"Keep your eyes closed." His voice was combined with an excitement he miserably tried to hide.

I giggled as I try to touch things around me but was only confronted with nothing. I am only certain of one thing, and that is that we are in an open space due to the wind.

"Ano na naman 'to, Tristan?" natatawang tanong ko nang marinig ang ilang kaluskos ng plastic na nasisiguro ko nang galing sa pagkain.

"Just close your eyes. No peeking," he instructed almost strictly.

Natawa ako at pinirme ang mga kamay sa gilid. Kung ano man ang pinaplano ng lalaking 'to, nasisiguro kong kung hindi ako matatawa ay maiiyak ako.

I got used to his almost random surprises. Most were not extravagant and just whatever he could think of, but they surely are enjoyable and priceless. The efforts he exerts and the love he incorporates to every surprise is what make it always unforgettable.

"You remember our dream of viewing the city lights while bathing in a swimming pool?" he eagerly asked.

Humagalpak ako ng tawa sa kung ano na naman ang naisip niya.

"Yeah? Are we gonna experience it now?" interesado kong tanong.

"Yeah." He giggled like a child, resorting for me to laugh.

"Can I open my eyes now, then?" Tanong ko.

'No! Teka, hindi pa tapos," tutol niya na mas lalo kong tinawanan.

Umangat lang nang bahagya ang isang kilay ko nang makarinig ng pagtampisaw sa tubig.

He's serious?

"Okay, open your eyes," sabik na aniya.

Iminulat ko nga ang mga mata at talagang napahagalpak sa tawa sa naabutan.

He was inside an inflatable pool full of water. Wala na ang pang-itaas na damit niya at nakalublob na rin siya roon. Presko pang nakapatong ang parehong siko niya sa magkabilang gilid ng kulay asul na inflatable pool na aakalain mong isa siyang may-ari ng mamahaling inland resort.

Sa gilid niya ay isang maliit na plastic na lamesa na may mga chichirya, isang bote ng wine, dalawang wine glass, at ilaw. Nandoon din ang iPad niya na may naka-pause pang movie.

"Tristan!" natatawa kong tawag sa pangalan niya.

He laughed at my expression. "What?"

"You're so childish!" natatawang sukmat ko.

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay, tila na-offend, pero halata namang hindi sineryoso ang sinabi ko.

"You mean, romantic? Look, we have a view of the city lights," tugon niya na iminuwestra pa ang kaliwang bahagi.

Umawang ang labi ko nang balingan ang tinutukoy niya at natantong nasa isang mataas na lugar pala kami. Mula rito ay kita nga ang liwanag ng siyudad sa baba na nagmistulang mga alitaptap na nagkukumpulan.

My mouth dropped more. Hindi makapaniwala akong tumitig sa kaniya saka malakas muling tumawa.

"How did you even bring these up here?" Gulat na tanong ko patungkol sa mga dala niya, lalo na sa tubig na inilagay niya sa inflatable pool.

He just shrugged and smirk at me. "If he wanted to, he would."

Natatawa akong umiling at lumapit sa maliit na lamesa para ipatong sa ilalim niyon ang bag ko.

"Come on, join me," he urged, splashing me some water.

Ngumisi ako at mabilis na hinawakan ang laylayan ng damit para sana hubarin iyon pero mabilis niyang nahawakan ang braso ko para pigilan.

"What?" natatawang tanong ko sa pagpigil niya.

"Keep your clothes on."

"Bakit?" tawa ko.

"Hindi ko na-check kung may dumadaan dito. Hihi."

Napahagalpak muli ako at naluha na sa katatawa sa kaniya.

"Come on," parang batang hila niya sa akin para lumusong na rin sa tubig.

"Lalamigin ako kapag may damit, Tristan," natatawang tutol ko.

"I'll keep you warm," he responded, smiling like an idiot.

Napailing ako at lumusong na nga sa tubig. Pareho pa kaming natawa nang mapatalon ako nang maramdaman ang lamig niyon.

"Are these freaking melted ice? Parang nasa Antarctica na tayo nito, ah."

He chortled. "It's the wind, babe."

He spread his legs wide so I could fit in between. After that, he snaked his arms around me and kissed the side of my head.

"Did you like it?" tanong niya mayamaya habang pareho kaming nakatanaw sa tila mga bituin sa 'di kalayuan.

I chuckled. "Yeah. But it's still cold."

"Just forget about the cold," he laughed almost guiltily.

Humalakhak ako at isinandal ang sarili sa kaniya. He started drawing circles on my palm and after a while, opened a plastic of Cheese Rings.

"Let's get married someday?" he softly asked on my ear.

I bit my lower lip to stop a smile but I was unsuccessful. Nakangiti akong tumango habang hindi nilulubayan ng tingin ang mga ilaw sa baba.

Kumuha siya ng isang pirasong Cheese Ring at isinubo iyon sa akin. Pagkatapos niyon ay kumuha siya ng isa pa saka hinawakan ang kaliwang kamay ko at nilagay ang pagkain doon.

"Lawrence Tristan! You're seriously proposing to me with a snack?" natatawang asik ko na agad niyang sinabayan. "Matutunaw 'yan kapag nabasa!" saway ko.

Inangat niya ang kamay ko at natatawang kinain ang Cheese Ring na nilagay niya roon. Saka niya hinugasan ang kamay ko at hinalikan ako sa pisngi.

"Now, you took it off like you're taking off the promise of marrying me, huh," kunwari ay sumbat ko.

Tumawa siya at gigil na hinalikan ang leeg ko. "Babae ka nga," tawa niya.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at nilingon.

"Bakit? Nagdududa ka?"

He pursed his lips. "Hmm. Ang ganda mo kasi. Parang hindi totoo. Baka pala bakla ka tapos nagpa-retoke lang."

My mouth parted in disbelief. I was about to remove his hand around me to start an argument but he burst out laughing. Mas hinigpitan niya pa ang pagkakayapos sa akin at hinalikan ang leeg ko.

"Kidding, babe. Don't worry, I'll replace that ring with the real thing," bawi niya.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero hindi na rin umangal pa, kuntento na sa naging sagot niya.

For three years of being with him, I know that he's sure of me as much as I am certain of him. Ilang beses na ba naming napag-usapan ang pagpapakasal? Hindi ko na mabilang.

He's the most tolerant man I have ever known. For over three years, every time we fight, he's the most controlled. His ability to assess situations and arrive at the most sensible decisions always amazes me. For someone who can easily be clouded by emotions and impulsiveness, having a man like him beside me is a blessing.

He never raises his voice. He never tells me to stop ranting. His always reason is that, it will stay inside me if I don't let it out, and it will get worse over time. He always tells me that he'd rather see me angry, yet still talk about what made me mad, so at least he would understand and would know how to act. He'd prefer that than me being silent. He said that would pain him if I don't talk to him.

"Ilang anak ang gusto mo?" saglit pa ay nagtanong siya.

I peacefully leaned onto him and felt his warmth behind me.

"I don't know. Ikaw?" balik ko.

"Kung ilan ang gusto mo," mahina niyang sagot bago hinawakan ang baba ko para iharap ako sa kaniya at mahalikan ang labi ko.

I smiled in between our kisses before I moved away.

"Baka anakan mo lang ako niyan," birong paratang ko.

"Hey!" pasigaw na saway niya.

I laughed when his forehead creased.

"At least pay attention to how I asked you about marriage first before the babies."

"I was kidding," natatawang depensa ko.

Pinanliitan niya ako ng mata. "Or you want the babies first?"

Siniko ko siya dahilan para siya naman ang matawa.

"I was kidding," he mocked. "But seriously, do you want babies first?"

Hinampas ko ang kamay niyang nasa tiyan ko kaya mas tumawa pa siya at hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap doon.

"Kidding, babe," he said, laughing. "We'll get married first," he promised.

"E, paano kung ayaw ko palang magka-anak?" I randomly asked.

He planted soft kisses on my cheek.

"Hm. That will make me sad, but that's fine, too. As long as I have you. As long as you marry me, I don't care if we'll be the only humans left on Earth. I can't lose you. If I have to lose you, I'd rather burn."

Roughly a year after that event, we indeed got married. That was probably the happiest moment of my life. To marry the man I was so sure of felt so good. To actually walk down the aisle while he was on the other side, waiting, sent thousands of butterflies flocking inside my stomach.

Noon, may halong biro pa iyon sa tuwing pinag-uusapan namin. Although, we're quite too sure that we would end up with each other, we never actually did talk about it with so much eagerness. Kaya ngayong talagang magpapakasal na ako sa kaniya, napakasarap sa pakiramdam.

"You're shining," manghang lumapit sa akin ang mama niya.

This is the very first time I get to meet his family in person. Malayo ang lugar nila at talagang lumuwas lang ngayon para saksihan ang pag-iisang dibdib namin, at iyon na siguro ang pinakamagandang regalo sa akin. Magkakilala naman na kami ngunit sa video calls at facebook chats lang naman kami nagkakausap. At ngayong nandito sila, naramdaman ko talaga ang pagtanggap ng isang pamilya.

"Thank you for coming, tita," maemosiyon kong pagpapasalamat.

Hinaplos niya ang buhok ko habang nakangiti saka siya umiling. "Thank for being with our son while he's away from us. And welcome to our family, Isla."