"Babalik po ako, pagkatapos ng graduation ko Ma."

I whispered to her and hugged her tight. Today is Sunday and free day ko kaya pinasyalan ko si Mama, months passed like a blur. Hindi ko namalayan na ga-graduate na ako next month. I stared at my mother, pumayat siya at ganoon pa din ang lagay niya. The doctor said she's not helping herself, kaya kahit gustuhin ko man na gumaling siya malabo 'yon na mangyari lalo na kung hindi nakikipag cooperate ang mismong pasyente.

"Please take care of her," bilin ko sa nurse na nagbabantay sakanya. She just smiled at me and nodded.

Tumingin lang ako ulit kay mama bago ako tuluyan na umalis. I sighed as I leave the hospital ang get in the car. Kailangan ko din pumunta sa office ni Papa ngayon dahil may ibibigay daw ito. Early graduation gift dahil wala sila sa mas mismongpolo graduation ko. Which is fine with me, sanay naman ako na walang uma-attend. Tho, I am hoping na kasama ko si Xyrus.

"Kuya, deretso nalang po sa bahay." i said and texted my father na sa bahay nalang kami magkikita.

Kumunot ang noo ko ng mag popped up ang Chat head ni Bree. I opened it and smiled when I saw the message.

Bree: Mj's pregnant gourl. We're going to be ninangs pretty soon.

Damn, expected ko na.

Greta: Tangina ayos.

I smiled. Siguradong masaya ngayon si Mj. Damn, it's part of her plan, a baby will always be a blessing at isa pa, nasa tabi naman niya ang boyfriend niya.

Greta: Paki sabi sa kanya congratulations.

If It's not for the inject, malamang buntis na din ako ngayon. I smiled bitterly to my self, kingina after neto hindi na ulit ako papa inject. I want to fulfill Xyrus dream. He'll be the happiest man on earth, that's for sure.

Breeyana: Yeah, sure. Ikaw? wala pa bang laman yan?

Natawa ako sa message niya. I tapped the phone logo so we can do a voice call, but she answered it with a video call.

[Gourl!] tili agad niya ng bumungad ang mukha ko.

"Wala pang laman. Matagal pa ako!" natatawang sagot ko sa tanong niya kanina. Sumimangot agad siya.

[Why? Magpa buntis kana. Para kapag lumaki yung anak mo and yung anak ni Mj we can pair them!] i rolled my eyes to her. Hindi pa lumalabas sa tiyan ang bata naka arrange na ang marriage life niya.

"Gaga! Anong arrange arrange?! Ikaw kaya ang i-arrange? Gusto mo?" tanong ko sakanya. She wrinkled her nose.

[Siguro kung si Nichos okay lang.] she shrugged. Tumawa lang ako sa sinabi niya.

"Sige lang, uso mangarap ng gising." pang-aasar ko sakanya. She raised her middle finger which made me shock! Then she ended the call.

Awit. Yung mood swing ni Bree and daling magpalit. From soft to bitch. Real quick.

"May boyfriend ka na ba anak?" nakangiting tanong ni Papa.

Napatigil ako sa pagkain ko. I looked at them and saw them smiling at me.

"Wala pa po." sagot ko. I usually avoid question like this, hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko.

"Then maybe I can pair you up with the son of my business partner? He's also my friend. What do you think?" tanong ni Papa. Hindi nakatakas sa akin ang pag ikot ng mata ni Tita Khallex.

"But I am in love with someone, right now." I answered and smile genuinely to them. I looked at Tita Khallex, she look proud because of my answer.

"Oh? Who's this man. I want to meet him." I pursed my lips.

"Trust your daughter, will you? Ipapakilala naman sa atin ni Greta kapag handa na siya. Right?" pinigilan ko ang mapa ngiti dahil sa pag salo sa akin ni Tita.

"Tell me, Greta. Why did you love this man?" seryosong tanong sa akin ni Papa. I stop eating and look at him with a smile plastered on my face.

"I don't know, Pa. All I know is that... I never needed a man in my life like how I needed him.  He became my light during my darkest days up until now." I answered confidently.

"If you say so." he shrugged and drop the topic.

Our lunch went well, paulit ulit din akong pinapaalalahan ni Tita Khallex na wag i pressure ang sarili ko after the graduation. She said that I need to relax, dahil yung mga nakaraan na taon ko ay puro trabaho at pag-aaral ang inaatupag ko. Dad agreed with the idea. Pwede daw muna ako mag travel or pwede naman daw na paunti unti lang nila akong bigyan ng trabaho sa company.

After our lunch, ibinigay na sa akin ni Papa at Tita Khallex ang regalo nila. It was a car. A fucking BMW.

"Hindi po ako marunong mag drive." sabi ko sakanila habang nakatingin sa mamahaling sasakyan na nasa harapan ko. Letche aanhin kita?

"Then mag i-enroll ka namin sa driving school. Solve." nakangiting sagot sa 'kin ni Papa.

"Hindi pa naman po kayo aalis diba? Bakit sobrang aga naman po ata nito?" I ask and pointed the car. Maganda ito.

"Excited kasi si ako hehe." napakamot sa ulo si Tita Khallex. I laughed softly at her reaction.

"Thank you po, sobra sobra ito." I said as I touched the car.

"Ayan na ang gamitin mo, okay? Manong Danny will be your driver habang hindi ka pa marunong." Papa inform me. Tumango lang ako sakanya at sinugod silang dalawa ng yakap.

Damn, I never thought of having them in my life. Akala ko dati sapat na si Mama, Lola, Bree, Mj at Xyrus sa buhay ko. Pero mas sumaya at gumaan ang buhay ko dahil sakanila. I just keep saying how much thankful I am that they came to my life. They became the vital part of my life.

"Manong pahintay nalang po ako dito. Kung maiinip po kayo ang alam ko may convenient store sa tapat." bilin ko kay Manong Danny. Papa wants me to go home before 10 nang malaman niya na pupunta ako sa condo unit ni Xyrus.

"Dito lang po ako, Miss." he answered firmly kaya wala na akong nagawa.

Nagmamadali akong pumasok sa building, kilala na ako ng guard kaya hindi na ako sinita. Sumakay na ako sa elevator at pinindot ang floor ng unit ni Xyrus. I checked my phone, wala siyang text nor missed calls. Humigpit ang hawak ko phone, when I reach his floor agad akong lumabas.

"Hi," he greeted. Nasa tapat siya ng pintuan niya at may hawak na isang stem ng rose. The fuck?

"W-what a-are... you..." hindi ako maka paniwala sa nakikita ko. He's wearing a formal clothes, while I am just wearing a flowy dress paired with my white converse shoes.

Napakamot siya sa may batok niya. Namumula ang mga tenga, ang mukha maging ang leeg niya. A smile tugged into my lips. He looks so extra handsome tonight. Kaya pala pinagsusuot niya ako ng formal dress.

"Surprised?" he said with an awkward smile at iniabot sa akin ang hawak na stem. Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sakanya at hindi maka paniwalang natawa.

"Gago anong trip mo?" natatawang tanong ko sakanya. Lumabi siya sa akin at ginulo ang buhok niya na sobrang ayos kani kanina lang.

"I d-date ka. Hindi pa tayo nag date, diba?" hinila niya ako pupunta sakanya at pinihit patalikod. A soft fabric touch my face, covering my eyes.

Damn, I can feel all the butterflies in my stomach. Nagkakagulo. Pati ang malakas na pagtibok ng puso ko damang dama ko ngayon. He never take me on a date, lagi lang kaming nasa bahay nito, madalas pa sa kwarto. Wala akong matandaan na kumain kami sa mamahaling restaurant sa labas dahil mas preferred naming pareho ang mag luto ng pagkain.

"Careful," he whispered behind me. Nasa likod ko lang siya at inaalalayan ako sa paglalakad. Ang mga kamay niya ay naka hawak sa magkabilang siko ko. Then we stopped. Hindi ko alam kung saan parte kami ng unit niya napunta dahil ang tanging nasa isip ko lang habang naglalakad kami ay ang surpresa niya sa akin.

Dahan dahan niyang tinanggal ang blind fold, I blink numerous times para luminaw ang paningin ko. Gusto kong makaramdam ng kilig pero putangina I ended up laughing my ass off. The idea of his date was so simple, sa coffee table niya sa may sala nakalatag lahat doon ng paboritong kong kainin.

Jollibee ultimate burger steak, Hawaiian pizza, rocky road ice cream, coke float at mangga na may bagoong. Daig ko pa ang naglilihi sa pagkain na naka hain. I bit my lower lip so I can stop from laughing, sobrang sama ng tingin niya sa akin.

"Bakit mo pa ako pinag formal clothes? Pwede naman natin kainin ang mga 'to na nakapang bahay lang." I pouted my lips.

"Just tell me if you don't want this kind of date and I'll take you to the nearest but expensive restaurant." he said at umiwas siya ng tingin.

"Hey, I love this okay?" lumapit ako sakanya at ikinulong sa palad ko ang mukha niya at iniharap sa akin. "This is simple yet it's perfect. I appreciated it." I said with sincerity.

"Weh?" tumawa ako dahil para siyang batang nagmamaktol. "Then why are you laughing?" tumaas ang isang kilay niya.

"Kasi yung porma natin," I mumbled and look at our get up.

"Ts. I have more surprises on my sleeves." he said and rolled his eyes. I can't believe this man.

We ate the food happily and talk about random things. Nakikinig lang siya habang sinasabi ko ang mga hinaing ko sa buhay, lalo na yung sa kalagayan ni Mama. As usual, todo alo na naman siya sa akin then make something that can make me smile. After namin maubos ang foods tumayo siya at inilahad sa akin ang isang kamay.

"I have to say something for you." he said. Nagtataka man pero inabot ko parin ang kamay niya. Pinaupo niya ako sa may sofa.

He left me and cam back with a guitar. Yung gitara na nasa kwarto niya na never niyang ginalaw. When I asked him if he can play a guitar hindi siya umimik sa akin.

"Bare with me? Matagal na akong hindi tumutugtog. Feeling ko kinakalawang na ako." he chuckle nervously.

I just stare at him while smiling. Inaabangan ang susunod na gagawin. I closed my eyes when he started to strum the guitar, I can say that he's so good. I opened my eyes and our eyes met, nakatitig lang siya sa akin habang nag strum. Then he started singing.

"I met you in the dark, I lit you up
You made me feel as though I was enough
We danced the night away, we drank too much
I held your hair back when
You were throwing up

Then you smiled over your shoulder
For a minute, I was stone-cold sober
I pulled you closer to my chest
And you asked me to stay over
I said, I already told ya
I think that you should get some rest

I knew I loved you then
But you'd never know
'Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go
I know I needed you
But I never showed
But I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old

Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go"

He then looked at me with a smile. I so love this man. He's all I ever need.

"I'll wake you up with some breakfast in bed
I'll bring you coffee with a kiss on your head
And I'll take the kids to school
Wave them goodbye

And I'll thank my lucky stars for that night
When you looked over your shoulder
For a minute, I forget that I'm older
I wanna dance with you right now
Oh, and you look as beautiful as ever
And I swear that everyday you'll get better
You make me feel this way somehow

I'm so in love with you
And I hope you know
Darling, your love is more than worth its weight in gold
We've come so far, my dear
Look how we've grown
And I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old

Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go"

Damn, I can't help but to admired him. A man who can sing, can play a guitar, matalino at Architect. He's the dream guy.

"I wanna live with you
Even when we're ghosts
'Cause you were always there for me when I needed you most
I'm gonna love you 'til
My lungs give out
I promise 'til death we part like in our vows
So I wrote this song for you, now everybody knows
That it's just you and me 'til we're grey and old

Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go
Oh, just say you won't let go"

I smiled widely when he finished the song. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko, nakatitig lang ako sakanya habang siya naman ay ibinaba sa tabi ang gitara niya. His smiled send a havoc inside my heart. Yanig ang buong sistema ko dahil sa pamatay na ngiti niyang 'yon. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang bigla nalang siyang lumuhod sa harapan ko at may inilabas na singsing. A promise ring.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" he ask. "I am so sorry if it's 2 years late, hindi naman kasi talaga natin kailangan nun. But I realized that I am a jerk for not giving our relationship a label." he said. Guilt is written all over his face.

I was about to say 'yes' when a woman together with a fine lady entered his unit. The woman screams power and the young lady was so elegant.

"Mom..." Xyrus whispered. Tatayo na sana ako para mag bless pero agad akong hinablot ni Xy at itinago sa likuran niya.

"What the fuck is this, Xyrus Stephen Jimenez!"