"I'll be there, I promised."

Sandali kaming napatingin sa ganda ng park. Nakakapagpatihimik ang view rito. Nakaka-overwhelm. Para akong nasa paraiso, at ang magandang parte ay kasama ko ang taong mahal ko.

"And regarding your father's business, we also discussed his plan to take over his reputation the day I entered his office to play Russian roulette. He wants to use me to clear his name. He never forced me into helping him, but I insisted, despite the fact that it was against my father. But I am not doing that to get revenge on my father; I simply want to set things right and to experience working in a company,"paliwanag niya habang marahang pinipisil ang daliri ko. "I've been interested in running the company, but my father doesn't trust me enough to teach me how to do it."

Naalala ko 'yong nag-dinner kami sa kanila. I noticed that too.

"So, tinuturuan ka ni dad?" tanong.

"Yeah, which I never expected. Kalaban pa talaga ni dad ang nagturo sa akin," sarkastiko niyang bitaw.

Tumango ako at hinaplos ang kamay niya. Nababasa ko sa kaniya na naroon nga ang interest niya sa business field. Kahit papaano ay nawala ang pag-aalala ko tungkol sa pagdrop out niya sa school.  I hope he really became someone he wanted to be. I will support him in each and every decision he makes. Well, ever since, I've always done that.

"So, ano nang balita? May progress na ba?" pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

"Yeah, so far, I investigated about it with the help of Derrick since hindi rin masyadong makagalaw ang dad mo sa mismong company niya dahil lahat ng board of directors pinag-iisipan siya nang masama. But ended up, those board members ay kasabwat rin. Kawawa ang mga investors, kawawa ang dad mo."

Now I understand kung bakit ganoon na lang ang ugali ni dad pagdating sa business. Marami siyang kalaban. There were a lot of eyes watching him, waiting for his wrong move. Kaya pala ganoon na lang kung disiplinahin niya ako dahil ayaw niyang magkaroon ng butas laban sa kaniya.

"Humahanap pa kami ng matibay na ebidensya kung saan dinadala ng dad ko ang perang ninanakaw niya sa kompanya. I'm sorry kung ginagawa 'to ng dad ko sa pamilya niyo."

Simple akong ngumiti at umiling. "You don't have to say sorry about it, Jhon Rey. It wasn't your fault and hindi mo kontrol kung paano tumakbo ang isipan ng tatay mo. Kaya huwag kang panghinaan ng loob, narito lang naman ako. Hihintayin kita."

"What if it takes so long? Or what if hindi kami magtagumpay?"

"That won't change the fact that I love you, Jhon Rey. Kahit anong mangyari, hihintayin kita. Kung saan mo ako iniwan, nandoon lang ako. Kahit hindi ka magtagumpay, pakakasalan pa rin kita sa oras na maramdaman mo na sa sarili mong you're worthy of my love."

Niyakap niya ako. Tahimik along nakangiti habang ninanamnam ang init na ibinibigay ng kaniyang mga bisig. Hindi ako mananawa at mapapagod na maghintay kung siya naman ang hihintayin ko. Sapat na sa aking nakakapiling ko siya nang ganito...ganito kalapit.

"I am planning to give you this tonight, pero hindi na ako makapaghintay. Baka mawala na ako sa timing," sambit niya na nagpakunot sa noo ko. Bumitiw siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin at nagulat ako nang maglabas siya ng maliit na kahon. Binuksan niya iyon sa harap ko.

Agad na rumagasa sa dibdib ko ang kaba. What the hell?

Anong nangyayari?

My hands began to tremble, and my knees both felt weak.

He opened the box in front of me.

"I told you, once I leave that door, you're mine. I've been a little busy these past few days, but I've never had a day without thinking about this. I spent a lot of time thinking about how to propose to you properly, Sheen May."

Hindi ko mapigilang mapaluha. Wala pa siyang tinatanong, pero grabe na ang lakas at bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. To think na narito kami sa dream place ko at ginagawa niya ito sa harap ng maraming tao.

Lumuhod siya sa harap ko.
Dahilan para lalo akong mapaluha.
What are you doing to me, Jhon Rey?

"Sheen May, I can't live without you anymore. I won't open my eyes if you aren't the one that I see first. Hindi ako matutulog sa gabi kung hindi rin lang ikaw ang kapiling ko. Sheen May, for all the things that I've done wrong, please, I am willing to pay for them for a lifetime with you. If these offers aren't enough, I am open for negotiation, but for now, do you mind marrying me for real?"

Halo-halong emosyon ang nararamdaman ko. Alam kong marami na ring nakatingin sa amin.

"Sheen May, I am in the happiest place on Earth. Would you mind making me the happiest man in the world?"

I bit my trembling lips when I slowly nodded my head. "Yes, yes, Jhon Rey. Yes."

I cupped his face and give him the sweetest, greatest kiss that I can offer. I was surprised when, all of a sudden, I heard a loud round of applause coming from the people all around us. Doon ko napansing nakangiti sila habang pinanonood kami. Ang iba ay lumuluha kahit hindi ko naman sila kilala. May mga nagvideo pa sa amin.

Sinuot ni Jhon Rey ang singsing sa daliri ko bago ako yakapin.

Hindi ko ito inaasahan.

I wasn't even prepared. My nails are not so pretty. If I had known that this would happen, I would have gotten my nails done. But I don't care anymore! As long as I have a ring on me, and it was given to me by the love of my life.

"Napakaganda, Jhon Rey," sambit ko habang nakatitig sa singsing na suot ko.

"Mas maganda ka," bulong niya, bago pinunasan ang mga luha ko.

Hindi ko napansin na kapag masaya ka, bumibilis talaga ang oras. Magkahawak kami ng kamay at ang mga ngiti ay hindi maalis sa aming mga labi habang iniikot namin ang buong lugar. 

It was maybe around seven in the evening when we had completed watching the parade and were now watching the fireworks show and the projection show on the castle.

"It's beautiful," bulong ko sa ilalim ng aking hininga.

"Indeed, beautiful," sagot niya, at sigurado akong sa akin siya nakatingin nang sabihin niya iyon. It's always like this in the movie, and I never in a million years thought that it would happen to me in real life.

"I love you, Sheen May," he uttered.

I glanced at him and saw how fortunate I am to be with this guy, who looks dashing like a prince. "I love you too, Jhon Rey."

We shared a passionate kiss, just like how each fairytale book ends, where the words 'they lived happily ever after' can be seen too.

I did indeed become the happiest woman in the world.

Napagdesisyunan na naming umalis pagkatapos ng show. On our way to our hotel room, nagkukulitan lang kami ni Jhon Rey nang may mabangga ako.

"I-I'm sorry," paghingi ko ng pasensya.

"It's okay, don't worry."

Napatingin ako sa nagsalita dahil parang pamilyar ang boses niya. Halos langawin ang bibig ko nang mapanganga ako sa nakita ko. Is this even real? Am I dreaming?

"K-Kento Yamazaki?"

"Shhh..." Nagsenyas siya na hinaan ko ang boses ko.

"Oh my! Am I dreaming? Are you real?"

Napahawak ako sa kamay niya. "You've been my crush since then. I watched all your movies and dramas: L.DK, Your Lie in April, Orange, and The Door into Summer, which was my favorite. I just finished watching Alice in Borderland! All of it was so amazing, and you looked so handsome even in Saiki-K and Jojo!"

Nakanganga naman si Kento habang tumatango-tango na tila ba gulat na gulat ding makita ako. I mean, maybe he never thought that he'd bump into a fan like me who looks like chaos. Shit! My blood rushed immediately.

"Picture, picture. Can I take a picture with you?" walang pag-aalinlangan kong tanong. Hindi pwedeng palampasin ko ang pagkakataong ito!

"Y-yes, sure."

Hinanap ko ang phone ko pero wala. Naiwan ko ba sa kwarto namin kanina?

Nilahad ko ang kamay ko kay Jhon Rey at ilang segundo pa ang lumipas bago niya ibinigay sa akin ang phone niya.

Nagmadali akong magpa-picture kay Kento bago siya tuluyang pinakawalan. There is no way that I will return to the Philippines without bringing something to remember my time here. "I'm sorry. I know you're busy. Thank you for entertaining me! Thank you!"

"It's okay. Thank you! Nice to meet you!" sagot niya habang nagba-bow paalis sa amin. Napapa-bow nga rin ako kanina.

"Napakagwapo," usal ko habang malawak ang ngiti at napapailing. Nakakahiya man na inabala ko siya, pero at least hindi ko pagsisisihan na nilakasan ko ang loob ko na magpa-picture ako sa kaniya.

Hindi maalis ang ngiti ko habang tinitingnan ang mga picture naming dalawa. Sisiguraduhin kong iinggitin ko si Anne Marie!

"Tsk. What's so handsome about him?"

Napatingin ako kay Jhon Rey nang mabilis niya kuhanin ang phone niya. Nag-iba ang aura niya na tila ba dumilim.

O-kay?