Nanlalamig na ang buong pagkatao ni Toby dahil sa kaba. He was afraid that she'll walk in and hand him back the ring. What then? Balik na naman ba sila sa simula? Pero kagaya ng sinabi niya sa sulat, wala pa ring mababago. Just the number of times that he was rejected.

Baka pagkatapos nito at hindi pa rin, magsawa na rin siya sa katatanong. Maybe she's just really not the marrying kind.

When she walked in, it was like his very breath was taken away from him. Maybe that's why they invented such a word as breathtaking, because some people will just take your breath away with their mere presence.

Gale was right. She would look beautiful in that dress. Sabagay, kailan ba naman ito hindi naging maganda sa paningin niya?

He stood up, nerves wracking and welcomed her with a kiss on the cheek. Ipinaghila niya ito ng upuan saka niya ito pinaupo. He did not dare look on her hands. Baka masaktan lang siya agad kapag nakita niyang hindi nito suot ang singsing.

"Toby," panimula nito.

"D-Don't you want to order first?"

Iniiwas pa rin niya ang tingin sa mga kamay nito. He almost covered his face with the menu just to avoid seeing her hands.

But it didn't matter. She slid the box on the table towards him.

His heart sank.

"So it's a no again."

Parang gusto na niyang maiyak. Ilang beses pa ba niya kailangang magtanong bago sya makakuha ng panibagong sagot?

"Yes. I'm saying no again."

Tumango siya, eyes already tearing up. "I understand."

"Do you?"

"Don't worry, as I've promised, nothing will change."

"Toby..."

"It's okay, Jae."

She pressed her lips into a hard line.

"Pwede bang patapusin mo muna ako?"

What's the difference? he asked himself.

"Okay."

"I didn't like your proposal. Though it's romantic, I'd rather have you propose to me face to face."

"W-What?"

She smiled at him. "Here's your ring, Toby. Do it properly."

Parang wala siya sa sariling tumayo at kinuha ang tarheta na nakapatong sa table. Saka niya iniluhod ang isang tuhod sa tabi nito.

He opened the box and took out the ring. Sobrang lakas ng kaba ng dibdib niya, animo'y sasabog. He was trying to avoid this situation. That's the main reason why he made his previous proposal that way. Wala rin pala siyang ligtas.

"Jae, I have asked you this question so many times and I always get the same answer. But now, I'm asking again and I'm hoping that you will answer me differently. Kasi baka mabaliw na 'ko kung hindi pa rin ang sagot mo."

Bahagya itong natawa.

"Will you marry me?"

He saw her smile what's probably her sweetest smile by far.

"Yes."