Sunsets and city lights with you

Forty one

Agnes' POV

"Jam saan ba tayo pupunta?" Bigla na lang nag aya sila Jam umalis after school

"Samahan mo lang kami saglit lang to" Sabi ni Jam habang hinahatak ako

"Oo nga Agnes saglit lang eto naman" Migs

"Asaan ba sila Pat? Akala ko i-meet natin sila dito?" After ng last subject namin, sinabi ni Pat sakin na mauna na kami nila Jam at may aasikasuhin lang muna sila nila Toni after school.

"Wait I'll call Andrew kung saan na sila" Keifer

Lumayo muna si Keifer bago tumawag kela Andrew. Ano kaya meron?

"Agnes ano balak mo sa birthday mo tomorrow?" Tanong ni Pao

"Ah wala uuwi lang kami sa Baguio kasama sila mama para mabisita rin iba kong relatives. Sakto rin kasi na Saturday bukas kaya makakauwi kami."

"Kasama si Emil?"
"Yup"
"Miss na namin yun ah di na nag papakita samin kapatid mo"
"Wala eh busy sa school. Next time isasama ko tutal miss nya na rin naman kayo" Growing up without a father is very hard, lalo na sa aming magkapatid. Pero thankfully nung nag hs ako, nakilala ko sila Pao and tinuring na nilang little brother si Emil. Happy naman ako na may natatawag siyang older brother nya.

"On the way na raw sila dito" update ni Keifer.

Kanina ko pa tine-text si Pat pero she's not responding.

"Uy ayan na sila" Migs pointed Andrew and Toni walking towards us. Hinahanap ko si Pat pero parang wala sya

"Bakit wala si Pat?" I asked Toni pero di nya ako pinansin at ngumiti lang.

"Okay na ba? Iwan na namin si Agnes sainyo ha" Sabi ni Jam kela Andrew

"Ha? Iwan ako? Bakit?" Takang taka na ako sa mga nangyayare. Kita ko namang nakangiti lang sila

"We'll go ahead na ha. Bye Agnes, Enjoy!" Sigaw ni Poch habang sabay sabay sila nag lalakad palayo

"Agnes let's go?" Andrew
"Ha? Saan?"
"Basta tara na" Toni. We walked back sa school pero parang sa likod ng campus kami papunta. We stopped at the Janitor's office. Teka parang alam ko na to ah

"Hi Agnes" kaway ni kuya Toffer na nag babantay sa Janitor's office. "Advance happy birthday!"

"Hala kuya paano mo nalaman yun?"
"Sisihin mo sya" sabay turo kay Pat na naglalakad papalapit sa amin. Nakangiti naman si Toni and Andrew

"Thank you guys, I'll take it from here" Kumaway sila Toni and Andrew samin bago sila umalis

"Let's go?" Kinuha ni Pat kamay ko and sabay kami pumunta sa special spot ko, or namin.
"I know your birthday is tomorrow and nalaman ko rin kay tita na uuwi kayo ng baguio so I planned a little surprise lang to celebrate your special day here sa favorite place mo" Pat used her hands para takpan yung eyes ko bago kami makarating sa top floor. Gusto nya raw surprise eh

"Lasaten baka naman itutulak mo lang ako sa building ha"
"Ay hala paano mo nalaman? Sayang tagal ko pa naman pinlano yun" asar nya

"Ready? 1,2,3!" She removed her hands and nakita ko yung little set up ni Pat. May maliit na table na may candles, may food and may speakers.

"I know this is not much pero I hope you like it. And don't worry di ko sila pina akyat dito. Kaya nga hanggang sa Janitor's office ko lang sila pinapunta."

I'm speechless. Ngayon ko lang na experience ma-surprise nang ganito. Humarap ako kay Pat and I hugged her

"Thank you, Pat"
"Of course, anything for you"

Umupo na kami sa table and kumain. Surprisingly, complete yung favorite food ko.

"Nag tanong tanong ako sa kanila ano pa ibang favorite mo kaya ayan bukod sa hawaiian pizza, may sushi, buttered garlic shrimp and syempre buko juice with sisig na hindi maanghang" she smiled proudly.

"Grabe Pat this is too much. Birthday ko lang naman"

"There's nothing too much for a special person like you"

"Quota ka na sa pag papakilig ha" Tumawa kami parehas. We ate and talked about everything there's to talk about. Kinwento ko yung about sa family ko and kinwento nya rin yung kaniya. We really are getting closer and closer everyday and I'm not complaining.

"Pat, I know we are taking things slow but just so you know, I wouldn't trade any of these things, any of you and any possibilities of a future with you in exchange for the whole world."

"I'm so glad because I wouldn't too." Pat said. "And speaking of taking things slow.." tumayo si Pat tapos pumunta sya sa side ko and extended her arm asking for my hand "Ms. Maristella Agnes. A. Reoma, would you give me this opportunity to slow dance with you?"

Grabe yung kilig ko. Sino ba naman ako para tumanggi diba? Tumayo ako tapos nilagay ko arms ko sa balikat ni Pat while her hands naman is on my waist. Sakto namang nag play ng music yung speakers na dala ni Pat

Panalangin ko sa habang-buhay
Makapiling ka, makasama ka
'Yan ang panalangin ko

"Mhmm nice Panalangin by Apo Hiking Society"
"Diba kapag may lola ka ang tawag sayo apo?" Nag joke si Pat.
"Sabihin mo sakin kung kailan ako tatawa ha? Nakakatawa ka pala kasi mag joke" asar ko. Inirapan nya naman ako.

At hindi papayag ang pusong ito
Mawala ka sa 'king piling
Mahal ko, iyong dinggin

"You know It's never too late para itulak kita dyan" sagot ni Pat
"Hindi na kailangan"
"Ha?"
"Hulog na hulog naman na ako sayo eh" yung kunot ng noo ni Pat kanina biglang nawala. "Yun oh kinilig sya oh" nginitian ko sya tapos inirapan nanaman ako. Dudukutin ko na mata neto eh

Wala nang iba pang mas mahalaga
Sa tamis na dulot ng pag-ibig nating dal'wa
At sana naman, makikinig ka
Kapag aking sasabihing minamahal kita

Mas matangkad ako kay Pat kaya medyo nakatingala sya sakin. We fell silent for a moment, we're just looking at each other and yung music lang naririnig namin.

I made a bold move to kiss her forehead.

"Para hindi na kumunot ever hehe" halata kong kinilig kasi napayuko sya and nakangiti

We finished the whole song dancing as the sun starts to set. I wouldn't think of anything better than ending the day slow dancing with the person I like, in my favorite place during my favorite time of the day.