Richard Faulkner, Jr. and Madeline "Dei" Mendez have been best friends since college, with a hint of something more in between. Theirs is a romance that never quite made it, and decided the friendship was too precious, and dedication to their craft...
"Thank you for the gifts, Jay. How'd you get to pick such pretty gifts?"
"I asked Kat to help me with them when you and Inggo were talking. The earrings were her idea."
"I love all of them. Thank you."
They had breakfast at a nearby roadside restaurant, shopped for a few souvenirs to take home. They took selfies together like normal tourists, had lunch at the Inn and went back to their room to rest.
"This is the life no? Kain tulog hahahaha."
"Well-deserved break. You want to try the Onsen now?"
His voice dropped several decibels as he said that. She felt warm all over, remembering their conversation about this trip.
"Ok. I'll.......get ready."
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There were traditional Japanese Kimono for them both, complete with Obi. They wore them after the shower and went outside to take photos of each other. At some point, Richard took her to a wooden bench and sat her down against the greenery, admiringly snapping photos of her.
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"Jay, enough na, I look terrible with wet hair."
"Of course not. This is how I want to see you whenever I remember you about this trip."
"Bakit parang ang lungkot naman nung sinabi mo?"
"This trip is very significant for us, Dei. What I am about to do will either make or break me."
He pocketed his phone and took out the Pandora pouch he asked to be opened later.
"Before you put that in your bracelet, I need to tell you something."
He sat beside her and took her hand. His hands were cold and he looked nervous. She suddenly got scared with all the nostalgic things they were doing, as though they were building memories to store for later.
"Jay, are you breaking up with me?"
"What gave you that idea? No, baby. Senti lang ako today, please humor me."
"What is all this about then?"
"I don't know how to tell you Dei. I don't know where to start. Kinakabahan ako."
"Tell me what?"
"I prepared a speech and rehearsed it in my mind, over and over. Now that we're here, I'm......wait. Ganito na lang. Please open the pouch now."
She opened to find a charm resembling a heart-shaped jewelry box with a ring inside it. She felt her heart race, tears water her eyes.
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"Jay.........is....is this what I think it is?"
"Baby, if you like the idea of this charm, we'll put it in your bracelet to mark this day that you agree to become my wife soon. Natatakot ako kung ready ka na. I don't want to be selfish, there's that movie and all the fans, I know. Pero in the midst of all that, I want to marry you. I want to see you sign your name with Faulkner at the end. Pero kung hindi ka ready, I will understand. Itago na lang natin yung charm and bring it out pag ready ka na."
He took a velvet box from his pocket and opened it to reveal an emerald cut engagement ring set in gold.
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"Dei......I bought this ring with the eternity ring I gave you when we were in Evanston. Noon pa lang, I already set in my mind that you are my end game. There's no other woman I'd like to spend the rest of my life with. Will.....will you marry me?"
She was already crying even before he opened the box. It was like her life flashed before her eyes. A montage of events, from the time she met him and got kissed that very first day, to their split-up, reconciliation, the many instances he proved he loved her. The answer was inevitable.
"Yes, Jay. I don't deserve you but I swear, I will try to be the best wife ever."
She pulled him closer and kissed him. Forehead to forehead they took a deep breath and wiped each other's tears. She gave him her left hand and watched as he slid the ring through her left ring finger, which now sported two rings.
"Baby, let's put the charm on my bracelet."
And so her Pandora now sported four charms, her left ring finger, two rings. On the day she turned twenty-five, Dei felt her life was complete.
