Stonehearts 6: Alexandrite

Sixteen

I let his words hung over us as I savor this delicate moment. Everything felt surreal, to good to be true. That a guy like him, rich, handsome, great sense of humor, and more is chasing a woman like me.

"Why me? You could get any woman you want. Marami patay na patay sa'yo. Bakit ako? Bakit 'yong babaeng may anak pa ang hinahabol-habol mo?"

He tipped my head up with my chin so I could meet his gaze.

"They are not you, Lex. Like you, I tried dating when frustrations build about me not finding you. But with different faces I see, different personalities I meet, I kept on looking for you in them. It was always you from the very beginning."

I was unable to speak as I got lost in the ocean of his eyes. How did I get so lucky? With shaking hands, I reached up and ran my index finger on his face. He closed his eyes while I traced every corner of perfection that is Gio Eugenio.

"I need more time to think things through. I need more time to convince myself that it is worth risking with you."

He nodded his head, understanding evidently featured on his handsome face.

"I know, wifey. I know." he pressed a long kiss on my forehead then he muttered, "Do you have work tomorrow?"

Napailing ako. "No. Day-off ko."

"That's good. Bukas, I'll be here before nine am to pick you guys up. May pupuntahan tayo."

I looked at him with my brows furrowed with questions, "Saan naman tayo pupunta?"

"We'll leave that for tomorrow, wifey. For now, magpahinga ka na. Galing ka pang trabaho."

Wala akong nagawa kundi sundin ang sinabi niya. Nag-volunteer pa siya na samahan muna si Clyde habang nag-sho-shower ako. I told him it was unnecessary but he just smiled and told me that he wanted to do it so I just let him be.

Hinatid ko siya sa may pinto nang sinabi niya uuwi na siya. Kahit na ayaw ko, ito naman ang tama. I opened it for him and he immediately stepped out into the cold night's air.

"See you tomorrow, wifey."

"See you. Mag-iingat ka."

Nginitian niya ako saka niya inabot ang buhok ko saka inipit iyon sa likod ng tenga ko, "I'll be dreaming of you tonight like I always do for the past nine years."

Wala akong ibang nasagot kundi tango lamang. Ano nga ba ang sasabihin ko pa sa kanya?

"Lock up, okay? Alam ko wala pa ako sa posisyon para magsabi pero hindi ko gusto kung nasaan kayo nakatira ang mag-ina ko. But I promise to take things slow like you asked. So I'll save that for some other time. Again, lock up. Goodnight wifey. Sweet dreams are made of me so dream of me."

With one more knee-melting smile, he left.

Nakailang balikwas ako sa higaan bago ako tuluyang dinalaw ng antok. True to his words, I did dream of him for the first time. I dreamt of him and me being surrounded by kids who calls us mommy and daddy. It was such a nice dream that when my alarm hit off the next morning, I don't want to open my eyes. Then I remembered that Gio will be taking us somewhere today.

Para akong batang excited na bumangon para maghanda. Ginising ko si Clyde at inuna siyang bihisan bago ako naligo at mag-ayos. Wala pang alas-nuebe nang dumating si Gio at nadatnan niya kaming kumakain ng agahan.

"Taytay, good morning!" Magiliw na bati sa kanya ni Clyde saka siya sinalubong ng mahigpit na akap.

He squatted in front of Clyde before returning the hug. "Good morning indeed." he answered mirroring my son's childish smile, "Now, where's my good morning misis?" tawag niya sa akin.

Napakagat ako sa labi ko saka ko siya nginitan, "Good morning. Kumain ka na ba? Sabay ka na sa amin."

Umiling siya saka binuhat ang pagkabigat-bigat na anak ko, "I have had my coffee and bread this morning before I left my house. I'm good."

Hinintay niya kaming matapos kumain at saka magligpit bago kami umalis. Hindi na nga rin ako nagulat nang nakita kong Silver naman na Bentley ang dala niyang sasakyan ngayon.

"Three out of twenty seven." sambit niya sabay kindat sa akin bago niya inalalayan si Clyde sa back seat.

Hinintay ko siyang masara ang pinto bago ko siya tinanong sa bagay na kanina pa ko nangangating itanong, "Saan tayo, Gio?"

He closed in the space between us before giving my nose a pinch, "I want you to know that I am serious about you and Clyde. So today, you're meeting my parents. Clyde is meeting his abuelo and lala."