"Alam mo naman na labs kita, cute mo pag nagagalit ka," I cheekily smiled and kissed Noah's forehead, he grunted, "Baby, it's not funny," tuluyan nang kumunot ang mga noo niya. I laughed loudly.
He's been frustrated since yesterday at me because I told him not to visit me today to avoid getting the virus but he was too stubborn 'cause today is my graduation day, he said he wants to be by my side, although our graduation is held virtually.
"Behave, magsisimula na..." he looked at me and warned me using his eyes, I frowned and pouted, "Sungit!"
We're currently at the living room, si Mama naman ay busy sa mga customer sa labas, I am really thankful that we were able to survive in this time of pandemic. Akala ko dati, wala na akong kakampi, akala ko mababaon na kami sa mg utang pero sa mga panahong iyon ay naging kakampi ko ang Diyos.
Some people already forgot about Him but he's just there; silently watching us, teaching us a lesson and rooting for us.
Malawak akong napangiti nang makita ang pagpasok ng mga customer para kumain. I'm glad, I didn't gave up. Lahat ng mga paghihirap na naranasan ko noon ay nabayaran ng kasiyahan at pagmamahal. I smiled.
"Baby... Can you hear me? Are you okay?... Ngumingiti ka na lang diyan mag isa," I glared at him and leaned on the backrest of the sofa while staring at my laptop. It was a gift I received from him on my birthday along with a pair of Dior shoes, I pouted when I felt guilty.
He probably knew what I was thinking about when he saw me taking a glance at the laptop he gave me, "Umiirap ka ba? Parang gusto kong bawiin laptop..." my face contorted in annoyance lalo na nang magsalita pa siya!
"I even bought you a pair of Dior shoes..." he looked at me while pouting, halatang nang aasar, "...but you're not even using it," umakto pa siyang nasasaktan.
"How will I use it? Parang mas mahal pa sa buhay ko 'yong Dior na 'yon!" he laughed so hard. Humawak pa siya sa tiyan niya sa kakatawa, I even saw how some tears formed on the corner of his eyes!
"Why are you laughing! Ang mahal mahal kasi ng mga binibili mo, kaya ko naman kahit sa ukay lang!" he stopped laughing and pouted, "I wanna spoil you..." I sighed, "Ewan ko sayo," he chuckled boyishly and moved near me.
Sinakop niya ang beywang ko at hinalikan ang buhok ko, "Ang ganda mo..." he said randomly which made the butterflies in my stomach crazy. I felt my cheeks heated, "Parang sira!" umiwas ako ng tingin nang marinig ang halakhak niya sa tenga ko, "So pretty," nanggigigil nang saad niya, I pursed my lips to stop myself from smiling.
Agad lang na naagaw ang atensiyon namin nang tawagin na ang pangalan ko.
"Arabella C. Cruz, Magna Cum Laude!"
I shrieked in happiness and immediately hugged Noah who's now looking at me proudly. Hindi ko kasi sinabi sa kanya na Magna Cum Laude ako, panay kasi ang reklamo at rant ko sa kaniya noon tuwing may online classes.
I smiled at what I thought, he's been courting me even before when I was just planning to start studying again, he stayed by my side even though we're still not in a relationship. Through those years, I was able to know him more and I felt his sincerity.
"I'm really so proud of you..." I heard him whispered as he hugged me back and kissed my forehead, "I'm so happy that I feel like crying," I grinned and hugged him more, while leaning on his ear to whisper something, "Love you..." I felt him stiffened, which made me smile.
"I'm so happy that I've met you, Noah. Sobrang saya ko na tinext ko 'yong random number na nakita ko lang sa tindahan," I laughed when I saw how his face turned sour, "You even thought, I was dead!" I laughed so hard.
"'Nak! Andito sila Luna!" my eyes widened when I heard my mother I immediately looked at Noah who's now looking at me innocently, "Baby, I told you, 'di na nila kailangang pumunta!" he stared at me again, "She's calling me baby... gagi kinikilig ako," I heard him whispering to himself, I rolled my eyes.
I left him when I heard Luna's voice, "Ara babes! Where are you?" I smiled widely and immediately ran to her to hug her. Hindi na ako nakakaramdam ng awkwardness dahil no'ng ipinakilala ako ni Noah sa kanila ay ang bait ng buong pamilya niya.
"Gosh, I missed you!" natawa ako, hindi talaga ata mawawala ang pagiging mataray niya sa pagsasalita, "I missed you too," ngumiti siya at iniangat ang mga paperbag na dala, it was obviously foods, "Let's celebrate!" my heart warmed, "You don't really have to do this, nakakahiya," she rolled her eyes, "Duh! Kailan ka pa nahiya?" I laughed loudly.
Agad din naman akong lumapit kay Heather, I hugged her and I was a bit surprised when she smiled at me warmly, hindi siya palangiti, I guess someone's making her happy, "Congrats Ara, I'm proud of you," I smiled genuinely and thanked her.
After talking to her, I immediately walked toward their parents, I smiled when they hugged me, "Ma, Pa na po ba itatawag ko sa inyo Tita, Tito?" they laughed, "Aayain ko na pong magpakasal si Noah e," they laughed more and nodded which made me smile.
I went outside to call for my mother, "Ma, tara kain!" mabuti nga't may mga crew na rin kami kaya nababawasan ang gawain ni Mama. Agad akong napangiti nang maramdaman ang pagsakop sa aking beywang ng mga pamilyar na bisig, "I've been looking for you," he whispered, I just laughed.
Sinigurado ko pang nasa loob si mama bago ko isinabay si Noah sa paglalakad papasok. He intertwined our hands and smiled while walking. I smiled widely and jumped while walking, "Kulit..." I heard him teasing me, I didn't mind him and continued on what I'm doing.
Napahagikhik ako nang may maisip, agad ko namang nakuha ang atensiyon niya. He looked at me confusedly while I gestured him to come near me dahil hindi ko abot ang tenga niya dahil sa tangkad niya.
Tumingkayad ako at kumapit sa balikat niya para maabot pa siya, when he saw me struggling, he put his arms around my waist to maintain my balance, tumawa naman ako at bumulong, "Pakasal na tayo..." then I left him dumbfounded.
