Chapter 15 😍😍

Bandang hapon niya ako sinundo sa bahay. Ang akala ko ay magsisimba ay kakain lang kami sa labas. Pero iyon ay nauwi sa isang hindi malilimutang birthday para sa akin. Pagkasakay ko pa lang sa kotse ay piniringan niya agad ang aking mga mata.

"Austin, anong kalokohan ito?"

"Just be quiet and enjoy the ride. I'll make sure this will be your best birthday ever" matalinghagang sabi niya

"Sabihin mo na kung saan mo ako dadalhin kung hindi ay magsisigaw ako" banta ko

"If you don't keep your mouth shut. I have no alternative but to kiss you senseless. Do you want that?" hamon niya

Pero hindi pa rin ako patatalo.

"Please sabihin mo na" pagmamakaawa ko

Tumawa siya.

"Gusto mo lang yatang mahalikan, eh" he answered naughtily

He leaned his faced towards me and I could feel his breath on my face. Kinabahan ako pero may halong antisipasyon iyon sa kung ano ang maaaring gawin niya. I even puckered my lips, expecting him to kiss me. But all I heard was his laughter.

"I knew it. Gusto mo lang talagang mahalikan"

"Hindi no!" tanggi ko

Hinawakan niya ang aking mukha at hinalikan niya ako. It was just a smack and not the torrid kiss I was expecting. I tried to hide my disappointment so I just made fun of him.

"Hay, naku, ang galing mong magbanta pero hindi mo naman pala kayang panindigan" I answered with a sigh

"Doc, don't tease me. Dahil kapag hinalikan kita, ang gusto ko ay isang lugar na wala na tayong tayuan" he teased back

"Haay, puro pangako"

Tumawa siya.

"Humanda ka sa akin mamaya!" banta niya

Then we drove to our secret destination.

After driving for two hours he stopped the car. Pero hindi agad inalis ni Austin ang piring sa aking mga mata.

"Are we there yet?" tanong ko

"Yup. Can you smell the fresh air?"

"Nasaan ba talaga tayo? Puwede na bang tanggalin ang piring ko?"

"Please wait a while longer. Aalalayan na lang kita sa pagbaba ng kotse"

Hindi na ako pumalag. Knowing Austin, he would only want the best for me.

Inalalayan niya ako pababa ng kotse. I could feel the sand on my feet, so I guessed we were on the beach. Mayamaya lang ay nakarating kami sa inaakala kong cottage. He positioned my body then he slowly took off my blindfold. Namangha ako sa aking nakita.

The sun was beginning to set. Takipsilim na, my favorite time of the day. And I was with the man I loved sharing my birthday with me. I was a bit teary-eyed. No one had ever done anything remotely romantic to me. I didn't know if I deserved it but I knew I would cherish it forever.

I turned to look at him.

"Ikaw talaga, palagi mo na lang akong pinaiiyak"

"I hope they're tears of joy" he answered

He drew me into his arms and engulfed me in a sweet embrace.

"Thank you, Austin, for making me special" I said tearfully

"Cathy, always remember that you are special and you are loved. Never forget that" then he kissed my hair softly

"Thank you talaga" I said again

I heard him chuckle.

"Sweetheart, you ain't seen nothing yet"

True to his promise, Austin pulled out all the stops to make the night special. There was a romantic dinner for two by the beach. Isang napaka-espesyal na menu ang ipinahanda niya. But my mind wasn't on the food. It was the company I was with that made me so happy.

"I'm sorry kung sinolo kita ngayong birthday mo. Next year sisiguruhin kong iimbitahin ko na ang mga kaibigan mo"

My heart leaped with joy with his comment. Ibig sabihin lang niyon ay seryoso siya sa aming relasyon at gusto talaga niyang maging permanenteng bahagi na siya ng buhay ko. pero siyempre, may takot pa rin sa puso ko. I wanted this relationship for keeps, too, but I knew nothing was ever certain in this world.

"Don't make promises you can't keep" biro ko sa kanya.

"Cathy, I intend to keep every promise I make to you. Don't be afraid cause I would never leave you. Alam mo ba kung gaano ka katagal hinintay na makilala ang babaeng magpapatibok ng puso ko? It took me twenty eight years to find you, and now that I have you, I'll never let you go"

Napalunok na lang ako sa mga sinabi niya. Pakiramdam ko talaga ay ang haba-haba ng hair ko. Isang nanganganib na old maid, nakatagpo pa ng isang bata at guwapong boyfriend! Kapag sinusuwerte nga naman.

We drank some wine and then the waiter came over to our table with a birthday cake. Sinindihan niya ang kandila, pagkatapos ay kumanta si Austin ng birthday song.

"Blow the candles and make a wish!"

I blew out the candles while I silently made a wish. My wish was I would remain happy with Austin by my side forever.

But like the romantic that he was, he saved the best for last. He handed me a box.

"Ano ito?"

"That's my gift to you" he answered

"Pero sobra-sobra na ang ginawa mo para sa akin"

"Just open it"

I did what he told me. I opened the box and inside was charm bracelet.

"It's beautiful. Thank you" I answered

"Cathy, sa ngayon, I only put in two charms. But I promise you I will keep on adding more charms as the years go by" he said

Kinuha nya sa kahon ang bracelet at isinuot niya iyon sa akin.

"Thanks for making this a memorable birthday"

"You're welcome. C'mon, let's take a walk" yaya niya

Siyempre pa, ang highlight ng gabing iyon ay ang paglalakad naming sa buhangin habang magkahawak-kamay sa ilalim ng full moon.

Medyo corny pero nakakakilig din.

ABANGAN.....
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