Epilogue (4 of 5)
"Love, I'm sorry! I can't leave yet," I said in my most apologetic tone. I was supposed to have dinner with Cohen for his birthday, but my professor suddenly announced a takehome quiz since he couldn't meet us... And mamaya na iyong deadline nun. I needed to do it with my classmates dahil medyo mahirap iyong coverage.
I heard the familiar sigh from his end.
"Can I just come there?" he asked.
If it's not me who bails, it's him. It's just... hard. Habang tumatanda kami, dumadami iyong responsibility. Hindi naman pwede na palagi na lang naming uunahin iyong sarili naming gusto. We're here to study... He's almost done with his masteral, but I wasn't there just yet. I needed to hustle more. Mas kailangan kong maging seryoso.
I looked around and saw how busy my classmates were. Nasa ibang block na ako—mas seryoso na sila. Mas naging busy ako, pero mas marami akong natututunan sa kanila. Every time I'd go to class, I needed to come prepared because if not, magmumukha akong tanga. I never thought I'd be competitive in school, but here I was...
University life's really full of surprises.
"I'll see you as soon as we're done, I promise!" pangako ko sa kanya. I looked at my wrist watch that Cohen gave me for my 20thbirthday. Palagi kong suot iyon. It's like a constant reminder of why I was working this hard. It's not just about making my family proud—it's also about making him proud, making me proud. Para naman hindi ako nanliliit sa sarili ko tuwing titignan ko siya tapos titingin ako sa akin. I wanted something that's mine and I could be proud of.
"Are you sure I can't swing by? I just want to see you."
"I can only see you for like ten minutes. Sayang naman—"
"Text me the address."
Napailing na lang ako. Ang kulit talaga. Almost three years together, hindi pa rin siya nagsasawa na sunduin ako kahit saan man ako magpunta. He's always telling me that if I needed to go anywhere, he'd always be happy to accompany me. I thought that that's the reason why he got a car—para samahan ako since marami na akong pinupuntahan ngayon.
I got back to doing the quiz. It's a combination of modified true or false and lots of essay. Ayaw pa naman ng prof ko na 'yun ng walang basis iyong sagot kaya nagre-research pa ako while answering.
I kept my phone by my side para naman kapag nagtext si Cohen na nandito na siya, mapuntahan ko agad. Ayoko kasi ng pinaghihintay siya kasi alam ko naman iyong klase ng effort na binibigay niya sa 'kin.
"Hey..." I said when I saw him standing outside the dark. He's wearing suit and tie because we were supposed to have formal dinner... Naka-ayos na rin iyong isusuot ko dapat... Hindi lang talaga natuloy dahil sa quiz na 'to. Sobrang nilu-look forward ko pa naman 'yun.
He immediately pulled me close and enveloped me inside his arms.
"I'll wait for you," he said.
I looked up. "Mamaya pa ko matatapos."
"I'll keep myself busy."
I pouted. "Makikita mo naman ako bukas."
"Haven't seen you all day today."
I laughed. "Ang clingy naman po," I said at saka ko siniksik iyong mukha ko sa dibdib niya. I'd been feeling so stressed the past few days because of all the requirements, but being inside his arms melted my stress away. "Happy birthday, ser!" I greeted with a soft smile. "Ano'ng birthday wish mo?"
I was looking up at him and he was looking down on me. Ang tangkad kasi talaga!
"To see you every day," he said.
"Nakikita mo naman ako lagi."
"Not when you're busy."
"Ganun talaga—para sa future," I said, sticking my tongue out.
"When's that future you're talking about?" he asked.
I shrugged. "Di ko alam. Bakit ba kasi?" sabi ko ng natatawa kasi ang seryoso naman masyado ng itsura ng tao na 'to.
"Sari," he said.
"Cohen," sagot ko na natatawa pa rin.
"My birthday wish is to see you every day."
I wrinkled my nose. "Pwede naman—"
"Kuya Saint got married when he was 22. I'm 25 already."
Lumuwag iyong yakap ko sa kanya. I blinked a couple of times. Pakiramdam ko ay biglang nanuyo ang lalamunan ko.
"A-Ano'ng point mo?"
He scratched the back of his neck and looked at me like he was unsure if he'd continue saying what he wanted to say... but at the same time wanted to tell me what he's been hiding all this time.
"Let's get married."
"D-Dahil lang gusto mo akong makita araw-araw?"
"Because I love you."
I bit my lower lip. "Seryoso ka ba?"
"Do you still love—"
"Parang tanga naman 'to! Malamang!" sigaw ko sa kanya habang nagsisimula ng magluha iyong mga mata ko. Leche talaga 'to si Cohen! Ngayon pa naisipan na sabihin 'to kung kailan may quiz na naghihintay sa 'kin sa loob! "Pero parang tanga naman magpapakasal lang tayo dahil gusto mo kong makita araw-araw?"
"What reason is good enough for you to marry me?" he asked, looking straight into my eyes.
I took a step back from him and started to pace back and forth. Seryoso ba 'tong si Cohen Isaac?! Nakaka-loka! Proposal na ba 'to?! Naka-suit and tie naman kasi siya habang naka-jogger pants at hoodie lang ako! Mukhang tanga!
"Hindi ko alam, okay? San tayo titira? Magpapalit ba ako ng apelido? Paano kapag 'di na ako pinag-aral ni kuya dahil may asawa na ako? Magkakaanak ba agad tayo? Ang daming tanong, 'di ba?!"
I was starting to pull out my hair. I stopped pacing when I noticed that he was just looking at me with that amused expression on his face.
"What?!" I snapped because I was really stressed here!
He took a step closer and cupped my face with his hands. He looked straight into my eyes and smiled.
"We'll live in your apartment or in mine—I really don't care as long as I get to see you every day—"
Hinampas ko siya. "Papakasalan mo lang ba ako para makita mo ako araw-araw?!"
He just let me hit his chest while wearing that smile. "I hate letting a day pass by without seeing you, you know that? But you're always so busy... and I can't ask you to put me first... If we get married, I'll get to see you every day. I'll get to see you first thing when I wake up and before I close my eyes."
I wiped the tears from my face. "Ang selfish naman ng reason."
He helped me wipe my tears. "Of course the main reason is that I'm really in love with you, Sariah Mikaella. I can't see myself with anyone else. You're the love of my life and I want you as my wife."
"Nasan singsing?" I asked with tears falling from my eyes.
He pursed my lips. "I'll get you one tomorrow."
"Tignan mo 'to! Magpopropose ng walang singsing!"
He smiled. "I didn't know that I'd be proposing today either," he said, just letting me hit his chest—my favorite activity. Minsan kinakagat ko rin siya.
"Ano 'to? Trip-trip mo lang? Siraulo ka talaga minsan," sabi ko sa kanya. Minsan sinasabi niya sa akin na kakain lang kami ng breakfast tapos magugulat ako nagcacamping na kami. Mga trip nitong lalaki na 'to, e.
"Well, while I was waiting for you—"
"Sorry na nga!"
"It's fine," he said. "But while I was waiting, I thought that if I were your husband, then no matter how busy you get, at the end of the day, you'll still come home to me... Is that okay?" he asked. "If it's not—"
"Okay nga lang!" sabi ko kasi baka magbago pa iyong isip.
'Di naman ako magdedeny, iniisip ko na rin minsan kung magpopropose si Cohen kasi 3 years na rin kaya kami! Tapos never pa kami nag-away dahil sa third party kasi pareho naman kaming walang pakielam sa iba. Pinaka-problema namin na hindi kami nagkikita minsan kapag busy...
Gusto ko rin naman siyang makita araw-araw kaya lang hindi pwede kasi nasa magkaibang apartment pa rin kami. I never tried sleeping over at his place because I didn't want to break my family's trust. Pinayagan na nga akong pumunta dun, ayoko namang umabuso.
He bit his lower lip, but a smile still appeared on his face. "Really?"
I nodded. "Really! Singsing muna!"
"Tomorrow, I promise."
"Bukas ka na ulit magpropose kapag may singsing."
"Sari—"
"I don't make the rules," I said, tapping his cheek.
"But... are you my fiancée now?" he asked.
I showed him my hands. "May nakikita ka bang singsing? Wala—"
He looked at his watch. It's only 5:30pm. "Just wait for me," he said.
"Saan ka—" Pero hindi ko na naituloy iyong sasabihin ko dahil mabilis ko siyang nakita na sumakay sa sasakyan niya. Bibili ba siya ng singsing ngayon? As in seriously?! Nagpaalam man lang ba siya sa magulang niya?! Sa nanay at tatay Preston ko?!
Ang biglaan naman nito?!
My hands were shaking as I tried to continue answering my stupid quiz. Sobrang nahihiya ako pero hindi na talaga ako makapagconcentrate kaya nanghingi na ako ng support sa mabait kong classmate na sinendan naman ako ng link ng source kaya mas naging madali iyong pagsasagot ko.
'Tong si Cohen talaga! Mga maisipan!
I kept on glancing at my phone, waiting for him to text, but natapos na ako sa ginagawa ko, hindi pa rin siya nagtetext. Sasakalin ko talaga 'yung leche na 'yun! Ang pa-yummy!
I kept on cursing him hanggang sa pauwi ako dahil hindi sumasagot sa text tapos hindi available para tawagan. Siraulo talaga! Susuntukin ko 'yun kapag nakita ko! Ang kapal magpabitin—
Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko na naka-upo siya sa sahig at nagpapa-lobo ng silver na balloons. His eyes were wide as if he was caught doing something he shouldn't be doing.
"Love—" he said, standing up, his unfinished balloon still in his hand. I looked around and saw a few balloons already floating up to my ceiling. Nandun din iyong paborito kong bulaklak... and petals scattered around the floor.
"This... is really serious," I uttered when I realized that this was really happening.
"I wasn't done preparing," he said.
I looked at him and as if on cue, tears began to form on my eyes. Seriously, Cohen! Bakit—
"Let's get married," I said.
"Wait, I haven't proposed yet," he said, showing me a navy blue velvet box.
"Hindi na kailangan."
"But I ran around in panic just to buy this!" reklamo niya.
"Papakasalan ka na nga, e! Nagrereklamo ka pa?!"
"Just let me, okay?" he said as he dropped down on his knee.
"Wait," I said.
"What?" he asked.
Tumakbo ako papunta sa gilid tapos nilagay ko iyong phone ko roon. "Move ka sa right," sabi ko kay Cohen. "Bilis na!" utos ko sa kanya kaya wala siyang nagawa kaya tumayo muna siya at pumwesto para sakto sa camera. Nang masigurado ko na marerecord lahat, bumalik ako sa pwesto ko.
"Game na!" I said.
He laughed. "You're really crazy."
"You're marrying this crazy."
"Right," he said, dropping on his knee again. "Sariah Mikaella..." he began.
"Yes, Cohen Isaac?"
Pinipigilan niyang matawa kaya pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. Serious kasi! Parang tanga!
"I don't even know what to say anymore because I'm sure that every day, I tell you how much I love you and how you mean the world to me," he began and wala na... Umiyak na ako kasi totoo. Palagi niyang sinasabi na mahal niya ako at pinapakita niya rin. Kaya hindi talaga ako gumagawa ng kahit ano na pag-aawayan namin... Kasi ganoon ko siya kamahal. Kasi hindi niya deserve na saktan ko...
"But I want you to know that from the moment I decided that you're the love of my life, I knew then that it's only a matter of right timing before I ask you to marry me."
"Teka... alam ba 'to nila Mama?"
He nodded. "Yeah... I asked them last year."
"Last year?!"
He nodded again. "Didn't say that I'd propose already... but that soon, I might," he said. "But please let me finish first, okay, Love?"
Tumango ako at kinalma ang sarili ko. God... this was really happening!
"So... Sariah Mikaella Miranda, will you allow me to legally make you Mrs. Gomez de Liaño?"
I bit my lower lip as tears began to fall. "Walangya ka talaga... Gusto mong ma-ban na rin ako sa bahay ni kuya?"
He laughed. "It's okay. You'll be more than welcomed in GDL's residence."
"Paano... kapag gusto kong Miranda pa rin apelido ko?"
"It's okay. As long as you're my wife, I don't mind what your last name is."
"Paano kung gusto kong ikaw magpalit ng apelido?"
"That's... something we need to discuss."
"Ayaw mo?"
"Can you please wear this ring first before we discuss who's changing last names?" he asked.
Inirapan ko nga tapos nilahad ko iyong kamay ko at isinuot niya iyong singsing. He stood up and smiled at me.
"Masaya ka na?" tanong ko habang suot ko iyong singsing.
He nodded. "I love you."
"Saan tayo magpapakasal?" I asked, admiring the ring he got me. It wasn't that big... but I love it because he's the one who gave me this. I'd forever treasure this with my life.
Instead of answering, he cupped my face and kissed my lips. He kissed me hard and kissed me good. He kissed me until I couldn't breathe again.
"When can you go home?" he asked.
"Next year pa," I said, frowning.
"Okay... but I really want to get married already so we can live together."
"Yan lang talaga habol mo, no?" tanong ko habang pinaningkitan siya ng mga mata.
He laughed. "Kinda... but I love you, okay?"
I looked at the time and looked at Cohen and said, "Okay, birthday boy, let's make your wish come true."