Justin
uy! buhay ka! 
bammybam
ehhh.. konti lang ang laman.. ahyan ang masaklap pag tumatanda ka na eh.. kumokonti ang regalo mo. hahaha bastah, mahal na mahal ko ung Guess purse na nakuha ko. hahaha
Corrs
ay talaga naman.. 
exagge ba masyado ung mga fans? 
Riel
baka naman mag-iiyak ako dyan sa movie na yan.. kamustah na lang..
belated merry christmas din syo! ^o^
::Chapter 61::
Two Less Lonely People
♫.~*~..~*~.♫
(Venice's POV)
---------------- ♥
Ako: Pag ako nadapa, wag mo nang asahan na mabubuhay ka paJerwin: Pag ikaw nadapa, I'll catch you. So stop complaining.I mumbled a few more complaints under my breath. This is just getting more absurd by the minute. -___-
Jerwin and I arrived in the music hall where he had his latest concert some time ago -- yep, the one where I was officially "introduced" to the public as the soon-to-be Mrs. Jerwin Santos.
Iniisip ko na manonood kami ng concert, but... I looked around the parking lot, besides three other cars, the lot is empty. So it's either maaga kaming dumating, too late na kami dumating
(that's impossible dahil 8:45 PM pa lang), or walang bumili ng ticket nung kung sinoman ang mag-cconcert. Kawawa naman.
Pero sabi ni Jerwin, everything's okay raw. So I followed him pababa nung truck. Nung pumasok kami sa main hall, biglang sinabi ni Jerwin na isarado ko raw ung mga mata ko dahil "
surprise ito, at ganito ang ginagawa sa mga romatic movies"
. Anak ng tokwa. Papahirapan pa ko para lang sa drama nya?!?
Nung hindi ako sumunod, he took the initiative to just cover my eyes with his huge hands. At kahit anong palag ko, talagang feel na feel ni kuya na takpan ang vision ko.
Kaya since then, pinalakad nya ko nang wala akong nakikita. Parang ang layo na nga ng nilalakad namin eh! Ilang beses na kong muntik mabunggo, muntik madapa... Pero ayaw nya talagang tanggalin ung takip ko sa mata. Bubwit.
Finally, after what felt like forever, sinabi ni Jerwin na almost there na raw kami.
Jerwin: Malapit na tayo. Dahan-dahan ka lang dyan, may hagdan.Ako: Papaakyatin mo ko ng hagdan?!?!Jerwin: Oh relax. Hindi naman mahaba ung hagdan noh. 
Ingat-ingat lang sa mga steps...Ako: Wag mo kong bibitawan, ta-tumbling-an kita!Jerwin: Yea, yea.. I went up five steps, then after that, I realized na nasa flat surface na ulit ako. Sobrang ikli naman nung hagdan na un.
Jerwin led me about ten more steps, then he told me to stop.
Jerwin: We're here.He carefully took off his hands from my face. I had to squint my eyes para ma-adjust ung eyesight ko. Hmmm.. It's dark.
May dapat ba kong makita? Nakapikit pa ba ko??!
Suddenly, the lights turned on. Well, actually, it's more like the
stage lights turned on, the rest of the music hall is still dark. Na-realize kong bigla na ang pinasukan pala namin ni Jerwin is ung backstage door, kaya pala may hagdan. We're standing on the stage. May mga scattered rose petals dun sa floor.
Bilang lang sa isang kamay ung mga ilaw na nakabukas dun sa sides ng stage. Limited lang tuloy ang nakikita ko. There are tiny twinkling lights above us. They look like stars. *__*
Tapos, dun sa likod nung stage, may mga stage props na nakalambitin. Huge cut-outs ng mga buildings.
The whole stage looks like a romantic, city night scene from a musical. It's beautiful.
Just when I thought I've seen it all, biglang may nag-turn on na spotlight. The bright light revealed an intimate table for two at the center of the stage.
As soon as the table was revealed, mellow music filled the hall.
I was left speechless. May magandang results pala ang pamimilit kay Jerwin na manood ng mga cheesy romantic comedy movies.
Jerwin: I know it's not much, but... this is the best I can come up with.Ako: It's beautiful...Jerwin: Not as beautiful as you. 
YAK! Anu ba un?!?!
Napatingin ako kay Jerwin. Talagang nakangiti pa sya.
In fairness, naapektuhan na yata ng romantic atmosphere ang brain cells ni kuya. Lumalabas nanaman ang pagka-corny nya.
He took my hand and led me to the table. Kinarir nya na talaga ang pa-good shot nya, he even pulled out the chair for me bago sya umupo sa sarili nyang upuan.
Jerwin: I was supposed to take you here for Valentines, kaya lang... Well, you know what happened..Ako: Oh.I don't think I've ever had the feeling of wanting to strangle Geena before. Pero ngayon, ahhh!! I can't believe she made me miss all this! This could have been our Valentine dinner!
Jerwin: Uhmm.. so although it's late, I hope you like it.Ako: (smiles) I love it. Jerwin smiled back at me, then he straightened up and signaled at something or someone from behind me.
Nagulat ako nung may biglang lumabas na server, pushing a tray of food. Talagang planado ni kuya lahat. O_O
I watch in awe as the server laid out the food in front of us. Lalo akong namangha dahil, instead sa usual na formal dinner, sinigang at kanin ang nasa plato namin.
SINIGANG!!! Lumalangoy-langoy pa nga ung kanin sa sobrang dami nung sabaw sa pinggan ko.
Jerwin: I was gonna order some formal dining, pero baka hindi ka mabusog sa ganun eh. Kaya I thought it's better na lang kung favorite food mo ung ipalabas ko.Ako: Ohhh, talagang inalam mo pa ang favorite ulam ko. Pinanood ko ung server as he filled our glasses with cold water. Naglagay pa sya ng patis dun sa maliit na bowl sa gitna ng table. Yes, patis.
Sinoh ba namang hindi matatawa sa ganitong setting!??
Ako: I prefer this over formal dinner. San ka pa makakakita ng romantic dinner for two, tapos sinigang ang kakainin? Jerwin: Right?!? The server finally left, and Jerwin and I were left alone to eat.
Ako: I can't believe you rented the entire music hall. Hindi ba mahal toh?Jerwin: No, it's okay. I wanted this place especially for our first date. O
oO
*cough* *cough* *cough*WAH! I'm choking!
*cough*Jerwin: Are you okay?!? Ngumuya ka kasi muna bago ka lumunok!I took the glass of water he was handing me, and halos tinungga ko ung buong baso. Ako pa ang sinisi nya?!? Eh sya tohng nangbibigla!
Batuhan ba naman ako ng "first date" chuchu nya!
Ako: F-F-First date?!?!?Jerwin: Yea. It IS the first time we have an official date, right?*blink*
*blink*Jerwin: I mean, we've been engaged for a while.. So I thought it'd be good to finally take you out.*blink*
*blink*Jerwin: Oh for crying out loud! Will you just say something?!?Ako: Uh....There are at least a hundred things running through my mind right now. I know what he's saying makes sense, pero parang nag-panic alarm ang brain ko nung na-process nyang "we're on a
date".
Ako: And... why did you choose this place then? Kung magsisinigang lang tayo, eh di sana, sa turo-turo na lang tayo kumain.Jerwin: But this place is special.Ako: Special? Jerwin: Yea, don't you remember? This is where we first met. Ako: Ohhhh!!! Yea! You screamed like a little girl! Jerwin: I DID NOT!Ako: wahahaha Yea right. Jerwin: What?!? I did NOT scream like a little girl, that was you!Ako: Sira! Dinaig mo pa nga ako! Jerwin: Eh siguro kaseh mukha kang multong nakatayo sa stage. Tapos nung bigla kang sumigaw, syempre, napasigaw rin ako. But I did not scream like a little girl.Ako: Anong multo?!? Eh ikaw tohng bigla-biglang sumusulpot!Jerwin: It was my concert! May karapatan akong sumulpot!The dinner went on like that. The both of us reminiscing about the past.
We laughed about the insane turn of events that brought us together.
Me being drunk and passing out on
him -- of all people.
Our mothers, being the crazy moms that they are, engaging us to one another.
The many times I tried to kill him with my psychic powers.
The many times he wishes he can dump me in the Pasig River.
See? We lived happy lives.
I can't believe it's only been two months. It feels like I've known him for years.
We were having so much fun talking na hindi namin na-realize na ubos na pala ung kinakain namin. Jerwin signaled for the server again, and obediently, the server came out. He took the empty dishes out and wheeled them back inside.
After a few minutes, he came out with dessert. Banana foster over vanilla ice cream. It's heaven. T^T
Ako: Isn't he gonna bring out a cake?Jerwin: For what? You don't like the ice cream? Masarap naman ah.Ako: It's heavenly, what are you talking about? I meant, a birthday cake for you.Jerwin: I told you this was planned for Valentines day. The menu was already fixed. Besides, I don't mind not having a cake.Ako: I wish I didn't burn the cake earlier. T_T
Jerwin: (chuckles) You can make me one next year. 
Ako: Next year? You think we'll still be together next year?Tumigil ung spoon ni Jerwin dun sa ice cream nya. He looked up at me. I can't place the expression on his face. He doesn't look surprised. He doesn't look mad. There's just something grave about his expression.
Jerwin: Why would you say that?Ako: Errr... well, we did talk about breaking up eventually.... right? 
I mean, it's not like you're doing this engagement thing because you want to.... right?Jerwin: So you want to break up before my birthday next year?Ako: Uh... I haven't really thought about it...Whoo! Pinagpapawisan yata akong bigla!
Jerwin just looked at me for one more second, then he went back to digging in his ice cream. I think I just ruined the mood here. He looks upset. -____-
I reached over to the other side of the table and held his other hand. He looked at me in surprise.
Ako: How about we just focus on the present for now and worry about the future some other time? He nodded and then finally, he smiled back at me.
Jerwin: Yea. I'd like that. A new song just started playing. Jerwin stood up, and as I watch him in wonder, he walked to my side and bowed down while offering his hand to me. Renaissance style. haha
Jerwin: Would you like to dance with me?Ako: I would love to dance with you. I put the napkin on the seat and took his hand. He led me to an ample space on the stage and twirled me around once before catching me and putting his hand on my waist. I put my hand on his shoulder, while the other one remains in his other hand.
The song "
Two Less Lonely People In The World" continues to play around us.
I can't help but think how appropriate the song is right now.
Coz being in each other's arms like this, it certainly feels the both of us can finally stop being alone and lonely.
---♥♥---
(Jerwin's POV)
---------------- ♥
I don't think I've ever spent this much attention to a girl I'm dancing with. I'm so aware of her presence that I'm afraid I'm going to start tripping over my own feet. When did a girl ever make me this nervous?
We swayed in time with the music. I felt Venice resting her head on my shoulder. I pulled her gently closer to me. I can smell the subtle smell of her shampoo in her hair. I can almost feel her heartbeat. This must be what heaven feels like; good music in the background and an amazing girl in your arms.
Ako: This is the start...Venice: Start of what? She didn't stir or anything as she waits for my answer. Buti na lang, dahil I didn't really mean to say it out loud. Now I need to come up with a safe response.
But what am I supposed to say?
This is the start...
of me not wanting to let you go.
of me unable to imagine my life without you.
of me just wanting to be with you.
of me wanting to protect you.I planted a light kiss at the top of her head -- one she'd probably wouldn't even feel, but that's okay. This amazing girl.... who knows how she'll react when I tell her those things? What if she runs away? No one really knows...
So should I also consider saying
that it's the start of me being afraid to lose you?Psh. Who am I kidding?
I know exactly how that sentence ends.
This is the start
of me falling in love with you...Two less lonely people in the world
And it's gonna be fine
Out of all the people in the world
I just can't believe you're mine
In my life where everything was wrong
Something finally went right
Now there's two less lonely people
In the world tonight...I can't believe I'm finally accepting this reality in my mind.
I should have seen this coming. Watching Venice, getting to know every little thing about her...
How can I not fall for her?
Venice: Sunshine? Start of what?I hugged her closer to me.
Ako: The start of the inevitable..
