The Right Time

Side Story (1)

"Ma.."

"Hmm?" after that talk last night. Khail and I decided to tell our parents separately. Pero naisip ko. Di ba masyado naming nira rush? Hindi ba pwedeng bonding bonding muna?

"About me and Khail, we're getting married." Napatungo ako after saying that. Kita ko pa rin sa peripheral vision ko ang naging reaction niya. Napalabas din sa kitchen ang kapatid ko. Mukhang narinig niya mula sa salas.

"Ha? Kelan pa kayo nagkabalikan?" Nagtatakang tanong nito. Napatigil sa ginagawang pag luluto.

"Kagabi lang. " Napahawak sa bandang dibdib si mama na animoy inatake.

"Oh Jane! Nag bibiro ka lamang diba?" Pinanlalakihan na rin ako ng mata ni mama. Bahagya lamang ako ngumiti. Senyales na nag sasabi ako ng totoo.

"Jane, alam ko naman. Nasa wastong edad ka na para maikasal. Pero hindi ba masyado nyong nira rush? Kagabi lang pala? Ano iyon kasal agad ang inalok sayo?" Napakagat labi ako bago iangat ang kamay ko na may singsing.

"Susmaryosep.."

"Ma ano ba, pangit ng words mo."

"Aba ay kahit sino mapapasabi niyan. Isipin mo kagabi lamang , kagabi? Akala ko ba ay uuwi ka na? Tas uuwi ka ay may asawa ka na?"

Khail.. maybe it was a bad decision to tell our parents separately.

"Napag usapan na namin to..hehe"

"Kailan?."

"2 years ago?" mas lalong napaawang ang labi ni mama sa sagot ko.

"Napagusapan nyo pero kagabi lamang kayo nagkabalikan? Hindi ba at naghiwalay na kayo , walong taon na ba? Pito?"

"Opo, pero mahal ko pa po."

"Ay ewan ko senyo, gawin nyo ang gusto nyo bahala kayo."

After that day, nagkausap na lang kami ulit ni Khail ay sa Church na. May mga weird glances ang mommy ni Khail ganon rin si Inay Berin.

"What did you tell them?" Curious kong tanong.

"We are getting married? How did it go on your side?" halatang nag aalala rin siya.

"My mama got mad at first. 8 years na tayong hiwalay tas i announce ko ikakasal na tayo." napatawa siya ng bahagya.

"Kung kelan tayo tumanda saka tayo nagi gate keep ng parents natin." Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Why? How di it go on your mom?"

"Hindi naman siya nagalit. I told her beforehand pero nung nangyari na talaga nagulat pa rin siya. Kung di ba daw natin nira rush. " Tumahimik na lamang ako. Mamaya din kase after the service ay mag co consult kami sa mga pastor.

"Well? Later na lang ulit. Pigilan mo muna sarili mo. Konti na lang umakbay ka e. " napatawa siya sa sinabi ko. We exchange glances through out the service.

After the service, that's where we told our pastors and friends. We receive the same question.

"Hindi ba nira rush?" Halatang nag aalangan sila. May doubt sa mukha nila.

"Pano kayo nag lead sa gantong desisyon?" It's Pastor Herbert. Nagkatinginan kami ni Khail.

Khail told them what happen two years ago before we leave.

"...i believe this is the right time. I think we wait enough?" Khail smiles .

"Are you really ready to settle? Malaking usapin ang marriage Khail and Jane. I mean both of you are old enough. Pero baka nape pressure lang kayo ha?" Pressure? Walang nag puput ng pressure samin. Ako, buo na loob ko. Khail is right. We wait enough.

After the talks, they still congratulate us. We had our parents and the pastor's blessing. Khail invites mo to come to his house.

"Why?"

"Ayaw mo ng tour? Naupo ka lang dito nung bumisita ka e." Come to think of it. Hindi ko nga nailibot ng maayos ang sarili ko non sa bahay niya.

"This is ours.."

"..just so you know, this is ours." Ngumiti lang ako sa kaniya. How could i possibly call this our e wala man lang akong nai ambag dito.

"Don't think na wala kang na iambag dito ha, it's not like that. You, giving me a second chance is enough." Giving him a second chance..

"Khail, hindi ba dapat ako ang mag thankyou. I am the one who ended our relationship 8 years ago. Just because of the fear lingering on my heart. Maybe it's a canon event?" Natatawa kong sabi.

Wala akong narinig na sagot kaya nilingon ko ang pwesto niya. But to my surprise, he's behind me. Kaya naman ng humarap ako ay napakalapit niya saakin.

"Can i kiss you?" Napangiti ako. He's still the same as ever. I lean onto him and brush my lips against his. It just a peck yet it made me tear up. I remember kissing him like this too when we broke up. I hug him and then i cry my heart out.

I'm just so happy. If he didn't spoke to me that day, magiging kami ba? May matatawag bang kami? Ikakasal ba kami?

If ever na hindi siya nag tanong saken that time, siguro may asawa na si Khail ngayon. Siguro hindi siya nag aral sa Unibersidad na pinasukan ko. Siguro hindi kami naging mag kaibigan.

But, if he's the right person..

Maybe even if he didn't ask or spoke to me that day, maybe we still end up to each other. May masasaktan ba kung sakali?

We rest on his house and talk to each other on the rest of the day. Our struggles abroad, how he refuse to contact me dahil daw baka ipilit niya na ikasal na agad kami and so on. We talk our heart out.

Ang saya, ang saya ng puso ko.

It feels like I can die peacefully.