All Over Again

Chapter 6: Diamond Ring

Venice's POV

There's got to be a mistake. Siguro nga, may kung sinong nang-ttrip sa'kin. If ever man! Ano ba! Hindi pa ba time para lumabas?!?! Aatakihin na ko sa puso dito!!!!

Jerwin: M-Marriage.. M-Mom.. What are you talking about?

Mrs. Santos: Well, if you think about it, marriage is the perfect solution for everything that's going on, di ba, kumare?

K-Kumare?!? Kumare na ang tawag nya sa nanay ko?! Mag-kumare na sila?!?!

Jerwin: Solution for what? If this is about the bed-sharing that happened last night, kanina pa namin sinasabi sa inyo, nothing happened!!

Mrs. Santos: We may choose to believe that nothing happened, but the fact is, you two shared a bed a man and a woman on the same bed the entire night. Kahit anong sabihin nyo, what I saw and what my maternal instict tells me..

Ang old-fashioned.. -__- Old-fashioned na p*****t ang utak ng mother ni Jerwin. Ang contradicting.

Mom: And the pictures! Naku, iikot sigurado 'yun sa internet, sa TV! Aba, Venice, magtatanong ang mga tao! Baka may mga sumunod pa na ilabas. Hindi ka matatahimik, anak.

Ako: Pero.. This is all so sudden! I'm only 21. Mahaba pa ang future ko. May mga pangarap pa ko sa life. Ang mga places to go, mga things to see. In other words, ayoko pa mag-asawa.. T-T

Mom: It's not like it's an instant marriage. Hindi naman kami ganun ka-cruel, di ba kumare?

Ayy.. hindi ba? T-T

Mrs. Santos: Exactly. How about a long engagement? Di ba? Just think of it as an arranged marriage.

Jerwin: But, mom--

Mrs. Santos: No "buts", Jerwin. You are doing this! Think of all the positive publicity you're gonna get the moment we annouce the engagement..

Ako: Publicity? O_O

So publicity stunt lang ako!? Ganon?!?

Mom: Well, sabi ni Mrs. Santos, kung kilala ka ng mga tao, at kung madalas ka nilang nakikita, hindi sila magiging ganon ka-curious syo. So, they won't mob you as much. Probably

Naramdaman kong napasandal si Jerwin dun sa couch.. Syempre, napalipad yung tingin ko sa kanya.

Bakit nag-rrelax na to?!? Nag-ggive up na si kuya?!?!?! Nababaliw ba siya?!?

Ako: *bulong kay Jerwin* What are you doing?!? Back me up here!

Jerwin: *bulong pabalik* But they seem so determined about this engagement thing.

Ako: You are killing me!

Jerwin: Oh, it'll be okay. Haven't you heard? *smiles* Parents know best.

Ang--!!! O__O

Ako: Eh kung sabunutan kaya kita dyan?!?!?

Jerwin: They'll probably think it's a show of affection.

Ako: Eh!?

Mrs. Santos: Well, now that's done and over with, let's go to the jewelry store.

Ako: J-Jewelry store?

Mom: Aba, syempre, we need to pick out your engagement ring!

Ako: B-but I have class to go to! And-- And.. Jerwin! Wala ka bang klase? Work? Whatever?!

Jerwin: Nope. I cleared out my entire morning schedule just for you, sweetheart.

"Sweetheart"?!! Ewww... -__-

Mom: Ok lang yun, Venice.. We'll be done before noon, makakahabol ka pa sa dalawa mong klase..

Mrs. Santos: Bakit hindi ka na lang magshower na at magpalit ng uniform, para after natin kumuha ng ring, we can just drop you off at your school?

Mom: Ayy! Perfect plan, kumare!

Oh jusko... T^T

Ako: I can't believe na nakikisali ka dito!

Jerwin: Oh relax. It's just an engagement. We're lucky they didn't propose an immediate wedding.

Ako: But we're getting engaged! I don't even know you!

Jerwin: Oh. *tingin sa'kin* Jerwin Santos. 22 years old. I'm a recording artist. Nice to meet you.

Ipalamon ko kaya sa kanya lahat ng singsing dito sa harap namin.. Mabubuhay pa kaya siya? -__-

Anyway, Mrs. Santos and my mom dragged me and Jerwin to this really chic jewelry store para mag-pick out ng engagement ring..

Well, actually, they're picking out the ring. Props lang kami ni Jerwin, as we try to look like a couple para dun sa mga ogling na salesclerks and other people around. I can't believe he's this famous, and I didn't even recognize him. Something's probably wrong with my eyes. -_-

"Uh, excuse me po?"

Napatigil kaming dalawa nang may nag-approach na teenager sa'min, holding a camera, at naka-uniform pa. High school uniform. Iha, maaga pa para mawalan ng klase ah..

Jerwin: Yes?

Teenager: Pwede po bang magpa-picture?

Jerwin: Sure.

Okay. Ano ako? Kasama ba ako?

I should probably step out of the way..

Teenager: Ate, pakuha naman nung picture oh!

Ay.. Inabot sa'kin ung camera. Ako namang si mabait, kinuha ko naman. Jerwin just shrugged at me as the bubbly little teenager ran to his side -- kulang na lang eh mag-bounce bounce sa sobrang excitement.

Jerwin put his arm around the fan's shoulders and then pareho silang ngumiti dun sa camerang hawak ko. Kuya naman, feel na feel ang pagiging star..

Ako: Okay.. Ready? 1.. 2... 3... Smile..

Flash!

Teenager: Ate, pwede isa pa?

Ako: Uh, sure..

Abusado kang bata ka ha. -__-

I took one more picture and another and another. Napapansin ko ngang medyo na-aawkward na si Jerwin, pero tuloy pa rin naman ung pag-smile nya dun sa bata..

Mabait na celebrity. Nyahahaha

Finally, nagsawa na rin ung bata, kinuha na ung camera sa'kin..

Teenager: Thank you, ate ha.

Ako: You're welcome.

Lumapit siya sa'kin ng konti tapos nag-signal na may ibubulong sya.. So syempre ako naman, as if by reflex na pag "bulong" ibig sabihin eh "latest chikka", lumapit naman kagad ako.

Teenager: Ate, kaano-ano mo si Jerwin Santos?

Ako: Ha?!? Kaano-ano ko si Jerwin??! O_O

Napatingin ako bigla kay Jerwin, who's looking naman sa'min with an amused look on his face.

Napalakas yata yung exclamation ko. Pati ung ibang taong nakapaligid sa'min eh nakatingin rin.

-__-

Ako: Ah, ano...

Ano naman sasabihin ko? Fiancé? Josko, kakilabot! Hinde ko kaya~ T-T Maya-maya, may naramdaman na lang ako bigla na braso na nag-wrap around sa shoulder ko, and then pulled me close to him. Syempre ako naman, napatingin kung sino ba 'tong bulgaran ang chansing sa'kin.

*gulp*

Si Jerwin...

Jerwin: Ikaw siguro unang makakaalam nito, but this girl right here..

Oh my golay.. Eto na.. Sasabihin nya.. Sasabihin nya talaga!

Jerwin: This is Venice, my fiancée.

OoO

Sinabi nya! Sinabi nya talaga! At nakangiti pa si kuya! Nakangiti pa talaga sya! Ay jusko ang puso ko! Ang dugo ko! Ang mukha ko!

Mag-ccommentary sana si teenager, kaya lang biglang may isa pang ate na biglang lumapit sa'min -- mukhang sa sobrang shock ni ate, eh hindi niya na natiis na hindi lumapit.

Ate: Fiancée?!?

Jerwin: Yes. We're here to pick out an engagement ring. Our mothers are pretty much going crazy over the rings right now.

He nodded his head over kung nasan ung mga nanay namin na busy pa rin sa pagpili nila ng engagement ring.

The Ring -__- Nagsimula na ang bulungan sa store. Ayan na, kumakalat na ang balita.. Ahyan naaaaaa!!!

Teenager: Eh di, ate. Pwede pa-picture ulit? Tayong dalawa naman?

Ay! Picture!

Napatingin ako kay Jerwin who just smiled at me. Hindi ung smile na pang-encourage, instead, ung smile pa na pang-asar..

Bubwit talaga.

Tapos kinuha niya yung camera ulit nung high schooler, and lumapit naman sa'kin si high schooler.

Syempre, feel na feel ko naman ang pagpapapicture, sige, nag-photo op kami nung bata -- kunwari di labag sa kalooban ko ang mga nangyayari. Pero unlike kay Jerwin, dalawang picture lang ung sa'min ni batang nagccutting ng klase..

Teenager: *kinuha ung camera kay Jerwin* Ok, kayo namang dalawa!

Lumapit sa'kin si Jerwin, and katulad nung ginawa nya kanina, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder again and pulled me a little closer to him..

Ako: *bulong sa kanya* Talagang kailangan mong sabihin sa kanilang lahat no?!

Jerwin: *bulong pabalik* But it's the truth. You are my fiancée. Now, smile.

The little high schooler took about 2 or 3 pictures namin ni Jerwin, hanggang finally, napagod na. Nag-thank you na siya at tinago na ung camera nya, at eto pa ang parting words nya:

Teenager: I can't wait na ipakita 'to sa mga kaklase ko!

*Sigh*

Wala na talaga akong takas...

After matapos ang impromptu pictorial, hinaltak na ko ni Jerwin papunta dun sa case na tinitignan nung mga nanay namin. Malamang kasi ung mga tao dun sa paligid namen eh parang konting-konti na lang, eh susugurin na kami ng tanong.

Jerwin: Are you done yet?

Mrs. Santos: Well, we narrowed it to three. Pinapakuha na lang namin dun sa saleslady yung last one.

Ako: Three?

Mom: Oo, anak.. Para madali kang makapili ng diamong ring mo..

Ako: Diamond?? O_O

Diamonds?! Bakit diamond? Di ba pwedeng Pearl? Sapphire? Ruby? Emerald? Amethyst? o kung ano mang may kulay na bato dyan sa kalsada?!? Bakit kailangan diamond??

Mrs. Santos: But of course, diamonds are a girl's best friend di ba?

Mom: And engagement rings should be diamonds!

I gave a short laugh and then stepped back. Bigyan ba naman ako ng diamond? Siguro betrayal 'to to all the females in the world, pero for some reason, hindi ko bff ang diamond. Siguro kasi pag nakakakita ako ng diamond, parang naiisip ko kagad: pwet ng baso. wahahaha

*Sigh*

"You don't want a diamond ring?"

Napatalon akong bigla nung may bumulong sa tabi ko. Jusko naman tohng si Jerwin, may pagka-ninja!

Ako: Not really...

Tumingin-tingin ako dun sa kabilang case ng mga rings para pakalmahin ang nagulantang kong puso. Sumunod naman sa'kin si Jerwin as I browse through the expensive displays..

I know, hindi ako natutuwa sa engagement--pero sinong hindi maaaliw pag ganitong binibili ka ng mamahalin na singsing?

Whooaaaa... Wait...

Napatigil ako bigla dun sa isang case display, at halos idikit ko na yung mukha ko dun sa glass para lang matitigan ung isang ring..

Jerwin: You know, those aren't really engagement rings...

Ako: But look how pretty that is...

It's a white-gold ring with a center heart-shaped, aquamarine stone and an outline of little diamond accents around the heart..

It's so pretty~

Jerwin stepped beside me. Nilapit nya rin ung mukha nya dun sa ring na tinitignan ko, nakikitingin din.

Jerwin: Do you want that ring?

Ako: Ha?!?

Ay nagising akong bigla dun sa lust ko for the ring! But it's so preeettttyyyy~ T-T Sigh. Pero syempre, hindi naman kaya ng budget ko yan, so I might as well stop the dream.

Haaayyyy..

Tumayo na lang ako ng ayos and quickly looked somewhere else.. Tumayo na rin ng ayos si Jerwin, pero he's still looking at the ring..

Jerwin: I'm asking if you want that ring.

Ako: H-Hindi ah! I'm just saying it's pretty and besides, 'di ba nga, dapat diamond ang center stone ng engagement ring.. haha Kaw talaga. Hindi ka nakikinig. Haha Halika na nga dun sa mga nanay natin at nang makalayas na tayo dito..

I immediately walked over pabalik dun sa mga nanay namin.

Si Kuya talaga, shocking.. -__-

Bigla ba naman akong tanungin ng ganun.. Bakit 'pag sinabi ko bang "oo!" bibilhin nya?!? Baka nga.... AYYY ASA!

Just in time nung na-reach ko ung nanay ko, the last of the picked-out rings was being laid out sa harap nila.

And my golay! Ano ba namang pinagpipili ng mga nanay na 'to?!?! Gusto ba nila akong ma-hold up dyan sa tabi-tabi dahil sa singsing?!?

A saleslady proceeded to describe each ring to me para namang hindi pa enough na nag-ssparkle sparkle sila sa harap ko..

One is a three-stone ring. Three stone, as in three major diamonds with an outline of little diamonds pa! The metal is white-gold. Siguro pag nanuntok ako ng tao, diamond-knuckles ang dating ng singsing na 'to...

Ung second naman, jusko... Yung white gold na band eh may nakadikit rin na maliliit na diamonds and ung center diamond, complemented by "pave-set of diamonds" (Ewan ko ibig sabihin nun, bastah ayun yung sabi nung nagbebenta) at nakausli ung center diamond.. O_O Eto ung tipo na pag nanuntok ka, magkakaron ng butas ung sinuntok mo..

And the Third one. Siguro eto na ung pinaka-simple. Although may diamonds pa rin ung white-gold band, maliit lang naman ung center diamond. The center diamond is round, wala nang kung anu-anong arte. The classic engagement ring. Pag nanuntok, parang kagat lang ng lamok ung singsing.

Ako: I think I'll take the third one.

Mrs. Santos: Sigurado ka? Isn't it the simplest one?

Ako: Yeah, that's why I like it.

Mom: Gusto mo, tumingin ka muna ng iba. Eto lang kasi yung nakita namin na pwedeng bilhin kagad but we can always go back.

Ako: No!! O_O I mean, it's fine. Di ba, Jerwin?

Umikot ako, tama naman na kakatigil lang ni Jerwin sa paglalakad papunta sa likod ko. Ano bang pinaggagawa ng taong 'to at ang bagal naman sumunod!?

Jerwin: What? Tapos na ba kayo?

Ako: (pointed at the ring I chose) I'm picking the third one. What do you think?

Jerwin: If that's the one you want, then it's fine with me.

Ako: How helpful you are. -__- (tingin ulit sa mga nanay namin) I'll take the third one.

Although nag-hhesitate yung dalawang atat maghanap ng singsing, they eventually agreed to take the ring na pinili ko..

Takot lang nila, baka bigla akong mag-walk out dito. The saleslady took the ring, put it in a box, and told us to wait.. blah blah blah..

Jerwin: How much is it?

Mrs. Santos: Oh honey, don't worry about it.

Jerwin: No, mom. I'll pay for it.

Ayy sosyal.. Wa care kung ilang libo ang bayaran ni Kuya. Binayaran na ni Jerwin ung singsing, and, finally, we all walked out of the store pabalik sa parking lot para makapasok na ko sa school at malamang eh makapag-vent out sa mga taong kailangang pag-vent out-an ko ng mga nangyayari..

Pagpasok namin sa kotse, Jerwin squished beside me sa backseat and carelessly threw the plastic bag nung singsing sa'kin. Lokong toh, talagang wa care sa ilang thousand pesos na merchandise! Abah! Ingatan niya naman! Pwede ko pang isangla toh!

Jerwin: Here, put it on.

Ako: Ano? Di ka man lang luluhod?! Wala man lang, "Will you marry me?"

Jerwin: Babaliw ka ba? O_O

Ako: Wala ka talagang ka-romance romance dyan sa buto mo noh? Papayag-payag ka dito, tapos di mo rin pala lulubus-lubusin..

I took out the small navy blue box from the bag and opened it.. Tinignan ko lang ulit yung singsing sandali. Half wanting to throw it out of the window pero half knowing na, if I do that, malamang eh ipapahanap lang sa'kin ng nanay ko o ni Jerwin ung singsing hanggang sa makita ko ulit.

Mga engkanto.

I slid my new diamond engagement ring on the appropriate finger....

Weh, engagement ring.. kilabot... -___-

Sigh...

And then, as if by reflex, napahawak naman ako dun sa other ring na suot ko sa right hand ko.. Dun sa ring na I always wear..

A silver wrap ring with pearls on both ends and little diamonds on the band.

A very special ring...