LOVE is BLIND (ON GOING)

52

"Yeah, sure. Wait for me there." I said then hung up.

Nung makarating ako sa kung nasaan si Vince, yung usapan pa rin naman ni Lily yung naiisip ko. Di ko namalayan na nasa loob na pala ako ng resort.

"Babe? I'm here na." Sabi ko kay Vince nung tinawagan ko siya.

"Punta ka dito malapit sa beach."

Kahit hindi ko alam kung bakit, sinunod ko siya. Pumunta ako sa may dalampasigan.

"Bakit wala atang tao?" I asked Vince na nasa kabilang linya pa rin.

"They all went home." Vince said.

Nang matunton ko na ang dalampasigan, Inikot ko pa ang paningin ko para hanapin si Vince. Lumakad pa ako papalapit hanggang sa nakita ko na siya. Nakatayo sa gitna ng nakapalibot na mga  kandila. May dala siyang bulaklak.

"Babe, what is this?" Takang tanong ko nang makalapit ako sa kaniya.

Inabot niya sa akin ang bulaklak sabay yakap sa akin. Anniversary ba namin? Hindi naman eh. Birthday ko ba? Hindi din naman eh.

"Anong meron?"

Inalalayan niya ako makaupo bago siya umupo sa harapan ko. He's smiling from ear to ear and I can't help but to smile.

"I know you hate surprises but this can't wait." Vince said.

Tapos na't lahat kami kumain, hindi pa rin niya sinasabi kung anong meron. Kinakabahan ako kasi baka mamaya nakalimutan ko kung anong okasyon ngayon.

"Babe, you didn't answer my question. Anong meron?" Tanong ko ulit for the 2nd time.

"Kailangan ba ng okasyon para idate kita nang ganito?"

"Hindi naman. Baka kasi may nakakalimutan akong mahalagang okasyon ngayon. Tapos hindi man lang ako nakapag-ayos. Look what I'm wearing." I said.

Vince giggled. He held my hand from across the table. Tumingin siya ng deretso sa aking mga mata. Naguguluhan ako pero I stared right back at him.

"You look wonderful."

White plain shirt, Denim Jeans, Sneaker. Wonderful?

"Nambola ka pa." I giggled. Tumayo siya sa pwesto niya at lumapit sa akin.

"Can I have this dance?"

I willingly grab his hands and started slow dancing with him. Perfect by Ed Sheeran. Yun 'yung tumutugtog as our background song. The night is perfect, and so this man in front of me.

"Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me."

Sumasabay ni Vince sa pagkanta. I slowly rest my head on his chest as we sway. Inalis ko muna sa isipin ko 'yung mga napagusapan namin ni Lily. As much as possible, I want Vince to occupy my mind para kahit papaano, kalmado.

"Thank you for taking me here. You don't know how much I needed this." I softly said.

"You're welcome, Babe. Anything for you." Sagot ni Vince after giving me a soft kiss on the top of my head.

We stayed in that position for awhile. Tanging agos lang ng tubig sa dagat at 'yung background music namin ang naririnig ko kasabay nang tibok ng puso ni Vince. Kinakabahan ba siya?

"Naalala mo ba 'yung araw na una tayong nagkakilala?" Tanong ni Vince.

"How can I forget that?" I said as those memories made me smile.

"Victoria ran towards me at the airport. Sabi niya her kuya thinks I'm cute." I said as we both laugh.

"Tapos 'yung araw na um-attend tayo ng parents meeting ni Victoria sa school and since wala non si mom and dad, tayong dalawa 'yung pumunta. Napagkamalan pa tayong mag asawa that time." Vince said.

Ang saya makita na habang kinukwento ni Vince yung mga masasayang memories namin together, ang lawak din ng mga ngiti niya. Kung alam lang niya kung gaano ka kaganda pagmasdan 'yung mga ngiti niyang 'yun.

"Jas... I want to create more memories like that with you." Emotional na sabi ni Vince.

"I know my life will never be complete without you beside me to share it. Gusto ko ikaw 'yung una kong makikita paggising ko sa araw-araw. Gusto ko ikaw na 'yung makakasama ko sa habang buhay. You're the only one who understand me more than myself. I want you to be the mother of my children. I want you to be my wife, Jasmin."

And with that, isa-isang naglabasan ang maraming tao. My family, Vince's family, My friends, My manager, Dani Unnie, Rose, Jina and... Lily. She's on her wheel chair habang tulak tulak siya ni Jina. Ang lalawak ng mga ngiti nila. What is happening?

"Babe, what is happening?" Naguguluhan kong tanong kay Vince.

Dahan dahang lumuhod si Vince sa harap ko. May kinuha siyang maliit box sa bulsa niya and he held my hand.

"Jasmin Kim, Mababaliw ako pag nawala ka pa sa akin. Will you be Mrs. Manoban? Will you marry me?"

I was taken aback. For a second, nag hang 'yung utak ko. Hindi ko ma-process lahat ng nangyayari ngayon. Tumingin ako sa mga tao na nasa likuran ni Vince. My mom's smiling from ear to ear while crying. Even Dani Unnie is crying. Rose gave me a thumbs up. All in all, everyone looks happy. Pero bakit hindi ako masaya? Bakit naguguluhan ako? Why am I having second thoughts when in the first place, hindi naman dapat because this is Vince. My boyfriend for almost 4 years. The one who made me the happiest for the past 4 years.

"Hey... can you say something please?"

Tsaka ko lang narealize na nakaluhod pa sa harapan ko si Vince. Walang salita ang gustong lumabas mula sa bibig ko kasi alam ko na kapag nag salita ako, wala nang bawian. I'm confused. Vince's making me confused. This is not right. He should be the one assuring me. I don't know what to do. I searched for someone at the crowd. Nagbabaka sakali na makuha ko sa kaniya 'yung sagot. Nagbabaka sakali na matulungan niya ako.

Lily....

My first love. The first one who broke my heart. The reason why I met Vince. The one that got away.

She's staring right back at me. She smiled at me as she mouthed the words "Be Happy."