Proposal

I stood there as I watched his car leaving. I rushed inside the house. Mahimbing akong natulog katabi ni Tita Julia.

Nang sumunod na araw ay sabay kaming bumalik ni Gab ng Tarragona. Maaga pa kaming bumiyahe dahil kailangan kong bumalik ng eskwelahan kahit Linggo para sa closing ceremony kinabukasan. Gab even helped in the stage setup. Wala naman itong pili sa trabaho. Walang duda na napaniwala namin ang mga kasama ko dahil nga akala talaga nila ay boyfriend ko siya.

"Attorney, sumama kayong dalawa sa Palawan ha," imbita ulit ni Edna nang natapos na naming gawin lahat ng kakailanganin para bukas. "Ito kasing si Tiffany parang nagdadalawang-isip pa. Wala daw siyang jowang makasama," sabi nito sabay sulyap sa akin.

I breathed heavily and pretended not to listen.

"Oh, when is it?" ani Gab at bumaling sa akin.

"Next month sana," Edna replied. "Okay lang ba sa inyo, Attorney?"

"We'll see our schedule. Tiff told me about your invitation but we have things coming up this month so we can't give a sure answer now," Gab explained.

Hindi ko kailanman nabanggit ang bagay na iyon sa kanya.

"Oh," sambit ni Edna.

"We'll share some good news soon," Gab said meaningfully.

Edna winked at me na tila alam ang mga mangyayari. Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin.

I could see that Gab was weighing things down for the days to come. We couldn't just simply announce the wedding not unless Mommy sees him drop his knee to the ground, waiting for my 'yes'.

"We understand, Attorney. Iba talaga kapag busy," si Bella.

"It can't be helped. But thanks for inviting," Gab answered apologetically.

Hinatid ako ni Gab sa bahay pagkatapos ng buong maghapon na pag-aasikaso para sa programa bukas. Kasama rin namin siyang kumain ng hapunan ni Mommy. Hindi siya makaayaw nang hinila siya ni Mommy sa mesa at dala na rin ng gutom ay nagpatianod na siya.

"May nagluluto ba para sa'yo sa kabila, Gab?" Mommy asked.

"Yes, Tita. May mga kasambahay po na naglilinis ng bahay at nagluluto. But, when they're not around, I cook for myself," sagot ni Gab.

"Dadalawa lang naman kami ni Tiff dito palagi. Dito ka nalang kumain," she offered.

Hinuli ni Gab ang kamay ko na bahagyang nakakuyom at hinagod iyon ng kanyang hinlalaki. Nakita ko siyang lumunok bago bumaling kay Mommy.

"I would love to, Tita. I want to see your daughter everyday," Gab softly said while caressing my hand with his thumb.

Mommy gave me her "I-told-you" look. I smiled at her, and I can see that she's happy with whatever I have with this man beside me.

Natapos agad ang programa nang Lunes. Nayakap ko ang mga bata dahil hindi ko na sila makakasama ulit. Sapat na ang ilang buwan na nagsama kami para mag-iwan sila ng puwang sa puso ko. I've always treated them as my own children.

Dahil simula na nga ng bakasyon ay mas malimit kaming lumalabas ni Gab. Doon namin nagagawa ang follow up para sa kasal at mag-update hinggil sa aming arrangements. Tinotoo nga nito ang alok ni Mommy na doon kumain sa bahay kaya napagtibay tuloy ang paniniwala ni Mommy totohanin na naming dalawa ang pagsasama.

"Is Tita Delia not coming tonight?" tanong ni Joriel habang abala ang lahat para sa birthday celebration niya. He took with him Brianna and Ralph. Hapon na sila dumating dahil bumili pa sila ng mga ihahanda para sa munting party mamaya. Si Tita Julia at Tito Ariel ay may inaasikaso raw at hindi makakadalo.

"Mommy said she'll try to make it home tonight," sagot ko naman habang tinulungan si Pamela sa paglalagay ng mantle sa mesa dito sa labas ng bahay.

"Tayo-tayo lang din pala dito," himutok niya at bumuntong-hininga. Nilagpasan ako at tinungo ang pwesto ni Brianna na kasalukuyang nag-aayos na mga balloons.

Parang bata. Hindi naman birthday niya ang highlight dito eh. We already agreed that Gab's going to do his proposal tonight and Mommy must see it with her own eyes.

Si Brianna ang nagluto ng mga pagkain. Marunong siya sa kusina at masarap ang mga niluto niya. Hindi ko maiwasang mainggit ngunit gayunpaman hindi naman iyon big deal para sa akin. Gab said it's okay that I can't cook. I'm least talented at cooking but I am enthusiastic, so, that must count for something, right? And, why his opinion about this matter, matters, anyway?

I only helped in the preparation because I am a disaster in that area. Nakuntento na lamang ako sa pagtatanong tungkol sa mga alam niya sa kusina habang nagluluto siya na magiliw din naman niyang sinasagot. Ang mga boys naman ay abala sa pag-iihaw sa labas.

I wore the light gray off shoulder boho maxi dress we bought at the boutique and put a light makeup on. Not that I expected Gab to propose tonight. It looked like Mommy couldn't come home. Late na natapos ang meeting niya sa supplier kaya hindi siya makakaabot sa birthday ni Joriel. Kapag ganoon ay doon na lamang ito umuuwi sa aming bahay sa Manila.

Lumabas ako ng bahay at nakitang nakapalit na rin sila ng damit. Brianna was wearing a puff sleeve dress with slit. She smiled when she saw me walking towards their direction. Kanya-kanyang trip na lamang kami sa aming mga suot dahil hindi naman iyon importante. Si Ralph ay tahimik lamang na nakamasid sa kawalan at tila malalim ang iniisip. I didn't think he's here for Joriel's birthday or if he's even willing to be taken here. Joriel might have just dragged him here to keep him away from everything's that has been bothering him lately.

I didn't see Gab around, so I assumed that he went home to change clothes. We stayed silent and suddenly burst out laughing when three of us were seated at a round table. Ready na ang mga pagkain.

"Well, I think this is going to be a long night, huh?" saad ni Joriel at prenteng sumandal sa kanyang upuan.

"I didn't expect it's just us celebrating your birthday tonight. I thought Tita Julia and Tito Ariel will be there, and Mommy, too," I giggled.

"It's going to be memorable, sweetheart," Brianna softly said and interlocked her fingers with Joriel's. Masuyo siyang tinitigan ni Joriel at napapakagat-labi naman si Brianna habang nagtitigan silang dalawa.

I saw Ralph wrinkle his nose. "Where's Gab?" he interrupted.

"Speaking of the devil, he's coming," ani Joriel at pumalatak.

Lumingon ako at nakitang papalapit si Gab. Suot nito ang blue long-sleeved polo na sabay naming binili noon.

"Where's your car? Bakit hindi namin narinig ang pagdating mo?" tanong ko nang nakalapit na siya sa amin. He sat on the chair beside me. I can smell his familiar scent again.

"I took the horse," he answered and stayed his eyes on me.

"What's wrong?" inis na tanong ko.

Humalukiphip siya at bahagyang ngumuso.

"You're wearing it," tukoy niya sa damit ko. "That means, we'll..."

"Oh, that's not gonna happen..." pabulong kong sabi. "Mommy's not coming."

"Didn't know you could ride a horse especially at night, Attorney Alcantara," ani Joriel sa sarkastikong tono.

"I made an effort to learn, Attorney Javier," Gab replied and returned his gaze to me.

Hobby na ng dalawang ito ang mag-asaran habang si Ralph ay tahimik lamang na nakamasid sa amin. Matapos kantahan ng birthday song si Joriel ay nagsimula na kaming kumain. Naenjoy namin ang mga pagkaing inihanda dahil masarap ang mga niluto ni Brianna. Pagkatapos mag-desserts ay tinulungan kami ni Brianna ng mga boys na magligpit ng mga gamit at dalhin sa kusina. Naiwan kami ni Brianna sa kusina at hinayaan ang mga lalake sa labas. Siguro'y mag-iinuman sila dahil iyon naman yata ang habol ng mga ito ngayong gabi.

"Ano ang pinakagustuhan mo kay Gab?" biglang tanong ni Brianna sa akin nang nasa kalagitnaan na kami ng paghuhugas. Siya ang nagbabanlaw at ako naman ang nagsasabon.

I gulped. Honestly, I didn't know how to answer her question. I still didn't know Gab well enough to give her a plausible reason why I like Gab.

"He loves me the way I am and that's what I like about him the most," I answered without trailing off.

She let out a smile. She looked satisfied with my scripted answer.

Pagkatapos mailagay sa cupboard ang mga gamit ay nagpaalam akong lalabas muna ng bahay. Nagpaiwan sa loob si Brianna at may kukunin daw ito saglit sa kwarto.

Upon reaching the porch, I roamed my eyes in the search of the boys. Pero wala ni isa sa kanila ang narito.

I walked towards the round table. Kagaya lamang iyon nang iniwan namin kanina. My eyes continued searching and when I turned around, I saw Gab standing few steps away.

I ran towards him. "Where have you been? Nasaan ang dalawa?"

Instead of killing my curiosity, he got down on one knee and opened a ring box. A light blue ring flashed before my eyes.

"I know this is too soon, babe. Everything happened in just a blink of an eye. But the days I spent with you are my favorite of all the days of my life and I would love to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you to be mine. I want you to be my everything. I'm here to go on the journey of life with you," madamdaming sabi ni Gab. Then he looked straight into my eyes. "Will you marry me?"

I gasped. Napatutuop ako sa bibig. Ang OA lang ng reaksyon. Pero totoong nagulat ako. Akala ko ba hindi na matutuloy?

Ilang sandalling nagtama ang aming paningin. His soft eyes were like begging me to not reject him. Of course, I wouldn't do that. This was a part of our plan.

I nodded and gave him a soft smile. "Yes."

He slid the ring on my finger and stood up. Kinabig niya ako palapit sa kanya. He cupped my face and planted a kiss on my forehead. Sa gulat ay naipikit ko na lamang ang mga mata ko.

"Thank you," narinig kong sabi niya.

Kasunod no'n ay ang sunod-sunod na pagputok ng fireworks at pagsabog ng iba't ibang kulay sa kalangitan. We both stared at the sky filling our eyes with the beauty brought by the lights as they formed into shapes and patterns.

"Mommy's not here. Sayang ang effort mo!" komento ko habang nakatingala.

"They've seen it all," sambit niya dahilan para magtama ulit ang aming mga mata. He reached for my face and caressed my cheek.

"What do you mean?" kunot noo kong sabi.

Hindi siya sumagot. Napasimangot ako.

Behind him, I saw Mommy, Tita Julia and Tito Ariel coming towards our direction. Nakasunod sa kanila sina Ralph at Joriel. Si Brianna may hawak na camera.

"Were you surprised, hija? Congratulations to both of you," Mommy asked, laughing. She hugged me.

"Buti pala nakaabot kami," tawa ni Tito Ariel. Lumapit siya sa amin at inakbayan kami ni Gab pareho. "Congratulations."

"This is the good news you were talking, Gab, huh?" asked Tita Julia. She's wearing her playful smile. Hinawakan ni Tita Julia ang magkabilang palad ko. "Congratulations, hija. I'm so happy for you."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa mga sinasabi nila. I did expect this but not this way. What's all this? Ako lang yata ang walang kaalam-alam sa mga nangyayari.

"Congratulations sa inyong dalawa. I took photos and videos of the proposal. It was magical," si Brianna.

"That was my first time to light fireworks. Exciting pala," sabad naman ni Joriel. Siniko niya si Ralph. "Hey. Mag-contribute ka naman sa usapan."

Nagtawanan ang lahat.

Nagkibit-balikat lamang si Ralph. "Congratulations to the both of you," he sounded sincere but serious.

"Thank you, Ralph" sabay naming sambit ni Gab.

"Tiff, you've just stolen my moment. This is my birthday but you were the one surprised," si Joriel at niyakap ako. "I'm so happy for you," bulong nito.

Mapait akong ngumiti. "You know what's all this about, right?" mahinang kong sabi.

"Yeah. I know. I know." Marahan niyang tinapik ang balikat ko.