Daily Dose of Vitamin C

Chapter 37

xxxvii—

It's like a fairytale. I'm in a ballgown in the middle of plain dressed people. And here he is, knelt down in front of me, showing a beautiful, splendid diamond ring.

"Will you marry me... again? This time... real?"

My jaw literally drop that I had to cover them with my palms. My tears fell just as when he fell on his knees.

Hindi ba banned siya dito sa school? Paano siya nakapasok? Most importantly, of all places, why he chose to propose here?

We got married but he didn't propose back then. Hindi ko nalaman anong feeling ng susuotan ng singsing after saying yes. Nasa I do na kasi kami agad no'n.

"Real naman ang kasal, diba? Hindi lang registered?!" nanginginig ko pang sabi.

Hilaw ang ngiti niya, and I am hearing people here giggling.

"Papakasalan mo ako o hindi?"

Dahil doon at lalong tumili ang mga tao. They are now circling us as if telling anyone who's up above that we are the highlight.

"Yes, Sir Chano!"

Nilahad ko ang kamay ko at nangingig niyang ipinasok sa ring finger ko and singsing. He immediately rise and pulled me for a deep kiss.

Too deep that I almost forgot that we are in school.

We both snap back into reality when someone clears its throat.

"Congratulations, Mr. Vasquez and Ms. Roque. Or shall I say, Mr and Mrs Vasquez?" It's the University President. Is it real??

"Thank you, Madam," si Chano.

Still puzzled on what happens, because this is the exact opposite of what I thought will happen if the secret broke out.

"Invited kami sa wedding, ah! You stole the moment, Mr. Vasquez. Parang kayong dalawa ang naging highlight ng UDays ah!"

Natawa ako roon. Nagkatinginan kami ni Chano na natumatawa rin. Nilapit niya ako sa katawan at saka hinalikan sa aking sentido.

"I love you."

Pansin kong nakatingin parin ang mga estudyante sa amin. Ang iba ay kinukuhanan kami ng litrato o video. Some are smiling, others are frowning.

"Congratulations, Sir Chano and Sierra!"

Napadako ang tingin ko sa mga bumati gamit ang malakas na boses. Sina Mika, Pola, Therese at Mico.

Amidst all the people who wanted to drag you down, there are still some who will cheer you up. We sometimes fail to notice that but I am forever grateful.

Hinayaan ako ni Chano na lumapit sa mga kaibigan ko habang abala siya sa pagkausap sa mga kasama niyang propesor.

"Patingin!" excited na tanong ni Pola nang makalapit ako,

Maski ang mga tao sa paligid ay nakikiusyoso sa singsing ko. Makislap iyon lalo na at gabi, may kabigatan halatang may presyo.

Tingin ko makakasurvive ako ng isang taon ng walang suporta galing kina Chano kapag ipinagbili ko ito. Hehe.

Nilahad ko ang kamay ko sa kanila, hinawakan iyon ni Mika at hinaplos ni Pola ang singsing.

"Cartier? Tiffany?" Usyoso ni Mika. "Harry Winston!"

"Looks expensive. Galing pumili ni Sir Chano ah!" si Therese.

"Well..." sabi ko at saka umikot to prove them magaling talagang pumili ang asawa ko. Inismiran lang nila ako sa aking ginawa.

I look at the ring, ngayon ko palang ito nakita nang masinsinan. It's a beautiful round diamond ring and along its shank are small sparkly diamonds. It glimmers whenever light hits the stones.

♪ Your face... lights up the sky on the highway ♪

Kasabay ng pag umpisa ng kanta ay ang pagtili ng mga tao lalo na sina Mika. Hinanap ko sa paligid si Chano pero hindi ko siya makita. Sa'n nagpunta 'yon?

♪ Someday, you'll share your world with me someday. ♪

Hinila ako ni Mika sa tabi niya at saka ako hinarap sa entablado.

"Oh my gosh!" bulalas ko nang makita ko si Ponciano Vasquez na kumakanta sa stage! He never sang in public! What in the world?

For all I know he never sings in front of a crowd. Noon pa man, kahit na may videoke sa mga family gatherings nila kung saan lagi kaming imbitado ay hindi ko siya narinig kumanta kahit pilitin pa siya. Sa wedding namin ay hindi rin siya kumanta.

Unti now.

Kaya gulat na gulat ako na hawak niya ang mic at siya ang kumakanta. Ang ganda pa ng boses—malamig.

♪ ..but I am losing all control, my mind, my heart, my body and my soul ♪

Ramdam ko ang pagpulupot ng kamay ni Mika sa aking bewang mula sa aking likod. I brush her arm as I continue watching my husband singing.

"Congratulations, girl. Happy ako for you," dinig kong sabi niya.

"Thank you, Miks. Thank you."

♪ Never in my life have I been more sure. So come on up to me and close the door ♪

Chano's looking at me directly, I stared back while he sings. Is this really his first time to sing in public?

Balisong is his favorite song, he's always playing that song. Kaya kapag tumutugtog iyon ay siya agad ang naaalala ko.

He played that when I turned 18. He's one of the 18 roses at iyon ang nirequest niyang kanta noong turn na niya.

♪ Nobody's made me feel this way before. You're everything I wanted and more ♪

Niyugyog ako ni Pola nang pababa si Chano mula sa stage. He looks like a celebrity or he looks more.

He is walking to me whilst singing. Crowd gave way to him. Nang makalapit ay hinapit niya ang bewang ko at saka ako sinayaw habang kumakanta.

"Bakit ang sweet?" tanong ko habang nakapulupot ang kamay ko sa batok niya.

♪ To speak or not to where to begin. A great dilemmas I'm finding myself in ♪

He didnt answer me instead he continued singing.

Damn, ang ganda ng boses.

I felt him handing the mic over to someone at saka niya ako sinubsob sa kanyang dibdib.

Tinuloy ang hindi nadugtungang kanta ni Chano dahil mas pinili niyang isayaw ako.

Sinilip ko ang paligid and I somehow felt relieve when people are now dancing on their own.

"Gisingin mo na ako."

"Silly. This is real."

"Why you did this? I mean, things aren't okay..."

"Things are now okay. Told you to believe me."

"—How?"

He really loves to ignore my questions. Nginitian niya lang ako at saka hinalikan ang noo ko.

"I love you," he whispers.

I hug him tight, "I love you, too."

Oddity of situation made me realize that just exactly when people threw rocks at me, he showed up to give me diamonds.

This is Chano and his timing.