Chapter 57

"Hey, I'm so I can't pick you up this morning" napahilamos ako sa mukha ko habang humihikab, sinipat ko ang orasan at nakitang alas siyete na ng umaga.

"Its okay, I can drive naman" nakapikit kong sabi, I still have time to sleep eight thirty pa naman, and ten minutes lang naman ang travel time papuntang school, twenty minutes kapag traffic.

"No, papunta na diyan sila manong para sunduin ka. I'm sorry baby, I just have to finish something"

"Its okay, love. I know you've been busy. Naiintindihan ko, see you later Coltrane."

"Wait don't drop the call yet baby" I was about to end the call buti nalang hindi ko napindot ang end call button "Pahinging kiss" I rolled my eyes upward and smiled.

"Ikaw talaga, kissing monster. Alright, mwa" He chuckled and he did the kissing sound too. "I love you, Azrielle"

"I love you, love"

Hindi nya naalalang birthday ko! But its okay, maaalala nya rin yun mamaya. Naligo na ako at nagbihis, isang oras lang ay andyan na ang sundo ko.

"Good morning maam, Azrielle" bati nung driver na padala nya.

"Azrielle nalang ho, manong" bago kasi ang driver nilang ito. Ngumiti naman sya at inalalayan akong sumakay ng sasakyan.

Tahimik lang ako sa byahe habang nakaheadset at nakikinig sa kantang Wouldn't Mean a Thing by Bruno Major, favorite ni Coltrane 'to na naging favorite ko na rin.

"T-teka kuya dito po yung papuntang school" pero mas bumilis ang patakbo ni Kuya. "Napagutusan lang maam"

Holy freak!

Anong ibig sabihin ng napagutusan? Is this kidnap for real? Nagpapanic ako pero ayaw kong ipahalata kay Kuyang driver yung takot ko. I fished my phone and texted Coltrane.

To: My Love I think I'm being kidnapped! Send help!

My hands are shaking while typing my message. I bit my lip when my phone vibrated from his text. Mas lalo akong kinabahan sa text nya.

From: My Love Me too, baby. But relax, I won't let them hurt you. Don't make it obvious that we're texting, okay? Calm down.

Shit! Ano bang nangyayari? Bakit kami kinidnap? Sinong nagpakidnap sa amin? Oh my gosh! Pinark ni Manong ang sasakyan sa isang bahay, this place is familiar to me.

Hindi na ako pumalag nang pababain nya ako, ayoko namang mamatay noh! Saka napag utusan lang naman sya, sabi nga nya.

"Pasok nalang kayo maam" aniya. I was hesitant, gusto ko tumakbo nalang pero baka barilin ako ni Kuya? I sighed heavily and entered the house.

Naglakad ako papasok, I opened the door and saw a box na nakagift wrap pa. What is this? I picked it up saka ko binasa.

"W? Bakit W?" I opened the box and theres a magnetic board, may mga kasama pang magnets. Nilagay ko ang letter W sa board at nagpatuloy. I guess this letters would convey a message from the perpetrators.

Baka ang gustong sabihin ay "walang tatawag ng pulis"? May paandar lang na ganito 'to make it more fun?

I saw two boxes on the first step of the stairs, dalawang L naman ang nandoon. What's with these clues ba? Mga ilang ganito pa kaya? I opened the boxes and saw a mini elephant stuffed toy and an elephant keychain. Stalker, alam nilang favorite ko ang elephant!

Hinanap ko muna lahat ng boxes, a total of seventeen boxes with random letters ang nakuha ko. I opened them all bago ko bubuuin ang message ng mga letters.

Wallet, shirt, perfume, keychains, camera films... camera? Pictures namin ni Coltrane..? Galante naman ng kidnapper! Saka twenty random gifts! Sa mga teleserye at movies yung mga nangingidnap scary talaga, pero eto? Ang daming regalo! Alam pa yatang birthday ko!

Iniwan ko muna sa table yung mga regalo, bitbit ko ang magnetic board at mga letters trying to figure out the message.

"Kinidnap na nga ako papahirapan pa ako" I scratched my nape while walking. Muntik pa akong matalisod dahil hindi ko nakitang may box pa pala nasa harap ko. Its bigger, and mukhang mabigat. The sides of it are slighly opened. Ibinaba ko ang board at tinanggal ang ribbon.

"OH MY GOSH!" My eyes pooled and my heart melted. The cute little fella barked and wagged its tail.

"Hi there, hooman. I'm a girl, please give me a name" kinuha ko ang dog leash nya at nilabas sya sa cage.

"Molly. I'll call you Molly!" I hugged her and kissed her head. Sinama ko na sya at pinagpatuloy ang paghahanap.

I realized na hindi ito kidnap, this is a birthday surprise! I keep on dialling Coltrane's number pero hindi nya sinasagot, akala nya ha! Babatukan ko talaga yun kapag nakita ko sya dito.

I called him again and I heard his ringtone, Easily by Bruno Major.

"Ahh andito ka lang, pingot ka sa akin mamaya, kupal" I said smirking. "Diba, Molly? Pingot sa akin si Daddy?" I giggled, kinilig ako sa daddy.

"Coltrane, asan ka na ba? Labas ka na, huling huli ka na" Nakita ko ang isang malaking hall, sa gitna nito ay isang malaking box. Its too big, ano kayang laman nyan? Ref? Dog cage? 65 inches na tv surround sound?

I saw a note on the ribbon, kinuha ko iyon at binasa.

"You have to figure out the message before you open the box. Don't cheat" Sumimangot ako at umupo sa harap ng box.

"Coltrane, kung naririnig mo ako uupakan kita pag nahulaan ko 'to" isa isa kong inayos ang letters. Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang inaayos ang letters. Freak! Don't tell me....

Tumayo ako at nanginginig na binasa ang nabuo kong letters.

"Will you be Mrs. Montreal?" I mumbled. And as if they were a password, bumukas ang nasa harap kong box, I saw him kneeling on the floor, smiling at me.

"Hi, baby" he greeted me, I bit my lips trying to stop my tears from falling. "Happy birthday, my Azrielle" Humawak ako sa pisngi nya at nagpasalamat. Hindi pa ako nakakarecover sa pagkagulat dahil siya pala yung laman ng box.

He's a heavent sent, the best gift ever.

"Love, tayo ka na dyan" umiling sya.

"I'm sorry if I lied again, and if I kind of scared you" ngumuso ako at umirap.

"You scared me, hahampasin kita dyan ng board" he chuckled. "Ano muna nabuo mong message?"

"Coltrane..." I can't find the right words to say. We're too young, and marriage is not a joke at all. Hindi biro itong tanong nya sa akin!

"Yes, I know we're too young for this, pero hindi ko na kayang mag hintay. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I promise that our marriage will never be a distraction to our studies. I'll behave, but you know—

"Coltrane!" Ngumuso sya saka tumawa.

"Bata pa lang ako when I started having this feeling when I'm with you. Excitement, unfathomable happiness, and kilig. Don't laugh, baby." He pouted and kissed the back of my hand.

"I even consulted google to know why, why do I feel this way when I'm with you? Tapos sagot ni google sa akin, gusto raw kita, but google was wrong. Because I'm madly in love with you, Azrielle. I also thought that love isn't enough to describe my feelings for you."

"Remember when I said I'll do everything to make it up to you? Now I want to spend the rest of my life with you para bumawi sa'yo, and since I'm too possessive, ayoko nang makitang may aaligid sa'yo. So..." he fished something on his pocket, my tears rushed down my cheeks.

"Miss Azrielle Rostana, pwede ko na bang palitan yung apelyido mo ng apelyido ko? Pwede na ba kitang makasama at kupalin habang buhay? Will you marry me?" I pouted and sniffed. Yumuko ako at umiyak sa balikat. How can I say no? I love him too much and I want to spend the rest pf my life with him too. And I'm possessive too, I don't want girls to flirt with him. Gusto ko akin lang sya, sa papel, sa mata ng tao at sa mata ng Diyos.

I know this is an impulsive decision but yes, I'll marry the kupal of my life.

"Of course, love. I'll marry you" I whispered. Hinarap nya ako sa kanya and shock was written all over his face. "Oo as in oo magpapakasal ka sa akin?" He asked. I smiled and nodded my head.

"Yes! Yes! We're getting married, baby!" Tumalon talon sya at yumakap sa akin. He kissed my forehead and my hand before he slid the lovely solitaire ring on my finger.

"I love you, happy birthday my baby" he whispered before kissing me on my lips.