3 Happy 17th

I am looking at my reflection on a full length mirror, checking if everything's fine and in perfection, when someone knocked at my door.

"Miss, Madam says it's about time. They're waiting for you downstairs."

"Okay. I'll be down in a minute."

I picked up my clutch that's on my bed and looked at a photo of an old man and a little girl that's on the bedside cabinet. "Grandpa….."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath then went downstairs.

Two months ago my grandfather died.

I remember his last moments… when his cold hand holds mine.

I remember…. His words.

I remember how he comforted me and how I wailed.

I remember his wishes for me.

--

"Little girl... I'm sorry if grandpa can't make it to your 17th birthday."

"n-no.. no, grandpa, don't *hic* be sorry."

"Do you remember your granduncle Jun?"

I lightly nodded my head.

"this… grandpa… forgive grandpa.., okay?" his eyes became teary.

"grand..pa why are you being like this?"

"My poor little girl.. grandpa can't leave you alone.. that's why… grandpa, talked to your granduncle…"

I started to get nervous, like something unexpected is going to happen. "about what, grandpa?"

"We arranged your marriage with.. his grandson. This.. If I can't witness your wedding, atleast I know.. who you'll pledge your life to."

I frozed, this is not within my expectation but there was slight delight in it.

"girl, do you believe in your grandpa? I won't say anything else about him, but believe in me."

I just looked at him, my feelings quite complicated.

"I just can't leave you alone…. I want you to be happy, to have someone by your side at all times.. this is my last wish for you."

--

The car stopped at Vienna De Rosi a five star restaurant. My parents went out first while I took my time entering it. My light red knee dress fluttered when the summer breeze danced around me, the sun is coming down almost complementing my outfit. 'The weather is nice.' I smiled, feeling giddy at what will happen later.

When I entered the private room, my parents are already sitting, chatting with an old man, which is Granduncle Jun, and the parents of my to be 'fiance'.

I exchanged pleasantries with them and sat on my own seat, minding my own business and responding to them when necessary, but my fiancé haven't arrived yet.

Half an hour past and I started feeling awkward, thinking if my fiancé ran away.

'ahh isn't it the opposite? Shouldn't I be the one running away? Oh.. that's right, I don't think I'd do that.' I sighed at my line of thoughts.

The dishes ordered arrived and I focused my attention on it. I nodded in approval at the scrumptious dishes, while gulping down my saliva when I heard a deep voice that reverberates through my bones.

"I'm sorry, I'm late."

I immediately looked at the door. And there… a boy.. no a man stood exuding an aura that pressures her. Her heart started beating like a train, from slow to fast, and with no break. Examining his every being comparing how he looked in the past to present. His eyes still the same as the one that she looked into in the past, a feeling of being locked into an ice cage. Besides his eyes, the second that will attract you is his seductive lips.

The boy… became a man. And he's my fiancé, the boy named Tan.

Our eyes met and I turned stiff, I was mystified by his look.

"Devina…. Devina, dear.." I snapped out of my trance my his mom called my name. "This is my son, Tristan Sy, your fiancé. You remember him, right?"

"eh?" I muttered dumbly. I don't know when he sat on his seat infront of me but that made me very nervous.

When our eyes met, he nodded at me while I quickly averted my eyes.

This wasn't the first time we've met.

'Tan.' His name that I would only utter in my mind. 9 years ago, his very being captivated me and I had wanted to meet him again after meeting him for the first time at the age of 8.

At 9 yrs. Old, I met him again. It was a fortunate surprise when I found out that his grandfather and mine are friends since their high school days. We occasionally meet because of our grandfathers, but at the age of 14 it stopped because my grandpa became ill.

This would be the first meeting since then, our reunion… our…engagement?

I can't help the happiness welling up in me, even though I was low-key expecting this to happen.

I smiled triumphantly in my mind as I thanked my grandfather.

' Happy 17th birthday Devi.'