A/N: "Love is blissful insanity."-Patricia Highsmith (The Price of Salt)

***

Being at home and taking care of my father and Jade opened my eyes to a lot of things.

Things I never really paid attention to before or never really took notice of because I always have to run from one commitment to another.

***

I was at home one evening, reading a book when I happened to look at the kitchen.

Jade had the day off and instead na magpahinga ito, she was rearranging the cupboards.

Binitawan ko ang binabasa ko and I just looked at her.

I marveled at the change I saw.

Not only the fact na medyo marunong na siya sa kusina but the way she takes care of me kapag nasa bahay siya.

Hindi ito pumapayag na ako pa din ang gagawa ng chores namin.

"Magpahinga ka lang, lablab."

"Ako naman ang magaalaga sa'yo." Sabi nito sa akin during breakfast.

Dahil hindi ako sanay na hindi kumikilos, I still helped her dahil it doesn't feel right na siya ang naglilinis or naglalaba.

Aside from helping out, she always surprises me with little things but there was one that stood out among the rest.

One time, after picking me up from my father's house, I came home to a candlelit dinner na hinanda niya with the help of Batchi.

While she was on her way to Antipolo, naiwan si Batchi to watch over the condo para siguraduhing walang mangyayaring sunog dahil Jade asked her to light a lot of candles para pagdating ko, ready na ang lahat.

Since hindi naman kami umaalis ng hindi nagdi-dinner kasama si Papa, I was puzzled ng nagsabi ito kay Papa na we couldn't stay.

Magtatanong pa sana ako kung bakit pero agad namang pumayag ang ama ko.

Parang may secret ang dalawa at kahit nagtataka,  hinayaan ko na lang.

Kung anumang meron sa kanila, I don't want to spoil it.

Besides, I was tired na rin since maaga akong nagising that morning and I was looking forward to going home and spending the night with Jade.

On the way sa condo, nagkikuwentuhan lang kami.

I asked how her rehearsals went and okay naman daw.

She asked about the treatment and I told her na things are going well.

"Maganda ang response ni Papa sa chemo and we're hoping na this would help him," sagot ko sa kanya.

Jade said she had a surprise for me.

Kinulit ko siya kung ano pero sinabi niya na I have to wait.

Once we reached Edsa, naramdaman ko na atubili ito dahil she kept tapping the steering wheel.

"Are you sure you're okay, Jade?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Hindi niya maitago ang excitement dahil kumikinang ang mata nito.

"I'm okay, Althea." Sagot nito.

We were on a red light nang bigla akong tinapik ni Jade sa braso.

Tiningnan ko siya at nakaturo ito sa isang malaking billboard.

It was of her donned in a red and white racing suit with the word "fearless" emblazoned in the middle.

Siyempre pa, nasa lower right corner ang trademark ng bench

"Oh my god!" yun lang ang nasabi ko.

Hinawakan ko siya ng mahigpit sa braso kasi I was so excited to see her face na nakadisplay for everyone to see.

Nakangiti siya sa akin at hahalikan ko sana pero green light na.

"Maya na lang sa bahay," I said to her.

Also, I congratulated her dahil this was a big deal.

The ad was tangible proof of her effort to achieve her dream.

Akala ko, tapos na ang surprise niya.

When we reached the condo, I smelled the scent of lavender and vanilla.

Nang umalis ako ng morning, hindi naman ganun ang amoy ng bahay kaya alam ko na meron pa itong isang sorpresa.

Jade opened the door at kahit expected ko na there's something waiting for me, I was still elated to find out what's inside.

Naka-off ang mga ilaw dahil the house was illuminated by what must have been a hundred candles.

"Dude, huwag kang mag-alala, I disabled the fire alarm saglit." Pinangunahan ako ni Batchi at natawa ako sa comment niya.

I thanked both of them for the surprise.

Hindi na nagtagal pa ang kaibigan ko dahil sabi niya, this is our moment and ayaw niyang maging witness dahil maiinggit lang siya.

Apparently, it's been three months na pala since we met.

See, I thought I was romantic?

But I never knew that she was more sentimental than I am.

"I have something else for you," Jade asked me to close my eyes and I obeyed.

"Open it," she said to me and when I did, she was holding on to a silver ring with half a heart in gold, and with an engraved "J" on the side.

I couldn't believe my eyes as she placed the ring on my left ring finger, feeling ko eh para akong nakalutang.

"Althea, when we met, I knew my heart lies with you."

"With everything that happened to us, you are the one I held on to."
"You are my anchor when it seems like I'm going to drown."

"My compass when I couldn't find my way back."

"You are my True North, the half of my heart."

She paused to look me in the eye.

"I was right to choose you."

Hindi ko mapigilang umiyak.

Not only because what she did-- the preparations, the dinner and the candle lights were so romantic, but because she always showed me how much she loves me.

Despite the challenge of the drastic changes in my life, Jade never made me feel less of a person.

Araw-araw sinasabi at pinaparamdam niya na ako ang minahal niya at hindi ang celebrity na nakilala niya sa Boracay.

" I love you, Althea Guevarra."

"If I could marry you right now, I would."

I frowned at what she said.

Sinusukat ko kung seryoso ba siya sa sinabi niya.

"Do you have the other ring?" bigla kong tinanong at siya naman ang nagulat sa sinabi ko.

"Can I have it?" nakangiti ako sa kanya.

Kinuha niya ang black box from her suit pocket at inabot ito sa akin.

"Jade Tanchingco, I fell in love with you the moment I saw you." Panimula ko.

"Kahit masungit ka, dama ko sa puso ko na kaya ko ang sungit mo."

Natawa si Jade sa sinabi ko at kahit magkasama na kami, kumakabog ang dibdib ko habang nagsasalita sa harapan niya.

"I don't know if I told you I believe in soulmates....because I do."

"Deep in my heart, I believe I would find mine but I have no idea where."

"I would like to think that your soul mate was searching too."

"I felt it when I saw you in Boracay."

"The pull of the universe was too strong to ignore."
"I gave in to whatever magic was in the air, without a clue as to where it would lead me."

I paused to stare at her.

Nakita ko na nangingilid na ang luha nito and I reached my hand to wipe her tears.

"Jade, I would like your tears to be of joy not of grief."

"I would like you to be happy and if I fail, remind me of this day."

"Because today, standing in front of you is a girl, promising forever with you."

I slipped the ring in her left hand and afterwards, Jade embraced me.

I closed my eyes as I held her tight.

My tears fell and in that moment, it felt like everything fell into place.