16
MY grandmother's 60th birthday is grand and luxurious. And thankfully, nairaos namin iyon.
Naging maayos at masaya ang birthday ni Lola. A lot of family friends came and some distant relatives.
At dahil doon naging tapunan kami, specifically Jericho, ng mga tukso. Hindi kami halos nilubayan ng mga auntie at uncle ko lalo na noong nalaman nila na he's an Aranzaga.
Right now, ang mga kamag-anak namin ay pabalik na sa ibang bansa at ihahatid namin sila sa airport.
Mabuti na lamang ay pumayag si Jericho na ipag-drive kami nina Lola papuntang airport, hindi kasi kami magkasya sa isa van lamang.
"Bakit kasi hindi ka pa mag-aral magdrive, Nikki. Masisira na ang makina niyang sasakyan mo." Sabi ni lola.
I have a car. Before my parents died, my parents left me all of the fruit of their hardwork. Including a car and our house and lot back in Australia.
"Lola, wala pa pong time. Kapag nagka-time na mage-enroll ako." Sabi ko.
"Mage-enroll ka pa sa driving school kung may boyfriend ka namang marunong mag-drive."
Awkwark silence filled the car until Jericho cleared his throat.
"'La, nanliligaw pa lang po ako." Magalang niyang sabi.
Gulat namang tumingin sakin si Lola, at mula sakanyang maayos na pagkaupo ay inabot niya ko upang mapalo ang braso ko.
"Arouch!"
"Hindi mo pa pala nobyo 'to!" Aniya. At nakarating kami ng airport ng pinagsasabihan ako ni Lola kung bakit ko raw masyadong pinapahirapan si Jericho.
Si Jericho naman ay nakangisi lamang habang nakikinig saming dalawa ni Lola.
WE'RE currently taking photos kasama si Kat dahil ipangs-story niya raw sa IG when I noticed that Jericho is having a serious talk with my grandma.
Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko ng bigla akong hinarap ni Kat sakanya.
"You better be in Australia next summer, Nikki." She said in her Australian accent.
Napangiti naman ako ng bahagya, "I will, Kat."
We hugged for one last time and bid each other goodbye.
NASA harap na kami ng bahay namin ng pinigilan akong bumaba ni lola.
"Maiwan ka rito." Sabi niya lamang at bumaba na kasama ang private nurse niya.
Nakakunot naman ang noo habang pinagmamasdan sina lola na pumasok sa loob ng bahay.
Bago pumasok ay kumaway pa samin ay doon ko narinig ang mahinang pagtawa ni Jericho.
"What is that?" Tanong ko sakanya. Habang naguhuluhan ang ako nakangisi naman siya.
"Just sit tight, babe." Aniya at pinaandar muli ang sasakyan.
Napailing na lamang ako at sumandal sa headrest. "Mga trip niyo talaga ni Lola eh." I said then heard him chuckle.
Habang nagd-drive siya papunta kung saan, hindi ko namamalayan na nakakatulog na pala ako.
Naalimpungatan ako ng may maramdaman akong may humahaplos sa braso ko. Nilingon ko iyon at nakita mo si Jericho na nakatingin ng maigi sakin. Nang makita niyang nagising ako ngumiti siya agad dahilan para mapangiti rin ako.
"Hey." Medyo paos kong bati sakanya. Tinignan ko ang wrist watch ko at makita kong alas singko na ng hapon.
Kinusot ko muna ang aking mga mata at hinarap siya. Tumaas naman ang kanyang kamay para hawakan ang pisngi ko.
"Hi, babe." Bati niya pabalik sakin.
"Where are we?" Tanong ko at umupo na ng maayos.
"We're in Silang, babe." Napatingin naman ako muli sakanya at nakita kong may ngisi na ang kanyang mukha.
"Alam ba ni Lola 'to?" I asked while grabbing my Lacoste black purse.
"Yup. Napagpaalam na kita while we're still in the airport." Aniya.
Bumaba na kami ng sasakyan, with him opening the car door for me, at sumalubong samin ang malamig na simoy ng hangin.
I automatically rubbed my arms to warm myself when Jericho put on a jacket on my shoulders.
I looked behind him and quietly thanked him.
He intertwined our hand as we get inside the café called Café Agapita.
As we enter, I immediately smelled the aroma of coffee beans mixed with a little vanilla due to the numerous displayed scented candles inside.
"Mr. Aranzaga." Bati samin ng isang lalaking naka-itim na T-shirt at may tribal tatoo sa kanyang forearm.
Nginitian naman niya kaming dalawa dahilan para suklian ko rin iyon. Naramdaman ko naman na bahagyang humigpit ang hawak ni Jericho sa aking kamay.
"I believe we reserved a seat." Seryosong sabi ni Jericho. I was just looking at him as he said that.
He's not even trying but I find him so hot in every little thing he do.
"This way, sir." Magalang nitong sabi at naunang maglakad.
Tinignan muna ako ni Jericho upang makita lamang na nakatingin ako sakanya. Nginitian ko siya at yumuko naman siya para patakan ako ng halik sa noo.
Nakarating kami sa balcony sa second floor at iniwan na kami ng lalaki. Napansin ko naman na nag-iisa lamang ang table para sa dalawa roon at nakadisenyo pa.
The wooden table have a red cloth on it with a double-headed candle light and three boquet of rose centerpiece. The railings of the balcony has white christmas lights on it.
I was still mesmerize because of the set-up when I felt Jericho wrapped his arms on my shoulder. "Oh my gosh."
I turn around to face him just to see that he's looking at me. "This is so beautiful."
He slightly smiled and caressed my cheeks. "I'm glad you like it." He whispered. "C'mon."
He guided me to the seat and put a cloth in my thigh then playfully did a curtsy making me chuckle.
WE welcomed the night with full of laughters and conversations about our childhoods and random stuff.
"You were?!" Gulat kong tanong sakanya.
He sipped on the wine first while chuckling then answered me. "Yeah, it's true. I was bullied."
"Paano? Eh you basically own the school."
"Hm let's say, they don't care. But we're all good now."
I pouted. "Kawawa ka naman pala noon." I said making him chuckle.
Narinig naman namin ang pagbukas ng glass sliding door. At pumasok ang isang babaeng may hawak na dalawang plato.
"Oh my gosh." Bulalas ko habang nilalapag ng babae ang dalawang plato na may steak.
"Enjoy your meal, ma'am." Aniya habang nakatingin sakin. Tinanguan naman lamang nito si Jericho.
Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ng babae ay lumapit ako kay Jericho.
"They have steak?" Naguguluhang bulong ko. Natawa naman siya ng kaunti.
"Only for us." Bulong din nito sakin.
Nginitian ko naman siya at umiling. What can an Aranzaga can't do?
We're halfway through our steaks when I suddenly heard a violin played in a bluetooth speakers above us.
Nanlaki ang aking mata at tumingin kay Jericho na nakangiti. He wipe the side of his lips with a white cloth then stand up.
He went beside me making me stop eating. Inilahad naman niya ang kanyang kamay sakin. "Can I have this dance with you Dominique?"
I let out a quiet 'aww' then hold his hand.
We stand in the other side of the balcony. He held both of my hands and put it on his nape, he then slowly caress down my abdomen to my waist and held it tight.
He then slowly guide me to slowly sway my hips. And he did that, I was just looking intently at him while smiling.
"And if you hurt me, that's okay baby only words bleed. Inside these pages you just hold me, and I won't ever let you go. Wait for me to come." Sabay niya sa instrumental na tugtog.
Nginitian ko naman siya ng matamis at sumandal sa kanyang dibdib. I can clearly hear his heart's loud beats while we dance to the music.
"Dominique, I've been waiting to ask—" Hindi natuloy ang kanyang sinasabi dahil nag-ring ang aking cellphone.
And based on its ringtone, it's an emergency.
"S-Saglit lang." Sabi ko at humiwalay sakanya. Nakakunot naman lamang ang kanyang noo.
"Hello—"
"Ate nasa St. Luke's kami ngayon. Inatake kanina si Lola—"
"Ha?!"
"O-Opo, pasensya na ngayon ko lang kayo natawagan."
"T-Teka. Saglit, nasan kayo ulit?"
"Sa Taguig ate." Natataranta at umiiyak niyang sabi sakin.
Binaba ko naman agad ang tawag at nilingon si Jericho na nasa tabi ko na.
"J-Jericho..."