On a Saturday morning, I woke up with a numb right arm and a phone that's about to fall off from the nightstand from vibrating too long.

I caught it with my left arm before it fell off the edge.

Neri's name was on call display.

I swiped on the screen to answer then whispered.

Maria was still sound asleep in my arms.

She was so drunk last night that I had to hold her by the waist so she can go upstairs.

By the time I got out of the bathroom, she was passed out on the bed.

I took off her clothes, wiped her face with a warm cloth and didn't bother changing her into pajamas.

She didn't stir the whole time I was doing this.

"Hello?" I said softly.

"Is it true?" Neri was practically screaming on the other line.

I moved the earpiece away from my ears.

"What is true?"

"Did you propose to Maria last night?"

What the hell?  

I didn't bother asking how she knew about it.

She told me to check the link she just sent.

It was a tweet with #sayyestokyle.

I clicked the link.

It was an enlarged picture of me on one knee.

Maria had one hand covering her mouth.

What else am I to say?

The evidence is out on Twitterverse.

"Yes." I told Neri.

What followed next was more screaming.

"Oh my, God. Kyle. You really did it."

"That I did." Saying it warmed my heart.

I glanced at Maria who had her mouth open.

Drool was coming out.

How cute!

"When is the wedding?"

"Woah!" I said to Neri.

"Easy tiger. It's only been thirteen hours since it happened." I chuckled.

"Besides, we haven't talk about this. It just happened."

"A lot of good things happen when you don't plan it."

"What can I say? My heart is enamored with this beautiful woman right here lying beside me." I stroked Maria's hair.

She didn't stir.

"I woke you up?"

"Yes."

"Sorry."

"Don't be. I'm glad you told me the news. At least I won't be surprised kapag lumabas ako at pinagtitinginan ng mga tao."

"I'm happy for you my friend. You deserve this."

"Thank you."

Before she hung up, she said she would call Maria later.

She wanted to congratulate her personally.

I thanked her for calling and for giving me the heads up.

I put back the phone facedown on the nightstand.

The room was very quiet.

Since the thick curtains were drawn, a stream of light passed through the fabric signaling that it was already morning.

Since the concrete walls were thick, not a sound can be heard from outside.

The silence of my own space was something I craved when I used to work on locations.

Back when I used to live alone.

Leaning to my right, I stared at Maria.

Wisp of raven black hair fell over her eyes, her straight nose prominent and proud.

I tap the soft and fleshy tip of her nose.

Nothing.

Chest rising in an even rhythm, her breathing was peaceful, undisturbed by the things I was doing.

Never in my life did I imagine I would meet someone like her.

Our worlds couldn't be far apart.

We never run on the same circle.

She hated my guts.

I disliked how she had so much opinion of me when she doesn't even know who I really am.

I laughed at the thought.

Those memories seemed so far away.

Now here we are lying side-by-side and sleeping on the same bed.

I never knew I needed her until I started falling in love.

She's funny and irreverent.

When we watched movies at home, she'd throw a popcorn or a throw pillow at the TV when the characters do something stupid or cringe worthy.

She's a ruthless movie critic.

Even my movies weren't spared from her scathing remarks.

It made me want to hide in the closet again.

She is unabashed by her lack of social graces.

But she's not rude.

Aminado naman siya na hindi niya alam ang protocol lalo na when it comes to interacting with people from high society.

I like that about her.

Hindi siya nagkukunwari.

Kung ano siya, iyon ang makikita mo.

She's not too proud to admit to what she calls her pagkukulang.

I don't see it that way.

For how can you know these things when you've never been exposed to any of it?

It's not her fault.

She needn't be sorry.

I always tell her that not only to assuage the insecurities that occasionally come out but also to let her know that it's okay to make missteps.

She only needs to read the tabloids to know that even those who were born into wealth fumble and make an ass of themselves.

Another thing I love about her was how she wanted to be better and to learn how to navigate my world.

When she told me she wanted to work on her English language skills, I was secretly thrilled.

It's not because it will be easier for me.

Marunong naman akong magtagalog.

Nasanay na lang talaga na laging English ang ginagamit.

It's just that I know it will make her more confident.

When she was hired as the assistant of Miranda Rojas, she came home after her first day of work and told me to teach her.

The term she used was, nanosebleed daw siya dahil Englisera din ang boss niya.

Iyong mga maliliit na ginagawa niya tulad ng pagbabasa ng mga paperbacks or watching the news and repeating the words over and over to perfect the enunciation made me love her more.

It was the effort she puts in to be better at what she already knows.

Doon ako humahanga.

No one tries harder than Maria.

Pati tuloy si Henry nahawa na din.

Para daw ma-encourage ang Ate niya, he will try to speak in English na din kahit nasa bahay lang kami.

I must say he has control of the language.

Matalino din kasi at saka mahilig magbasa.

Maria let out an exhale.

I thought she was going to wake up.

Tumagilid siya till she was facing me.

Napapangiti lang ako.

I think of people who wanted to wake up beside the one they love.

I never really thought about it before Maria.

Kung hindi kasi si Maico ang nakikita ko, si Rico o di kaya silang dalawa.

It is different though kapag two-legged ang katabi mo.

Hindi ako dinidilaan ni Maria sa mukha.

She kisses me on lips and whispers good morning bago siya bumangon sa kama.

Her eyelids fluttered and I waited till her eyes were fully opened before I said good morning.

"Kanina ka pa gising?" She asked, groggy.

"Just about." I smiled.

"Bakit ganyan ka makatingin sakin?"

"Bakit?"

"Parang may balak kang gawing masama."

I laughed.

She always accuses me of planning something sinister to her.

I moved closer then pulled her by the waist.

She rested her head on the crook of my neck.

Maria is naked underneath the sheets.

I traced the top of her spine down to her lower back with my thumb.

"Do you remember anything from last night?" I whispered.

"The party."

"Anything else?"

"Ewan ko. Di ko masyadong matandaan maliban sa naubos ko iyong dalawang bote ng merlot."

"You really don't remember anything else?"

"Am I supposed to?" She raised her head and looked directly at me.

"Look at your left pinkie."

She removed her arm from under the cover.

"Ano 'to?" Gulat na hinawakan niya ang singsing sa daliri niya.

"Kyle? Anong ginawa mo?"

I reached for the phone on the nightstand.

Opening Neri's text, I showed her the link.

The caption read: Am I seeing this right now or is this a dream?

It was followed by the hashtag.

"Anong nangyari?" Maria didn't seem to remember anything so I told her everything.

Starting from how she was afraid I would leave her for Eugenie until the part where she told me I didn't put a ring on it.

"Sinabi ko iyon?"

"Yup."

"At pinatulan mo naman ako. Kyle," She cupped my face, "mahalaga sa'yo ang singsing na 'to. Galing ito sa mommy mo."

"Now it belongs to you. My mom may not be here but if she was, I'm sure she will agree that I made the right choice."

When she didn't speak, I raised her chin till our eyes met.

"You're the one for me, Maria Zaragosa. I couldn't ask for the perfect woman to spend the rest of my life with."

"Kyle naman. Ang aga-aga." A tear rolled down her cheek.

I kissed it away and held her tight.

In the silence of the room, I imagine her heartbeat filling every corner with the piece that has been missing for a long time—joy.