***

"MAS bagay 'tong yellow kay ma'am!" ani ng isang stylist habang pinakikita ang kabuoan ng isang dilaw na halter dress.

"No, mas bagay 'tong pink sa complexion ni ma'am!" sambit naman ng kasama nito habang winawagayway ang isang off-shoulder na kulay rosas na bestida.

"No, itong yellow nga!"

"Huwag kang makulit, hindi scrambled egg ang look ni ma'am!"

"Anong scrambled egg? Sunflower!" nangigigil niyang saad. "Kaysa naman sa 'yo na cotton candy!"

"Hoy, rose kaya! Pero mas okay pa rin ang cotton candy kaysa sa scrambled egg!"

Napabuntonghinga ako sa kanilang dalawa. Iba't ibang kulay na ng bistida ang pinakita nila ngunit hindi sila magkasundo. Hindi ko na sigurado kung gaano katagal na silang nagtatalo roon. Hindi pa man din nila napag-uusapan ang tungkol sa makeup at ayos ng buhok ko. That would be another war in itself.

Hindi ko alam kung saang lupalop ng Pilipinas sila nakuha ni David. I was certain it was someone else who organised it internally, but it was still unorganised.

"I'm just going to take a break," usal ko ngunit mukhang hindi nila ako narinig dahil patuloy pa rin sila sa bangayan. Napagpasiyahan ko na lang na magtungo sa sarili kong kuwarto.

I prefered the peace in here. I could think and savor the silence better.

Dalawang bagay lang naman ang bumabagabag talaga sa akin. Una, ang public announcement tungkol sa akin at sa kasal namin ni David. I was informed that my name had started making the headlines in Spain and the media are starting to dig about my identity.

I wonder if anyone would be able to unearth who my biological mother was. Wala na sana. Hindi na para sa kaniya pero para kay sa pamilya ko na lang sa Espanya.

Pero kahit naman malaman ng publiko, pakiramdam ko ay itatanggi na lang ni Mamá. She didn't want to have any ties with me and the Royal family. But how long she could keep that up? That would remain a mystery.

Ikalawa, bukas na kami magkikita ni Rome. Sa totoo lang, kinakabahan ako na nasasabik. Siguro naman puwede pa rin kami maging magkaibigan kapag natapos na 'tong lahat?

I hope so.

He has been a great listener—a friend. Sana hindi iyon magbago kapag nalaman niya ang totoo kong pagkatao. Or things could backfire and—

No. Ayoko isipin na masamang tao si Rome.

"Mi princesa."

Napalingon ako sa direksiyon ni David na kapapasok lang ng silid-tulugan ko.

"David . . . "

"¿Estás bien?" Tumango-tango ako sa kaniya at nakapako ang mga mata ko sa pagpasok niya. "Have you chosen what you'll be wearing for tomorrow?"

Umiling ako. "Not yet. The stylists you got are quite . . . "

"Loud?"

"Spirited," pabirong pagtatama ko na siyang sanhi upang mapangisi rin siya.

"I'll check on it for you."

"Thank you, David. But I can deal with it. I'm just taking a break," nakangiti kong sambit.

"Of course. But let me know if you need me to jump in. I don't wish for you to be overworked," aniya at humakbang na palapit sa akin.

"It's just a dress, David!" biro ko. "You're working harder than me."

"It's a pleasure to be of your service, mi princesa. And I'm certain you'll be the most beautiful woman in this universe."

"Since when did you start bluffing?"

"You know I don't bluff. I'm an honest man who has been in love with you since forever." Nagulat ako nang lumuhod si David sa aking harapan kaya napaupo ako nang maayos.

"David?"

He took his hand towards his chest pocket and pulled out a ring—a French set halo diamond band. Halos malaglag ang panga ko sa sobrang kinang at laki ng diyamante pero higit lalo dahil pamilyar ang singsing na iyon sa akin. It had that regal touch to it.

"Isn't this . . . ?"

Ngumiti si Davi nang abutin ang aking kamay. "It's my mother's engagement ring, passed from generation to generation."

That answered my question about familiarity. David had shown this ring to me before when we played in his house back when we were kids. I remember seeing it in his mother's special room filled with jewellery and old treasures, and David said it was a special heirloom.

"I . . . I ca—" Akmang aagawin ko na ang aking sariling kamay ngunit pinigilan ako ni David.

"You can, Letizia," he intruded, saying my name as sweetly as one could possibly whisper. "You are my bride, and this ring has received all the blessings from our families."

Nilapit na niya ang singsing sa aking palasingsingan ngunit hinawakan ko ang kamay niya upang pigilin siya. "Are you sure you will not regret this?"

I raised my head to meet his eyes after staring at the ring for who knows how long. Nakatitig si David sa akin at parang matutunaw ako. His tantalizing eyes were watching my every move. I wonder if he had always looked at me this way that I just never noticed.

"I know you still want to meet Rome, but I won't stop you as promised. I will hold your hand and aid you wherever and whenever you need me. But . . . I don't want you to regret it, too, mi princesa. I want you to be happy."

Alam kong gagawin ito ni David. Knowing him, he was not asking me with no reason. Kung tutuusin, dapat siya pa ang nagdidiwang dahil ikakasal kami. Pero mas gusto niyang unahin na masaya ako sa magiging desisyon ko.

"I . . . won't. I won't regret it." He pulled my hand to kiss it before resting it back on my thigh. "I have always dreamt of marrying you . . . To be honest . . . it should be me asking you again if you're sure of pursuing this marriage with me . . . "

Muli niyang nilapit ang singsing sa aking daliri at naging malungkot ang ekspresiyon niya.

All these years, David has been by my side, while I have been locked up in my world, looking for answers about my identity. Pero siya mismo ang nagbigay ng kulay sa matamlay kong mundo mula pa pagkabata.

I breathed and slipped my finger into the ring he had held for a while. Nagulat siya at hindi pa rin tinatanggal ang pagkahahawak sa singsing. I then pulled my arm to rest my hands on his cheeks, forcing him to look back at me.

"Let—"

Sa halip na mabigkas niya ang pangalan ko, dinampi ko ang labi ko sa noo niya. I felt him stiffen—as expected. Pinagdikit ko ang aming mga noo at pumikit. Naramdaman ko ang mga kamay niya na pinatong niya sa ibabaw ng mga kamay ko.

"I love you, Letizia," bulong niya. "I love you with every bit of my heart and soul. And I will wait for the day you will love me the same way . . . "

Dumistansiya siya at hindi tinatanggal ang mga kamay ko sa pisngi niya. I wasn't sure if he was waiting for me to say it back, but David knew me better. Alam niyang hindi ko basta-basta masasabi ang mga salitang iyon.

Minulat niya ang mga mata at muling nagtagpo sa akin. He softly slipped my palm towards his lips to damp a kiss. After learning about our engagement and his feelings toward me, he had been more expressive of his feelings. Hindi na biro lang pero ramdam ko na totoo ang nararamdaman ni David sa akin.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa aking labi at binalik sa aking mata. I saw how his Adam's apply bobbed up and down in a second. Animo'y parang nahihirapan siya sa paghinga dahil sa lapit ng mga mukha namin.

"Can I?"

I think the moment caused this atmosphere with no tension between us. 

Napalunok ako at saka tumango. He slowly closed the gap between our faces, and our eyes closed in unison. The next thing I knew, I was sharing my first kiss with my best friend.

***

Don't forget to read Sole Mate: Rome by Imcrazyyouknow for Rome's POV!

JO ELLE

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