Aryana Solenn Valencia
“I didn’t say that..” mahinahong sagot ni Dylan sa akin. “I am not that weak to hide you in private.”
I grinned my teeth. “But you already did.” mariin kong sagot.
Natigilan siya saka hinawakan ang kamay ko na nakapatong sa aking mga hita.
“Not this time. Let’s be happy in private, like what we do all the time. But this time, we will be happy in public. Did you get it, mahal?”
Ngumiti siya sa akin saka bumuntong-hininga. “I won’t deny you again in every interviews. I will always be proud of having you, Solenn.”
I smiled and rolled my eyes. “Napakagaling mo talagang magsalita.”
Pinisil niya ang palad ko. “At kaya ko ring tapatan ng gawa.”
I sighed heavily. “Bakit ako, mahal?” I started to ask. “Maraming babae d’yan na nahuhulog sa ‘yo, sa isang ngiti mo lang..”
Sa muling pagkakataon ay pinisil niyang muli ang palad ko. “Don’t ever compare yourself to the other girls. Dahil nag-iisa ka. Your love is a different kind of love, love that I’ve never received before.”
I looked away from him and just stared at our reflection at the windows.
“Wait. Where’s your ring, mahal?” Dylan asked curiously.
I looked at Dylan, he looked at me with his brows furrowed, looking confused too.
“You told me to remove the ring if I am going to an events. Kasi sabi mo, baka they will recognize the ring.” I reasoned out.
“Pero nasaan nga?” muling tanong nito, nagtataka.
Napairap ako bago kuhanin ang box sa pouch ko at saka iyon ipinakita sa kan’ya. Agad niyang kinuha iyon saka tinignan nang mabuti bago buksan.
Iyong diamond ring kasi ang regalo niya sa akin, when we celebrated our third anniversary together. We’re in a relationship for almost three years.
“Akin na, ulit.” He looked at me like he was waiting for me to do something.
“Nasa iyo na nga ang singsing, e.” I said sarcastically.
He laughed and shook his head. “No. Not this ring. I mean, your hand, akin na.”
I let out a small laugh. “Oh!” I immediately offered him my hand. He just shook his head and held my hand softly before putting the ring on my finger.
“Don’t take it off, again.” He cleared that out.
I nodded and smiled at him. He started the engine and starts driving slowly.
Tahimik lang kami sa buong biyahe at ni-isa sa amin ay walang nagsalita. Ngunit, hindi niya pa rin binitiwan ang kamay ko buong biyahe.
Nang makarating na mismo sa bahay ay binitiwan na niya ang kamay ko.
“Ingat sa biyahe, mahal.” I kissed him on his lips. He smiled and waved his left hand while walking back to his car.
Agad na sumalubong sa akin ang mukha ni Sean nang makapasok ako sa sala. Nanonood siya sa telvision ng palabas. Nabaling lang ang tingin niya sa akin nang ilapag ko ang bag sa sofa.
“How’s the celebration?” Sean asked while raising a brow.
“Great.” tipid at pagod kong sagot bago tuluyang umupo sa sofa matapos kong matanggal ang stilettos kong suot.
“Akala ko ba celebration ang pinuntahan mo? Pero ba’t mukha kang gutom?” natatawa niyang tanong
I glared at him. “Pagod ako! Hindi gutom!” inis kong saad bago pumikit.
Narinig ko ang mahina niyang pagtawa kaya tinignan ko siya nang mariin. Tinawanan niya lang ako ulit bago ilingan at pagpatuloy ang panonood.
“Oh, teka! Red light! Mela, red light! Mela! Red light! Aaaah!!!”
Agad akong napatingin sa television nang marinig ang linyang iyon galing kay Rico Yan. Nanonood pala siya ng Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita na pinagbidahan ni Rico Yan at Claudine Barretto.
“Ano ka ba?! Red light ‘yon eh!” Rico shouted due to nervousness.
Ngumisi-ngisi si Claudine nang nakakaloko. “Sorry ah? Akala ko kasi green.”
Natawa ako nang marinig ang tugon ni Claudine kay Rico. Halos takasan na ng dugo ang buong mukha ni Rico dahil sa kaba ngunit si Claudine ay nagawa pang mangasar at ngumiti nang nakakaloko.
I heard Sean laughed. “Walang kupas.” He smiled and shook his head. “This scene will remain iconic.”
“Good night, Sean.” I said before leaving him alone.
I didn’t heard his response because I immediately leave the living room. I went inside my room and take a shower.
“OMG! That’s the ring oh! It engraved your nickname, hindi ba?” echoserang tanong ni Ralene saka hinawakan ang singsing.
She looked at it like it was the most important ring in the world. “Raya...” she whispered. “He’s really the sweetest man I’ve ever met.”
“You know? He’s the man I liked.”
My eyes furrowed. “What?” I asked curiously.
“Three years, back then, I developed a crush on him. He’s great, that’s why we all like him. But when I discovered about his relationship with Raya, you, I stopped liking him. I respected his relationship with you. And after that, I stopped chasing him.”
My eyes were immediately filled with amusement. “That’s why you’re familiar to me.” I sighed and sarcastically laughed.
“But, aside from him, I also liked Corics! You know him, hindi ba? He’s quite funny and cute, though.” She immediately smiled.
I nodded and sighed again. “It’s quite hard going, huh. How can you unloved someone easily?”
“I don’t know, either.” She laughed. “Oh, by the way, where are you going ba?”
Agad naman akong napaisip saka napailing. “I don’t know, either.” We both laughed.
We’re in a park, having our meryenda. Inaya niya lang din ako kasi sabi niya, she wants to be my friend daw kaya pumayag naman na ako.
Naglabas siya ng speaker saka ikinonnect ang bluetooth ng phone niya at ng speaker.
“Play the “When I Met You” by Apo Hiking Society, Sol!” A girl with high pitched voice requested. It was Gaia.
Agad kaming napatingin sa aming likuran nang marinig ang sigaw na iyon ni Gaia. She smiles at me.
Ralene glanced at me. “Who is she?” she asked curiously.
“Gabrielle Aia Lopez, she’s my friend.” I introduced her.