Lost Stars (Working Title)

Chapter 2

Vince

"Hello Ace, plantsado na ba ang lahat?" Tanong ko kay Ace pagkasagot nya ng telepono.

"Naku bossing ilang beses mo na ko tinawagan para itanong yan. Okay na ang lahat. Kayong dalawa na lang ang kulang so relax ka lang." Sagot nya.

"Sige sige, thank you. Bye." And I ended the call.

Andito ako ngayon sa airport to pick up Celine. Today is our anniversary at ngayong araw din ako magpopropose sa kanya. Kaninang umaga pa talaga ako di mapakali. Ewan ko kung dahil sa excitement or sa kaba.

Napangiti ako ng makita ko na syang papalapit sakin. God, she's beautiful. With her long, jet black hair, expressive eyes and a gorgeous face, kahit sino talaga mababato pag tinitigan sya. She's just perfect.

I met Celine 4 years ago. It was in a café at bangag ako nung araw na 'yon. Sa sobrang pagka absent-minded ko umupo ako sa table nya at ininuman yung kape nya, pagka-angat ko ulo ng ko, I saw her shocked, beautiful face. Tumayo sya agad tsaka nag-iwan ng 20-dollar bill sa table, akala nya yata homeless ako. Tangina hiyang-hiya ako nun. I really creeped her out.

On the next day, nagkita ulit kami. This time, it was on the launch party of the bar and restaurant which is a partnership between our company and of Miller's which operates a chain of gourmet restaurants. Anak pala sya ng may-ari ng Miller's. We were both surprised at wala akong mukhang ihaharap sa kanya non. We were introduced to each other by her mom and my mom. Napansin nya yatang ilang ako so she initiated the conversation. She was so sweet at tawang-tawa kaming dalawa nung napagkwentuhan namin yung nangyari sa café the day before.

We quickly became friends and fast forward to almost a year, I decided to ask her to be my girlfriend and the rest is history.

The years that were together has been the happiest time of my life. She never fails to make me feel that I am the luckiest guy on earth. I can't imagine my future without her by my side.

Looking back, it feels like it's destiny that brought us together.

I waved my right hand nung medyo malapit na sya sakin. Kahit ang simple lang ng suot nya, talagang angat na angat ang ganda nya. Contrary to her job, napaka-simple lang sya mananit and that says a lot about her personality. She's a very sweet and caring person. Hindi din sya maarte kaya di mo aakalaing tagapagmana sya ng isang malaking family-owned business. Siguro dahil na rin sa humble din yung mom nya na Filipino din. And that's one of the many things that I love so much about her.

"Hi babe, how's your flight? I've missed you." Sabi ko sa kanya ng makalapit sya sakin sabay halik sa pisngi nya ng mabilisan.

"The flight was fine. I've missed you too babe." Sagot nya.

"Happy anniversary." Sabi ko and I handed her the bouquet of flowers na bitbit ko.

"Happy anniversary babe." Sagot nya na may malawak na ngiti.

"Let's have dinner? I've already made a reservation."

"Alright, gutom na din ako. Wait lang, asan pala yung surprise mo sakin?" Sabi nya na parang may tampo sa tono sabay pout ng lips nya. Ang cute din talaga ng mahal ko. Hehe.

"That's for later, and stop pouting your lips or else hahalikan ko talaga yan." I smirked and winked at her. Namula sya bigla. Haha.

"Ikaw talaga, tara na nga."

We headed straight to the place where Ace set everything up. It's in an observation deck of a building with a perfect view of the Manhattan Skyline. I must say, Ace really did a great job in putting it all together. Magaling nga ang gago. Haha.

"Vince ang ganda-ganda naman dito. I've never been here before. I really love your surprise." Celine said in awe. Her eyes could literally outshine all of New York's night lights.

"Only the best for you babe. Pero hindi pa to yung surprise ko. Mamaya pa yun." I winked at her which made her blush.

"Vince ah yang kapilyuhan mo nanaman." Sabi nya na pulang-pula pa din.

"Seryoso nga. Hahaha. Tara kain na tayo." I guided her to the table which has been fully set.

Napaka-romantic ng atmosphere may kung anu-anong mga decorations and flowers sa buong deck. Meron ding string quartet na nagsimula na ding tumugtog. Mukhang ilang araw na worth ng inuman ang hihinging kapalit ni Ace sa favor na to ah.

We finished eating and this is the moment I have been waiting for. Tangina sobrang kabog na ng dibdib ko. Lumapit samin yung waiter na may dalang platter with a cover. This is my cue. The waiter lifted the cover pagkalapag nito sa mesa, and on the platter is a velvet lined small box with a diamond ring nestled in it. Tumayo na ko at pumunta sa kabilang side ng table malapit kay Celine. Bakas sa mukha ng mahal ko ang confusion at ako naman parang sasabog na sa kaba ang dibdib ko.

I grabbed the box and fished out the ring then I knelt before her.

"Babe, I love you so much..." my voice shaking, but I summon all of my strength to continue. "You are the reason why I always strive to be a better person and I can't imagine a future without you by my side. I know from the moment I saw you that you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. Celine Miller, will you marry me?" I feel so much emotion inside of me right now.

With her hands on her mouth, surprise is evident on Celine's face.

"Of course I will marry you Vince Madrigal. I love you so much babe." She answered with tears in her eyes. I'm almost on the brink of crying.

Sinuot ko sa kanya ang singsing, and he hugged me so tight. Di ko na din mapigilan maluha. This is the most magical moment of my life and I can't wait to see what the future holds for the both of us.