Chapter 58

"Happy birthday, anak" I hugged mom and she tapped my back. "Pumayag kami ng daddy mo na ikasal kayo because we truly believe that he's the right one for you. Azrielle, masaya akong makitang napapasaya ka nya at mahal na mahal ka niya" tumingin ako kay Coltrane and he smiled at me.

"Thank you, mommy. I'm still your little girl" I giggled and wiped my tears. Daddy hugged me too and kissed my head.

"You still have to finish school bago ako magkakaapo, okay?" I blushed and nodded my head.

Nagtago lang pala sila sa main hallway kung saan gaganapin ang birthday-engagement party namin. Natawa pa ako nang makita silang lahat na nanunuod sa wide screen dahil may cctv pala kung saan nagpropose si Coltrane. He's wearing a lapel pa!

"Nabigyan mo na ba ng pangalan ang panganay natin?" Tanong nya, lumapit kasi ako kay Molly at pinet sya sandali. Nasa cage sya at kumakain.

"Yup, Molly. Thank you ha? Dapat hindi ka na bumili pa ng maraming gifts, okay na sa akin si Molly"

"The gifts are for your birthdays na hindi ko napuntahan. And also para sa mga letters" sumandal ako sa balikat nya at umakbay naman sya sa akin. I still can't believe we're engaged!

"Any ideal wedding date?" I asked. He played with my fingers while thinking. "Our anniversary" I spat his hand and scowled at him.

"That's one month from now!" He chuckled and kissed my cheek. "Tinanong mo ako eh, yun sagot ko. Lagi mo talaga akong pinapalo, pag buntis ka na siguro ibabalibag mo—

"Anong buntis ka dyan?" Niyakap nya lang ako at binaon ang ulo ko sa dibdib nya. "We're getting married, Azrielle. That's inevitable, magkakaanak tayo ng sandamakmak"

"Sandamakmak? Sige basta ikaw manganganak! Bwisit ka! Behave nga daw tayo diba? Saka kelangan pa muna natin grumaduate"

"And we'll graduate next year so malapit na" he naughtily smiled and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Pwede naman tayo magpractice gumawa ng bab—aray aray joke lang behave na ako, baby" natatawa nyang sinalag ang bawat palo ko, pinagtatawanan tuloy kami ng mga bisita. Hmp!

"Akalain mo yun, ikakasal ako sa'yong kupal ka!" He laughed and placed the strands of my hair behind my ear. "I still can't believe that I'm going to marry the woman that I've been dreaming of. Sabi ko sa sarili ko okay lang kung makadate kita at mapansin mo lang ako solve na ako. But I became possessive when you became mine, ayaw na kita i-share at pakawalan. I love you too much that I'll give my surname just to keep you mine forever." I wiped my tears and kissed his cheek.

"Ganun, ganun mag lambing baby ko. Hindi yung tatawagin mo pa akong kupa— aray" hinawakan nya ang kamay ko para pigilan ako sa paghampas sa kanya. Niyakap nya ako mula sa aking likod at humalik sa balikat ko.

"Five months, five months till we get married, Azrielle. I think that's enough for us to settle everything, from the venue, guest list, invitations, marriage license and certificate and other important stuff" napaubo ako sa sinabi nya. Five months... and we're getting married! I don't know what to feel! I'm nervous and at the same time... stoked!

Hindi ko plinanong magpakasal sa ganito kaagang edad, I turned twenty today and I'm already getting married! Pero age is just a number nga talaga siguro, at sino bang handa magpakasal diba? Kahit sabihin mong handa ka, kapag nasa sitwasyon ka na talaga mangangapa ka parin.

I still have time to learn how to cook decent food, how to make laba, plantsa and linis. Ayaw ko namang iasa lahat sa househelps, isa pa para may ituro naman ako sa mga future babies namin! Yay, babies!

"Why are you smiling?" He asked "Wala naman, iniimagine ko lang yung future natin together. Siya nga pala, turuan mo akong mag luto ha? Kasi hindi naman pwedeng ikaw lang ang magluluto kapag kasal na tayong dalawa"

"Okay lang naman sa akin kung ako ang magluluto, Azrielle. It is my privilege to serve you, my queen" I held his chin and pulled his face closer to give him a sweet kiss. "Oops, thought you don't want public display of affection, my baby?"

"They won't mind, my love. Its my birthday anyway" I felt him smile while kissing me back.

"So? Ano sa tingin mo?" Tanong ko habang nakanguso. Pinagluto ko kasi siya ng chicken curry. Kumuha sya ng kutsara at inihipan muna bago nya tinikman ang niluto ko.

"Kulang ng alat." Akmang lalagyan nya ng asin pero pinigilan ko. "Magkakabato tayo!" He chuckled and kissed the side of my head.

"Yung saktong alat lang, baby." Dinagdagan nya at hinalo halo. He scooped again and tasted it, a smile formed on his lips.

"Much better, taste it" sinubuan nya rin ako, napangiti ako at napayakap sa kanya.

"Yehey, first decent dish!" Sinerve nya yun sa table pati ng kanin. As usual magkatabi kaming kumain. Natuwa ako lalo na dahil hindi pala biro magluto, pinaka ayokong part ay yung pag hiwa ng sibuyas! Gosh! I hate that it makes my eyes water! It takes a lot of patience rin while waiting for it to be cooked, and als pati sa pagtitimpla.

"Miss ko na yung cliff natin" I said out of the blue. Ang tagal na rin pala simula noong huli kong punta don, umiiyak pa nga ako noon dahil akala ko masisira na kami ni Coltrane.

But comeback is real indeed, now we're engaged!

Uunti palang may alam, family nya, family ko at syempre family nila Eros, si Angeline, si Amerie at iba pang family close friends na importante sa amin. Pati sila Buknoy at iba pang mga bata kasama ang mga pamilya nila, dumalo noong espesyal na araw namin.

"Sorry baby, but I heard someone bought the property." Nalungkot ako bigla, ang dami kasi naming memories sa cliff na yun. Happy and sad memories which led us to where we are now. Stronger and mas inlove sa isa't isa.

"Sayang naman, ano daw gagawin sa lupa?" He shrugged his shoulder. "Tingin mo bawal na pumunta?"

"Pwede pa naman baby, do you want us to visit? Puntahan na rin natin sila Buknoy, I miss them too. Saka kapag nagkababy na tayo mawawalan na tayo ng—

"Makuha ka sa tingin, Montreal" pagputol ko sa kapilyuhan nya.

"Hindi ka pa nakatingin, Rostana, nakuha mo na ako" the butterflies in my stomach went crazy.

"Crazy" I said smiling. I wiped my mouth with table napkin and kissed his cheeks. "Love, I hate washing the dishes, hehe" he chuckled and ruffled my hair.

"Ako na, baby." I hugged him and watched him do the dishes. Binibiro ko pa sya kasi ang tagal nyang maghugas ng kamay, kinakanta nya parin yata yung happy birthday na turo sa amin nung bata pa kami.

I was caught off guard when he pinned me against the refrigerator and kissed my lips. Ahh, wait lang hindi ako prepared! Sigaw ko sa isip ko, but when he touched my waist my eyes automatically shut off, yumakap rin ako sa leeg nya at humalik pabalik.

I moaned when he bit my lip, he slid his tongue and kissed me deeply again. Naghahabol hininga kami pareho nang halikan nya ang pisngi ko.

"That's your reward, baby. More cooking lessons to come" I chuckled and gave him a peck. "I love you, Coltrane"

"I love you, my Azrielle"

"Oh ano ngayon? Sabi mo dati never kang magugustuhan ni Coltrane, yun pala papakasalan ka." Irap ni Amerie habang nagtitingin sya ng gown nya.

"Selos ka naman? Hoy hindi na pwede ha? Akin sya" umirap sya muli. "One year na akong nakamove on, gaga ka ba?"

"Eh sa mahal namin isa't isa eh. Eto okay ba 'tong kulay na 'to?" Baby blue ang kulay na napili ko. Tumango naman sya at tinignan sa salamin ang damit na napili ko.

"Ganda! Ganda ko!" Humagikgik sya at umikot ikot sa harap ng salamin.

"Pare-parehas na ba ng design? Dapat yung akin ang kakaiba!" Tumango naman ako at naghanap ng magiging gown ko.

"Hoy bes, wag mo isukat ha? Ang pamahiin"

"Oo na, pang bente ka nang nagpaalala" tumingin tingin ako nang gown at napanguso nang walang magustuhan. Pwede namang magpasketch, pero ang sabi may ipapakita sila sa aking mga sketch ng mga gown nila.

I shrieked when Coltrane hugged me from my back, alam ko na agad na sya iyon dahil sa amoy ng pabango nya na amoy na ng kwarto ko.

"What are you doing here, Coltrane?" I asked, still browsing racks of dresses. "Nothing, just checking on my future wife" I felt giddy and I flushed. He kissed my head and turned me around, just when he's about to kiss me, may tumikhim.

"Hello, may single dito" sabi ni Amerie na kakalabas ng fitting room. She rolled her eyes and I raised my thumb dahil maganda ang pili nyang damit, bumalik rin sya agad sa fitting room.

"Now back to business, baby" his husky voice sent shivers down to my spine. He lifted my chin and kissed my lips.

"Missed me?" He asked, I wrapped my arms around his waist and answered "Very"

Namiss ko siya kahit kahapon lang kami hindi nagkita. Nag usap kasi sila ng dad nya kahapon para sa mga certificates namin na kailangan ayusin para sa kasal. His lolo is the mayor kaya mapapadali iyon, hindi na kami mai-stress pa.

"One day without you is a torture, baby. Sa amin ka na matulog" ngumuso pa sya para magpacute, umiling ako.

"Anong sabi ni daddy?" Niyakap nya ako ng mas mahigpit and he murmured "Eh di ako nalang matutulog sa inyo, I promise I'll be good... well kinda" I can't help but smile with his cuteness.

"Alright, text mo si dad" he fished his phone from his pocket and started typing.

Pinakita nya sa akin ang message bago nya sinend, five minutes and he got a reply. Thumbs up ang reply, meaning he can sleep with me! Pero syempre papaalalahanan kaming mag behave at wag gumawa ng kung ano ano.

Coltrane is a tease, but he's very true to his words, behave rin talaga ang future mister ko.

"Kapag may sarili na tayong bahay anong gusto mong kulay ng kwarto natin? Ng mga bata?" He asked. "Gusto mo ba ng two storey house or bungalow lang na sobrang maluwang?" Dagdag nya.

"Well two storey is better in my opinion. Kasi kapag maluwang na bungalow okay rin naman, pero for me ah mahirap sya iorganize. Or dahil hindi lang talaga ako marunong mag organize" I said chuckling. I reached for my blower and inumpisahang i-blower ang buhok ko. Habang sya nasa kama ko na at tila nagiisip.

"How about the colors?" He asked again. "Sa room natin gusto ko ng Azure or Sapphire yung walls, then white yung ceiling. Pwede namang hazelnut, or sage green yung walls and black ceiling"

"How about the kids' room?" Pinilig nya ang ulo nya at tumitipa sa cellphone nya. "It depends, maybe steel blue and laurel pink?" I imagine the kids' room while combing my hair.

Pinatay ko ang blower at lumapit sa kanya, he instantly wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed my head.

"Gusto ko kapag may bahay tayo sa tabi ng cliff, para kita natin city lights, para presko at para makita natin ang paglubog ng araw. Sayang nakuha na ng iba yung cliff natin no? But anyways gusto ko rin na may bahay tayo malapit dito sa amin, kasi for sure mamamahay ako, mamimiss ko sila mommy" just the thought of me leaving my home makes me sad, syempre kapag may asawa na hindi na ako dito titira for sure. Maninibago ako and it would take a lot of time to adjust.

Hindi naman ako lilipat ng bahay dahil trip ko lang, lilipat ako dahil kasal na ako. Hays! Ikakasal na kami!

"Do you think we could ditch our class for three days?" Niyakap nya ako at inayos ang blanket namin. "For what?" I asked.

"For our anniversary, mag Balesin tayo" I gave him a look and hugged him. Oh my gosh, Balesin! I've been wanting to visit that Island! Ang ganda kasi talaga doon!

"Hindi maaapektuhan ang grades mo?" He smiled and shook his head. "Hindi naman. Pwede naman ako mag pass ng requirements via email. Kausapin mo na rin ang mga professors mo"

I squealed and hugged him tighter! Balesin! Here we come!