Celine couldn't help but cry again. This is, by far, the best night of her life.

"Don't cry, Celine. Umiyak ka na lang kapag nagpu-propose na 'ko sa 'yo," nakangiti nitong sabi sa kanya.

She hugged Kelvin tightly. Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwalang gagawin nito iyon para sa kanya. Tattoos are more permanent than bracelets. Her name's forever etched in his skin. Paano kung mag-break sila? What if he falls out of love?

She shook her head. He won't. He was so certain that he won't, that's why he did it. He knows that he'll be in love with her for a very long time. She'll probably do the same kung hindi lang sya takot sa karayom. She would love to have his name tattooed on her wrist. But the bracelet will do. Iingatan na lamang niya iyon nang mabuti.

"I love you," she told him. "Sorry kung pinaghintay kita nang matagal."

She heard him sniff. When she looked up, nagpapahid ito ng luha.

"Bakit ka umiiyak dyan?"

"Binigla mo kasi ako. I didn't have time to prepare myself for that." He heaved out a sigh. "Do you really?"

Tumango siya. "Bakit, ayaw mo?"

"Syempre, gusto. It's just hard to believe that you do. I've contented myself with showing you how I feel, as long as you let me. Knowing that you finally love me back is so much more than I could ever ask for."

Tumingki siya para halikan ito.

"Minus 20 na 'yan ha," she said after, which made him laugh.

"Fine," he replied. "Minus 100 if you initiated and it lasted a minute."

She pinched his cheek. "Abuso ka na, ha."

He grinned. Then he kissed her forehead. "If I could have your name engraved on my bones, I would. Too bad tattoos are only skin-deep."

"Hindi mo naman kailangang gawin 'yon, e. Masaya na 'ko sa matching bracelets."

"I don't want to wear a bracelet. This is manlier," he told her. "And besides, I want something more permanent."

"Kaso hindi tayo match," pangungulit niya.

"Does it matter?"

"Aesthetics."

"Ang dami mong alam."

--

"I love you."

She let him kiss her this time.

"Hindi ka pa inaantok?" tanong niya. "Madaling-araw na kaya."

He shook his head. "I'm too happy to be sleepy."

She smiled. "Me too."

"Hey, I want us to do something."

"Ano?"

As if on cue, another song started playing. Kelvin took the flowers from her hand and put it on the floor next to the post. Then he put her hands on his shoulders and encircled her waist with his.

"Dance."

You look so wonderful in your dress

I love your hair like that

The way it falls on the side of your neck

Down your shoulders and back

She looked down on their feet. Hindi kasi siya sanay sumayaw. Baka maapakan niya ang mga paa nito.

We are surrounded by all of these lies

And people who talk too much

You got the kind of look in your eyes

As if no one knows anything but us

Kelvin tilted her chin up.

"Baka maapakan ko 'yong paa mo," sabi niya rito.

"It's okay."

Sinabayan nito ang kasunod na mga linya habang nakatingin sa kanya. Even his voice changed. Did he take voice lessons o may love goggles lang siya ngayon kaya parang ang ganda-ganda ng boses nito?

Should this be the last thing I see

I want you to know it's enough for me

'Cause all that you are is all that I'll ever need

He pulled her closer.

I'm so in love, so in love

So in love, so in love

"I'm so in love with you," he told her.

--

Halos alas singko na ng umaga nang makauwi silang dalawa. Kelvin made sure that they eat first before taking her home. Celine wasn't able to sleep until 8 in the morning. Kaya nang magising siya, gabi na rin. She checked her phone to see if there are calls or messages from him.

Mayroon doong isang mensahe galing dito.

Hi, Love. Let's have dinner later. :)

It was sent just a few minutes ago. Hindi nito sinabi ang oras pero bumangon na rin siya at agad na naligo.

When she came back to get dressed, may message na ulit ito.

Are you still asleep?

There were also three missed calls from him.

Sorry. Katatapos ko lang kasing maligo, she replied. Anong oras ba?

Seven-ish. I'll be there in a few minutes.

She looked at the time. Really? It's almost seven already. Groaning, she searched her closet for a decent dress. Agad niyang nakita 'yong dress na binili nito para sa kanya. Iyon na lamang ang isinuot niya saka siya nagpatuyo ng buhok. There's not much time left to do anything else with her hair, kaya inilugay na lamang niya iyon.

Then she put on a little makeup. She was just about to finish putting on her lipstick when he called again. Nasa labas na raw ito ng boarding house. Dali-dali siyang bumaba para papasukin ito.

"Dito ka muna, ha. Sandali na lang 'to," sabi niya.

She was about to go upstairs nang pigilan siya nito.

"Wait lang."

"Bakit?"

"Kiss ko?"

Pinigilan niya ang mukha nito nang bigla itong yumuko. Sinimangutan siya nito. Rolling her eyes, she made him sit, then bent down and kissed him.

"Minus 20."

"I can't remember the last count. Can we start over?" he asked, grinning.

"Nilista ko na. Madaya ka kasi."

Hinawakan siya nitong muli sa braso nang akmang aalis siya.

"Teka lang, Love."

She almost cringed at the endearment. "Ano? Love?" She made a face. "Tigilan mo nga 'yang kakornihan mo."

"It's sweet."

"It's corny," she retorted.

"Ayaw mo?"

She shook her head vigorously.

"I'll take off 5K from your debt," he bargained.

"Ayoko pa rin."

"I'll take off 10K."

"Kahit tanggalin mo lahat, ayaw ko pa rin."

"Come on, Celine, do this for me. Please?"

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Alam mo namang hindi ako sweet, e. Hindi ako sanay sa ganyan."

"Kaya nga sinasanay kita."

"Love-" she cringed at her own attempt. "Kita mo. Kinikilabutan ako sa sobrang corny."

"You'll get used to it eventually."

"Grabe. First boyfriend ko, sobrang korni kaagad."

"First and last," he corrected.

"Weh? Sure ka?"

"Why? Do you see yourself ending up with anyone else? Because I don't," seryoso nitong sagot.

"Masyado ka namang seryoso."

"Because I am serious about you. I'm tired of people not taking my feelings seriously, so please don't question them again."

"Okay. Sorry na." She touched his cheek and smiled. "Love," she added, cringing inwardly.

His face automatically lit up. It's funny how such little gestures from her make him happy. It just goes to show that he loves her that much. Kahit kaliit-liitang effort niya, napapasaya ito.

"Ilan ang babawasin ko sa utang mo?" tanong nito.

"Wala. Bigay ko na sa 'yo 'yan," sagot niya. Then, she stoop down to kiss him again.

"And that?"

"For the brownies."

"You knew?"

Tumango siya. "Sinabi sa 'kin ng mommy mo."

"Na mommy mo na rin."

She laughed. "Huwag kang excited."

Hinila niya ang braso para makaakyat na't makapag-ayos, but he tugged back.

"Hindi tayo makakaalis nito," she told him.

"Tama na kasi. Maganda ka na."

"Sandali na lang nga kasi."

He sighed. "Fine. And while you're at it, you better change your clothes as well. Mag-jeans ka na lang. And bring a jacket."

"Bakit? Sa'n ba tayo pupunta?"

"Harbor."

"Harbor?"

"Yeah. We'll ride a boat."

"Tapos? Sa'n tayo kakain?"

"Do'n din. Sa boat," he replied.

"Okay." Tinanggal niya ang kamay nito mula sa pagkakakapit sa braso niya.

"Hurry up. Baka maiwan tayo."

"Oo na."

"Wait."

"Ano na naman?"

He pulled her and kissed her. "Okay. Go."