FOR THE most part, Teo found it difficult to keep things in. Perceptive at observant kasi si Linnie. While she always considered those traits as strengths she could exploit for her job, they made Teo struggle. Napakahirap kasi nitong i-surprise. She would always know when something was up.

        "Eyes on the road, babe," he heard Linnie say.

        "Ha?" Bumaling siya sa kalsada bago muling sumulyap sa girlfriend. She was wearing a black dress with spaghetti straps. Medyo mababa rin ang neckline niyon. "Sorry, nakaka-distract ka, e."

        "I'm sorry, what?" Ibinalik nito ang tumbler sa cup holder na nakapagitan sa kanila. "If you're still sleepy, we can just go home. Tulog ka muna, tapos kung gusto mo talagang kumain sa labas, then we go after you sleep."

        "I'm not sleepy," he mumbled. "Gising na gising nga ako, e."

        "Hmm?" Just as his eyes shifted to the passenger seat, Linnie crossed her legs. Napamura na lang si Teo sa isip. Mukhang nananadya kasi ang girlfriend niya. "What did you say? May binubulong ka, e."

        "Babe naman, e," ungot niya.

        "Ano?" tumatawang tanong nito.

        "You know what you're doing." Nakanguso niyang inikot ang manibela pakanan. "Ayaw mo kanina tapos ngayon. . ."

        "Okay, okay," she mumbled, still laughing. Niluwagan nito ang seat belt at saka, dumukwang palapit sa kanya. Pinainom siya nito ng kape. Bilang pang-alalay, inilagay pa nito ang kaliwang kamay sa ilalim ng baba niya. "Wala naman akong ginagawa, but okay, I'll stop. Drink up."

        Saktong pagdampi ng labi niya sa tumbler, umuga ang kotse. May kaunti tuloy na natapon sa gilid ng labi niya.

        Linnie was quick to act. Using her thumb, she wiped the corner of his lips. Their eyes met briefly. Maliit itong ngumiti sa kanya. Teo scrunched his nose. She knew exactly what she was doing to him. Hindi naman niya magawang mainis.

        Heck, he even enjoyed her teasing.

        It was already past four in the afternoon. Naubos nila sa picnic ang baong pagkain. They shared the pancakes. Linnie ate all the fruits he sliced. The picnic was fun but they really didn't do much. Pumunta sila sa isang park. Humanap lang sila ng puno. Under its shade, they laid down on a blanket.

        They spent about two hours doing just that: basking in the sunlight while soaking up each other's presence.

        Because they finished all the food he prepared, they dropped by a McDonald's drive thru. Doon nila nakuha iyong kape, pati na 'yong French fries sa kandungan ni Linnie. Muling sumulyap si Teo sa katabi. Nakakalahati na pala nito iyong fries.

        "Fries, you want?" she asked. Napansin ata nitong nakatingin siya roon.

        Umiling siya. "'Di na, babe. You can eat it all if you want."

        "Did you just lie to me?" Paglingon niya kay Linnie ay nakaabang na ang kamay nitong may hawak na dalawang pirasong fries. Kinagat niya ang mga iyon. "May natira pa yata tayong orange saka strawberries. I can feed you if you want."

        "I checked kanina, babe. Ubos na kaya, ha-ha."

        "Oh, okay, then fries it is." Muli siya nitong sinubuan ng fries. "By the way, I messaged Fifi but she didn't reply. Is she sad you left?"

        "Maybe?" Sumimsim siya mula sa tumbler na inilapit ni Linnie. "Around 1 AM kasi ako umalis do'n. Nagpapagising siya kay Kuya Mich kaso 'di siya ginising, ha-ha. She's been busy lately. Laging puyat 'yon, e."

        "Still, ginising niyo na dapat. P'wede naman siyang matulog ulit. It's not that complicated."

        "Don't worry. Magaling naman manuyo 'yon si Kuya Mich." Saglit niyang inayos ang suot na gray baseball cap. "Oo nga pala, p'wede kang matulog muna, a?"

        "Why? Saan ba kasi tayo pupunta?"

        "Dinner nga, babe."

"Where exactly?" Teo opened his mouth widely. Napanguso siya nang ilayo ni Linnie ang hawak na fries. "Where exactly nga?"

        Lalo niyang pinahaba ang nguso. "Secret nga, e. Don't you trust me?"

        Linnie squinted her eyes. "You're not answering my question. Don't you trust me?"

        Mahinang natawa si Teo sa ginawa nitong pambabaligtad. "We can do this all day, ha-ha. Pero basta ayon, you can sleep muna if you want."

        "No, it's okay. I'll keep you company." Binuksan nito ang car radio. Nang mahanap ang plug sa speakers, isinuksok nito iyon sa phone. "How many minutes away are we?"

        "Around 30 minutes na lang naman. We'll be there before 5 PM."

        Linnie just hummed in response. Minutes after scrolling on her phone, she sighed. "Do you find it weird na wala tayong theme song?"

        Teo burst out laughing. "Ang random naman ng tanong mo, babe." Malawak siyang napangiti nang mapansing nakakunot ang noo ng babae. "But no, 'di naman weird saka uso pa ba 'yong gano'n?"

        "I don't know but if I ask you to think of a theme song, ano kayang p'wede?"

        He gripped the steering wheel. "Maganda 'yong ano. . . 'Lips of an Angel' ng Hinder."

        "Why? Is there another girl?"

        "Ha?" He briefly glanced in her direction. "Saan mo naman nakuha 'yan?"

        "No, I mean. . .pang-kabit kasi 'yon, 'yong 'Lips of an Angel'."

        Teo let out a gasp. "Weh?"

        Linnie chuckled heartily. "Yeah, ha-ha. Pansinin mo 'yong lyrics." She played the song on the speakers. "I gotta whisper 'cause I can't be too loud~" pagsabay nito sa kanta.

        Pumalatak siya. "Childhood ruined."

        "Childhood? You listened to this when you were a kid?"

        Natatawa siyang tumango. "May CD niyan si Dad. Pinapatugtog niya every Sunday kapag nag-gegeneral cleaning kami. Ten or eleven pa lang ata ako, naririnig ko na 'yan."

        Ilang segundong hindi umimik si Linnie. Nalukot naman ang noo niya. She just had this small, almost unnoticeable smile on her face while staring at him. When she realized that he noticed, her smile grew wider.

        Teo consciously ran his fingers through his hair. "O, bakit gan'yan ka makatingin? Nagsisisi ka na bang 'di mo 'ko pinagbigyan kaninang umaga, hmm?"

        "Medyo," Linnie joked. "But no, I just. . . I like that I think I already know everything about you and then, I learn something new. You keep me on my toes sexually and intellectually. I really like that. Ayon lang. Sorry for staring."

        "Sorry, ano 'yon? Nabingi ako pagkarinig ko no'ng 'sexually', e."

        Mahinang natawa ang babae. Pagkatapos ay ipinaikot din nito ang mga mata. "I really can't wait."

        "Can't wait for what?"

        Napamaang si Linnie. It was as if she said something she wasn't supposed to. "Dinner. I can't wait for dinner. Alam kong pinaghandaan mo, e. It must have been hard to find a restaurant serving only two people."

        Smiling, he turned to her. "Restaurant? 'Di ko naman sinabing sa restaurant tayo pupunta, a?"

        Her forehead crumpled.

        Linnie looked confused until they reached their destination: TEE Tattoo and Piercing Shop.

"Sabi ko naman sa 'yo, e. There's no restaurant," Teo said jokingly.

        Matapos iparada ang sasakyan, pinagbuksan niya ng pinto si Linnie. She was oddly silent as they approached the shop. Ilang buwan na kasing nakasarado iyon. Ang daming kinabit na lock ni Enzo. Kinailangan pa tuloy niyang humingi ng duplicate keys bago siya bumiyahe pa-Bulacan.

        Teo unlocked the door. Because the shop had glass windows, kitang-kita na agad ang setup sa loob, hindi pa man sila nakapapasok.

        Sumulyap sa kanya si Linnie. "When did you have the time to set this up?"

        Red and white rose petals adorned the tiled floor. May mangilan-ngilan ding puting kandila. Iyon ang nagsilbing ilaw sa kabuuan ng shop. Besides that, there was also a round table in the middle of the room. On it was a small lit candle.

        "I had help," Teo said with a smile. "Dumaan si Enzo dito kanina. Medyo nakatulong na may online delivery na lahat so I ordered the flowers. 'Yong mesa saka mga kandila, naayos ko na bago pa 'ko umalis. Sinindihan na lang ni Enzo kanina, ha-ha."

        "And the food?"

        He smiled sheepishly before taking the bag out of the car trunk. "Pina-deliver ko lang din kanina. I would have hired a chef, kaso alam mo na. . . pandemic, e."

        "Hmm, okay," matipid na sabi ni Linnie. Saglit nitong kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi. Maya-maya, kumapit ito sa braso niya. She placed both her hands around his nape, pulling him close. "Hey, I was just asking. 'Di ako nagrereklamo. I just wanted to figure out how you planned this. One month kang wala dito, e."

        "'Wag mo naman akong tingnan nang gan'yan," nangingiti niyang pakiusap. "Babe, kakain pa tayo, o."

        "Stop." Tumatawa siyang iginiya ni Linnie papasok ng shop. Nagpatianod naman siya. "It's been months since I've been here. 'Di pa rin pala kayo nagbabago ng decor?"

        Teo placed his left hand on the small of her back. Gamit naman ang kabila, inalalayan niyang lumakad si Linnie paikot sa mga kandila. "We still like it, pero kung may suggestions ka, go on."

        Kaagad itong umupo sa upuang hinila niya. "I'll help you redecorate when you're allowed to open again," she said as she placed her purse on the table.

        Instead of sitting down, Teo went to the shop's small kitchen area. May microwave oven kasi sila roon. Inilabas din niya mula sa bitbit na bag ang mga baong pinggan at kubyertos. They used to have some utensils around the shop but he and Enzo retrieved them. Baka kasi bahayan lang ng alikabok.

        Napalingon siya sa direksyon ni Linnie nang marinig niya ang pagkaskas ng upuan sa sahig. "Let me help."

        Together, they set the table. Maliban sa pagma-microwave ng mga pagkain, pinagtulungan din nila ang pagpi-plate ng mga iyon. Linnie was about to open the bag but Teo stopped her. "Ako na, ha-ha. Upo ka na do'n, babe. Ano bang kukunin mo?"

        "Just the wine glasses," Linnie mumbled.

        Thankfully, she did as she was told. Baka kung ano pa kasi ang makita nito sa bag.

        "Okay!" Teo clapped and rubbed his hands together afterward. "Let's eat?"

        "Here." Linnie handed him a spoon and fork. "Oh, my God, these look good."

        Teo prepared a little bit of everything. May pasta alfredo at creamy mushroom chicken. Bukod sa kanin, naghanda rin siya ng onigiri'ng binalot niya seaweed wrapper. A box of chocolate mousse cake was also sitting in the refrigerator by the corner.

        For minutes, they didn't talk.

        Tanging pagkiskis lang ng kubyertos sa mga plato ang ingay sa loob ng shop. It was accompanied by a few hums. Kung minsan ay sinusubuan siya ni Linnie. He did the same to her with the onigiri which felt more intimate.

        It wasn't the first meal they shared but it certainly felt like it.

        "I didn't even realize I was that hungry," Linnie muttered before eating the last piece of cake on her plate. "Wait. You said you were supposed to put on music, right?"

        Teo chuckled. Nakalimutan niya kasi ang tungkol doon. "Yep, ha-ha. Sorry," he said as he stood up. Nilapitan niya iyong speakers. He connected them to his phone. Quickly, he searched for the violin solo of Pachelbel's Canon in D before meeting Linnie's eyes.

        "What?" nakatawa nitong tanong.

        Inilahad niya ang kanang kamay. "Sayaw tayo?"

        "Sure, why not?" Linnie stretched her legs before walking toward him. Her hands felt cold. Unti-unting uminit iyon nang mahawakan ang palad niya.

        The music swelled. Linnie held onto his shoulder. Teo placed his left hand on her back. Gamit naman ang kabila, hinawakan niya ang kanang kamay ng girlfriend. They began swaying along. Both of them knew how to waltz. Kasama kasi iyon sa itinuturo sa PE subject ng university nila.

        It wasn't really a difficult dance but still, Teo found it hard to breathe.

        Tuloy ay parang biglang bumigat iyong kahong nasa bulsa niya.

        "Are you okay?" Linnie had this small smile on her lips. "Kanina ka pa tulala d'yan habang nakangiti. What are you thinking?"

        "You." Teo swallowed hard. Narinig pa niya ang mahinang pagtawa ni Linnie bago niya ito iginiya palayo. He twirled her around. As he watched the hem of her black dress follow her movement, he heaved a long sigh.

        Pagkatapos ay bumuga ng hangin si Teo.

        He, then, took the small black box out of his pocket before getting down on one knee.

        Linnie finally turned around. Saglit na nalukot ang noo nito nang hindi siya makita. Saglit ding nilibot ng mga mata nito ang shop. When she finally found him on the floor, she pursed her lips. The corners of her lips twitched slightly, too, attempting to prevent them from smiling.

        "You," Teo said breathlessly. "I've been thinking about marrying you."

        The sound of her trailing footsteps toward him echoed across the room. Suminghot si Linnie at saka, tumawa nang mahina. "Sure ka na ba?"

        Sa kabila ng pagbibiro ni Linnie, naramdaman ni Teo ang pangangati ng sulok ng mga mata. She just looked so radiant. Her cheeks flushed pink. Kakaiba rin ang tama sa mukha nito ng ilaw mula sa mga kandilang nangangalahati na. Kung hindi lang siya nakaluhod, baka kumuha na si Teo ng picture.

        He might just end up tattooing her face on his forehead.

        "Last, last year pa 'ko sure," Teo finally answered. "Ikaw ba? Ay, wait. Don't answer that. Let's do this properly, yeah?" Tumikhim siya. Muling natawa si Linnie. "Babe?"

        "Hmm?"

        "Alam kong nakakapagtaka na naniniwala pa rin ako sa kasal after what happened to my parents' marriage pero. . . ayon na nga, e. At first, confused din ako kung bakit naniniwala pa rin ako, then I realized it's because of you. You happened to me. You make me feel like I can do better, kasi nakikita ko kung pa'no ka nagsisikap, e. That's how I know it's possible for me to do better.

        "But the thing is. . . at the same time, 'di mo pinaparamdam sa 'kin na 'di ako enough kaya kailangan kong maging better. You love whatever I do. Lagi kang nakasuporta sa 'kin. You love what I am and that's how I know you'll love what I will be."

        Linnie bit her lower lip. This time, she didn't chuckle or smile. Nanatili lang itong nakatitig sa kanya. "Teo. . ."

        "Alam kong ayaw mo ng nangangako, so I won't promise you anything," nakangiti niyang sabi. "For now, ang maio-offer ko lang sa 'yo ay 'yong determination ko. You know how persistent I am. Nakukulitan ka nga sa 'kin, 'di ba?"

        "Buti alam mo," biro ni Linnie. She quickly wiped a tear that was just about to fall down her cheek. "Sorry, ha-ha, go on."

        Teo cleared his throat. Nagsimula na ring maglandas sa mga pisngi niya ang mga luhang kanina pa pinipigilan. "Jacqueline Nadine L. Fausto, will you do the honor of marrying me?" he said in between sniffles.

        Slowly, Linnie knelt in front of him. Hinawakan nito ang magkabila niyang kamay at tumango nang marahan.

        "Yes." Nang masinagan ng ilaw mula sa mga kandila ang mukha nito ay saka lang niya napansin ang panginginig ng pang-ibaba nitong labi. "Of course, I'll marry you, Mateo Leonardo L. Ramirez."

        Teo chuckled. Agad din niyang sinuot sa kamay ni Linnie iyong singsing. Sabay silang natawa nang mapansin ang panginginig niya. Ilang segundo tuloy ang tinagal ng pagsuot niya rito noong singsing.

        "Sorry," he said, laughing softly. "First and last time, e."

        "It's okay." Smiling, Linnie showed him her hand. The round-cut diamond glistened because of the candlelight. Gayunpaman, hindi iyon ang pinansin ni Teo. Nanginginig din pala si Linnie. "Ako rin naman."

        "Kinabahan ka?" nakatawa niyang tanong dito.

        She smiled. "Mm-hmm."

        "Natatakot ka?"

        Linnie nodded. "But you are, too, right?"

        "Mm-hmm." Ever so gently, Teo pulled her into a hug. Sumiksik siya sa leeg nito. Narinig niya ang pagsinghap ni Linnie. Pagkatapos niyon ay naramdaman din niya ang pagkalma ng panginginig nito. "We'll get scared together, yeah?"

        "Yeah." She sighed. Saglit na napapikit si Teo. Tumama kasi ang mainit nitong paghinga sa kaliwa niyang tainga. "That way, the fear feels lighter. Fifty-fifty, right?"

        "Mm-hmm. I love you."

        He felt Linnie sink deeper into the hug; into his arms. "I love you, too," she hummed softly into his ear alongside Pachelbel's Canon in D.

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