Bukas Hindi Na Ikaw

Chapter 43

Nauna na sila Marco sa lawn habang prente ko namang hihintay sa Emman dito sa may bar counter sa kusina.

Noong makababa siya, agad niya akong nginisian. Natawa na lang ako. As he's already near, he immediately scooped my body, and so we went outside hugging each other's waist.

I threw my nose tip to his chest and sniff him. Hmm... he's nicely fragranced.

Pagkalabas na pagkalabas namin ay agad silang nahagip ng mata ko sa may di kalayuan. Kumpleto na sila roon, maging ang family ni Emman ay nakaupo na rin.

I smiled blissfully as I look at them. Ang sarap pala pag masdan kapag mag-kakasama ang mga mahal mo sa buhay. They are all my treasure, something I can never exchange for betterment. I was unaware when I turn the corners of my mouth. I just felt great satisfaction by simply watching them together.

I began roaming my eyes around. Dito sa lawn nag decorate sila nanay Lucy at ang iba pa naming helper, nandito rin naka pwesto ang long table kung saan sila naroroon lahat, sa tabi ng pool.

As I keep wandering my eyes around, something caught my attention. When I turn my gaze at the pool, I was astonished when I saw plenty of white and pastel balloons floating on the water.

Wow. My favorite colors are there!

But wait, I didn't know about those, sino naman kaya ang may pakulo 'non?

Then, I felt my eyes went smaller when my sight passed through the pool and witnessed something, again, strange.

I was sure for hell, I look oblivious, catching unawares like an innocent child being surprised by her parents for the first time.

There are four white glamping tents assembled in sideways at the back of the pool, and in the middle of it, there's a rusted metal drum cutted in a half, inside the drum there are branches, looking as if waiting to get flamed up. The front view from the tents was a clean white cloth hanging on the wall.

What are these? Are we having an indoor camping? Are we gonna have a bonfire and a movie marathon on our backyard later? Wow, this is extremely awesome.

While feeding my eyes with these gorgeous ambiance I am still digesting, the lights above me starts to flicker. There are fairy lights hanging above me, and when I say above me, it's all over the house lawn.

My jaw was about to get dropped any minute. I couldn't contain my excitement, my joy and astonishment all at once!

I was about to say something to Emman when I felt him caressing my waist, as he whisper something in my ear.

I felt him smiled at me. "I was calling you awhile ago para sana tanungin ka kung okay lang ba na mag movie marathon tayo rito sa lawn mamayang gabi kasama ng mga friends mo, para alam mo na, camping vibe." He chuckled, "kaso hindi mo sinasagot ang tawag ko eh."

Natigilan ako.

That explains the white cloth, hanging. Para siguro sa projector.

"Ohh." Wala sa sariling usal ko.

Yes, I remembered him calling me before I took a bath.

"Yep." Tumango tango siya na parang nang aasar.

Pero wait.

Was he the one who planned all these?

Hinigpitan ko ang yakap ko sa'kaniya saka ko siya tinitigan ng diretso sa mga mata.

Hinawi pa niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko na naka tabing sa'king pisngi.

"At dahil hindi mo sinagot ang tawag ko, I just called your mom instead and ask for her permission and she said it's fine with her though, since I already have plans naman na raw." He looked down on me and softly kissed my forehead.