Stonehearts 2: Amethyst

Thirty Seven

Naputol ang halik namin ng may narinig kaming pito ng pulis. Napalingon kami at nakakita kami ng dalawang naka-uniporme na lalake papalapit sa amin. "Ma'am, Sir, bawal ho rito yan. Sa ibang lugar niyo na lang po gawin." Tugon nung isa.

We stood up, sniff-laughing. Too engrossed with the bliss. Chance held my hand tight. Tighter than the usual. Parang nagsasabi na hinding-hindi na siya bibitiw. "Saan sila dad? Nakaalis na?" He asked, huminto siya sa paglalakad at lumingon sa akin.

Inabot niya ang pisngi ko at pinunasan ang mga luhang andoon pa. "H-hindi pa. 9:30 pa flight namin." Sagot ko.

"Can you lead me to them? May sasabihin lang ako sa kanilang importante." He said grinning. I got a glimpse of his boyish side again, I missed it too.

My heart is pounding like crazy as we make our way back to where I was moments ago. Marami akong naiisip. Ano kaya yung importanteng sinasabi niya? At paano niya nalaman na andito ako sa airport? Wala naman akong nabanggit sa kanya na kahit na ano.

Si Tito Matt ang unang nakakita sa akin, ngumuso siya saka sabay sabay na lumingon sila daddy.

"Ang bilis mo naman natunton ang batang ito." Biro ni dy ng nalapitan na namin sila. Ngumisi lang si Chance bago nagmano.

"Actually sabay naming natunton ang isa't-isa dad." Sagot niya. He gazed at me again. There was something else in his eyes but I can't seem to fathom what it is. He brought my hand to his lips, planting a kiss there making my whole body melt. Making my mind forget all the wandering thoughts about him.

Saka siya bumitaw at humarap ulit sa tatay ko. "Sir," Then he laughed nervously while rubbing his nape. "I know this is the first time I called you Sir again. But umm, I-I may have let your only baby cry. I hurt her hindi lang po minsan, pero maraming beses na sa maikling tanan ng pagkakakilala namin." Kabadong tugon niya.

Sandali siyang huminto at lumingon sa akin. Si daddy at sila Tita naman, nakikinig lang. "Pero kahit ano pong mangyari hinding-hindi ko siya iiwan. I will go through bad times with her rather than spending the best there is in life alone. I would gladly have cold nights just as long as I am cozied up with her warmth. I promise to laugh with her, cry with her, and most importantly grow old with her." Saka siya lumuhod. He knelt on one knee infront of my daddy.

I heard Tita Jam and Tita Wil gasping with teary eyes, while Tito Matt tapped daddy's shoulder before grinning from ear to ear. "Sir Enrique, before you go. I would like to formally ask your daughter's hand in marriage."

Sandaling huminto ang mundo ko. Please tell me this is not a dream. My heart is erratically pounding in my chest as I started heaving. My knees turning to Jell-Os, my tears pouring again. Hindi pa rin sumasagot si Dy, nakatitig lang siya ng mabuti kay Chance. Napapansin ko na ang mga butil ng pawis na namumuo sa mukha ng boyfriend ko.

Then daddy chuckled. Medyo kabado ang tunog nun pero halata mo ang kasiyahan. "Chance hijo, hindi naman ako ang papakasalanan mo. Baka gusto mong ang anak ko ang tanungin mo." Ani ni dad.

Chancellor mirrored daddy's laughter bago siya tumayo at lumuhod ulit sa pangalawang pagkakataon. Naging sentro ulit kami ng atensyon sa airport. "Amorr Amethyst, in the short period of time I have learned to love who you are and who you are yet to come. And with everything that I am, I promise to love you unconditionally, without second thoughts and hesitations. I will be gratified if you choose me and have a family with me, to build a home filled with learning, love, and laughters. Please make me the happiest man that ever lived earth. Please choose me as the man you would want to spend the rest of your life with. Please marry me."

Inilabas niya ang isang singsing na galing sa bulsa ng PJs na suot niya. It was a heart shaped ring made out of silver (?)/white gold (?). I don't know. But it was enormous.

Naramdaman ko ang nanlalamig niyang kamay habang hawak yung akin. Nagpapawis pa nga. Pero di ko na alam kung kaninong pawis na yun dahil parehas kaming dalawa na kinakabahan. "Mahal? Umm...Papakasalan mo ba ako?" Muling tanong niya, his throat bobbing a couple of times as we gaze into each other's eyes.

Wala naman akong ibang gusto din, kundi ito rin. Ang makasama siya buong buhay ko. I nodded slowly. Saka niya isinuot sa akin ang singsing bago siya tumayo at umakap sa akin ng mahigpit. Kissing me on the side of my face. The crowd inside the airport cheered for us. Some even greeted us with the same excitement.

Saka kami lumapit kila daddy. I hugged him again, ngayon naiintindihan ko na kung bakit niya pinigilan ang kasal namin ni Cael dati. Kung mothers know best para sa iba, sa akin daddy knows best dahil siya lang naman ang nag-iisa kong magulang.

"Pagkabalik ko, saka natin paguusapan ang kasal." Tumango kami ng sabay ni Chance, he has his arms wrapped on my waist. A few moments later narinig na namin ang pag-page sa flight nila. "Sige na, magiingat kayong dalawa. At ang apo ko, 'wag papabayaan okay?"

"Yes dy." Sagot ko. Obviously too happy. Hanggang two words lang ang kaya kong banggitin.

Hinintay naming makaalis mismo ang airplane na sinakyan nila dy bago kami tuluyang umalis. Chance brought his Maserati with him, tuwang-tuwa pa nga siya na isinakay sa loob yung maletang dala ko sabay sabing ikakandado niya daw ang cabinet ko para hindi ko na raw siya malayasan.

He was holding my hand while he drives, kissing it once in a while. Minsan yung singsing na binigay niya ang hinahalikan niya. I turned to face him, loving the highlights on his face given by the street lights.

"Mahal, paano mo nalaman na nasa airport ako?" I asked out of curiosity.

Nilingon niya ako sabay ngiti bago niya ibinalik ang tingin niya sa daan. "Kay Cael, nagpunta kasi ako sa condo niya. I was actually begging him to give you back to me. Saka niya sinabi na hindi naman daw talaga kayo magkakabalikan, and he said if I wanted to stretch my chances out of getting you back puntahan kita sa airport ngayon na dahil paalis ka na. Damn, that was the scariest shit you have ever done..Don't do that ever again Love.." He said, his voice draining to grief.

"I'm sorry..I was just too angry at you.. Sorry mahal."

He again looked at me before he kissed the back of my hand again. "Ako dapat ang may ipag-pasorry sa iyo mahal. Marami akong kailangang ipaliwanag sa iyo-"

"Chance bukas na yan. Handa naman akong pakinggan, pero bukas na." I said, hindi pa ako ready na mapalitan ang sayang nadarama ko. Nagloko man siya o hindi, hindi ko pa rin naman siya iiwan. Pero wag muna ngayon, bukas na lang. Marami pang araw para sa eksplanasyon niya. "Yun lang ba ang sinabi ni Cael sa iyo?" Muling tanong ko.

Tumango siya, "Yup, pretty much. Bakit may iba pa ba siyang dapat na sabihin?"

I moved my right hand to my little tummy, loving the flutter made by the thousands of butterflies there, or maybe made by our baby who's all comfy inside.

"Sa iyo itong dinadala ko. Anak mo ito." Bigla siyang napatapak sa break. I heard his car screeching before it came to a sudden stop. Buti na lang naka-seat belt kaming dalawa.

"Chance naman!" Suway ko na may inis. Pero napawi yun ng bigla niya akong akapin at hinalikan sa may noo. 

"Anak ko talaga 'to! I knew it! I felt it!" Masayang tugon niya sabay himas sa tiyan ko.

"Wala namang nangyari sa amin ni Cael simula ng nakilala kita. Ikaw lang naman talaga Chance." Sagot ko sa kanya, his eyes flicker with love, I was lost in it.

"Minsan talaga, ibibigay lahat sa iyo ng hiling mo." He said before he pulled me for a kiss.