"What about this?" sabi ko kay Drake at saka pinakita sa kanya 'yung gown na nagustuhan ko.
He nodded and then returned his attention to his laptop.
Nakakainis na siya ha! Ilang oras ko na siyang kasama pero pansin ko na wala sa akin yung atensyon niya. Kanina pa siya type ng type don! Nakakairita na! Para kasing hindi siya seryoso na pakasalan ako. Ni wala man lang akong makitang effort sa part niya. Ako na nga ang nag aasikaso ng lahat, ang hinihiling ko lang naman yung attention niya kapag magkasama kami.
Yes, alam ko na mahal ako ni Drake pero marami akong insecurities sa katawan. Hanggang ngayon, natatakot ako na baka bigla niya akong iwan dahil sa anak nila ni Fier. That news will haunt me for the rest of my life, I know.
"Drake?" I said, my voice icy cold. Tumingin siya ulit sa akin, waiting for me to speak. Ayokong magalit dahil ayoko na mag away kami. Sa tuwing nag aaway kami ni Drake, ako yung mas nahihirapan. Hindi ko alam. Siguro dahil naghiwalay kami sa loob ng mahabang panahon kaya natatakot ako ngayon na mag away kami dahil baka maulit yung dati and God knows I'd be crazy if ever I lose him again.
"Yes?"
I heaved a heavy breath. I didn't want to fight but I needed to let this out.
"Do you really wanna marry me?"
His forehead turned into a crease. "What?"
"You don't pay attention, you're always typing something in your laptop, you seem to be somewhere else whenever we're together... Tell me, ayaw mo na ba akong pakasalanan?"
Tumingin siya sa akin sandali at saka isinarado yung laptop niya. Mabuti na lang at walang tao dito sa fitting area dahil nahihiya ako. I'm 25 yet I was acting like a kid. I can't help it. With Drake, I will always be a kid. He makes me feel like a kid, in a way that he could make me smile with the littlest things. Kahit siguro bigyan niya lang ako ng candy, matutuwa na ako. I could say that I really am captivated by The Drake Palma Way. Always have, always will.
He stood up and then placed the back of his hand on my cheek. I could feel him against my skin. It felt so good. Tama nga sila. Si Drake ang epic love ko. Kahit gaano kasakit, sa kanya pa rin ako babalik at babalik.
"Alys," he said, his voice sending shivers down my spine... Like he always did.
Hindi ako nakapagsalita. I was, again, enchanted.
"Do you have the slightest idea how much I love you?"
Tumango ako. I knew the answer. It was an answer etched in my mind for all eternity. "To the moon and back."
He smiled and then caressed my cheek. "Yes, and Alys, I will marry you anywhere. Baby, I mean anywhere. I don't need the extravagant wedding; all I need is you walking down the aisle while I wait at the altar."
And he did it again. Kahit yata tumanda ako ng tumanda, hindi mawawala yung palpitations. Mas tumatagal, mas nagiging wild.
"But you deserve all these: the church, the gown, the preparation. I'm willing to wait for you. I will always wait for you because you are worth waiting for."
I can't help but smile. Drake used to be the most quiet person I know. It was surreal how much we grew together. From that boy from high school, he turned to be the best man I know. And I was marrying the best man there was. He chose me despite all my flaws.
"I love you," I said. Hindi ako magsasawang sabihin paulit ulit. Sabi nila kapag palagi mo raw sinasabi ang isang bagay, nababawasan daw ang kahulugan. Pero kay Drake? Hindi, e. Mas tumitindi. Minsan, pakiramdam ko hindi ko na kaya pag wala siya. Parte na siya ng buhay ko. Wala si Alys kapag wala si Drake. That's just how it was now.
He pulled me in and kissed me softly.
"1131. Always. Forever."
I smiled at his response.
Naglakad kami at tinulungan niya ako na bumalik sa loob ng fitting room, masyado kasing mahaba 'yung gown na 'to kaya nahihirapan akong maglakad.
"Drake?" sabi ko sa kanya habang naglalakad kami.
"Hmm?"
"Ano ba yung ginagawa mo sa laptop mo?" tanong ko. Kanina pa kasi talaga siya. Impossible naman na trabaho kasi hindi siya nag uuwi ng trabaho. Pag work, sa office lang. Ganun si Drake. Ayaw niya kasi na nakakaapekto yung trabaho niya sa personal life niya.
"My vow," he said.
"Your vow?"
He nodded.
"And... why would you do your vow? Akala ko ba spontaneous tayo?"
Napagusapan kasi naman na kung ano na lang ang masabi, yun na lang. We believe that the best things are those that are unplanned. The excitement lingers. Double the fun.
Nakarating na kami sa harap ng pintuan pero hindi ako pumapasok hanggang hindi siya nagpapaliwanag.
"Because."
"Because what?"
"Don't push it, Alys. Just because."
Ito na naman si masungit na Drake!
"Bahala ka, di ako titigil hanggang di mo sinasabi! Makulit kaya ako!" sabi ko at saka ako nagbelat.
Umiling iling na lang si Drake.
"Fine," he sighed. "I'm afraid that I'd get tongue-tied on our wedding day and mess the whole ceremony."
"What?" I said and then laughed! Grabe! "Kailan ka pa nagstutter? Hahaha!"
Pinitik niya ako sa noo. Ang sakit nun ah!
"You have no idea how you affect me, you noob. During the day itself, just by imagining you walking down the aisle while wearing your wedding gown and looking and smiling at me, I get fucking tongue-tied."
Natawa ako. God. Kung in love na in love ako kay Drake, ganun din siya sa akin. He stayed with me through it all.
"Patay na patay ka sa akin," I stated.
"Yeah, well whatever."
Oh, god! He didn't deny it! Patay na patay sa akin si Drake! Dapat pala nirecord ko! Who would have thought na dito kami hahantong? Parang nung high school lang, pinilit ko siyang maging boyfriend ko tapos ngayon?
Damn. Miracles do exist.
Natapos na akong magsukat ng iba ibang gown. Hindi naman ako naniniwala sa kasabihan na hindi matutuloy ang kasal kapag nakita ng groom ang gown. Ang dami na naming pinagdaanan ni Drake, ngayon pa ba kami susuko?
"Saan tayo pupunta?" sabi ko kasi akala ko ihahatid niya na ako sa bahay namin.
Hindi siya nagsalita. Well, sanay na naman ako kaya nakinig na lang ako sa music. Nag iisip pa ako ng kanta habang naglalakad ako patungo sa altar. Ang hirap naman kasi mamili ng perfect song!
Hindi ko namalayan, nasa isang subdivision na pala kami.
"San tayo?"
Itinuro lang ni Drake yung bahay. Fudge!
"Bahay natin yan?!"
He nodded.
"Thank you!" I said tapos tumalon ako para yakapin siya! Wala akong kaalam alam na tinupad niya pala yung gusto ko! Grabe! Ano ba ang ginawa ko dati para swertihin ako ng ganito?! Ang swerte swerte ko kay Drake!
Saktong sakto. Dati, nagdrawing ako ng gusto kong bahay. I drew it out of boredom dahil bored ako palagi nung nasa California pa ako at nagbabantay kay Tripp. I just hanged it on my wall. I didn't know Drake saw it... and built it for me.
"Are you happy, Alys?"
I smiled at him. "You have no idea. Salamat, Drake."
"There's a payment for that, noob."
"Ha?"
"Babies. I want babies."
"What?!"
Ayan na naman siya sa baby talk niya! Simula ng nag yes ako sa proposal niya, gabi gabi niyang sinasabi sa akin na gusto niya na ng baby! Si Aya at Kent naman kasi, nauna pa ang baby sa kasal! Ayan tuloy, atat na atat na magka anak si Drake!
"Babies, Alys. Let's make one."
"Itulog mo lang yan, Palma."
"By every time you say no, the number of our future babies will increase. As of now, we have 4 babies in line."
"What the hell?! Tingin mo sa akin, baboy?!"
He chuckled. "No. You're the mother of my future 4 kids."
"Ewan ko sa'yo, Palma! Di pa ako ready maging beach volleyball," I said. Totoo naman. Ang hirap kaya magdiet. Akala naman ni Drake bigla bigla na lang nagsslide palabas yung baby. Mga lalaki nga naman. Kung humiling ng baby, akala mo bumibili lang ng candy sa tindahan.
Lumapit siya sa akin at niyakap ako. I could feel his breath on my neck. Ayan na naman siya.
"Alys, you won't get fat. Making love burns 69 calories. And I'll see to it that you'll burn hundreds of calories per day."
Ugh!!! My pure mind!! Anong problema ni Drake?