"Bro, heto na ang mga papeles na pinapapirma mo," sabi ng aking kaibigan habang seryosong nakatuon ang aking mata sa labas ng bintana.
Tanaw na tanaw mo rito ang mga naglalakihang mga gusali na pumapantay sa aming kompanya.
"Just leave it there... by the way, may meeting mamaya, alam mo naman ata," tugon ko at pinaikot ang swivel chair paharap sa kanya.
Nakapamulsang tumango ito at ilang sadali pa ay narinig ko ang ingay ng kanyang sapatos na gumagambala sa tenga ko. Masama ko siyang tinignan at malalim siyang napabuntonghininga.
"My sister is coming..." diretsong sabi niya at nabigla ako roon. "Your ex-fiancé, Taria, is coming."
Agad napaawang ang bibig ko at napakuyom ang aking malapad na mga kamay. Hindi ko inasahan na manggaling 'yon sa kanyang bibig.
"When?"
"Later in the meeting."
"What?" Napatayo ako agad-agad at hinilot ang sintido. "Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi?"
"Eh, ngayon lang tayo nagkita," sarkisto niyang tugon.
Hindi ako mapakali sa sinabi niya. Ramdam ko ang nanlalamig kong kamay at kasabay no'n ang pamumuo ng pawis sa aking batok. Napahimas ako sa kaaahit ko lang na baba.
What should I do? Taria will be at the meeting. She's probably mad at me for leaving her hanging without even giving the amount of love and care she deserved back then.
I'll admit it. I was an asshole back then. I just had an intimate relationship with every girl I dated, except for Taria. It was too late for realizing that I was already falling in love with her.
"Bro, you know how I was an asshole back then... but I will finally get your sister's hand and marry her again," I uttered to him with sincerity coated on my words.
"You have my full support... and this time, make it right," he replied as he came near to me and suddenly tapped my shoulder as soon as he left me inside my office.
I hope the door is still open for me because this time I will make her mine—woman of my life—I wasted years of my life, and now she's finally here. I wish I could go to her easily... but I guess I will be a living heartbreaker for her.
Falling in love with her was complicated. I even tested my love, just to prove that it wasn't just a typical love. The probability of falling in love with her is high and very risky.
I just can't ignore her like she never existed because the day that I met her, the Cupid already shot his arrow through my heart, leaving a paramount of love inside of it.
Her sophisticated and elegant looks never fail to captivate my dark-brown eyes. Her smile is like a ray of sun, keeping me warm every time I see it, plastering on her face.
She brings happiness to the people with her cozy presence. Maybe it was one of the reasons why I fell in love with her. Also, she's a woman of dignity and grace. It always sparks inside of her.
She deserves the greatest amount of love and cares coming from a real man. If I were given a chance, I would be that man—a man who serves home for her woman—every time she feels tired and unsafe outside his range.
If only I could turn back time, I would probably take her hands as we indulge ourselves in our warm embraces. My love for her is like fireworks, bursting out its palette, waiting to paint her life with me.
"Sir, tapos na po ang meeting." Nabigla ako sa sinabi ng aking sekretarya.
Inilibot ko ang aking mata sa kabuuan ng silid. Asan si Taria? Diyos ko! Kailangan kong puntahan siya bago pa mahuli ang lahat.
Kanina pa nagsimula ang meeting at pagkarating ko sa conference room ay siya ang bumungad sa'kin. Hindi ko mapigilang tumingin sa kanya kanina at sa bawat titig ng aking mga mata ay tila wala itong nahagilap na Taria na palagi akong ningingitian sa tuwing magsasalubong na ang aming mga mata.
Parang wala na akong lugar para ipilit pa ang aking sarili sa buhay niya. Subalit hindi ako ipinanganak na Montiverde para sumuko lang nang ganito.
Agad akong tumayo at tumakbo nang mabilis palabas. Agad natanaw ng aking mga mata ang pamilyar na pustora ng isang babae na naglalakad patungo elevator. Napalunok ako sa kaba at nagsimulang tumibok ang aking puso nang kay bilis na kahit anong kalma ko ay 'di ko ito mapigilan.
"Taria..." tawag ko at dahan-dahan siyang lumingon sa'kin na walang bakas ng kasiyahan na makita akong papalapit sa kanya.
Hindi ko na rin mapigilan ang naghahalong emosyon ko at agad kumawala ang munting butil ng luha sa aking mga mata. Alam ng Diyos na gaano ko ito pinangarap, na makita siyang muli at ngayon andito na siya... kaharap ko na.
"Taria... I missed you," anas ko. "I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you. But I will go straightforward this time. For the second time, will you marry me, Taria?" tanong ko nang lumuhod at kinuha ang singsing na matagal ko nang nais ipasuot sa kanya.
Sa ilang segundong paghihintay ay wala akong narinig na sagot sa kanya. Ngunit, hindi pa rin ako nawalan ng pag-asang makamit ang sagot na matagal ko nang hinihintay.
I was waiting patiently while tears kept falling down to my cheeks. I wasn't able to show this side to her. My ego hates to see me, as a man, being vulnerable over a woman. But this time, I really want to be defenseless and just show the genuine side that I wasn't able to show her.
I want to be caressed by her soft hands again. I want to be drowned by her hazelnut eyes in the depth of her soul. I want to be by her side and never leave her hanging again. I just want to be that man, the one who will love her for the rest of our lives.
Suddenly, an enticing beam smile appeared on her lips, and that moment I was sure that I became one of her world.
"I will always be yours, Miggy... so it's always a yes." I finally got her answer!
I immediately crushed my lips to her as I felt the response in her tongue. I didn't even have a glimpse with her face. I just want to feel her right now.
We parted our lips, catching our own breath. I bent my head and rested my forehead against her. I can still smell the same fragrance of perfume she always uses—the one that I gave to her as my first birthday gift, and it suits her well.
"I love you, Taria!"
"Let's make this story a happy ending," she replied as I plunged my lips again to her.
Finally, I'm going to marry this woman, and my heart finds it one missing piece. Taria, my soon-to-be wife, I love her so much!
