I looked at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a maroon sleeveless turtle neck top and a black fitted pants.
"Ingat kayo, ah," My mother said. Si Frank na ang sumagot sa sinabi ni mama dahil busy pa ako kabahan dito!
Naglagay lang ako ng simpleng make up. Should I put more? O ayos na 'to? It's so hard to think what fits me! Lalo na kapag haharapin ang mga magulang ni Frank.
Naramdaman ko ang pagdapo ng kamay sa aking bewang. I looked at Frank in the mirror.
"'Wag ka kabahan," He chuckled. Tinampal ko ang kamay niya at umarte na parang paiyak na.
"Nakakakaba kaya! They hated me. Or probably until now!" Mangiyak ngiyak ko na sabi.
Lumabas kami ng kwarto ko at iniwan ko muna siya kay mama. I went to see my friends before leaving.
"Guys, I need motivation please!" I struggled. Kumunot ang mga noo nila at natatawa sa akin.
"Jowa ka pa kasi! Buti pa ako," Rica said.
"Kapag ikaw humarot, Rica. Nako, Maria! 'Wag ka lang clumpsy baka pati wedding ckumpsy din!" Si Briella naman.
Kapag walang masyadong ginagawa at pasok, nagsasama sama kami sa isang condo. Sakto nandito sila kaya humihingi ako ng advice. Pero bakit parang baliktad ata?
"'Wag ka muna malandi sa harap ng mga magulang ha? Parang awa mo na, kaharutan set aside," Si Jane naman.
"Wow! Thanks, huh! Sige na, bye. Take care sa akin," I sarcastically said. I heard them laughed.
Kita ko kaagad si Frank paglabas ko ng kwarto. I saw him stand properly while looking at me. Umiling ako at iniwas ang tingin.
"Mama, una na kami," Paalam namin. She nodded and said something to Frank which I definitely don't know.
He put his hand on my waist as we enter the elevator.
"Everything will be fine," Sabi ni Frank.
Sabi niya 'yan, ah! Umiling ako at lumabas na kami ng elevator. He opened the door of the front seat. Pumasok ako at pinagmasdan siya na pumasok sa driver's seat. We took a long three hours before getting there. Medyo traffic din.
"Tara na," He held me hand to make me calm. My heart beats so fast now, hay!
Naglakad kami sa isang magandang bahay. His parents have a mansion. Hindi ito ang dating bahay nila noong high school siya. I think ito ang ang talagang sakanila pero ang tinutuluyan nila dati ay parang dorm lang.
Pumasok kami sa gate. Pinagbuksan kami ng mga kasambahay nila. Nangangatog na ang tuhod ko, palapit na kami ng palapit. I glanced to the helpers and greeted them. May nakita akong lalaki na papalapit sa amin. Familiar! He went near us and now I know who he is.
"Kuya," Frank greeted. They did a gesture.
Lumingon sa akin si Kuya Fredd at ngumiti. I nodded and bowed a little.
Nauna na siyang pumasok kaya sumunod na kami. We entered the door of their house which made me more nervous. Inayos ni Frank ang kamay niya sa bewang ko kaya napalingon ako sakaniya. Bakit ba ang kalmado niya lang? Hindi ba siya takot na baka hindi ako matanggap ng mga magulang niya?
Their house or should I say mansion is so beautiful! Modern ang halos lahat ng nasa paligid.
"Son," Mas nagulat ako at kinabahan dahil doon. I looked at his father. Niyakap niya ang anak. I felt so shy! Para ako ditong design na tumigas.
His father turned his face to me, "G-goodmorning po."
"Goodmorning," His father gave me a smile.
Pumunta kami sa dining area nila. I saw two people there. His brother and his mother. Pabilis na nang pabilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Wow, fuck.
Umupo kami at napatahimik. Nasa tabi ko si Frank at nasa harap ko naman ang upuan ng nanay niya. Ang tatay niya ay nasa gitna ng table. At ang kuya niya ay nasa tabi ng upuan ng nanay niya. I feel like my sweats are about to show up.
Umupo na ang nanay niya kaya napa ayos ako ng upo. The maids brought the foods and left.
"Frank. I hope you're doing well to your studies," Pagsimula ng nanay niya.
"Of course, mom. We are doing better.." Sagot naman ni Frank. I looked at him and smiled.
Nilagyan ko ng kanin ang plato ni Frank. I also put some dishes. Siya naman ay kumukuha ng inumin namin. Napatigil ako nng malaman na nakatingin sa amin ang pamilya niya. My face suddenly heated.
"Sana lahat, kapatid," Tawa ng kuya niya.
"Alagang alaga pala ang anak ko sa'yo, Maria.." His dad said.
Yumuko ako at ngumiti sakaniya.
"'Yan na ba 'yon, anak?" My eyes widened when his mother spoke. Napalunok ako roon ng malalim, ah!
"Mom.." I heard Frank. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya para pigilan nalang siya.
"Wow! Ang ganda niya, ah? Bet," Napalingon kami sa mama niya. I blinked many times before realizing I just got praised by his mother.
His mom chuckled, "Maria. Am I right? So what course are you talking?"
"S-same as Frank po, Ma'am. Bachelor of Science in Administration," I stuttered.
"Oh. Business ka rin in the future?" Tanong niya, hindi inaalis ang tingin at ngiti sa akin.
"Law po," I said.
"Wow! Mag Lawyer ka? Puwede pala siya pumasok sa firm natin! We are handling a law firm," Masayang sabi ng mama ni Frank.
"Sure, Ma'am," I smiled.
Nagulat ako nang biglang huminga ng malalim at umirap ang mama niya. Shoot? Did I do something wrong?
"Just call me mom too. No need to be formal," She smiled. Tumango ako nang dahan dahan dahil hindi pa rin makapaniwala.
We exchanged laughters and also stories about life. We even talked about the high school time. Nahiya ako pero naging komportable rin naman habang tumatagal.
"Nga pala Maria. I'm sorry about the text. The one you probably saw? Sorry I did not know Alia meddled with my things, ang phone ko pa. Kapal niya grabe!" She reasoned out.
Napatawa kami dahil sa sinabi niya. I also said it's fine. I already forget that thing.
"Balik kayo rito, ah? Mag vacation tayo soon. Maybe boracay?" Mom said. Napa-iling si Frank doon at kumaway na kami.
We went inside his car. Tumingin kami sa isa't isa at napangiti.
"Wow. They like you so much," He said. Ngumiti ako at nahiya roon.
After that, our life became more better. Tumahimik ang buhay namin. We got into some fights but solved fast. Nagpatuloy ang bawat araw namin na wala ng hadlang. Hectic schedule striked too. Hindi naging mahirap iyon sa amin dahil magkaklase kami. We even spent time together doing our projects. Look at us, the old innocent us before faded. We decided to start a better version of ourselves. Which caused us more maturity in life.
Ang dating kalaban ko sa pag-aaral, kasundo ko na ngayon araw-araw.
"Thank you, Attorney," Teresa, my client said.
I nodded, "Let us set our next talk for this week."
Tumayo na kami at nagkamayan. I fixed my things and review some papers. I'm working under a law firm company. I massages my head and started reading.
Arwen: Party, later!
Maria: Wala kang flight?
Arwen: Wala! Gusto ko kasama kayo ngayong rest day ko.
Briella: G! Punta muna ako sa may site.
Jane: Goodluck kung makakapunta ako. Daming gagawin shuta.
Jarmine: Sabay na tayong site, Briella. Tangina kasi kung sino na naman 'yang crush mong engineer.
I laughed. After so many years, we have become who we really wanted. Some of us are still studying and on the process. Pero malapit na rin naman. We are successful on our own way kung baga. I'm so happy that we reached our dreams together. Walang hatakan pababa, wala ring lamangan. We supported each other.
I looked at the ring on my finger. One more year. Isang taon na lang matutupad ka na rin. Isang taon na lang ay mapapalitan na ang apilyedo ko. Patience is really a virtue. But also, trust too. Hindi kami tatagal ng ganito kung wala noon.
I stood up and brought my things. Inayos ko ang buhok ko bago lumabas ng kwarto.
"Good morning, ma'am," Someone greeted. Tumango ako at bumati pabalik.
"Love," I smiled when I saw Frank.
"Good morning, sir!" Some people bowed their heads on him. Hmp, my C.E.O.
He put his hand on my waist and started walking. Tumawa ako nang may binulong siya sa akin.
"Sakin ka muna uwi, please," He whispered.
Tinampal ko ang braso niya at umiling nalang.
"One year pa, Frank. But okay, I will," Sabi ko naman.
"Lapit na," He smirked.
We went in his car and went somewhere. Nagpalit na ako ng damit dahil ayokong naka formal attire ako habang gagala kami. Sabi niya pupunta raw kami sa isang lugar na tahimik.
We went out his car when we arrived somewhere. My eyes widened when I saw the sun that is about to fall or the sunset. Tanaw namin ang mga bahay bahay sa ibaba. And with some fresh air!
"Ang tahimik. Ang ganda," I praised the place.
I heard him chuckled and hugged me from my back.
"Those words you said.. I promise to you all of that. Lalo na kapag kinasal na tayo. I would always tell that you're beautiful.. but the silent one, I don't think so," He chuckled.
"Sama ah!" Sabi ko naman.
"I promise you a beautiful and silent life.. I promise you the world, my love. I will never get tired of saying sweet words for you even it means corny to you.. I will never get tired cooking for you until you get tired of eating.. I will never get tired choosing you everyday. And I will never get tired on loving you. On accepting you and your flaws," He continued.
"Nakakainis ka naman!" I said while wiping my tears.
"Remember when I told you before that you deserve the world? I think I'm buying that one again. Now that I can finally give you the world you really deserve. Noon, alam ko na puro salita lang ako. But now that I'm with you, spending the rest of my life, I will surely make an action. I'm not who I am today without you.." He continued. Mas lalong bumuhos ang mga luha ko.
I faced them and clinged my arms around his neck.
"Ako rin, no. 'Di ko papatalo!" I chuckled. Nawala ang tawa ko nang nakita siya na seryoso ang tingin sa akin.
"Thank you. That's all that I can say for now. Thank you for everything. Salamat sa lahat ng mga pangako mo na hindi napapako. You know, you always make me proud. The day when you stepped as a C.E.O, I was there by your side. Nakita ko kung paano ka nabuo muli. Nakita ko kung paano mo abutin ang pangarap mo. And I'm thankful that I was there. I promise you that I will always be by your side, every path of your life," I mean every words.
Nakita ko ang pagkislap ng mga mata niya. I saw some tears that wont come out.
"I'm not going to be scared. Kapag nandiyan ka, panatag ako. I will not let every single day pass without me loving you. Ang mga pagsubok na dadaan sa atin, lalabanan natin. Lagi mo lang tatandaan na nandito ako palagi para sa'yo. At ganoon ka rin, alam ko," I continued.
He smiled and licked his lips before giving me a deep kiss. I kissed him back, passionate enough.
"Mahal na mahal kita.." He whispered.
"Mahal na mahal din kita," I responded.
We hugged each other as we embraced the surroundings. Embraced the fresh air from this place. We spent another year together.
That's how our love started. Siguro ang pagmamahalan namin noon ay isang paghahanda lang. Parang prologue ng isang libro. Ihahanda ka sa kung anong sakit at saya. Ngayon, magsisimula kami ng panibago. Panibagong pahina ng buhay kung saan kasal na kami.
We are officially married with a one healthy son, and living our happy life.
Attorney Mariatracia Jaren Pores Ponce of the C.E.O Frank Terrence Ponce, signing off.
|End|