Troy didn't propose that night, which is such a relief. Ayaw naman ni Red na agawan ng eksena si Vico sa mismong kasal nito. Maayos na ang relasyon nilang magpinsan. She didn't want to ruin it. Troy just made a speech, like he promised. He thanked Vico for taking care of her and for being such a huge help to basically everyone.

Pagkatapos ng speech at pagkain, nagpunta sila sa tabing dagat. They danced around the bonfire. She put her hands under Troy's coat. She intertwined them behind him. Saka siya sumandal sa dibdib nito habang ito naman ay nakayakap sa kanya.

"Are you cold?"

"Not anymore," she answered as she snuggle him.

"Do you want this kind of wedding? Yung simple lang? O gusto mong magarbo?" sunod-sunod nitong tanong.

"I thought I wanted a grand wedding," she confessed. "But this is actually nice. Mabuti na yung kaunti lang ang bisita. Hindi nakakapagod makipagplastikan."

Troy laughed at her remark. "Don't worry. Hindi tayo mag-iimbita ng taong hindi mo gusto."

"Let's not publicize the wedding. Baka pumunta si Tanya tapos tumutol sa kasal."

"I wouldn't let her ruin our day," masuyo nitong sabi. "Sa'n mo ba gustong makasal? Gusto mong sa ibang bansa rin so she won't be able to come? We can tell her a different venue, throw her off course."

Umiling siya. "Gusto ko, sa Pilipinas. And I want a garden wedding."

"Yellow roses?"

"Everywhere."

He smiled and kissed her. "Done."

"Pero hindi ka pa nagpu-propose," simangot niyang sabi. "Kelan ka ba magpu-propose?"

"Basta. Not tonight, but I will. Surprise na lang."

--

Kinabukasan sila bumalik sa Pilipinas. She's guessing na gabi ng Sabado o madaling-araw ng Linggo sila makakarating. Troy advised her to not go to work by Monday, kasi baka jet-lagged pa sya. Ayaw rin sana niya dahil wala si Vico pagbalik niya. Tumuloy na kasi ito sa Maldives kasama si Mitch for their honeymoon.

Next, next week pa ang balik nito. Rose, Vince's secretary, will be handling her schedule. She didn't want to burden Rose but the latter insisted. Buti na nga lang, diligent ito. Pulido na ang sked ni Vince for the next two weeks. So, sa kanya na lang yung poproblemahin.

Last night, Troy got the chance to talk to her dad. They talked over a bottle of champagne and maybe it's the just the wedding vibe, but her dad was actually jovial during the conversation. Hindi na nga ito nagreklamo nang kay Troy siya tumabi during the 11 hour flight back to Manila.

Magkahawak sila ni Troy ng kamay. Nakasandal siya rito. They weren't talking. Nagpapahinga lang sila. Maya-maya ay nakatulog na siya.

She woke up a few hours later. Tulog na halos lahat ng passengers. Troy's still awake. Nakatingin lang ito sa labas ng bintana.

"Hindi ka nakatulog?" tanong niya.

Umiling ito. "Ikaw, bakit gumising ka kaagad?"

"Hindi ko naman sinadyang gumising agad. Maybe I'll sleep again later. Hindi na ako masyadong inaantok e."

Inayos niya ang upuan. Mabuti na lang at first class ang seats nila, mahimbing ang naging tulog niya.

"We could kill time at the lavatory."

Kumunot ang noo niya sa sinabi nito. And then her cheeks redden when it finally sunk in.

"You—"

He gave her a boyish grin. "You blush too easily these days," natatawa nitong sabi.

"Bawas-bawasan mo 'yang pagkamahilig mo ha."

"Joke lang naman e," nakanguso nitong sabi.

 "Kahit na." She pinched his nose. "I don't want to be tired when we land."

Sumandal siya rito.

"I'll try to sleep again. Pag-isipan mo na lang kung pa'no ka magpu-propose para maging busy ka."

--

Mag-aalas dose na nang makalapag ang eroplanong sinasakyan nila sa NAIA. Halos tulog si Red buong byahe kaya naman wala makausap si Troy. Ayaw naman niyang kausapin si Vince. Lalo namang ayaw niyang kausap ang daddy ni Red. It's not that he doesn't like the old man, but it feels like he would only shoot himself in the foot kapag nakipagkwentuhan siya rito.

Baka may masabi pa siyang hindi nito magustuhan, e di nawalan lang sya ng pag-asang matanggap nito.

Ipahahatid na lamang sana niya sa driver ang mga kapatid dahil plano niyang matulog sa bahay ni Red, but the latter refused and told him to go home.

"Masyado ka nang clingy," pabiro nitong sabi sa kanya.

Kung siya ang masusunod, he will never leave her side again. Gustong-gusto niya itong kasama kahit maya't maya siya nitong binabara. Siguro nga ay ganoon kapag in love. Kahit araw-araw nang magkasama, hindi kayo nauumay sa isa't isa.

He figured that his love for her is greater than her love for him, kasi okay lang dito na magkahiwalay sila, kahit ilang oras pa. But then again, she didn't want him to go with Santina. And there's also that thing about wanting him and keeping his heart for the rest of her life.

Para syang batang kinikilig noon dahil sa sinabi nito.

That's why he wants to make his proposal special, one that she will never forget as long as she lives.

--

Red was getting impatient. Ilang beses na niyang inakala na magpu-propose na ulit si Troy, but he didn't. Every time, maling akala lamang. Tulad noong next weekend after Vico's wedding. He brought her to Pampanga. Sumakay sila sa hot air balloon. It was a thrilling experience. And it would have been better kung nag-propose sana ito roon. Sakto pa naman sana sa Valentine's.

But he didn't. Maybe he was overthinking things. Kasalanan din siguro niya. Siguro nga ay hinayaan na lamang dapat niya itong mag-propose noong nag-dinner sila. O kahit noong nasa bath tub. Hindi kasi niya alam kung kailan nito gagawin iyon.

Baka abutin pa sila ng ilang taon. She doesn't want that.

After Pampanga, pumunta naman sila sa Tagaytay the next weekend. Dalawang araw sila roon. But Troy didn't seem to have any plan to propose. Aya lang ito nang ayang mag-zipline, mag-horseback riding at kumain nang kumain. She declined to do such activities, maliban sa pagkain. Sa pagkain na lamang siya bumawi.

"Ayaw mo talagang mag-zip line? Come on, it looks fun!" pamimilit nito.

"Ayoko. I just want to sit on the grass and be lazy."

"What's wrong with you? Parang ang tamad-tamad mo naman ngayon."

Hindi na lamang niya sinabi ritong nagtatampo na siya. Pero ang pinakamalala ay noong sumakay sila ng chopper pabalik ng Manila. She really thought that he would propose at that time. Ang ganda-ganda pa naman ng view noon kasi gabi. Tingin siya nang tingin sa bintana dahil baka may kung anong pattern silang makikita. Yung tipong mga artificial lights na arranged into a heart shape. Pero nakababa na sila sa isang helipad sa itaas ng isang hotel sa Makati, hindi pa rin ito nagtatanong.

Kaya sumuko na siya. Sinabi niya sa sariling hindi na siya maghihintay. Bahala na lamang ito kung kailan nito gusto.

--

This is it. The day.

Troy looked at the flowers and the ring on the passenger's seat. Susunduin niya si Red sa opisina nito. Nag-half day kasi ito dahil may kailangan itong puntahan. He told her that he will go with her. Sa lamya ng sagot nito, pakiramdam niya'y nagtatampo na ito sa kanya dahil hindi na siya nag-propose.

May plano naman talaga siya. It just took a while because he's waiting for something. And that something has come. He's glad that he got to talk to her dad a few weeks ago. Dahil doon ay nagka-idea na siya kung ano ang gagawin niiya.

It might be cliché, but he knew that it'd be close to her heart.

He hid the ring on the glove compartment as he enter the building's parking lot. Tangan ang bulaklak, bumaba siya ng sasakyan at pumunta sa opisina ni Red.

Kilala na siya ng mga employees dahil sa dalas niya roon. Nasa lobby pa lamang siya ay alam na ng mga ito ang pakay niya.

"Sir Troy, ngayon na ba?" tanong ng isang empleyado.

"Ang alin?"

"Yung proposal nyo, sir," sabat ng isa. "Lagi kasing badtrip si madam. Naiinip na yata."

He chuckled. "Kapag nag-iba ang mood nya bukas, alam nyo na."

Vico's also back from his honeymoon. He's extra cheerful. Kaya kahit bad mood si Red, hindi ito apektado.

"Troy!" Nag-beso ito sa kanya. "Buti naman dumating ka na. Kanina ka pa nya hinihintay."

He looked at his watch. "Hindi pa naman ako late a."

"E alam mo naman 'yon, palaging atat na makita ka."

Ngumiti siya sa sinabi nito. Hindi na siya kumatok bago pumasok. He found her sitting on the visitor's couch. Kumakain ito ng cookies. She stopped chewing when she saw him. Ibinalik nito ang kapirasong cookie sa jar at saka uminom ng tubig.

"Hindi ka pa nagla-lunch?" kunot-noo niyang tanong.

"Nag-lunch na. Kaso nagutom ulit ako."

"Do you want me to bring the jar? For you nga pala."

He handed her the flower.

"Sana hindi mo na yan dinala rito. Dadalhin din naman natin 'yan."

"Those are for you," he said. "May isa pa ako sa sasakyan."

He's pretty sure he saw a hint of smile. But she turned around so quickly, hindi na niya nakita ng maayos. She arranged the flowers in one of her many vases (she keeps a few dahil madalas siyang magdala ng bulaklak). Saka siya nito nilingon.

"Let's go," she said, saka ito umuna sa paglabas ng office.

Tahimik lamang ito hanggang sa parking lot. She wasn't in the mood for chitchats. Hindi na lamang siya nag-open ng conversation dahil baka masinghalan pa siya. Mukhang masama nga ang mood nito.

Wala pa rin silang masyadong imikan habang nagbibyahe papuntang sementeryo. It's her mom's birthday that day. Nag-half day si Red dahil gusto nitong dumalaw sa puntod ng mommy nito. Mukhang paiyak na ito nang makarating sila. It's like she's bearing something so heavy and he couldn't even ask what because she might get angry.

He parked the car and got out to open the door for her. But she was quicker. Nakababa na ito ng sasakyan. So he opened the backseat to get the flower, instead. Red took the flower from him.

"I'd like to talk to my mom alone, please," sabi nito.

Tumango naman siya at hindi na sumunod. He took the ring from the compartment and hid it under his coat. Huminga siya ng malalim. Red put the bouquet on her mom's grave saka ito yumuko. Minutes later ay umiiyak na ito.

Nilapitan niya ito kaagad. Nang maramdaman nito ang kamay niya sa balikat nito ay agad itong bumaling at yumakap sa kanya.

"It's all right. I'm here."

Pinahid niya ang mga luha nito. She looks so sad.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to get emotional."

Inayos nito ang sarili at saka humarap ulit sa puntod ng ina.

"Ma, boyfriend ko nga pala, si Troy," pakilala nito. "I wish you could meet him. I'm sure, matutuwa ka rin sa kanya."

"Correction po," singit niya. "I'm her fiancé."

"Mag-propose ka muna," sabi nito sa kanya.

"Okay," kaswal niyang sagot saka siya lumuhod.

"Hey! Why did you kneel?!"

"Sabi mo mag-propose?"

"Tumayo ka nga!"

He took out the ring. "Don't embarrass me in front of your mother."

Natahimik ito.

He turned to the grave and spoke as if her mom's there next to him.

"Ma'am, your daughter's really a handful. Ilang beses na akong nag-attempt na mag-propose sa kanya pero palagi nya akong binabara," pagsusumbong niya. "So, I decided to propose to her here. Kayo po sana ang maging witness."

He held Red's hand.

"I'm making a promise here, today, to make you happy for the rest of your life. I'm also giving your mother permission to haunt me should I fail to keep my promise. Now, can you please put an end to my misery and say yes to me?"

Sumimangot ito sa kanya.

"Akala ko hindi ka na magpu-propose."

"Oo nga e. Inip na inip ka na raw sabi ng employees nyo," natatawa niyang sabi. "So, will you marry me?"

She waved her hand on his face. Ngumiti naman siya at inilagay ang singsing sa daliri nito. Then he stood up and kissed her. Yumakap ito sa kanya, saka ito bumaling sa puntod.

"Ma, narinig mo yun ha. Multuhin mo sya kapag nagloko."

Tumawa lamang siya.

"And Troy..."

"Yes?"

"We need to get married right away." She took his hand and placed in on her belly. "I don't want to walk down the aisle with a huge tummy."