03

"Hon where are we going? Akala ko we'll stay at the cafe kasi madami ka pang aaralin?"

Hindi matigil-tigil sa kakatanong si Iñigo sa akin. He doesn't have any idea na nag prepare kami ng party para sa kanya. It was tita Ara's idea, mommy ni Iñigo.

Yep. He passed the board examination. Onti na lang makakapasok na siya sa top 10 pero kahit hindi sobrang proud ako sa kanya. He did his best and he deserves every best there is.

"Hon shh we're almost there"

He looked at me curiously. I just smiled at him to assured him that everything is under control.

Ako yung nagd'drive ng kotse. Dapat ay kanina pa kami nakarating sa kanila kaso lang nag text si tita saying na hindi pa raw tapos ang ibang pagkain na niluto niya. So I needed to distract Iñigo. Kaso lang I think I failed? Hindi naman kasi ako mahilig sa surprise surprise na yan eh.

For the past four years in our relationship, minsan lang ako nagbalak na i surprise siya kaso lang failed. Kasi nalaman niya beforehand. Bakit? Kasalanan ko bang sinundan niya ako sa pastry shop? Kasalanan ko bang nakita niya yung cake na may "Happy Birthday Iñigo"? At kasalanan ko bang nakita niya yung stock ng balloons na inorder ko? Diba hindi?

After that incident hindi na ako nag plano ng surprise para sa kanya. Madali kasi siyang maka sense pagdating sa akin eh. He laughed at my failed surprise pero when I started to get annoyed, he'd stop laughing at me and then expresses how happy and delighted he is for my surprise for him kahit failed.

"Hon where do you want to work? May mga tumatawag na sa'yong mga engineering firm ah may napili ka na ba?"

I tried to change the topic so he would get distracted. Right after he passed, andami nang tumatawag sa kanyang firm. Kaso lang he still didn't commit kahit saan dun.

"Wala pa akong napipili eh gusto ko sana kasama kami nila Kian pero iba ata ang offer sa kanila"

I just nodded so he continued

"Why hon? You want me to work na?"

"It's up to you hon. If you want to work then go ahead. Pero if you want to take a break, it's still okay. Ang akin lang sayang ang mga offers sa'yo. That won't last you know"

"Sige I'll decide later okay?"

I smilled at him. Then I got a text from tita saying na okay na ang lahat. Nandoon na rin sa bahay nila ang mga kamag-anak at kaibigan nila.

When we arrived at their house I expected his surprised face to see his friends and family pero wala. Naka smile lang siya sa kanila.

"Aren't you happy hon?" I asked him pero hininaan ko lang ang boses ko.

"I am hon, kaso lang parang you failed again"

Then he chuckled. I was so confused until he whispered

"I saw mom's text to you when we were still in the car."

Tapos natawa nalang siya. Sabi na eh

"But I appreciate your effort hon. Thank you" then he leaned on me to give me a light kiss on my cheek. "I love you, always".

They greeted him so lumayo muna ako sa kanya at tinulungan si tita sa mga handa. I was also greeted by his tita's and tito's. Kilalang kilala na nila ako kasi everytime mayroong family event sila sinasama ako ni Iñigo. Kahit noong ilang araw pa lang kami pinakilala na niya ako sa kanila. I guess he's just so proud of having me as his girlfriend.

While eating, dumating si Lea. One of his barkada. Akala ko sasalubungun niya pero he acted like he didn't saw her or maybe he really didn't saw her cause he's invested with his conversation with his uncle. So I excused myself para ako nalang ang mag asikaso kay Lea.

"Hi Lea, buti naka punta ka. Jake said you won't come" I said and smiled.

She looked at me anxiously.

"Ahh oo. May pinuntahan pa kasi ako. I figured I needed to greet Iñigo personally kasi diba magkaibigan kami"

"Yeah he's with his uncle. They're talking about firms and whatnot. Siguro later nalang samahan kita."

She jud nodded and I led the way papuntang buffet table. After that hinatid ko siya sa table ng barkada nila which is just beside the table of Iñigo's family.

"Hon"

I looked at Iñigo and signaled to wait.

"Lea, guys, I'll just go to Iñigo ha. Later pupunta kami dito"

"Sure Isla, sige na puntahan mo na nga future in laws mo haha ako na ang bahala dito" Jake said, cousin of Iñigo.

I just chuckled and went towards Iñigo and his family.

He's the center of attraction. Of course this is his party kaya nagulat ako nang sa akin naman napunta ang usapan nila.

"So Isla, future doctora. Bigyan mo ako ng discount pag magpapa check-up ako ha" Iñigo's tita said.

"Don't worry po, I would wage my professional fee for you"

That made them laugh. Itong mga taong to mayayaman pero ang kuripot. Sumabay na rin ako sa tawanan nila.

"Isla, Iñigo, I would wait for your wedding okay. Dapat pag doctor na si Isla pakasalan mo agad to Iñigo baka ma agaw pa 'to ng iba" his uncle said.

"Oo nga naman. Look at the two of you. So bagay sa isa't isa. An engineer and a doctor" his tita said. "I will prepare my stiletto na ha"

I just smiled at them. Hiyang hiya na ako dito. I never wanted to talked about that kasi ayokong ma jinx. And Iñigo knows that kaya he held my hand and said

"That would be years from now tita, shempre mag ta'trabaho pa ako. And I want Isla to focus on her studies muna. But we'll get there. Wala naman po kaming ibang pupuntahan kundi sa simbahan eh"

That made his tita's and tito's stare at us in awe. They all complemented us being matured enough to know our priorites.

The party ended early. May mga trabaho pa kasi sila. Some of his barkadas have classes pa at ang iba may mga lakad pa. As for me, I stayed at their house and helped tita with the after party mess. Iñigo on the other hand is on phone with someone. I guess he already picked a firm and he was negotiating with the secretary.

"Tita I'll go ahaead na po"

"Thank you Isla for doing these things for Iñigo"

I hugged tita Ara and bid my goodbye.

Gusto sana ni Iñigo na ihatid ako pero hindi ako pumayag. Dala ko naman ang sasakyan ko plus I don't want him to leave tita. I want them to spend this day together kasi alam ko miss na miss na ni tita si Iñigo. They live in the same house pero minsan lang talaga sila magpang-abot dahil sa trabaho ni tita.

Everything ended well today, I'm here now at my condo reviewing for my exams tomorrow. I was so engrossed in reviewing na nakalimutan kong I check ang phone ko.

Hon:

Are you home na?

Mommy wanted me to go to batangas with her tomorrow. Is it okay hon?

Hon?

Please answer.

Is there something wrong? Hon?

Are you home safe?

Answer your phone please.

I also received 10 missed calls from him. Naka silent pala ang phone ko kaya hindi ko napansin. But instead of calling him back, tinext ko nalang siya na naka-uwi ako ng ligtas at nag-aaral na ako. If I were to call him, I'm sure matatagalan pa ang pag-uusap namin.

Around 1 am na ako natapos ng pagre-review. Before going to bed nag text muna ako kay Iñigo informing him about my whereabouts. Then I received another text message. Akala ko galing kay Iñigo but I was surprised to see who it was.

Lea:

Iñigo please. We need to talk.

I was about to reply when I got another text message from her

Lea:

Sorry Isla, wrong send lang. May tinatanong kasi ako kay Jake tapos pinasa niya kay Iñigo.

Ako:

It's okay Lea. I think Iñigo is already sleeping na so maybe bukas na siya makapag-reply sa'yo. Anyways, I hope you get the answer from him. God Bless.

I'm so curious about what she want's to ask Iñigo pero siguro it's just about their upcoming get together. Ganyan silang mag-barkada eh mahilig gumala.

***

:)