16th Month

"Trisha! Hurry up honey! Rio's here!" my mom screamed from the top of her lungs and I swear I heard a mirror break. She was waiting with Rio downstairs.

"I'm coming Mom! Just a sec!" I answered while fixing my dress. I looked at the mirror to see a beautiful girl in a simple black dress that reached her knees. Her black straight hair flows freely down her mid back. The barely noticed make-up lit up her face, causing a radiant aura around her.

No. It is not the cosmetics, it's the thought of Rio with all his glory waiting for me downstairs, to take me back to their house and meet his mother.

It's been a month of my visit here. Today is our 16th month anniversary. Only two months left before everything would turn back to normal, when the affection encircling me and the love that lifts me would be taken away, when all would lose its splendor.

During my stay here, I've fallen madly, intensely in love with him, my boyfriend.

As weird as it may sound, it is true. I didn't love him before, but now that I knew him like the back of my hand, I can't help but to love and cherish the beautiful man in every way, waiting for me downstairs.

I've decide that I'm going to live here to be with Rio after I've graduated. He's the one I wanted to be with in front of the altar exchanging eternal vows with. He's the one I wanted to share my nights with for the rest of my days. The one I wanted to sit next to a porch swing someday, straining our ears to hear each other, or share a comfortable silence with, with gray hair and all that, surrounded by our dear grandchildren.

My eyes rimmed with tears just by imagining of my possible iridescent future with him. Oh how I love him!

With one last glance at the mirror, I walked down the stairs to see him standing beside the last steps of the stair, with one hand resting on the banister. He looked so gorgeous. Every step I took down to his awaiting smile and arm, my heart swells with unmeasured love for this man, my angel, my Rio. With the final step, he swept me up in his arms and embraced me affectionately.

He's so warm and his arms scream safety and contentment. I wrapped my own fervent arms around him in return, letting all my pent up feelings flow through that remarkable hug. He let me go, only to take my hand and kiss it gently.

"You're so beautiful tonight, no, you always look exquisite to me, but tonight, beautiful is a great understatement to compliment you. No words of adornment could ever describe how I perceive you, how I feel for you, my Trisha", he said while boring his enticing eyes to mine.

All I could do was to stare back with the same intensity his piercing scrutiny have for me.

"Thank you, and you look beyond words can describe either", I said softly. He awarded me those prize winning smiles and held my hand. Oh, swoon, Trisha! Put yourself together!

A blinding flash broke our moment.

"Kodak moment! Sorry kids, but I can't help but to click the shut button of this camera and capture this moment, you two look so perfect together"

Facing my mother, I mouthed its okay mom, and thank you.

"Ma'am, we're going now, thank you for keeping me company and accepting me with a sincere smile in your home. I promise to care for Trisha and bring her back here safely. As for the picture ma'am, you don't have to be sorry, it's wonderful, really. Can I get a copy?" he asked hopefully.

"Aw, it's my pleasure son, and I promise to give you a copy already framed and ready to consume your bedside table. Now, now, you kids go now, its six o'clock already!" she shoved us to the door, winked at me, waved goodbye and shouted "Have fun!"

Oh my peculiar mother, I love her dearly. That wink only means one thing – tell me all the details about your date later! I shook my head, with a smile plastered on my face and walked hand in hand with Rio to the car.

He opened the passenger door for me and bolted to the driver's seat. I laughed at his keenness. He winked at me, started the engine, and raced to their house.

I can feel the nerve-racking edginess and felt my knees go weak.

This is gonna be a long, but amazing night.

---

"Trisha, honey, it's nice to finally meet you! My son here hadn't stop talking about how perfect you are and I think I can see why" She broke our embrace and smiled slyly at her son.

The look on Rio's face was priceless. His pink blush is so cute and his lashes fanned his cheeks as he looked down and study the floor, to hide from embarrassment. I gnawed my lips and also blushed from her mom's compliment.

"Um, thank you Mrs. Ramirez, it's also a great pleasure to meet you and I think I know now where Rio's looks and charm came from" I said while flashing her my most polite smile.

"Aw, thank you honey, now, does a dinner sound good?" she said with a suggestive smile.

"Sure mom" Rio was the first to answer.

"That would be great Mrs. Ramirez, thank you" I said.

"Please, don't call me Mrs. Ramirez, tita is much better, Mrs. Ramirez never fails to make me feel old" she said with a chuckle.

"Um, alright tita, thank you" I replied shyly. She beamed while guiding us to the dining room.

Their house is, well, scratch that, mansion is a noun more suitable, is like the one you could see in old western movies and high tech sci-fi. Its design was old, but in a perfect equilibrium with modern style. The pillars were neo-classical. Wallpapers were white and gold. A massive chandelier was situated in the center of the vaulted ceiling in their large living room.

Looking from the outside, the mansion is like five two story house combined. It's like living in a palace with a very handsome prince and a loving queen, but sadly, the king died years ago because of a serious disease. But I can see it in their amorous eyes that they have already accepted the fact and they are still happy just by being with each others company. Who wouldn't see it? I mean, they look so radiant, having an infectious ecstasy, though they were enveloped with tragedy before. Both of them are so strong, another reason to love him, them.

Did I mention that their mansion was built in the far corner of the beach facing the carpet of blue, beautiful ocean? It is something that every girl dreams to have.

"Do you like it?" His deep voice whispered beside me, breaking all my thoughts.

"What?" I stuttered.

"Our home? Do you like it?" He asked with a hopeful smile.

"I don't like it" I answered dazedly. His smile dropped but I quickly corrected. "I don't like it, I love it!" He smiled brilliantly and chuckled before pulling my seat from the dining table.