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Matagal na mula nang huling beses akong nakaapak sa Pilipinas. Ilang taon na ang nakalipas. Holding a glass of champange in one hand, I looked outside the window. Nagniningning ang mga ilaw sa siyudad, parang mga tala sa lupa.
He crossed my mind again. I took in a deep breath when I felt the growing pressure in my chest. Kumusta na kaya siya? Minsan kaya sumasagip pa rin ako sa isip niya? Maraming taon na ang lumipas pero hindi ko pa rin siya makalimutan. Some would say it was just a teenage love but to me, it was more than that. Wayne was more than a teenage love. He was the love of my life.
I wondered how he was doing now. May girlfriend na ba siya? Asawa? Anak? Masaya na kaya siya? Kung magkikita ba kami makikilala niya pa rin ako?
"Tanya, darling." Narinig ko ang boses ni George at agad akong napalingon.
I smiled at him.
He wrapped his arms around the small of my back and pressed a gentle kiss on the side of my head. "You've been standing there for almost an hour now. What are you thinking about?"
"Wala." I shook my head, keeping my smile intact. "Hindi lang ako makapaniwala na nasa Pilipinas na ulit ako."
"Then believe it now." Nakangiting sabi niya.
"Ang tagal na kasi mula nang nakauwi ako dito." Bumuntong-hininga ako.
He looked at me. Inipit niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko sa likod ng tainga ko. He took something out from his inside coat pocket. A black rectangular box. He opened it and showed me a beautiful diamond necklace.
"George, it's beautiful." I said, looking at it.
"It'll look even more beautiful once you wear it." He said.
I shook my head. "No, no, I can't accept that."
"Please, darling, I insist. I had this made especially for you. Ngayon na nga lang ako bumabawi. We hadn't seen each other for quite awhile."
"Naiintindihan ko naman. May pamilya ka."
"But that doesn't give me a free pass for neglecting you." He said. "Turn around, I want to put this on you."
"George." I hesitated.
"Turn around."
Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ako tumalikod sa kanya at isinuot niya sa akin ang kuwintas.
"Let me see." Narinig kong sabi niya at umikot ulit ako para humarap sa kanya. "It's beautiful. It would look perfect with the evening dress I bought for you."
"Evening dress?" Kumunot ang noo ko. "Saan ko naman susuotin iyon?"
"For the charity event this evening." He answered.
"You're taking me to the charity event?" My eyes widened.
