It had to be YOU.

12

TILA hindi nakikiaayon ang panahon sa kanya nang araw na iyon. The sun was up but she was feeling really gloomy. Sinamahan niya ang mga kapatid sa dance studio but she didn't feel like teaching. Nakatambay lang siya sa office, reading a book.

Sa sobrang pagkaabala sa pagbabasa ay hindi na niya napansing nakapasok na pala ang isa niyang estudyanteng si Aina, hawak ang isang papel.

"Hey, Aina. What's that?" she tried to smile at her student, but something's keeping her from doing it. Rohann.

"Teacher, pinapabigay po nung lalaki sa labas." she handed her the small paper and then went out of the room. She read the little note and just felt her heart skipped a beat.

Please see me out of the studio. When we're meant to be, we're meant to be. Right?

Dali dali siyang lumabas ng opisina at nagpunta sa may entrance ng dance studio, only to make her disappointed. So joke lang pala 'to? Naiinis na sabi niya sa sarili. I'm going to beat the shit out of you, Rohann Madrigal! Paasa ka! She sat down the porch and sighed. "Kahit kailan ka talaga, Rohann. Napakasama mo." She was almost crying. Dala yata ng sobrang pagmamahal niya sa binata ay nakikita niya ito kahit saan. Then something caught her attention. Those are pictures!

Lumapit siya at nakita ang mga pictures nilang dalawa na nakasabit sa sa puno ng mangga. She saw their pictures, mga kinunan ni Rohann sa kung saan saan. He loves taking pictures of them together at inilalagay nito iyon sa isang album. And then she heard one of her favorite songs playing on the background.

She saw Aina walking towards her with a bouquet of peonies, her favorite flower.

Then came out another student, Jaimee, holding a box of cadbury dairy milk chocolates on both hands. Iniabot nito ang mga chocolates sa kanya at ngumiti ng pagkatamis tamis.

Then she saw him walking out towards her direction but then he stopped. Gustong gusto na niya itong lapitan at yakapin ng mahigpit pero parang may pumipigil sa kanya. But then she heard him speak.

"Sabi nila, kapag mahal mo ang isang tao, matatakot kang sumugal. Magiging greatest fear mo na ang mawala siya sayo, magiging duwag ka na. Kaya minsan, kahit hindi mo gawain ang magsinungaling, magagawa mo na para lang masiguro mo na mananatili siya sa tabi mo. And that's what I did. I deeply regret that, Louise. I know that you're really hurt. But I won't give up on you. Not now, not ever."

Lumapit na ito sa kanya at hinaplos ang mukha niya. He was cupping her face lovingly, ingat na ingat ito na tila siya isang babasagin.

"Rohann, I have to tell you something." Nangunot ang noo nito. "What is it?"

"I'm engaged too."

"Oh.."

"So ganyan lang reaksyon mo? Wala ka man lang sasabihing iba?"

"The guy's lucky."

Tila nalaglag ang panga niya. Tears are starting to fall on her face. Hindi iyon ang reaksyong hinihintay niya.

"Alam kong mapapaligaya ka niya, Louise. He can give you happiness. Diba iyon naman ang gusto mo?"

"But I want you."

Nginitian siya nito. "Really? Paano na yung fiancé mo?"

"I backed out. I told my dad that I don't want to be engaged with him. May mahal na akong iba."

"So you don't want to be engaged with me?"

Naguluhan siya sa sinabi nito. "What?"

"I'm your fiancé, Louise."

Gusto niyang sumigaw ng mga oras na iyon. This is so good to be true! "Enlighten me, Madrigal. Medyo loading pa ako eh."

She heard him chuckled. Hinapit siya nito at pinagdikit ang mga ilong nila.

"You know what, pretty lady, I wasn't really looking for happiness and love. Akala ko masaya na ko sa trabaho ko. But then you started sending notes. Nung una, naiinis ako. Akala ko katulad ka ng ibang fans na sobrang kulit. There are instances that I've received marriage proposals. Nang itatapon na sana namin ni Jen yung mga sulat, nakita ko yung isang note mo. And then it inspired me to do better. Kasi may isang fan pala ako na nakakaappreciate ng ginagawa ko."

"And then I started to look and wait for your notes. Nakaipon lahat yun sa bahay, sa isang box sa kwarto ko. Diba sinabi ko sayong hahanapin ko yung nagpapadala nun? But then my dad talked to me and told me I was engaged. Nagalit ako. Tinapos ko lahat ng commitments ko and asked for a vacation. Kim was more delighted because for the past 9 years, puro ako trabaho. Kaya napadpad ako sa Olympus Garden Village."

"And then I met you. Nagulat ako kasi nakita ko yung Serendipitea, na paborito kong tambayan kapag wala akong ginagawa. Lagi akong nasa Alabang branch. That's why I asked you about this before. And yun nga, I fell in love with you."

"Mas naging masaya ako nang malaman kong ikaw din ang nagpapadala ng letters sa akin. Fate brought us together, my love. Our parents arranged our engagement. Hindi din nila sinabi sa akin kung sino ang babaeng pakakasalan ko. They said I would meet her soon pero umalis ako ng bahay. Nalaman ko lang nung umuwi ako after we talked in front of your house. Kasama ng parents ko ang parents mo sa bahay namin. Sasabihin ko sana kay daddy na uurong na ako, pero naunahan niya ko. He said that my fiancée's parents are there. At nandoon nga ang parents mo."

Napatulala siya sa napakahabang monologue nito. It was destiny! "Wow. That was something. So all the while, nagselos ako sa sarili ko? I should have known! Para tuloy akong tanga. Iiyak iyak pa ko."

He laughed, "Parehas lang tayo. At least we're still together, right? At sinabi ko naman sa'yo, I won't give up on you. Not now, not ever."

She smiled at the thought, "Yeah. And you know what, my most embarassing moment was with you."

Nangunot muli ang noo nito sa sinabi niya. "What? When was that?"

She would never ever forget that moment of her life. Embarassing and unforgettable. "I was eating twister fries sa Serendipitea Alabang when I choked hard. Nabulunan ako. Nakakahiya nga eh. Pero may lalaking nag.abot sa akin ng tubig at hinagod ang likod ko."

She saw him smile sincerely, "It was me." anito.

She nodded and smiled. Hinapit siya nito at masuyong hinalikan sa mga labi.

Pinakawalan nito ang mga labi niya ngunit nanatili silang magkayakap.

"We haven't really met yet, right? I'm Rohann Madrigal, your fiancé. How about you, Ms. Pretty Lady?"

Napangiti siya sa mga sinabi nito. "Louise Burgos-Fontanilla, your fiancée."

Muli ay hinalikan nito ang mga labi niya. She then knew that they would start spending their lives together, in the midst of forever.