Chapter Four

Promise

"Can I invite you to go to my brother in Masbate?" I asked Elie.

Tinawagan na rin kasi ako ni Kuya Adam at pinapapunta na nga ako roon sa kaniya. I told him na pupuntahan ko siya. Hindi pa rin naman ako babalik ng Germany, but maybe he just wants to see me too since he knows that I've been in the Philippines for quite a long time now, but I haven't gone to him yet.

"In Masbate?"

I nodded. "Yes. That's where he lives with his family now."

"Oh. You mentioned it to me last time."

"Yeah."

She looked at me. "Okay..."

My eyes widened slightly. "You'll go with me?"

"Yup. I think I can accompany you." She smiled.

Napangiti rin ako. "Thank you, Elie."

Umiling naman siya sa akin. "It's fine. Magpapaalam lang din muna ako kay Mama."

"Yes, yes. Sasamahan na rin kitang magpaalam sa Mom mo."

She nodded.

So that was settled. I'll go to Masbate and bring Elie with me. I actually feel like I want to have this vacation with her. Sana ay payagan kami ni Tita. But knowing how much she trusts Elie and me, I know she'll allow this.

After all, Elie and I are both adults now. And speaking of being an adult, Elie has to finish her duties at school first, bago kami tumuloy sa bakasyon namin. Hindi naman kasi pwede na basta na lang siyang um-absent sa work niya. She also believes that a short time like a long weekend won't be enough if we go to Masbate. She said she wants me to spend enough time with my brother, at ayaw niyang maging hindrance pa siya dahil kailangan naming magmadali umuwi dahil may trabaho pa siya sa school.

So we decided to go on a long break. Mabuti na lang at bakasyon na rin naman sa school ng mga students niya. Elie can also take some vacation, too. Doon na siya sasama sa akin papuntang Masbate to visit Kuya Adam.

Finally, we went on our very first date. I just want it to be perfect, especially for Elie. So I prepared everything and booked the place for our dinner date. It sounds romantic even to me. Unang beses ko lang gagawin ang bagay na 'to, and it doesn't really seem bad. It's actually nice. I just want to have fun with Elie together.

I prepared myself well in the hotel before I went out to my car to pick up Elie. It was still early pero sakto lang na makarating kami mamaya sa restaurant where I made a reservation for us. Sakto sa dinner.

Sinundo ko si Elie sa bahay nila. Tinabi ko ang sasakyan ko sa tabi ng daan at nakita ko rin na palabas na si Elie ng gate nila at nakasunod din ang mom niya sa kaniya. I immediately went out of my car and greeted both mother and daughter. Elie actually looks like her mom, but she just also looks a little foreign, too. Maybe her dad was not a local after all. I just didn't ask her because she doesn't seem comfortable talking about it.

"Good evening, Tita. I'm sorry we wouldn't be able to have dinner here tonight. Although I really love the food you make," I said to Tita Isabella.

Umiling lang naman siya sa akin at ngumiti. "Naku, ayos lang, hijo. Huwag mo nang alalahanin pa at iba naman ito. Mag-d-date kayo ng anak ko." She smiled more widely.

Ngumiti rin ako. "Yes, Tita. Thanks for entrusting Elie to me tonight."

"Wala iyon, hijo. May tiwala naman ako sa inyong dalawa lalo na sa anak ko," she said.

Tita Isabella was really kind. And I bet that she trusts people easily, too. Including me, whom she just met, but she never doubted me. Siguro kasi gaya rin ng sinabi ni Elie, her mom trusts her.

"Aalis na po kami, Ma," paalam naman ni Elie sa mom niya.

I turned my attention to her. She's really pretty tonight as well. She was wearing a nice dress that fits her perfectly. She looks modest and divine. I really learned these adjectives because I just couldn't help it. Isabeli Flores was the most special woman I've met.

"Sige, mag-iingat kayo."

"Opo, Tita. Iuuwi ko rin po mamaya sa inyo si Elie." I smiled as I told her. I also noticed that my Tagalog was getting better because I've been spending time with them and we talked like this all the time.

Ngumiti lang sa akin si Tita Isabella. After that, I opened the door to my car and let Elie in. Pagkatapos ay umikot na rin ako papasok ng driver seat. Kumaway pa kami kay Tita Isabella na nakangiti lang naman sa amin bago rin siya pumasok na ulit sa loob ng gate nila. I started driving my car to our restaurant reservation.

"Nagpa-reserve ka?" Elie asked me.

When I turned to her, she was smiling, so I smiled as well. I nodded. "I hope the place will be to your liking."

"It's okay, Akhlas. Alam ko naman that you also have a good taste," she said.

"Oo nga pala, dumaan muna tayo sa bakeshop na 'to." Pinakita niya sa akin saglit ang nasa phone niya.

"Oh. Okay."

Madadaanan lang din naman namin ang cake shop na gusto niyang puntahan bago kami tumuloy sa restaurant kung saan kami kakain ngayon.

"Okay, I'll be quick," Elie said before she went out of my car when we arrived outside the cute-looking cake shop. Hindi na rin siya nagpasama pa sa akin sa loob.

While I even wondered why we passed by here...

Then after just a few minutes, she came back with a box of cake.

"Uh..."

She turned to look at me after she's also put her seatbelt back. "No, don't tell me you've forgotten that it's also your birthday today?"

"Oh." My eyes widened slightly. Halos mapakamot pa ako sa batok ko. She's right. It's indeed my birthday. What a nice timing. I had completely forgotten about it. Nasabi ko nga rin pala sa kaniya noong isang araw lang ang tungkol sa kaarawan ko. But I was so focused and got busy preparing for our date tonight.

I smiled at Elie. "Thank you, Elie." I appreciate that she remembers it.

Kaya rin siguro may mga messages sa akin ang mga kapatid ko; maybe it's also their greeting for my birthday. Alam ko rin na pati si Mommy at Daddy ay tatawagan din ako mamaya to greet me. I bet it's my happiest birthday now that Elie's here with me. It's just the perfect birthday gift ever.

"Walang anuman. To be honest, wala rin kasi akong maisip na i-gift sa'yo, Akhlas. I'm sorry." She smiled.

I shook my head. "I appreciate it a lot, Elie. It's already enough. You don't even have to buy me a cake. But I appreciate it."

We were both smiling and just happy as we had our first date at a cozy restaurant with delicious food. We celebrated my 29th birthday. I felt happy to be celebrating it with Elie. It's the best.

Elie has been continuously making me feel all these feelings of happiness, peace, and contentment when I'm with her. Pakiramdam ko kapag kasama ko siya ay kompleto na ako. It may sound cheesy, but it's real.

"Thank you for tonight, Elie," I told her pagkatapos ko na siyang ihatid pabalik sa bahay nila nang gabing 'yon.

She smiled. "I'm glad you enjoyed celebrating your birthday with me, Akhlas. I had fun tonight, too. And the food from the restaurant was really good as well."

"I'm glad you liked it, Elie."

"Like I said, you have good taste, Akhlas."

"Yeah," I agreed while looking at her face.

Nagkatinginan pa kaming dalawa at matagal pang nakatayo lang doon sa harap ng isa't isa before she went inside their gate. Kumaway pa kami sa isa't isa bago ako bumalik din sa kotse ko at nagmaneho na pabalik din ng hotel.

The next day, Elie talked to me about getting an apartment.

"Kasi parang ang mahal naman yata na naghohotel ka? You might consider getting an apartment instead? Since nagtatagal ka na rin dito," she said.

And I agreed with her. "You're right, Elie. I still don't know when I'd go back to Germany, after all."

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. We already went on a date. At alam ko na nilinaw ko na sa kaniya ang gusto ko para sa aming dalawa. And she's also given me my chance. Kaya nga pumayag siya na ligawan ko siya and she also went on a date with me.

I took her hand and held it gently. Napatingin pa ako sa mga kamay naming dalawa. Her hands were smaller than mine and more fragile. "I promised not to break yours and your mom's trust, Elie. I hope you believe me when I say that I'm truly serious about us. And now I can promise you that I won't just go back to Germany. We'll talk about everything that concerns both me and you from now on, okay? You're a part of my plans now, Elie." I told her.

At nakita ko na unti-unti naman siyang tumango sa sinabi ko. I smiled.

Nagpasama ako sa kaniya na maghanap ng apartment. Gusto ko sana ay iyong malapit lang sa school saan siya nagtuturo o 'di kaya ay malapit sa bahay nila. Pero hindi rin pala ganoon kadali maghanap ng apartment. Especially dahil mabusisi rin si Elie sa paghahanap ng titirhan ko, and I just leave it to her as well.

"What do you think of this one, Akhlas?" she asked me.

"How about you? Is this okay?" Tinanong ko rin siya.

She nodded. "Yup. I think this is fine, Akhlas, compared to the others we've checked. Pero ikaw, ikaw ang titira rito, you know." Napangiti siya.

I smiled, too. "If it looks good for you, then I'll get it, Elie. You'll also visit me here, right?"

"Okay..."

Lalo pa akong napangiti. Then I turned to the broker and decided to sign the contracts for the apartment.