Chapter 19 - Me, Before

Brent

I was looking out the veranda as I stared into the setting sun. This is so beautiful. I just wish Gail still had the time to the simple things like this with me. I was thinking of going to check up on Gail again when she spoke just by the bedroom door.

"I... I hope I look... fine..." she said as I saw her brush her hand on the dress she wore.

I was taken aback. For a second, I saw the naive girl I almost ran over years before. The simple, unsure Gail I knew to love. I still love her now... so much. But the simplicity of her personality before had more charm on me.

"You look fine... and as lovely as ever, babe..." I said walking to her before kissing her on the cheek.

Holding her by the waist, I led her out of the condo as I again saw her blush like the Gail of before.

"Babe, let's go... the night awaits.

Gail

"... the night awaits" Brent said as we left the condo with him holding me like how he did before.

Like how he did with little old, immature Gail. Someone I had grown up and changed from. Someone that, partly, I dodn't like. It showed how I was weak... how I was unsophisticated... unsure... "jologs". That someone was long gone. Long forgotten. For the sake of being "in the upper crust of society". Ang mga alta de ciudad. And as I looked out the window of Brent's Everest I remembered the old Gail was already a distant memory. Matagal ng nilimot.

"... Gail... babe..." Brent tapped my hand lightly as if bringing me out of a trance.

"Huh? Y-Yes?" I said as i turned to look at him.

"You were deep in thought... any problem?" he said concern in his deep brown eyes.

"Sorry... no problem... so saan tayo pupunta? I asked trying to change the mood as he started the engine of his car.

He said that we were going to Newport Mall to watch a new romantic movie that we were talking about two months before. I couldn't believe he really got tickets just because I said I wanted to watch it.

"Really? Wow!" sabi ko a bit excited, a bit too excited that I tried to keep my composure back.

Relax... dalaga ka na ngayon... not the little girl you were once. The unpolished girl I was bago dumating si Brent sa buhay ko... bago ko i-upgrade ang sarili ko... to what the world befits... not that girl was no more.

"... that's so nice of you, babe" sabi ko with so much composure that it looked like I was bipolar, as I brushed my hand on his near the hand break, radio music in the background.

This guy really does love me... so much... I wish I can say that for myself as well. I never was a big fan of myself. But I could not fully love myself. Di ko alam kung bakit.

"We're almost there" sabi ni Brent as we stopped at a stoplight near RW.

Then may inabot siya sa likod ng upuan ko at may kinukuha siya sa bandang floor. Sa gulat ko, he slowly handed to me a bouquet of fresh long- stemmed roses. I love these kind of roses. And... I love the man who gave them.

"Babe..." I said almost on the verge of tears.

"...Thank you... for everything..." I said as a tear slowly fell from my eyes.

Inabutan ako ni Brent ng panyo na kinuha at pinunasan ko ang tahimik ang luha ko. I am really touched when he makes me feel... well... special. All girls want that. But I feel that he gives me his all when he does things like this to me.

Brent

"I knew you would love them..."

It's easy to find the flowers kung may alam kang mga connections. The were practically freshly cut when I got them. No expense is too big for her. Like I said, her happiness is my happiness. But she has to wait for my other surprise later.

"Only the best for my love" I said as I turned to face the road as the stoplight went green again.

Finding a slot for us, I parked the car and turned off the engine. Before going out the car, I took a small case from my side of the car at nilagay ito sa loob na bulsa ng suot kong jacket. Going to her side of the car, I opened it for her and held my hand to her. She took it and slowly came out the car. I took the bouquet she was still holding and returned them to her seat slowly.

"It would be best to leave them here..." nakangiti kong sinara ang pinto ng kotse.

We started walking to the mall, as if by magic or the night. mabagal niyang inangat ang kamay niya papunta sa kamay ko. She rarely held hands, so this would be a special moment for me. I just savored that moment as the bright full moon glowed above and the breeze was cool that night.

"What would you want as a snack while we watch the movie?" I asked as we reached the snack bar.

"Maybe some BBQ flavored popcorn and some drinks" sagot ni Gail ng papalapit na kami sa counter para umorder.

We went in the theatre and found our seats and settled in. And as the lights dimmed before the opening credits rolled in, nilapit ni Gail ang ulo niya at sumandal sa akin at bumulong...

"Thank you, babe..."