If This Is How It Ends [FIN]

29

#ITIHIEnds29

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" We all shouted when the clock struck at 12. Nagtatalon talon pa ako five seconds before midnight and hanggang ngayon tumatalon pa rin ako.

I was just happy because everyone's here celebrating the past year and welcoming the new year. I saw my mom and dad were snuggling at each other like two teenagers that were head over heels at each other. Lumapit ako sa kanila and greeted them a happy new year. They both kissed me on my cheeks. Tig-isa silang dalawa. I chuckled because I feel like I will be their baby forever. Except for yung baby nila, baby din ni Joachin.

Joachin waited for me to finish greeting my parents and then after that, he walked right to me and lifted me by my waist. Ang lawak ng ngiti niya at honestly, sinong hindi sasaya? He's one of the biggest change and blessing that happened to me this year.

"Happy new year, baby." He said softly. Ibinaba niya ako saka hinalikan sa noo. He was being humble in front of my parents because honestly, we did more than just kissing in the forehead.

"Happy new year, Joachin." He enveloped me in his arms. I put my arms around his waist and got closer as much as possible to him. Fun fact, he smelled so good. It's addicting.

Joachin was invited by my parents to celebrate the New Year with us which was very advantageous on my part because I don't have to worry about him being lonely on the holidays. Ayaw niya kasing magcelebrate with the family who temporarily adopted him because of his feud with the son. But I guess all is well, since he already have my family to celebrate it with.

"I love you,baby." He whispered in my ear and discreetly kissed me on the skin just below my ear.

Pabiro ko siyang pinalo sa likod kasi baka makita siya ng mga pinsan ko lalo na sina kuya at cadence. Bahagya siyang natawa sa ginawa ko.

"Pwede bang maghiwalay muna kayo saglit?" Our moment got interrupted by Cadence.

"Sorry, Cadence." Labas sa ilong na apology ni Joachin.

Cadence rolled his eyes and pulled me away from Joachin. I waved at my boyfriend and signaled him to wait for a while since babatiin ko lang yung mga pinsan ko. I saw him nodded atsaka nilapitan naman siya ng mga tita at tito ko.

"Nagkaboyfriend lang di na tayo love ng favorite cousin naten." Kuya Creed pouted like a kid and he opened his arms wide. Agad agad naman akong tumakbo para yakapin siya.

"Happy New Year, Adette!" Masigla niyang bati.

"Happy New Year!" Sandali akong kumalas mula kay Kuya Creed at hinila ko si Cadence at Charl para isama sa group hug namin. Sila lang ang mga pinsan kong nandito sa Pilipinas, the rest were in California.

Nagtatalon-talon kaming apat kahit na hirap na hirap ako dahil ang tatangkad nila. Even Charl, he's still in high school but he's now taller than me.
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It's past 2 in the morning and we're still not sleepy. We're in our garden in our pjs. Nasa loob na yung mga matatanda, probably sleeping.

Naglatag kami ng isang malaking picnic mat sa lawn namin at doon umupo. Katabi ko si Joachin while Charl was on my far right. A space for one person yung pagitan naming dalawa ni Charl. And then sa harap ko ay si Cadence then katabi niya si Kuya Creed.

Kuya Creed sneaked in few cans of beer from the kitchen. Anyway, di naman kami bawal uminom since nasa loob naman kami ng bahay and it's new year so pwede lahat. Even Charl had his first taste of alcoholic drink kanina.

I had two sips of beer pero di ko talaga gusto yung lasa nito. Joachin, being my hero, volunteered himself to finish the can for me.

"How much do you love Adette?" Kuya Creed asked Joachin while gulping all the contents of the can. I can totally see that, that can was kuya's fourth can.

Tahimik lang sina Cadence and Charl, maybe they're also waiting for Joachin's answer.

Masyado kaming malapit magpipinsan. Yes, they annoy me a lot but still, I knew how much they're protective over me. After all, para na nila akong babaeng kapatid. And this was the first time na may ipinakilala ako sa pamilya na lalaki, tapos boyfriend ko pa.

"Kuya, hot seat ba to?" Pabiro kong sagot. Hoping na they would get it na, wag nila masyadong ihot seat si Joachin.

"Let the man answer for himself, Adette." Kuya seriously replied. Parang nanlamig at ninerbyos ako bigla sa tono ni kuya. We all knew kuya was playful and such pero kapag eto na yung tono na ginamit niya, we're all in serious trouble. Even Cadence was afraid of kuya when he does that.

Napatingin ako kay Joachin and to warn him about kuya but nung tinignan ko siya, he only smiled at me and looked at me with so much emotions in his eyes. Akala ko matatakot siya kay kuya katulad nung nerbyos niya nung nameet niya si papa for the first time. But this night, he was so sure. I could see that in his eyes.

He looked at me as if I was the only one here with him. "I love you more than life. I can't imagine loving you more than I do right now but I felt that way yesterday, and the day before that."

I tried not to cry but I failed because I feel I just let a tear rolled itself on my face. I never thought that he could love me so much like that and I can feel it with every bits of my body.

Matamis siyang ngumit sa akin at saka inilapit ang mukha niya. He pressed his lips on my lips. It was short but it was perfect.

"That's the cheesiest thing I've ever heard in my life." Napatingin kaming lahat nung biglang nagsalita si Charl. His right hand was on his chest. Binato siya ng balat ng chips ni Cadence and we all laughed.

"I guess welcome to the family, Joachin?" Cadence blurted out that made us stopped from laughing. We all turned our attention to Kuya Creed.

"Don't hurt Adette or else you'll get in serious trouble with us." Seryosong banta ni Kuya Creed at Joachin squeezed my hand a little bit tighter. Ngayon ko palang nafifeel yung nerbyos niya because his palm was sweating.

"And oo nga pala bro. Once you hurt our Adette, we'll make sure no hospital will take you." Habol na banta ni Cadence naman.

Para atang namutla si Joachin kaya sabay sabay na tumawa yung mga pinsan ko. They only tested him but they sure had their expected reaction from my boyfriend.

Habang abala ang mga pinsan ko sa kakatawa, Joachin sneakily whispers in my ear,

"I don't want to get in serious trouble so maybe, I'll stick with you for life?"

"Is this a proposal?" I jokingly replied.

"No, this is my commitment."