The Long Overdue Question

The first time he asked me was a few years back, and I knew we were both, not ready yet.

The second time he asked me, I wasn’t ready.

The third time was when Mommy and Daddy made up the plan and I knew it wasn’t his idea.

Last Friday, inside the car, in the parking lot of a mall, I woke up from the nap I had and he said a few introductions, then he popped the magic question. Due to some “day-before” reasons which I need not elaborate here, I couldn’t not say anything. My hopes and expectations had been too high already and I wasn’t too happy about it. I just started to cry, and told him, I wanted to go home. He went to a battle and his only armor was a few sentences and the ring and unfortunately, he has been defeated.

But defeat, he couldn’t accept. He started the car, I thought he was bringing me home. Then, we passed by the road to the house and he went further, I told him where is he taking me. His only word was “Basta.” Familiar roads, familiar traffic, my stomach was grumbling because my only meal was breakfast and it was already twelve hours ago. I was getting impatient, so I forced myself on a nap again. I woke up, the second time and knew he was lost already. He asked me, “Asan yung ikot?” No, it wasn’t a jeep route but he referred to the Sunken Garden as “ikot”. I told him to make a few turns and park. Why here? What’s in here? He just said, “Tara, lakad tayo.” While walking, he started talking. “I brought you here because this is the place where I first felt something for you.” He reminisced a bit, brought back a few years. As we continued walking, he said that this place was his memory of the first time that we talked about each other’s lives, where I asked him out-of-this-world-questions, and this where he touched my hand, the first time.

Then, with "Oble," the naked statue, as our witness, we stopped and he said he doesn’t know if it’s still right to ask me. Then, I stopped him and said the magic answer. Yes, he put the ring on my finger. And yes, we had dinner afterwards. No “The End” because this is just the beginning. But there will be a happily ever after.

I’ve proven, patience is a virtue. And when what you’re waiting for comes, it will be worth the wait. I've had lots of memories of the Sunken Garden, but this one outweighs it all.

Couldn’t get enough

The five-day stay with them was the best. First night was rainy, but I had the best cream-tomato-sauce-combined shrimp pasta in whole world. Second day, I brought him to places I’ve been during the first time I went there. Still rainy, but we managed to find our way (with Daddy’s ever reliable map), to the IT Mall and to Merlion. We took the boat to Clark Quay, then to Orchard, then to Chinatown. Third day, rain made way for us, so I was able to ride a tandem bike for the first time, along the beach. One hour passed very quickly and I enjoyed the ride. Then we went to my favorite furniture shop in the whole world!

Sunday, I was able to attend a Catholic Mass where a lot of Pinoys were there. Then we headed off to the zoo. This time, we didn’t let the rain get in the way. The butterfly garden was scary because they put birds inside. And with our plastic raincoats, I was able to see the Polar Bears, finally!

Who would have thought I’d survived commuting, riding the bus and train, with the all-purpose Ezlink card. Sleeping as long as I want, waking up to cook breakfast, sitting on the dining table and having dinner, having mommy make me hot tea. Best part was seeing mommy and daddy and spending time with them. The airfare was worth it.

Now that I’m back, I wish I could stay longer, or forever maybe. I just couldn’t get enough of it.

Paglisan

Halos tatlong taon ako sa bahay na ito. Naaalala ko pa nang pilitin ako ng bestfriend ko na sumama sa kanya mag-apartment. Matagal ko nang gustong magkaroon ng sariling kwarto, at para masubukan kong mabuhay na mag-isa, sumama ako sa kanya. Pero hindi naman talaga ako naging mag-isa. Dahil sa paglipat ko sa BR, nakita ko na pwede ka palang magkaroon ng kapatid kahit na hindi mo kadugo. At napatunayan kong ang mga totoong magkakaibigan ay hindi talaga nag-aaway sa kahit anong aspeto, dahil lahat ay nadadaan sa lambing at maayos na usapan.

Bawat sulok ng BR ay mayroong alaala. Ang unang sala na hindi lamang lalagyan ng mga sapatos kundi naging isang ”Welcome Home” pambungad sa akin. Ang maliit na kwarto at banyo na naging lalagyan ko ng gamit kahit hindi ko naman masyado natutulugan. Sa mga unang buwan, naging saksi ito sa madaming lungkot at sakit ng buhay ko.

Ang kusina at dining table, na nakaranas ng hindi lamang iba’t ibang kainan kundi madaming masasayang bagay. Ang shelf na parang sari-sari store dahil laging puno ng mga de lata at pagkain. Ang blender na gumawa ng mga magic concoctions, at ang "one-cup" coffeemaker. Ang isang shelf na puno ng mga litrato at mga bote na may ibang ibang disenyo ng buhangin mula sa Boracay, litrato ng mga magagandang alaala at mga bote na gawa ng mahahalagang tao.

Ang tunay na sala na may refrigerator. Ref na puro litrato pa din ang pinto, ang pinanggalingan ng mga eksperimentong mga luto, ang ugat ng samahang hindi ka magugutom kahit minsan. Noong una’y may kama ang sala pero naging tirahan ng mga bugoy. May malaking bintana na tanging paraan para makita mo ang magulong mundo sa labas at maisip na ligtas ka na sa loob.

Nang umalis ang bestfriend ko, naging bahagi ng buhay ko ang malaking kwarto at napakagandang banyo na gusto kong palaging malinis. Ang paboritong kutchon ni iko na gustung-gusto nyang gulungan at gapangan. Itong kwartong ito ang nagpatulog sa akin sa mga malalamig na gabi at madalas, kasama ko ito sa mga tuwa at saya ng puso ko.

Masakit sa kalooban kong umalis ngunit kailangan. Sa aking paglisan sa BR, kasama ko ang lahat ng alaala sa loob nito, bawat sulok, bawat kwarto. At kahit na magkakaroon na ako ng bagong apartment, hindi ko makakalimutan ang BR, dahil naging malaking parte ito ng buhay ko.