sure sa mga ginagawa niya. There was never a dull moment with him. AND he's 100% not taken. He's never afraid to make mistakes, unlike Enrique. Teka si Enrique nga pala humabol the day after my birthday, sa araw na yun din nila inannounce ni Rhea na sila na. So everybody's happy.

On the third day bumalik na sila ng Manila ni Daniel, and I didn't really expect something from him. But right after they arrived in Manila he called me. Tapos yun he told me he likes me. Sinabi niya rin ang real reason niya for going with Daniel sa resort.

Sabi niya, his dad is the VP for Star Records, since he heard a song that I composed, naramdaman niya ang bawat emotion na nandun, and he wanted to meet who wrote it and why. Sabi niya if I'll only give him a chance, he'll erase all the sad memories that  I have. Sabi pa niya he'll make me happy. Actually with everything he said, what really convinced me is the reason kung bakit niya ako binigyan ng watch.

He gave me that watch, kasi from the time that he made me wear it, he promised himself to make me happy from that moment and on. Natouch naman ako. He was just what I was looking for.

Every moment with him is magic. Hindi man naging akin si Daniel, I got the chance to be happier naman. The kind of happiness that I know will linger, that I know will stay, forever. Well, sana forever.

Ngayon nga eh, 1 year na ang nakalipas na he was constantly courting me, I finally decided to tell him I love him too.

"Hoy Janine! Grabeee na yang iniisip mo ha! Let's enjoy the water!" tawag ni Nathan sa akin. Nasa beach kami ngayon ng resort, we all decided to close down the resort for a day to enjoy it for ourselves.

"Oo nga. Madadapa si Marco niyan sa kakaisip mo sa kanya." dugtong ni Daniel. Nagdecide sina Daniel at Kath na pumunta sa resort para sa 1 week vacation nila. May upcoming movie kasi sila eh, kasali sa bonus nila ang 1 week vacation before the shooting. Ako nga ang kakanta ng theme song nila eh.

Lulusong na sana ako sa tubig when I saw Marco coming, kakarating niya lang, paano nagshooting pa kasi sila para sa grand finale nila ng Luv U. Narinig niya siguro ang mga panunukso nila Nathan at Daniel kaya nagdrama siyang parang nadadapa siya. Tumawa naman ako.

"Grabe Janine, Wag mo na nga akong isipin. Pagod na kasi ako sa kakatakbo diyan sa isipan mo eh." pagkasabi ni Marco nun, kinindatan niya ako. Everyone teased us more. Gusto ko mang itago ang pagkakilig ko sa moment na to, I can't. I can't stop myself from smiling.

"Eh di wag na kitang isipin, sayang mahal…" muntik na akong madulas. I put my hands on my mouth to stop myself. Agad naman siyang tumakbo papunta sa harap ko.

"Anong sayang?" tanong niya, now in a serious tone.

"Wala… Maligo na nga tayo!" sabi ko sa kanya. Tatakbo na sana ako, but ang dali niyang nahawakan ang braso ko.

"Ano ngang sayang!" pilit niya. Napakaserious ng expression ni Marco, but he's still cute. All I want to do at that moment was to kiss him.

"Hmmp! Ano nga yung tinatanong mo sa akin the other day?" tanong ko sa kanya, giving my sweetest smile to him and him only.

When I asked him that, he smiled again, then he held me closer.

"You mean?" tanong niya, with that toothpaste commercial smile of him. Ang sarap niyang halikan.

"Ano?" painosente kong tanong sa kanya.

"I love you Janine. I hope mahal mo narin ako. Do you love me too?" He asked me. He was waiting for my answer. Matagal kong pinag-isipan to, and I think I'm making the right decision. I was never sure of myself until now.

"I was expecting a more dramatic proposal from you Marco! Pero.. Yeah, I love you too Marco. I love you." Hindi ko na siya pinaghintay pa. He hugged me tight, the he looked at me. Dahan dahang lumapit ang mukha niya sa mukha ko. I closed my eyes, then I felt his lips on mine. It was a soft kiss. And I think it will be the sweetest kiss that I will ever taste.

After we kissed, tumalon talon siya at sumugod kina Daniel at Nathan sa dagat. Then yun na I heard everybody applaud and congratulate him. Dumako ang mga mata ko kay Nathan, he was busy congratulating Marco, then he and Jen kissed. Nakita ko rin ang pagtingin ni Daniel sa akin, nag thumbs up siya, I smiled at him. Hinanap naman niya si Kath and hugged her.

When I layed my eyes on Marco, he smiled at me and whispered I love you on the air, with matching hand signal pa. I threw him a kiss in the air.

With Daniel and Kath, the rest of my friends, and now with Marco, I'm sure the rest of my summers will never be the same again!

***

Thanks for reading!