CID

We arrived in Massachusetts at around 2 AM. I didn't listen to Rick when he insisted I go to the hotel and see Aya in the morning. I asked the driver to drop him off at the hotel and drove to Aya's apartment afterward. At exactly 3 AM, I am in front of the apartment, looking at Aya's bedroom window. The lights are off, but I decided. I will wait here in the car until she wakes up. I want to ensure that I am the first she sees in the morning. Whatever it takes, I'm not letting her go. Never My Aya!

"Cid! Wake up!" 

Jane's knocking on my car window awakened me. My watch showed 630 AM. Immediately, I sat up and fixed my clothes. After I greeted Jane, she motioned me to follow her. She didn't wait for me to open the car door. Once I was out of the car, she grabbed the key from my hand and locked the doors. Then, she pushed me toward their apartment door. She welcomed me and served me coffee. 

Aya and I are lucky to have someone like Jane.

"Is Aya okay?" I asked.

"Not okay, but better than yesterday, Cid. She is one tough cookie. Her love for you will surely clear her mind."

"God knows how much I love her, Jane. So much, I can't let her go. I won't let go even if she asks me to."

"Talk to her. Speak from your heart. Face your problem together. I'm sure everything will fall into place. Just pray and keep loving."

"Thank you, Jane, so much!"

"Now go upstairs. Aya is in my room. Assure her with your love, Cid! Good luck!"

I can't thank Jane enough. I know this is my only chance to make Aya believe in us and hold on to us. I saw her still sleeping as I entered the room, so I quietly lay on the other side of the bed. Then, I pulled her towards my body and wrapped my arms around her. She moved and turned around, facing me.

"My Aya, I'm so sorry..."

She placed her lips on mine before I could finish my sentence. I kissed her back, soft and passionate. She squeezed her body to mine.

"Can we sleep for today, Mr. Waldon? Can we call in sick today? I feel so tired!"

"Sure! Sleeping the entire day, it is! We will have Rick man the garden today!"

"That is his punishment for yesterday! Tell him that, Cid!"

I laughed so hard hearing what she said. Her eyes are closed. I removed the strands of hair covering her face and placed soft kisses on her forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, and lips. I want to mark every part of her face. This woman is mine! My only one!

"I love you so much, My Aya!

"I love you too, Cid! Goodnight."

I replied goodnight, and let sleep overpower our minds and bodies. 

_________________________

One Month After

AYA

"Hi, Cid! Thanks for calling me. I'm nervous since this is my first floral design assignment. I hope the clients will like it."

"Don't worry! I'm sure the clients will like it! Call me if I have to pick you up already, okay?"

"Yes, I will! Love you, Cid!"

"I love you! See you soon!"

It was just yesterday when I graduated from my Floral Design Course, and here I am a day after, already fulfilling a client's request to make flower arrangements for a proposal. I feel honored and thankful to my mentor for recommending me to Jason, the groom-to-be. He gave me a week to make all the designs; preparation was good. It is a local client with only one request: that the venue, DCU Center, be turned into a magical pink rose garden. I didn't have a hard time thinking since the pink rose is also my fave. I just imagined that the client was me. Though I am confident with my design, I can't help but feel nervous since this is my chance to make my mark. This design assignment can make or break my career. Thank God for Cid, my ever-supportive boyfriend/fan/driver/errand boy. Yes, the Cid Waldon is all-in-one, but a one-of-a-kind boyfriend!

We have to devise a script for the proposal to surprise the bride-to-be. I had to dress the part of the bride so that she wouldn't have an idea when she entered the venue. Once the host calls the groom, she realizes the proposal is for her. I can say that Jason is easy to please. He accepted all my suggestions with no questions asked. However, with the budget and length of preparations, this can already take place for a real wedding. Men can go to great heights for the love of their lives!

I saw Jason entering with her girlfriend. I greeted them, pretending to welcome them to my birthday party. When the music started playing, everybody in the planning went to their respective assignments. I was clueless about how the show would go on; Jason decided not to include me in the story con so I would look surprised, as he said. A few seconds later, the giant LED screen showed a video presentation. 

Jason took the script seriously. The video presentation shows videos of me in the W Supermarket. Followed by several videos of me in the W Garden. The videos were interesting. It even has Cid on some of them. I didn't even know those videos existed. I hope I'm playing my part well to convince Jason's bride-to-be.

When Jason left, it was my cue. I went to the center of the makeshift garden. I will have to wait for the client to come out and then ask the bride-to-be to replace me. But I got the biggest surprise in my life. It's not the client who came out, but Cid! He is wearing an elegant suit that matches the dress I'm wearing. He is holding a bouquet of pink roses. I saw him giggling as he walked toward me. Then the video now shows people from WS, headed by Jane and Rick. When Cid stood in front of me, the stage lighted and showed the WS people all standing with pink and white balloons in their hands. Things sank into me. When I turned to look for Jason, Cid was already on his knees. 

"My Aya, I can't imagine my future without you. I want to be brave with your hand in mine as we share happiness and love until we age. Will you marry me?"

"Yes, Cid! I will!"

I couldn't stop my tears as Cid put the ring on my finger. We looked at each other with a gaze we only had for each other. We kissed softly and passionately and did not want to let go. The moment was made more special because friends and family surrounded us. 

ONE DAY BEFORE

"Do you have it, Rick? Can I see it?"

"Relax, Ciddy! It is here. Jane confirmed the size. It's a go tomorrow!"

"Have you made the arrangements? I'm so nervous, Rick!"

"Ciddy, your face right now is giving me goosebumps! I didn't see this coming, seeing you like this! Aya is one gal to make the Cid Waldon this nervous!"

"Right?! I can't believe it as well, Rick! But I've never been this happy!"

"I know, Cid! Good luck, man!"

"Thanks, Rick!"

Today is Aya's graduation from her Floral Design Course in Rittner. Rick, Jane, and I arranged with Flora School's admin to give her a design assignment. Suppose a proposal happens in Worcester. Rick hired a fake groom who talked to Aya and gave her specifics. She had been preparing for "her assignment" for five days now. She was so excited when she told me about it five days ago. 

"Somebody looks so excited today! Do tell My Aya!"

"Rittner gave me a local arrangement assignment a day after my graduation! I met the client today, Cid!"

"That is great! What kind of arrangement?"

"It's for a proposal. The groom just said the bride's favorite is pink roses. And that's the only requirement. After that, everything is up to me! Crazy, right?!"

"Yeah! I'm happy for you! We should celebrate, My Aya!"

"Why is the look in your eyes suggesting a lustful celebration, Cid?!"

"My eyes don't lie, My Aya! You know I always want you. All of you! All the time!"

***