Chapter Ten

Best Day Of Our Life

"Do I look fine?" matindi ang pag-aalalang tanong ni Imara sa akin habang hawak ang aking braso at patungo kami sa Fire Palace upang tuluyan na siyang makilala ng pamilya ko.

My mother was excited when I told her I have a girlfriend. Walang araw na hindi niya ako kinulit. Ilang beses niya ring sinabi na ipakilala ko na ito sa amin at ngayong gabi, alam kong mas masosorpresa pa siya kapag nakita niyang si Imara ito.

Dad was also excited. Kitang-kita ko sa kanyang sobrang proud siya at parang nabunutan na rin ng malaking tinik dahil sa aking inanunsiyo. As if they have been waiting for this moment to happen.

"You're perfect, love. Stop overthinking."

"You love me so that's technically a biased opinion."

Natawa ako't agad ding umiling. "I'm an honest man and you know what that already means."

"Fine. But are you sure? How about your sisters? Tingin mo magugustohan nila ako para sa 'yo?"

"Hundred percent sure."

Muli siyang napabuntong-hininga. I tightened the grip on her hand. "You need to relax. Everything is going to be fine, love."

Sa aking mga salita ay tuluyan na rin siyang kumalma. Just like what I imagined, halos magtumalon si mommy sa tuwa at kabiglaan nang tuluyan na kaming makarating sa restaurant. Somerset's face were just as surprised as mom. Lahat ay magiliw na binati ang girlfriend ko at gano'n din ito sa aking pamilya.

Nang tuluyan na kaming naupo ay ramdam ko nang mas kalmado si Imara. Everyone was already throwing their praises at her. My sisters teased me and told her that I am the luckiest man alive for having her. Walang pagsidlan ang malawak at matamis na ngiti ni Imara. She was as happy as my family was.

"We're thinking about having a formal dinner with my family, Mr. and Mrs. Rozovsky."

"Oh stop, hija. Please drop the formality and just call us tito or tita. If you want, you can also call us how you call your parents because I think that's where we're heading!"

"Mom."

Imara continued blushing.

"What? Don't tell me patatagalin n'yo pa ito? You're clearly perfect for each other and it has been ages since a Rozovsky got married, right baby?"

My father nodded at mom. Nagniningning din talaga ang mga mata sa sobrang kasiyahan. I mouthed 'I'm sorry' to my girlfriend, but she was entertained with the topic. Sinegundahan naman ng mga kapatid ko ang usapan.

"Darating din naman talaga tayo d'yan, pero ayaw ko namang i-pressure at i-corner ang girlfriend ko. I want to give her time to think because marriage is a lifetime job. Hindi dapat magpadalos-dalos. I don't want to make mistake and I don't want to hurt, Imara."

Nangilid ang mga luha niya sa aking sinabi. I'm glad my family got my point. They all respected my answer. Somerset changed the subject. Nagtanong na lang ito sa pinagkakaabalahan ni Imara. Habang nag-uusap silang mga babae ay nag-usap naman kami ni dad.

"What do you think about her, dad?"

"I always respect and trust your decisions when it comes to this, Eux, but I'm impressed. I already like Imara for you long before you two have met. The Hoffmans have a long history with our family and it's just time we sealed that connection through both of you. I'm proud of you son."

"I appreciate it dad. Thank you."

I looked back at my girlfriend. Abalang-abala silang mag-usap sa hindi ko na nasundan na topic. She was clearly enjoying my mother and sister's company and seeing that moment solidified the thought that I just made the right choice. That she is clearly the woman I love to be part of our family—my life. Wala na yata akong gusto pa sa buhay kung hindi ang sundin ang mga kagustuhan ni mommy. Hindi dahil sa utos niya kung hindi dahil iyon na rin ang gusto ng puso ko ngayon.

Natapos ang dinner na naging maayos at masaya lang ang lahat. We couldn't let go of each other while we were on our way to her place. Gustohin ko mang sumama pa nang yayain niya ay minabuti ko na lang na umalis dahil ayaw kong may magawa kaming pagsisisihan namin sa huli.

Ang totoo, hindi ko alam kung saan ko nakukuha ang lakas at pagpipigil na walang mangyari sa aming dalawa. Though I feel like Imara was just waiting for me to make a move, I still doesn't have the gut to do it. Kahit na gustong-gusto ko rin 'yon bilang lalaki and it has been a ages since I bedded someone.

My past relationship was almost all about sex. Ngayong siya ang girlfriend ko, gusto kong dahan-dahanin dahil ibang-iba siya sa mga babaeng nagdaan sa buhay ko. I don't really want to make a mistake and I also want to give her time. Gusto kong kapag handang-handa na rin siya at hindi lang nadadala sa tensiyon at kasiyahan sa aming relasyon ngayon.

My sister's couldn't stop bugging me about Imara especially Somerset. Sa lahat ay siya talaga ang present at gustong usisain ang love life ko. She was so happy for me. She said that Imara and I were a match and everyone already loves her. Talagang nasa akin na lang kung kailan siya opisyal na gagawing parte ng aming pamilya.

"What do you think about marriage? I mean, just a random question. Gusto ko lang malaman if you're a fan of it." I asked Imara one night.

"I am. I grew up with strict parents, but I also witnessed the love that they have for each other. It wasn't that marvelous and they also have up and downs, but I still want that for myself. I want someone I can grow old with, you know."

"Your parents are lovely."

"They are. Lahat ay ginagawa nila para sa amin ng mga kapatid ko kaya naiintindihan ko rin ang pagiging istrikto nila sa amin lalo na sa akin. Gaya ng parents mo, they also want me to have someone I can lean on to. Gano'n din sa mga kapatid ko. Oh, I told them about the dinner and they couldn't wait for it."

"You told them about me?"

"I did. Excited na rin sila."

"Well, that's a relief."

She giggled and then paused for a moment.

"I love you, Euxerre... I never met someone so humble, honest, and gentlemen like you. And honestly, you made me believe that true love exists. Na pwede rin sa aking mangyari ang bagay na 'to."

"Of course, baby. Why would you think you don't deserved true love?"

"I don't know. Growing up, my parents feed us with the idea of a partner and not a lover. Hindi importante kung mahal mo. Mas maigi kung oo pero it was just a secondary thing when it comes to having a husband. Have I told you na ilang beses na rin akong muntik nang ipakasal?"

"You told me about men, but not that. You're stubborn and firm when we first me. I wonder how your parents handle pairing you with strangers."

"Right. I'm a bit rebellious when it comes to this. I always hated the idea. Well, lahat naman siguro ng taong pinipilit sa ayaw nilang gawin ay 'yon ang magiging reaction, 'di ba?"

"True."

"But unfortunately, it's a job for us. Para lang sa pamilya at sa negosyo."

"But that change now, right? There's true love between us." I insisted.

"Right, pero mali ang mga kapatid mong maswerte ka sa akin dahil ang totoo ay ako ang napakaswerte sa 'yo. Any woman you choose to love will be the luckiest."

"Ikaw na ang mahal ko, at ikaw na lang ang gusto kong mahalin, Imara..."

Kahit na punong-puno ng pagmamahal ang puso ko ay hindi ko maiwasang mag-isip ng iba dahil sa pagbabago ng kanyang tono. As if she was worried about something so big, she couldn't tell me about it. Kahit na wala naman kaming problema and everything is going according to plan, there was something that was still holding her back from being in bliss with me.

"I love you so much, Euxerre..." she finally answered. "Thank you for always making me happy."

"Pleasure is mine, love... You know what? Why don't we go to Thailand and have an excursion tomorrow?"

"Aren't you busy?"

"I can cancel anything for you, baby."

"No, please don't do that."

"I will. Isa pa, gusto kong makasama ka ulit ng matagal. Gusto kitang ma-solo ulit."

Lumawak ang ngiti ko, nai-imagine na namumula na naman ang pisngi niya. I love when she does that. It tickles my heart.

"Are you sure hindi ako magiging abala sa 'yo? I only have a meeting in the morning, but I could pretty much cancel everything for this trip, too."

"So we're all set?"

She giggled. Iyon na ang tanda na sumasang-ayon na siya sa panibago naming trip na magkasama at bumuo ng mga bagong alaala.

I called my secretary to help me with our trip. Ilang oras lang ay tumawag na ito at sinabing settled na ang lahat. Wala sa sariling napangiti na lang ako at lutang na umalis sa kama upang puntahan ang vault sa kabilang banda ng aking silid.

My heartbeat quickened when I saw the small black box that has been on my vault since the day I asked Imara to be my girlfriend. Inside was a 30 carat round brilliant cut diamond ring I bought to propose to her.

Unang-una iyon sa dinala ko para sa trip namin sa Thailand. Because just like what she said, the love we have right now is true and I don't think I can still let go of that. Kaya naman matapos naming maglibot buong araw sa Koh Samui ay walang pag-aalinlangan ko nang itinanong sa kanya ang noon pa ma'y gusto na nang puso kong mabigyan ng sagot.

"I don't want to pressure you and I will not be swayed away if you turn me down today because I can still wait, but I don't think this ring could stay long in my vault without you knowing about this and my true intentions," she was now surprise, her tears were about to fall as she watched me on my knees while proclaiming my love for her.

"Imara Loverly Hoffman, I love you so deeply and I want you to know that I'm ready to take care and cherish you my whole life so please... will you marry me?"

Inihanda ko ang puso sa posible niyang sagot. We had such a great time at the beach today and I want to end it with my proposal kaya naman abot langit ang dasal kong sana ay marinig ang gusto kong sagot sa aking tanong.

"Euxerre..."

"It's okay. You can say no—"

"Yes," she cut me off. "Of course I want to marry you, too."

"B-baby..."

"I said yes!" umiiyak niyang pag-uulit pagkatapos ay iginalaw ang kamay kaya naman lutang kong agad na naisuot ang singsing sa kanya.

Mabilis niya akong hinila paahon sa buhangin. She hugged me so tight as she continued sobbing because of happiness.

"Oh God! I love you! Thank you!" buong puso kong sambit at wala nang pag-aalinlangan siyang hinalikan ng masuyo sa labi. Finally sealing the best day of our life with a faithful kiss.