Chapter 30: Begin Again

My lips parted after Noah showed a ring in front of me. "Noah... are you sure about this?" I still have to ask him.

And he nodded at me confidently. He smiled. "Of course. But... you..."

Agad akong umiling sa kaniya. "Of course I would marry you, Noah!" Napasagot na rin agad ako. Because I didn't want him to think that I'm still having doubts. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya.

Binigay ko sa kaniya ang kamay ko at sinuot na niya ang singsing sa daliri ko. Ngumiti na kami sa isa't isa pagkatapos.

Sa totoo lang ay nagulat din ako. Hindi ko inasahan na gagawin ito ni Noah ngayon. Alam kong nagkakaintindihan na kaming dalawa. At noon pa naman sana niya talaga ginawa itong pag-propose sa akin. But things happened...

Anyway, like what Noah said what's important is the now.

Niyakap namin ang isa't isa pagkatapos. I guess it's finally our time now...

After we went back to Dumaguete, I showed Noah my painting of him. Natapos ko na rin ito noong nakaraan pa pero hindi ko na rin nasali sa painting exhibit ko last time.

Mabuti na rin iyon dahil baka kung nilagay ko nga ito roon sa exhibit ko at nandoon si Noah na nakita niya ito ay baka isipin pa niya na patay na patay ako sa kaniya...

However, I'm still showing it to him now.

"Wow... Is this me?" Bumaling sa akin si Noah mula sa painting ko sa kaniya.

I pouted a bit. "Bakit? Hindi mo ba kamukha?"

"What? I don't mean it like that... You're painting just looked so good." aniya at muling binalingan ang painting niya.

Ngumiti na ako. "This painting doesn't even justify how good you really look in person, Noah..." I said to him.

Bumaling siya muli sa akin at napangiti na lang.

Pagkatapos ay naisipan na rin namin ni Noah na umuwi na muna ng Manila. At halos patapos na rin ang bakasyon niya. He still have work waiting for him. Pinag-iisipan ko na rin ang mangyayari sa amin. Noah can't just stay in Dumaguete dahil nasa Manila naman talaga ang trabaho niya. However, I guess wherever we will live after our wedding I'd be fine with it now. I love Dumaguete but I also just love to be with Noah anywhere... So I guess it's fine.

Tumawag na rin ako sa amin habang nasa Dumaguete pa kami ni Noah. I let my family know that I'm already engaged. "Noah proposed to me..." I told my mom and sister through the phone.

"Oh my, Zeph! When did he propose to you? Sabi ko na. Hindi talaga malabo na magkabalikan kayo..." My twin sister sounded so excited over the phone.

Napangiti na lang ako.

"Just don't mind your dad, hija. Ewan ko ba sa tatay n'yo..." ani Mommy naman.

And I remember na nagkita nga rin pala sina daddy at Noah noon sa exhibit ko. And daddy was rather a little acting cold to Noah. Si Daddy talaga. Matagal naman na iyong nangyari. And it's just a misunderstanding. And I was also at fault. I'll just explain to him again.

Nagsabi na rin si Noah sa family niya. Kaya naman pagkabalik ng Manila ay ang mga pamilya muna namin ang una naming pinuntahan.

"Daddy, about what happened before... It wasn't Noah's fault. Maayos naman po kaming nakapag-usap dati pagkatapos ng nangyari... And now we're back together because we still love each other. I'm in love with Noah, Dad." sabi ko. Kahit medyo nakakahiya rin magsabi ng ganitong bagay sa tatay ko. But I want him to understand. At para na rin hindi na niya bigyan pa ng cold shoulder si Noah.

Daddy sighed after. Napangiti na rin ako sa daddy ko.

And then after that we had dinner together with my family and Noah. At sa dinner ay pinag-usapan na rin namin ang tungkol sa kasal.

We also went to see Noah's family the next day naman. At halos parang wala pa rin naman nagbago. Noah's family were still as welcoming as before. Medyo naiyak lang ng konti si Chloe nang makita niya ako na kasama muli ang kapatid niya ngayon. Ngumiti na lang ako sa kaniya.

"I'm so glad na nagkabalikan kayo." She said.

Ngumiti ako sa kapatid ni Noah. And then we hugged each other. I saw Noah's mother looking at me while I hug Chloe...

At nang mapag-isa rin kami ng magiging biyenan ko ay nakapag-usap na rin kami.

"I just want to thank you, hija. For giving my son another chance..." Tita Patricia said.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa at ngumiti nang mapayapa sa isa't isa.

And lastly we met with Noah's friends, too.

And about Noah's friends, I think I understand them now so we could meet again like this. And I mean that I now understand that they were just worried for Noah back then... S'yempre ay kaibigan nila si Noah. So I guess it's only natural to worry for him.

"Alam mo ba, Zeph, Noah was really broken hearted when you two broke up before..." Nalulungkot na sinabi ng isang babaeng kaibigan ni Noah.

Ngumiti na lang din ako sa kanila. "It's all right now..." I said.

Tumango naman sila.

"We were really worried for him." Noah's guy friend said.

And I nodded at them. Just as I thought that they were just truly worried for Noah.

We also had dinner party with his friends that they prepare for us. Halos hindi pa nga namin iyon inasahan ni Noah. And his friends just wanted to congratulate us on our engagement so they throw us a little and intimate party to celebrate. Which we also appreciate their efforts.

And of course we started inviting everyone to our coming wedding. Dahil mabilis na rin kami nagplano ni Noah ng para sa kasal naming dalawa.

Magkahawak-kamay naman kami ni Noah pagkatapos manggaling sa party na hinanda ng mga kaibigan niya. Medyo uminom na rin siya roon. But he's not drunk at ihahatid pa niya ako ngayon sa bahay ng parents ko pagkatapos.

"I wish I won't have to return you home tonight..." He said.

Bumaling naman ako at ngumiti sa kaniya. I also touched his cheek while I was still inside his car. At nasa labas na ang bahay namin. "Don't worry the next time you won't have to anymore." I smiled to him.

Ngumiti na rin sa akin si Noah.

Malapit na rin naman kaming ikasal. At magsasama na talaga bilang legal na mag-asawa. I learned to reserve some things. Kagaya na lang ng maghihintay na muna kami ngayon ni Noah, and so that we'll still have something to look forward to on our honeymoon after the wedding...

Pagkatapos ay nagpaalam na rin ako kay Noah at lumabas na ng sasakyan niya. Pagkatapos ko siyang paalalahanan na mag-ingat sa pag-drive pauwi rin sa kanila ngayon. And that I'll see him again tomorrow...

And then the day of our wedding has come. Ang gaan lang ng pakiramdam ko sa araw na ito. There was no pressure whatsoever. Masaya lang ako na maikakasl na sa lalaking gusto ko. At siguro ay ganito talaga ang pakiramdam kapag nasa tama na ang mga bagay...

Now finally we could begin again.

I smiled the moment I started stepping in the long and beautifully decorated aisle in the church for our wedding. Nagsimula na rin ang wedding song habang unti-unti akong naglakad doon at patungo sa dulo kung saan naghihintay si Noah para sa akin.