Chapter Nineteen
"I still can't believe that I have two baby girls now." Kuya Vane was cradling his sleeping daughter in his arms affectionately.
He sat next to Ate Xiana on the stone bench across while Zade and I sat on the swing looking at both of them.
"Two years old na si Versace pero ganyan pa rin ang sinasabi mo." Nakangiting sabi ni Ate Xiana habang hinahaplos ang matambok at namumulang pisngi ng anak. They looked cute while they stared at their daughter lovingly.
Umakbay sa akin si Zade. "Someday, I will say those words to you as I look at Aramis," bulong niya sa tainga ko. Napangiti ako at pinatabi siya sa akin. Isinandal ko naman ang ulo ko sa balikat niya. Nang magising ako kaninang umaga ay nagulat ako nang makitang may tray na ng pagkain sa bedside table. All my favorites were there: tuyo, sinangag, itlog at mainit na kape. That was one of the best mornings in my life.
"Natatakot ako magpatherapy ulit bukas," sagot ko dahil naalalang babalik na pala kami kinabukasan.
"'Di ba, sabi ko naman sa'yo, sa tabi mo lang ako. Hawakan mo lang ang kamay ko kapag masakit na masakit tapos sakin ka lang tumingin. Kung gusto mo i-recite ko pa sa'yo ng paulit-ulit 'yung Annabel Lee ay gagawin ko kung makakatulong 'yun na ilihis ang atensyon mo," madamdamin niyang sagot na nagpapasikdo ng puso ko.
"Basta ipangako mo sa akin na kahit anong kahinatnan ng therapy, hindi mo ako iiwan," nangangambang sambit ko. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at ikinulong iyon sa dalawang kamay niya.
"I won't leave you. Aabot pa nga tayong dalawa ng seventy five 'di ba?" There was teasing in his tone and I finally smiled before nodding. Napadako ang tingin ko sa dimples niya at hindi ko mapigilan na sundutin ito. Inabot niya ang kamay ko bago nagkunot ng noo.
"What exactly are you doing, babe?"
"Poking your dimple."
"Alden Richards got his charm from me."
"Who?" tanong kong nakakunot ang noo.
"Oh my gosh, Sam, do you not know him? Dati 'yung nanligaw kay Ate Xiana kaso binasted niya kasi hindi pa siya ready sa commitment." Biglang sumulpot si Daze sa hardin at tinabihan kami ni Zade.
"Nanligaw sa'yo si Alden?" Nakakunot ang noo ni Kuya Vane.
"Huwag kang masyadong maniwala kay Daze," payo ni Ate.
"Kidding!" Daze grinned. "By the way, Kuya Z and Kuya VJ, Ian and Kuya Xander are looking for the both of you. I was asking why, but they are secretive."
"Brat," Vane murmured. "Sinabi ko na sa'yong Vane lang. Hindi VJ. Ang pangit pakinggan parang... ah, basta. Ibabalik kita sa Amerika r'yan, e."
"Vane... Akala ko ba ay hahabaan mo na ang pasensya mo kay Daze?" she asked in a soft voice. Kahit ang boses niya ay maganda at pang-anghel.
"Asheng, hindi 'yon gano'n kadali. Alam mo naman kung gaano kapasmado ang bibig n'yang kapatid mo. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano 'yan natitiis ni Ian. Santo yata ang lalaking 'yon, o martir!"
"Ganyan lang talaga sila kapag nagkikita. 'Wag mo na lang pansinin. Believe me, that happens a lot kaya hindi na ako nagugulat." Zade gave me a smile.
"Bakit kayo hinahanap nina Kuya at Ian? May pupuntahan ba kayo?" I questioned.
"Yes," he answered, but did not divulge any more information.
"I don't suppose I get some details?" I tried.
"Nope. It's a guy thing. Babalik din kami mamaya, okay?" Hinaplos niya ang pisngi ko kaya napilitan akong tumango at bumitiw ng kapit sa kamay niya.
"Okay."
"I love you, Sam," he announced slowly and ardently. "My sisters will keep you entertained. That is if Daze doesn't drive you nuts first."
He loves me. I know that now because I can feel it.
May sasabihin pa sana siya pero pinitik na siya ni Kuya Vane sa balikat. "Let's go, lover boy Zady boy. Mamaya na kayo maglambutchingan at baka mainip na si CEO at si Speed Racer. You know how it gets when the CEO gets antsy."
"Alright." Zade stood up and gave me a glance. "See you later, babe."
He lets go of another smile and dang it... Zade is just beautiful, inside and out, in every angle. I could spend all day marveling at the kind of man that he has now become. I am delighted that I got to meet him before and that I get to meet the person he will continue turning out to be in the future.
I will never get tired of rediscovering him.
"Whiz kid, hurry up."
"Shut it, movie star."
Natawa na rin ako habang pinapanood silang maglakad palayo. Naupo naman malapit sa akin si Ate Xiana at si Daze. The latter took Versace -- also known as Vera -- in her arms and played with her. Tinitigan ko si Ate Xiana at parang bigla na lang akong nahiya sa kaniya.
Ang ganda niya, sobra. Si Daze rin naman ay napakaganda kaya lang mukha siyang maldita. 'Yung ganda ni Ate Xiana ay pang-diwata, parang ang sarap niyang tignan dahil ang bait ng mga mata niya. She radiated kindness and she was the perfect epitome of a beauty queen. Regal, intelligent and refined.
"Kamusta ka na, Sam? Hindi kita nakausap masyado kagabi dahil ang gulo ng dinner. Mom and Blythe were so talkative, 'no?" nakangiti niyang tanong sa akin.
"I'm doing well, Ate. Ikaw, you're so blooming."
"Gano'n talaga kapag in love. You glow more. You glow differently. Kahit naman maloko si Vane ay mabait 'yon. He loves me so much and I love him, too."
Daze snorted. "Sam, you should have seen Ate in person no'ng hindi sila ni Kuya VJ. Believe me, mas blooming siya no'n. Ngayon kasi, mukha na siyang laging may sakit ng ulo."
"Daze..." saway niya sa kapatid.
"What? Just saying." The latter balanced Vera on her own two feet on top of her lap. Vera cackled happily and started clapping and spitting at her.
"Bagay kayo ni Kuya Vane," I commented. "I can see that he cares for you so much."
"That's soooo not true." Daze smirked. "Ipaako mo na lang si Vera do'n sa British na may gusto sa'yo tapos iwan mo na si Kuya VJ."
Ate just took Vera's chubby hand and shook it. "But my baby won't like that, won't she? You love Daddy, don't you? Don't you?"
Vera giggled. "Daddy, love love!"
"HMP!" Daze rolled her eyes. "Hindi ko alam sa Daddy mo kung bakit ka ipinangalan sa isang luxury brand. I still think the name Amari suits her better."
"Versace Clohessy seems like a nice name to me," sabat ko habang nakatingin kay Vera na ngayon ay nagpipilit bumaba sa braso ng tita.
"I like it, too," agreed Ate Blythe who suddenly appeared on the garden's entry way. "It's unique. Versace Monteverde-Clohessy. It sounds like royalty."
She was wearing a dress and flip flops. She too, is undeniably beautiful with an edge of toughness. Her waist-length hair is billowing in the wind, her rough eyes looking slightly pudgy. Kakagising niya lang siguro. Umupo siya sa tabi ni Daze. Si Vera ay nagpababa mula sa buhat ni Daze at nagpakarga sa kadarating lang na Tita. Ate Blythe took her in her arms and kissed the top of her head. "Hello, little bubba."
"Good morning, Blythe," bati ni Ate Xiana.
"Good morning, girls!" masayang bati niya pabalik.
"Where are your twins -- Keenie and Kadie?" Daze crossed her legs.
"They're still sleeping upstairs. Pinabantayan ko muna kay Gemma. Puyat na puyat ako sa kanilang dalawa kagabi. Dis oras na pero iyak pa rin ng iyak. Alexander will sleep through a fire or a tornado. That man!"
"He is a heavy sleeper, indeed," said his twin.
Ate Blythe focused her attention on me. "Oh, hi, Sam. Kumusta ang gabi niyo ni Zade na magkasama. I'm thankful all the rooms are soundproof."
Namula bigla ang pisngi ko kahit wala naman kaming ginawang kakaiba ni Zade kagabi bukod sa matulog. "Wala naman kaming ginawa, Ate."
"Sam, it's okay. Ganyan din ang sinabi ko no'n kay Xiana nang una kaming magkita."
"You didn't say anything like that. I didn't ask for it."
"You just don't remember. Ano ka ba!"
"I'm certain na hindi ko 'yon tinanong. Nako, Blythe, nahihiya na si Sam. Baka mamaya ay hindi na siya bumalik dito dahil isipin niya ang weirdo nating lahat."
"Xiana, masasanay rin 'yan. Tignan mo, Daze is slowly coming around."
Nagpanggap na nagtatakip ng tainga si Daze. "Ate, you are corrupting my mind."
"You're not a teenager anymore, Daze," Ate Blythe replied. "For all I know baka—"
"Stop it." She blushed profusely.
Tawa ng tawa si Ate Blythe. "You're so cute, Dazy."
"Whatever," she answered. Nagkatinginan kami ni Ate Xiana at nagngitian. Kung saan-saan napunta ang usapan namin dahil kay Ate Blythe at Daze. They do talk a lot. Ate Blythe told us about her creepy stalkers back then and when she finished, Daze retold the story of how she almost failed world literature if it weren't for Ian's help. Ate Xiana, on the other hand, told us the story of how she and Kuya Vane had their first kiss on a lake behind his ancestral villa.
Sabay-sabay kaming naglunch na apat dahil si Tito Aaron ay pumasok sa trabaho at si Tita Cassi ay kasama ang mga amiga niya.
"Saan kaya nagpunta ang mga herodes?" Ate Blythe asked randomly while we were watching a foreign movie in the theater room.
Kaden was on my lap while Keene was on Ate Xiana's. Ang gwapo ng dalawang ito, sigurado akong marami silang babaeng paiiyakin kapag lumaki na sila. Kad gripped my thumb and I couldn't help but smile.
"You're a little bundle of cuteness, aren't you Kady?" He chuckled and stomped his foot.
"You'll be a great mom, too," untag sa akin ni Ate Xiana.
"Ate, matagal pa 'yon!"
"Ganyan din ang sabi ko noon!" shouted Ate Blythe.
***
Zade Andrei
"I had to tweet my fans in Spain last night for this. May bayad ba ito?" biro ni Vane sa akin habang nagtitipa pa rin sa cellphone niya.
"Naghihirap ka na ba?" balik-biro ko na ikinangisi niya.
"No way. Kaya ko pang buhayin kahit mag bente kaming anak ni Alexiana."
Kuya Xander smacked him on the arm. "Gago! Ano'ng tingin mo sa kakambal ko? Palahian? Ano'ng benteng anak ang sinasabi mo r'yan?"
"Man, where did your sense of humor go!"
He received a second smack.
"Ow, dude! That hurt like a motherfucker!" reklamo niya bago ito hinimas. Kuya just raised an eyebrow.
"You deserve that becase you are the motherfuckerest of all the motherfuckers."
"Motherfuckerest?" Vane looked confused. "That's a valid term now?"
"Guys, chill." Kalmadong pumagitna si Ian. "So what do we do now, Zade?"
Nilingon nila akong tatlo at napangiti ako. Kinutsaba ko silang tatlo para sa sorpresa na pinaplano ko. Tonight is the night that Sam will fall madly in love with me all over again.
***
Maria Samantha
"I received a message from Ian saying we should go to Statmund Arena. Are we going to watch a concert?" Daze inquired in a thrilled voice. "Oh! I'm excited."
"I think so. Let's get dressed!"
Tinulungan nila akong umakyat sa hagdan at pagkatapos ay inayusan ako ni Ate Blythe. Si Ate Xiana ay halatang excited din na pumipili ng damit na isusuot. She chose a plain cream-colored top and black jeans which she paired with white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers.
Ate Blythe took out a black sunday dress with silver sunflower designs imprinted on it. She shoved it on my arms in a hurry. "Try it out, Sam. Bagay 'yan sa'yo, sigurado ako! Binili namin yan ni Aldeng sa Paris last year."
"Ate..." It's been a long time since I last wore a dress. Ayaw ko ring magsuot ng ganito kamahal dahil baka mapunit ko, or mamantsahan. Wala akong pambayad o pamilit nito.
"I don't welcome complaints." She crossed her arms. Wala akong nagawa kundi isuot ito. Nang makita niya ay napangiti siya.
"Parfait! You look amazing, right Alexiana?"
"Elle est magnifique."
"See?" Kinindatan ako ni Ate Blythe bago ako pinasahan ng isang pulang lipstick. Umiling ako at iniisip kong ipipilit niya rin ito nang lumapit si Ate Xiana at ibigay sa akin ang lip mousse na gamit niya.
"This is more her color." It was a nude beige tone that I really liked.
Ate Blythe wore a one-shoulder strap white dress that looked really good on her. She pulled out a pair of black Hermes oran sandals that went along with the entire outfit. She fixed her eyeliner on the mirror and twirled once she was done.
Daze, on the other hand, chose to go with a pastel pink off shoulder ruffle top paired with cream high waist shorts. She slipped on sandals the same color as her top before she curled the bangs that she mentioned she got the other week.
Napilit ni Ate Blythe si Ate Xiana na magpamake-up. Inayusan niya kaming lahat, at aaminin ko na pagtingin ko sa salamin ay namangha ako. I feel like I'm looking at a completely different person. She did work her magic on me.
We got in the arena in thirty minutes.
Pagpasok namin ay nagulat ako.
The whole place was jam-packed. Ang daming mga tao, they were holding glow sticks and were blabbering excitedly to one another. Kaninong concert ba ito? Is another KPOP idol in the Philippines again? Do we have VIP tickets? I don't understand.
The place was gargantuan, and if there was indeed a concert then the band must've been really famous to fill such a huge space with fans. Some even looked foreign.
"Vane just sent me a message saying they reserved a seat for us in front. VIP." Ate Xiana calmly stated as we made our way towards the assigned seats. Nasa first-row kami, kaharap ng stage. May mga pangalan pa nga kami sa mga upuan. My head is swimming. Hindi ako sanay sa ganitong karangyaan.
"Relax." Ate Xiana tapped my shoulder.
"She will get used to it." Daze nodded at me. "Give her some time."
The show started in an hour. There were two mike stands and a piano up front. Maya-maya lang ay lumabas na ang emcee para ipakilala ang banda.
"So everyone, let us all welcome, Hotness Overload!"
"What kind of band will call themselves Hotness Overload? This is just plain stupid, I can tell!" Ate Blythe rasped. "It hasn't started yet, but I can't wait for it to be over."
"Can we go home now?" Daze chimed.
"Ladies..." Ate Xiana waited patiently. There was a series of shouts and hoots from the crowd when the thick theatrical curtains parted. Four men, who we least expected, walked to the center of the stage.
"What..." That was Ate Xiana.
"The..." followed by Daze.
"FUCK," Ate Blythe finished.
They were all topless and their muscles were bulging in all the right places. There was Ian, Kuya Xander, Kuya Vane and Zade. Oh my God. They all looked wicked.
"Lagot sa akin si Alexander mamaya. Pa-topless topless pa siya? Basta-basta na lang nagpapakita ng katawan? Ano kami, charity?"
"What in the world was Vane thinking?"
"If this is Ian's idea, he better pray."
Ako naman ay walang masabi. I was just looking at Zade who was also looking at me. He gave me a killer smile and my heart swooned. Ang gugulo ng buhok nilang apat at lahat sila ay naka camouflage pants at combat boots.
"I'm pretty sure Kuya VJ was the one who thought of the band name," Daze muttered. "He is so full of himself."
Naghihiyawan ang mga tao habang si Kuya Vane ay ngumingisi at kumakaway sa crowd. Kuya Xander sat on the piano. Zade and Kuya Vane each held a microphone.
"This song is for the most beautiful woman in my eyes," he said and winked at me. My mouth became parched as I watched him.
Ian started strumming the guitar and then they all started singing. The song was Jason Derulo's Marry Me. Ang ganda ng blending ng boses nilang apat. Parang mga singer talaga sila at halatang planadong-planado ito. Nakatingin sa akin si Zade habang kumakanta at naramdaman ko na lang na sobrang saya ng puso ko.
"And you know one of these days when I get my money right..." Kuya Xander sang with a poker face, but his voice was still undeniably melodious. Ate Blythe momentarily forgot about being pissed with Kuya being topless because she was now grinning.
"Buy you everything and show you all the finer things in life..." dugtong naman ni Ian na patuloy sa pag-gigitara habang nginingitian ng makahulugan si Daze.
"We'll forever be in love, so there ain't no need to rush..." Kuya Vane hit his lines perfectly. He was the one who seemed to be enjoying the concert the most. Zade mentioned that he used to be a famous actor in Spain.
"But one day I will be able to ask you loud enough..." Zade looked at me with eyes so piercing that I wanted to melt. "That day is today, Sam."
"I'll say, "Will you marry me? I swear that I will mean it. I'll say, 'Will you marry me?'" He grinned to the crowd and clapped his hands and there came more shouts. Nagulat ako nang bigla niya na lang talunin ang stage. He landed on two feet and walked over to me.
"Let's sing it!" He yelled on his microphone and when he knelt in front of me and took out a ring, the crowd sang with him. Nagsimula nang pumatak ang mga luha ko. I looked at the entire stadium filled with people and saw that the audience had their eyes on me. They looked genuinely happy to be witnessing a proposal.
"How many girls in the world can make me feel like this? Baby, I don't ever plan to find out. The more I look, the more I find the reasons why you're the love of my life..."
Sabay sabay na naman silang kumantang apat.
"You know one of these days when I get my money right. Buy you everything and show you all the finer things in life. We'll forever be in love, so there ain't no need to rush, but one day I will be able to ask you loud enough..." Hinawakan ni Zade ang kamay ko at hinalikan ito. "This is it."
Tears raced down my cheeks as I looked at him.
"Will you marry me?" Kinanta niya 'yon habang nakatingin sa akin.
The crowd chanted "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Nanginginig ako habang magkatitigan kami. "You already proposed."
He smiled at me and held my hand tighter. "That doesn't count, babe. I had no ring for you. Ngayon, mayroon na. You deserve a grand surprise proposal, Sam. So, I'm going to ask you again, this time in front of my siblings and... Vane's fans...." He laughed. "Will you marry me?"
I cupped his face. I didn't care that I looked haggard because of the incessant falling of tears. I nodded. "If you ask me a million times more, the answer will always be the same. Yes."
Isinuot niya sa akin ang singsing at hinalikan ako ng mabilis sa labi. Halata sa mukha niya ang saya. He was teary-eyed too. "I love you so much."
Hindi na ako nakasagot pa dahil patakbong umakyat siya uli sa stage.
"She said yes!" He raised his arms and grinned and the crowd went wild.
"This calls for a celebratory dance!" Kuya Vane chuckled and shouted. "Hit it!"
And then, I'm Sexy and I know it resonated on all corners of the arena. I almost passed out when the four of them formed a line and started twerking unapologetically.
Nanlaki ang mata ko at nakitang gano'n din ang reaksyon nila Daze.
"I'm going to fucking gag," she said.
"I'm going to gag on something else tonight," Ate Blythe countered.
Ate Xiana palmed my face and I... I just laughed, delighted.
This is the start of a new chapter between Zade and I.