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Chapter 64: The Proposal
Gab's POV
March 24, Saturday.
Matagal tagal ko din hinintay tong araw na to. Bakit? Magpopropose ako kay Jin para maisip niya na siya lang talaga. Masyado kasi siyang nagaalala sa mga bagay bagay kaya bibigyan ko siya ng kasiguraduhan. Alam kong bata pa kami. Hindi naman porket nagpropose na magpapakasal na kaagad diba? -___- Yun kasi yung kadalasang iniisip ng mga tao. Maghihintay naman ako ng kahit apat o limang taon pa para tapos na kami magaral. Kahit sampung taon pa yan basta kapag handa na siya, doon na yung kasal.
Nandito ako ngayon sa kwarto ko. Hindi naman kasi ako magaling sa ganito e -___- Iniisip ko kung anong klaseng proposal yung gusto ni Jin. Ayoko naman kasi maulit yung mga nagawa ko na sa kanya dati. Bakit ba kasi lagi kong sinusurpresa yun kahit hindi pa kami nun? Naubusan tuloy ako ng idea. Matawagan nga si Steven. Panigurado, maraming alam yun. Pagkatawag ko, may sumagot din naman agad.
[ hello? ] boses ng babae
"Sino ka?"
[ Gab naman! Si Aine to. Sino pa ba? Tingin mo babae niya? Hindi ano! ]
"Ah. Monster"
[ Hoy hindi ako monster ah?! Gusto mo mabatukan?! Pasalamat ka, hindi kita kasama ngayon ]
"Tingnan mo, nagiging monster ka kapag naiinis"
[ Whatever Gab. By the way, bakit ka pala napatawag? ]
"May itatanong lang ako kay Steven"
[ Wait. Tatawagin ko lang siya. Nandun kasi siya sa room niya. Standby lang ah? ]
"Ge"
[ Hoy Steven Santos! Chicks mo tumawag. Umakyat ka dito bilis! Wait mo lang Gab ah? Tungkol saan nga ba yung itatanong mo? ]
"Wala ka na dun"
[ Ang damot mo! ]
"Alam ko!"
[ Oh babe! Sino sa kanila yung tumawag? ] boses ni Steven
"Oh eto na yung Steven mo!"
[ Oh babe, napatawag ka? ]
"G*go! Hindi mo ako chicks"
[ Teka Aine. Sino ba to? Wala naman akong chicks na bakla ah?-- (Aine) Si Gab yan! Joke lang na chicks mo yan. Iloudspeaker mo dali! Makikinig ako! -- Oh pre, ikaw pala yan. Sandali lang, napagutusan ni boss e. ]
"Tss. Wala ka pa din talaga pagdating sa babaeng yan"
[ Ewan ko sayo Gab. Ano pala yung sasabihin mo? ]
"Saan bang lugar maganda magpropose?"
[ Whaaat?! Magpopropose ka na kay Jin?! Seryoso? ] boses na naman ni Aine
"Hindi. Kaya nga ako nagtatanong e"
[ Wag ka ngang magulo dyan Aine. Halikan kita dyan e! -- (Aine) Oo na! Hindi na! Magusap na nga kayong magbestfriend dyan ]
"Gusto niyo magusap muna kayong dalawa dyan?"
[ Hindi na pre. Sige lang. Saan ba maganda? Dalhin mo sa beach para deretso honeymoon! Hahaha! Ayos yun diba? ]
"Seryoso ka?"
[ Hindi, loko lang yun pre. Dalhin mo na lang siya sa lugar na gusto niyang puntahan. Pero maganda talaga sa beach dude. Magbakasyon kayo ng kayong dalawa lang ]
"Tingin mo papayagan yung babaeng yun?"
[ Hindi. Alam ko na dude. May alam akong lugar. Doon ko dapat idedate si Maeghan nung Valentines kaso sinira nung isa dito yung date na yun -- (Aine) Steven Santos, tigil tigilan mo ako ah? Uupakan kita dyan! ]
"Sige pre, itext mo na lang yung lugar. Lambingin mo na yan si Aine. Mukhang nakulangan sa lambing e. Salamat dude"
[ Wala yun pre. Ge, goodluck sa proposal mo ]
Binabaan ko na siya. Hindi naman nagtagal at tinext na niya sakin yung lugar. Sa Antipolo pala. Hindi rin naman pala ganun kalayo.
*knock knock*
Pinagbuksan ko naman ng pinto. Si Risa pala.
"Gab, we're going out to the mall. Do you want to come with us? It'll be fun when you're there. Sumama ka na please!"
"Risa, gusto mo sumama sakin?"
"Where?"
"Antipolo"
"When?
"Ngayon na"
"Is it just the two of us?"
"Tayong dalawa lang"
"Really? Okay. I'll tell tita na I can't join them and I'm going on a date with you. I'll be back! Wait for me"
Lumabas na siya ng kwarto ko. Date? -___- Hindi ko naman kasi siya matapat na hindi ko na siya gusto at malabo na kami. Siguro naman alam niya yun pero pinipilit niya pa din talaga na kami. Pagkatapos ko magayos, hindi pa din naman siya bumabalik dito sa kwarto ko kaya naisip ko na puntahan siya sa kwarto niya. Kumakatok naman ako ng kumakatok pero walang sumasagot kaya binuksan ko yung pinto.
"So-sorry"
Isinara ko ulit yung pinto. Nakita ko siya na nakatube at maiksing shorts lang -___- Bakit ba kasi nagbibihis siya na hindi nakalock yung pintuan e. Paano naman kung iba yung nakakita sa kanya ng ganun diba? Hinintay ko na lang siya sa labas ng pintuan at hindi rin naman nagtagal at lumabas na din siya.
"Sorry. Hindi ko--"
"It's okay lang Gab. Let's go?"
Pumunta na lang ako sa kung saan nakapark yung niregalong sasakyan sakin nina Dad at yun yung ginamit ko.
Risa's POV
Yay! I'm on a date with Gab <3 We're on our way to Antipolo. I've never been there so I'm very excited. This place is far from our house.
"Nandito na tayo"
It's a park but it's full of flowers. It's really beautiful here. I'm happy that Gab took me here for a date.
"Gab, salamat"
"Saan?"
"For bringing me here. Maganda."
"Ako nga dapat magpasalamat sayo dahil sinamahan mo ako dito. Risa, I have a favor to ask you"
"What is it Gab?"
"Tulungan mo akong pagandahin tong lugar"
"But it's maganda na"
"I want to have a date with Jin. I'm going to propose to her Risa. Could you help me?"
"What?! Propose? Meaning you want to marry her?"
"Ganun na nga"
"I.. Wait for a while. I need to answer this call"
I went on a spot where he can't see me. I want to cry. It really hurts hearing it from him. He's about to propose to Jin. What will happen to me then? I can't let that happen. He can't abandon me like this. I need help. I really need Mikaela right now. I dialed her cellphone number.
[ Yes dear. Why did you call me? You need a shopping mate? ]
"Mika, I need you"
[ Oh my Risa. Are you crying? What happened? ]
"Yes. Where are you? I need to see you"
[ I'm in my condo unit ]
"Wait for me. I'll be there"
I hung up. I wiped my tears and wore sunglasses so that Gab won't notice that I cried. I went back to where he is.
"Gab"
"Oh?"
"I need to go"
"Bakit?"
"I received an important call. I'll be leaving then. I'll just ride a cab back to Makati. Bye"
Mikaela's POV
Nandito ako ngayon sa condo unit ko at hinihintay ko lang na dumating si Risa dito. Ano kayang nangyari at umiiyak siya nung tumawag siya sakin? I wonder why. Could it be because of Gab and Jin? Well, it’s really possible but for what reason?
*ding dong*
Si Risa na siguro to. I opened the door and its really her. Hindi ako nagkamali. Nagulat naman ako kasi bigla siyang yumakap sakin at umiyak.
"Mikaela.."
"Risa. Let's come inside first then we will talk about it okay?"
"Okay"
Umupo kami at kumuha naman ako ng water and tissue para kay Risa. Mukhang kakailanganin niya nito e.
"Risa listen to me. Could you stop crying first? Crying wouldn't help you. It'll just make you ugly. Just calm down first, okay? Then tell me what happened"
"Okay. Well, Gab asked me to go with him and it’s just the two of us. I thought it was a date because we went to Antipolo. There's a park there and he rented it. He asked me to help because.."
"Because what Risa?"
"He's going to propose to Jin. What will happen to me after that? I don't to be abandoned. I can't let that happen Mika! You need to help me!"
Nagsimula naman na siyang umiyak -___- So that's the reason why she called and asked to see me. That girl! She's really getting on my nerves! How dare she make my dear friend cry?! Propose huh? I guess your happy days will end today Jin Charel Tan.
"Risa, listen to me. I'll give you instructions on what you should do. This is now or never. Do you understand? That proposal shouldn't happen"
"Yes, I understand. What should I do?"
"The right time has come for you to reveal everything. His promise to you and the letter. Jin needs to know everything"
"Do you think that this will really work?"
"Of course. Just trust me my dear. I also have something to do to help you and I promise you that this will work"
"What else will I do?"
"Tell Jin how you feel about Gab. Make her pity you. She's a person who has a soft kind of heart. Hindi ka niya matitiis and I'm pretty sure of that but first, we need to know what time will they meet so we can block Jin on her way there"
"I'll ask Gab about the time"
"Good. I'll be the one to make Jin fall for the trap"
"What could happen after this?"
"Gab is all yours my dear. For sure, Jin will be leaving Gab after this. I pity her. She will be left alone"
"What?! I.. I don't think I can do it. I don't want to hurt her"
"You know what Risa, it’s your happiness or hers. I can't bear seeing you cry while seeing Jin happy. She'll get hurt but in time, she'll get over it. Don't worry okay? Just think about yourself. It's time to be selfish"
"O-okay. So, let's do it"
"When you think that you can't, just think about this. I'm depending on you. You've been through a lot of things because of Gab. We've been planning this for a long time. You did even went here. If you won't win Gab, all our efforts will be put into waste. Just also think of my hardworks. You wouldn't bring me down Risa? Right?"
"Of course not. I'll do this. For you, for Gab and for myself. I won't let her get in the way. Thank you Mikaela. You've been helping me ever since I got here"
"What are friends are for? I'm your friend. I'm always here for you"
It's all planned. Get ready Jin for the big revelation. I've waited for so long for this revenge. I'll make sure that you would rather die than stay alive after this. I know that I'm evil, mean, selfish or whatever bad words that you wanted to call me. You would even want to kill me. But there's only one thing that I can say. "In a selfish world, only the selfish succeed" That is the reason why I want her to be selfish.
Jin's POV
May dinner date kami ngayon ni Gab at excited na ako. Tinext na din sakin ni Gab yung time and place. Sa Antipolo yung lugar at isang oras yung byahe galling dito papunta doon kung may sarili kang sasakyan. Mas mabilis kung walang traffic. 6 daw kami magkikita kaya pupunta ako doon ng mga 5. 4:30 pa lang naman ngayon at nagaayos na ako. May ibibigay daw siya sakin na gift. I'm really curious on what gift he will give me. May ibibigay din ako sa kanya na watch. Actually, it’s not a gift from me. That watch is from my parents and gusto nila na ibigay ko yun kay Gab. Gumawa din naman ako ng chocolates para kay Gab kaso bukas ko na ibibigay.
I received a text from Mika earlier and I'm kept on thinking of going there or not. Ang sabi niya lang kasi sa text niya, "Do you want to know the truth?" Nakakacurious kasi. Sinabe niya din naman sakin kung saan at anong oras kami magkikita. Actually, 4:30 yung sinabe niyang time. Since maaga pa naman at wala naman na akong gagawin, pupunta na lang ako. I'm really curious on what is she talking about.
*Mika calling..*
[ Are you coming or not? I'm already here ]
"I'll be there. I'm on my way"
[ Then I'll be waiting for you here ]
She hung up. Kinuha ko na yung gamit ko at nagpaalam kina Mommy na aalis na ako.
"Do you really need to go? It looks like it’s going to rain" -Mommy
"Ano ka ba naman hon? Date yan ng baby natin, pagbigyan mo na" -Daddy
"Magdadala po ako ng payong Mommy. Wag ka na po magalala. I'll be driving my car po pala. I need to go now Mommy and Daddy. Bye!"
"Take care princess" -kuya
"Oi Jin, sabihin mo sakin kapag niloko ka ng Gab na yun ah? Ako unang sasapak dun! Naiintindihan mo?" -Vince
"Oo na. Sige po, aalis na ako"
Pumunta na ako sa lugar na tinext sakin ni Mika. Along the way naman ito sa pupuntahan ko kaya okay lang. Pagdating ko dun sa lugar na yun, hindi ko nakita si Mika pero si Risa ang nakita ko kaya nilapitan ko siya.
"You're here. I've been waiting for you" -Risa
"Si Mika?" tanong ko
"She received an important call so she left but she will send you a message later"
"Is that so? Then, I'll get going"
"Wait Jin. Actually, I'm here because I want to talk to you. This is about Gab and me. I think that you should know everything"
I should know everything? Akala ko open na kami ni Gab sa isa't isa and I know everything between Risa and him pero mukhang hindi pa pala lahat. Gusto kong malaman lahat pero natatakot ako.
"Jin, I'm only asking a little of your time. Don't worry because after this, I won't show up again in front of you"
"Okay. I'll listen. Tell me everything and when you're done, I'll also tell you my part"
Umupo na din ako sa table kung saan siya nakaupo. Ito yata yung first time na makakausap ko si Risa ng seryoso at tungkol pa kay Gab.
"I know that you already know that I like Gab. In fact, I also love him. I love him more than you do Jin. I'm like this even before I went to Japan to live there and until now, nothing has changed. Do you know that he promised me something? He promised me that he will go to Japan and will marry me. I'm still holding on with that promise because I know that he will fulfill that. He went to Japan right? We're currently living together there and one day, he received a call. I don't know who called him but after he received that call, he left me and went back here in the Philippines. He also left me a letter saying that he will be back and that he will fulfill his promise. Do you know why I followed him here? That is to remind him of his promise. But as I saw the two of you together, I think that the promise will never be fulfilled and that I'm only holding on to something that will never happen"
Nagulat naman ako kasi bigla siyang lumuhod sa harap ko at mangiyak ngiyak na.
"Risa.." pabulong kong sinabe
"Jin, I know that this is being selfish but I'm begging you. Please let that promise be fulfilled. Don't do this to me. I know that you love him but I.. I'm dying Jin. I'm slowly dying. He's everything I have, I don't know what will happen to me without him"
Inalalayan ko naman si Risa para makaupo siya ulit at inabutan ko siya ng panyo kasi umiiyak na siya.
"Risa, did he really promised you that he will marry you?"
"Yes"
"I.. I don't know what to say Risa. I need to leave now"
Nagmadali na akong lumabas sa shop na yun at pumasok sa sasakyan ko. For some reasons, naiiyak ako. Naaawa ako kay Risa. Hindi ko alam na may ganun palang klaseng promise si Gab sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat kong gawin. Nagsimula na akong magdrive. Nagsimula na din namang umulan kaya madilim dilim na. Pupuntahan ko na si Gab. Hindi ko kasi alam kung dapat akong maniwala kay Risa kaya itatanong ko to kay Gab. I need to know everything. Parang ang dami dami ko pang hindi alam.
After ilang minutes ng pagkastuck sa traffic, lumuwag na din yung daan. Mukhang malapit na din ako dun sa lugar. Hindi ata kasi matao yung lugar na yun ee. Madami ding puno dito. Pagkacheck ko nung phone ko, may message. Actually, MMS. Pagkaopen ko, hindi ko nagustuhan yung nakita ko. It’s from Mika at yung picture. It’s a picture of Gab kissing Mika. When is this? B-bakit hindi ko alam to?
*Mika calling..*
[ have you seen it? Poor Jin, do you really think na ikaw lang yung gusto ni Gab? Of course, he also likes me. Oh my. Are you crying? Masakit ba yung katotohanan Jin? Lagi ka na lang pinaglalaruan ng boys ]
"TAMA NAAAA!"
[ Does it hurt? C'mon. Wala ka man lang bang ibang sasabihin? Or are you-- ]
Binabaan ko na si Mika. Why is this happening? Bakit ba ang daming kontra samin ni Gab?! Why?! Hindi ba talaga kami para sa isa't isa? Bakit ba lagi na lang pinaglalaruan yung feelings ko?! Sinubukan kong tawagan si Gab pero hindi siya sumasagot kaya tinawagan ko si Zeke.
[ Charel, why did you call? ]
"Zeke, ganun ba ako kadaling paglaruan? Why is this happening to me?! Don't I deserve to be happy?"
[ What happened? Tell me ]
Napatingin ako sa dinadaanan ko. Nasa kabilang lane na ako at may truck na padating. Break! Hindi gumagana yung break pedal ng sasakyan ko.
"Waaah!"
[ Charel! ]
*BOOOOOOM!*