Amara's POV
"Happy birthday!!!!" Yan na naman silaaaaaa. Rinig ko na agad sila Calli at Alex. Tandem yan eh. Kapag nandyan si Calli, hindi pwedeng wala si Alex. It's Thursday and i don't know what time it is.
Biglang natahimik. Nagtulog-tulugan ako pero nakabukas yung isang mata. Hahahaha. Ang gulo. Then may isang magaling na nagbukas ng blinds ng window eh dun pa naman ako nakaharap. Nakakasilaw!!!
"Good morning." Napadilat ako kasi sobrang lapit sa mukha ko nung nagsabi nun. Medyo napaatras pa nga ako eh.
"Ehhhh. Gusto ko pang matulog." I said to them. Nasa harap ko si Alex at nasa likuran ko si Calli. Ganito kami every morning. Hayyyy.
"Nope, it's your birthday today so we should celebrate!" Alex said while he's carefully pulling me to get up. Nagpapabigat ako pero nahila niya pa rin ako. Hahaha.
"Selfieeee!!! First picture of another year for mommy!" We all smiled at the camera that Calli is holding.
"Magready ka na. We're gonna have a family date." Alex said then they left the room. Pero binuksan niya ulit at sumilip.
"And wear a dress." Pahabol niya then he closed the door.
I went to the bathroom para mag-ayos na ng sarili. After 10 minutes, i'm all done. I just have to dry my hair and maglalagay lang ako ng light make up. Hindi ko rin naman alam kung saan kami pupunta.
I went to my closet and naghanap ako ng dress. Ano bang pwede? I think i'll just wear this one. It's a dark blue dress na knee length. Tapos i just let my hair na naka wavy look.
I took a glance at the mirror before i left the room. Pagbaba ko ng hagdan, i saw Alex and Calli talking tapos bigla silang huminto nung nakita nila ako.
"Parang ang serious ng pinaguusapan niyo ah." I told them.
"It's nothing. Let's go?" Okay.
Calli's POV
Muntik na yun ah. Pinaguusapan kasi namin ni sir Alex kung paano mangyayari mamaya. Mamayang hapon daw nandun na sila tita Ria and si ate Tarra sa Tagaytay. Parang sa picnic place magaganap. Simpleng celebration lang naman kasi hindi naman daw mahilig sa engrandeng celebration si mommy.
"Saan ba tayo pupunta?" Tanong ni mommy kay sir Alex. Nakaupo sila sa harap habang nandito ako sa backseat.
"Secret syempre. But we'll eat breakfast first." Sabi ni sir Alex. Alam ko yung mga agenda today pero pagdating sa surprise, alam ko lang kung saan pero hindi ko alam yung mga magaganap. Hahahaha.
Mabilis lang naman yung drive. Nakarating na kami agad sa mall kasi dito kami kakain ng breakfast tsaka mag-iikot ikot daw kami pampalipas lang ng oras. I'm so excited for the surpriseeee.
"This is a nice place. Tawagan ko kaya si Ria?" Sabi ni mommy. Tinry niyang tawagan ng ilang beses.
"Hindi sumasagot. Ano ba yan." Nagkatinginan kami ni sir Alex at nagpigil ng tawa. Hahahaha.
Nandito na yung pagkain namin and nagkukwentuhan lang kami. Actually sila lang. Pinipicturan ko nga sila eh. Hahaha. Ang cute kasi.
"Yung birthday ko nun nung hindi pa tayo, naalala mo--" Naputol yung sinasabi ni mommy kasi may tumawag kay sir Alex.
"Wait. I'll just take this call." Tumalikod siya sa amin and sinagot yung tawag. Baka si tita Ria.
"Saan ba tayo pupunta ngayon?" Tanong sa akin ni mommy. OMG. Mag-isip ka ng alibi, Calli.
"Hindi ko po alam eh. Mag-iikot ikot lang daw po tayo dito sa mall." Tumango lang siya. Baka nasesense niya na may surprise. Tsk tsk tsk.
Bumalik sa table namin si sir Alex tapos binulsa yung phone niya. "Sorry. Yung secretary ko kasi may tinatanong."
"That's fine. Kumain ka na."
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Alex's POV
Naglalakad lakad lang kami ngayon sa mall. Nasa harap namin si Calli and tumitingin tingin lang siya ng mga damit. Nasa department store kasi kami.
"Where do you want to eat lunch?" I asked Amara. Nakaangkla siya sa braso ko and sinusundan lang namin si Calli kung saan siya pumupunta.
"I don't know. Ikaw bahala." Sagot niya. After a few seconds, nagring ulit yung phone ko. This time, napatingin na siya sa cellphone.
"I'm sorry." I said. She just nodded her head tapos pumunta siya kay Calli para tumingin din ng damit.
"Hello?"
"Oh? Gumagana ba yung plano?" Tanong ni Ria sa kabilang linya.
"Oo. Parang naiirita siya." I told her. Lumilingon ako kay Amara and nahuli ko siyang nakatingin sa akin pero biglang bumaling ulit sa mga damit.
"Sige. Tawagan ulit kita maya-maya. Goodluck." Binaba na niya yung tawag. I walked towards Amara na nakasimangot na.
"Are you okay?" I asked her.
She then forced a smile. "Oo naman." I'm sorry Amara. Have to do this for the surprise. Hahahaha.
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It's lunch time and nandito na kami sa kakainan namin. It's an Italian restaurant. For the past 2 hours, nakakaapat na tawag na si Ria and she would call me sa mga oras na nag eenjoy kami sa paglilibot sa mall. And that's good. Nagrereklamo na nga dahil mauubos daw yung load niya.
Tumawag na naman kani kanina lang. Hahahaha. Ang sama na nga ng tingin sa akin ni Amara eh. Lagi ko kasing sinasabi na trabaho yun.
"Sorry kasi tumatawag yung clients eh." Excuse ko.
"You know what? Let's just go home." Amara said all of a sudden.
"Bakit?" Patay malisya kong tanong.
"Eh mukhang kailangan ka sa trabaho mo eh." She's just trying to calm herself pero naiinis na talaga siya. I know Amara. Yung pangalawang tawag palang kanina naiirita na siya eh.
"That's nothing." I just saw her roll her eyes at tumingin sa kabilang side niya. Hahahaha. Naiinis na talaga siya. Nagsesenyasan lang kami ni Calli. Hindi niya alam na pinaprank ko si Amara.
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Amara's POV
Nandito na kami sa kotse and it's already 3 pm. May pupuntahan pa daw kami pero wala na akong gana. Naaasar lang ako eh. Sana hindi na kami lumabas kung puro trabaho lang aatupagin niya.
*phone ring*
Yan na naman. I just looked outside the window para magbusy busy-han.
"Ngayon na? May kasama ako eh. Sige. Text mo nalang yung meeting place." Narinig kong sabi ni Alex.
"Ano po yun?" Tanong ni Calli sa kaniya.
"May makikipagmeet daw kasi na client. Inarrange na ng assistant ko. Mabilis lang yun. I'm really sorry Amara." I just looked at him with a frown on my face. Alam na niya yan, kapag hindi na ako nagsasalita. Bahala siya dyan.
Calli's POV
Gets ko naaaa. Pinaprank ni sir Alex si mommy. Hahahahaha. Kanina kasi narinig ko si tita Ria yung kausap niya. Tumingin ako sa rear view mirror at nakitang nakasandal at nakatulog na si mommy. Napapansin ko kanina parang sobrang badtrip niya na. Nakakaawa tuloy, birthday na birthday tapos iniinis ni sir Alex. Jokeee. Part yun ng surprise namin.
Nakatingin lang ako sa bintana and parang papunta na kami ng Tagaytay. Nakikita ko yung mga road signs eh. Yieeee. Naeexcite na ako.
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After siguro mga 2 hours, nandito na kami. Overlooking yung lugar tsaka ang lamig ng hangin. Nauna na akong bumaba ng sasakyan tapos gising na rin si mommy at bumaba siya mag-isa.
"Nasan tayo?" Tanong niya. Tulog kasi siya buong byahe. 5 pm na and malapit na magsunset.
"Tagaytay po yata. Dito po makikipagmeet yung client ni sir Alex eh." Sagot ko.
"Sana hinatid nalang tayo pauwi. Sinama pa tayo dito, hindi naman ako interesado sa kung sino mang kliyente yung imimeet niya." Uyyyy selos. Hahahaha.
Pumasok kami sa parang garden na malawak. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at pinicturan ko na yung view kasi ang ganda. Makikita mo yung city tsaka puro nature.
"Sandali lang. Dun daw sa kabila." Sabi ni sir Alex. Pagpunta namin, nandun sila tita Ria.
"Surpriseeee!!!!!" Nagulat si mommy at napaatras.
"Happy birthday!" Sigaw naming lahat. Then nakita ko biglang nag-iba yung facial expression niya. Biglang ngumiti ulit. Maaliwalas na, hindi katulad kanina.
Humarap siya kay sir Alex tapos tinignan nung parang galit na nagbibiro.
Amara's POV
I glared at Alex then i smiled. I leaned to give him a hug. Naiiyak na tuloy ako. Naiinis kasi ako kanina akala ko binabalewala niya ako eh. Naisip ko kanina that this is so not Alex. Hindi niya yun gagawin pero naiirita ako tuwing magriring yung phone niya.
"Thank you." I said almost whispering.
"Happy birthday." I pulled away from his hug then tinignan ko ulit siya.
"Eh sino yung tumatawag sayo kanina?" I asked. Bigla siyang natawa at tinuro yung nasa likuran ko.
"That's me! Happy birthday. Hahahaha." Sabi ni Ria while laughing. I got the craziest friend. Hahahahaha. Kaya pala hindi sumasagot kanina sa tawag ko.
"Kain na tayo. Let's go!" Yaya ni Ria sa aming lahat. Wow. Pinaghandaan talaga ah.
"In fairness sayo Amara. Hindi ka mukhang 40 years old." Sabi ni Ria habang kumukuha ng pagkain.
"Hahaha. Bolera."
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We're now sitting on a long picnic table. Ang ganda kasi magsasunset na. Kami lang ang nandito sa lugar and i think i already took a hundred pictures of the view. Ang ganda.
"You didn't know na isusurprise ka namin?" Alex asked habang kumakain kami.
"Nung una oo, pero nung naiinis na ako, gusto ko nalang umuwi kasi wala naman yung full attention mo. Kaya no. I didn't see that coming." Sagot ko sa tanong niya.
"Ang galing pala natin Alex. Apir tayo dyan. Pero Amara, asawa mo lahat may pakana nito." I chuckled kasi 'asawa mo' talaga yung tawag niya kay Alex.
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We finished eating and we took lots of pictures together. Pati sa sunset may picture kami. They also sang a birthday song for me and yung mga bagets, isama na natin si Tarra, are already eating the cake. Hahahaha.
"Hindi ba tayo matatraffic nito?" I asked Alex. Gabi na kasi. It's 7 pm na and siguradong traffic pauwi ng Manila.
"Hindi yan. Tsaka i still have a surprise for you." Sabi niya. After a few minutes, may mga dumating na may dalang violin and cello. Awwwww. I love thissss.
"Wow pareng Alex. Hindi ko alam to ah." Sabi ni Ria. I guess it was just Alex's plan.
They started playing a relaxing music. Grabe ang sarap sa tenga. I was taking a video when i saw Alex stood up. He offered his hand to me and smiled. I accepted it and binaba ko yung phone ko at nagpahila sa kaniya.
We danced slowly at sumasabay kami sa tugtog. This is such a beautiful scene.
"Sus. Nainggit naman agad." Narinig ko si Ria so i looked back at her and nakita kong niyaya din siya ni Lester na sumayaw.
"Go. Hahahaha." I cheered for them.
Humarap ako kay Alex who is now smiling habang nakatingin sa akin.
"In fairness. Ang galing mong magsurprise." I told him.
"Glad you liked it."
"Bakit dito mo naisip?" I just wanted to know.
"Fresh air, the view and of course memories. Do you remember that we love to go here on the weekends?"
"Yup. I remember that. But i also remembered, nagdate din tayo dito noon when we weren't married yet."
"That's why this is a special place." I agree with him.
Alex's POV
She rested her head on my chest and we kept on dancing. I can see Calli and Erissa silently cheering for me. Natawa nalang ako.
"Amara."
"Hmm?"
"You remember nung tinanong kita the other week. I asked you kung ako pa rin ang pipiliin mong pakasalan." I asked her.
"What about that?"
"If i were to ask you now, would it still be the same answer?" Umayos siya ng tayo at tumingin sa akin.
"It was and will always be the same answer. You've got nothing to worry about. I'm yours forever. Kinalimutan ko na yung mga nangyari noon. I won't be happy if i'll keep on living in the past. Kaya nga ako nalungkot ng ilang taon because i based my life on what happened before and not on what's happening now." Sagot niya.
Amara's POV
Sa gitna ng pagsayaw namin, biglang umatras si Alex at kumalas sa yakap ko. I got confused. Pati sila Ria napansin iyon at napahinto sa pagsayaw.
"What's wrong?" I asked him. He pulled a box from his pocket then he looked at me.
"This time, i won't kneel down. Nagawa ko na yun dati. I won't say anything cheesy kasi nagawa ko na rin yun dati. I asked you twice the same question and you answered the same answer." What is he doing? Hindi maprocess ng utak ko yung mga nangyayari.
He opened the box and there was a shiny ring inside. Then he walked closer to me.
"Amara, I loved you before and i love you until now. Will you marry me again?" I was frozen. Parang hindi ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko. Is this really happening?
"Hmmm. Let me think about it." Dinaan ko nalang sa biro kasi mahahalata mo sa boses ko na naiiyak ako. Nanginginig din yung labi ko while saying that.
"Kidding. Of course. I will be happy to marry you again." He quickly hugged me very tight. Ang saya ko. It's the kind of happiness na hindi ko maicompare. When he pulled away from the hug, he cupped my cheeks and he wiped my tears with his thumb. We both laughed kasi napakaiyakin ko. Hahaha.
He removed the promise ring from my hand.
"Why did you removed it?" I asked him. I like that ring pa naman.
"Because i already fulfilled the promise." Awwwww. He put the promise ring in his pocket and slid the new one on my finger.
I hugged him once again. Tapos lumapit ako kay Ria. And Lester went to Alex. I heard Lester congratulate him.
"Umiiyak ka dyan?" I asked Ria. Hahahaha.
"Hindi. Natutuwa lang ako. Finally! Isa to sa matagal na gusto ko nang mangyari. Congratsss girl!!!" Niyakap niya ako and all i could say was 'thank you'.
"Hindi mo ba alam?" I asked her reffering to the proposal.
"Hindi. Ang alam ko lang isusurprise ka dahil birthday mo. Wala sa amin na nakakaalam na may surprise din pala si Alex." I smiled tapos pumunta si Ria kay Alex to also congratulate him.
Lumapit naman sa akin yung mga bagets. Hahahahaha.
"Congrats mommy! Sobra ko pong happy para sa inyo." Awww.
"Thank you." Then i hugged her. Siya ang lagi naming kasama ni Alex and she's also a part of our journey.
"Congrats tita. You're going to be a Mrs. Montevista again!!!" Excited na bati ni Erissa. Isa pa ito sa mga fans namin ni Alex eh. Hahahaha.
"Thank you."
"Ate!!!! Grabe kaya pala laging nandun si sir Alex. Kayo na pala. Yieeeee. So happy for you po." And of course, Tarra. Isa na siya sa mga kaibigan ko na itinuturing kong pamilya. I'm so glad that she's here too.
"Thank you Tarra." Niyakap ko din siya. Nagcongrats din yung mga tumutugtog ng violin and i said my thanks to them.
"Huwag kang mag-alala Amara. Hindi ka niyan sasaktan. Nag usap na kami." Sabi ni Lester. Tumawa nalang kami sa sinabi niya.
"Alam ko yun. Thank you."
I am so happy. Thank you po for everything. I thought, i was lost when i separated with Alex. But little did i know that it was also part of the journey. If that didn't happen, then none of these would also happen.
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"Sunod nalang kayo ah." Pahabol ni Ria bago sila umalis. Tumango nalang kami ni Alex. Dito pala kami mag oovernight sa nearby hotel. Nagpaiwan muna kami dito ni Alex and we just enjoyed the peaceful scenery. I can see the city lights from here. The moon is also shining very brightly. The sky was also full of stars.
Umupo kami and nakatingin lang kaming dalawa sa view.
"Thank you." He said in the middle of the silence.
"For what?"
"For trusting in me again. For giving me another chance." I rested my head on his shoulder and i played with his hand.
"Of course. I gave you another chance because you deserve it." I told him. He held my hand and intertwined our fingers.
"Saktong sakto sayo yung singsing ah." He said while looking at my hand. He knows me so well.
"I love you Alexander Montevista." I said to him.
"I love you Amara Claire De Vida, soon to be Mrs. Montevista." We both laughed. It's just me and him under the moonlight.
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