Chapter 13

Summer vacation na namin, kaya naman masaya 'kong bumangon sa aking higaan. Bumaba na 'ko para maghanda ng almusal.

Una kong pinuntahan si lola sa kaniyang kwarto para gisingin.

"La, gising na." I tapped her shoulders lightly trying to wake her up. "Good morning la, bangon ka na po kailangan mo pong magpavaccine at magpacheck-up ngayon."

Nang magising na si lola, sunod ko namang pinuntahan sa kwarto si Jillian para gisingin. Pagkatapos ay bumaba na kami para kumain.

Inasikaso ko muna si Jillian bago kami umalis ni lola para pumuntang Ospital. Iniwan namin si Jillian sa bahay kasama si aling Binday.

"Lola kamusta ka po? Ano pong nararamdaman mo? The doctor asked.

"Okay naman ho ako Doc, minsan ay nahihirapan akong huminga pero nawawala din naman kapag gumamit na 'ko ng inhaler." Malumanay na sabi ni lola.

"Tuturukan po kita ngayon ng flu vaccination and regular vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia to reduce risk or prevent some infections" The doctor casually said.

Matapos turukan si lola dumiretso na kaming umuwi sa bahay. Nakita ko ang kotse ni Rigel na nakaparada sa harap ng bahay namin. Nakasandal siya dito na parang modelo habang nag-aantay sa 'min.

He's wearing a black floral polo two buttons down, white pants with brown belt. He paired it with brown top sider shoes, he's also wearing a black shades, his hair was pushed back and there are some strands falling in his forehead that makes him hot.

"Hi Cass, hi po lola." Nagmano siya kay lola, at nginitian ko naman siya, "How are you po?" He asked.

"Mabuti naman na apo, halika at pumasok ka muna sa loob." Nakangiting sabi ni lola.

Pumasok kami sa loob ng bahay para mag pahinga. Nang makita ni Jillian si Rigel ay ngiting-ngiti nanaman siya.

"Hi kuya!" Nag high five silang dalawa.

"Hello cutiepie." He said while smiling.

May inabot siya kay Jillian hindi ko alam kung ano. 'Di ko na sinilip dahil ayoko namang mag mukang chismosa.

"Lola can I take Kc to concert?" Rigel asked.

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko sa gulat.

"Huh?" My brows furrowed.

"Oo naman apo, basta mag-iingat kayo ha?" Lola said.

"Yes lola, I will take care of her." He gave us a sweet smile.

Nilapitan ko si Rigel at sinapak sa braso.

"Anong pinagsasabi mo dyan?" Inis na sabi ko.

"Do you want to go at Coldplay concert with me?" He asked me.

"Hmmm." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya, paano niya nalamang favorite band ko ang Coldplay? I asked myself, "Seryoso ka ba Rigel?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"Yes, I'm serious." Then he showed me two VIP tickets.

Naiiyak ako sa sobrang tuwa, 'di ako makapaniwala, totoo ba 'to? Nanaginip lang ba 'ko? Kinurot-kurot ko pa ang sarili 'ko para malaman kung nanaginip lang ako.

"You're not dreaming Cassiopeia." He said, then he gave me a smile.

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko, kaya niyakap ko si Rigel dahil sa labis na tuwa.

"Thank you Rigel, you make me so happy."

"So do you want to come with me?"

"Yes!" I screamed with too much excitement.

"So what are you waiting for? Let's go?" He asked.

"Anong oras ba concert? Atat na atat? Ang aga pa. Hindi ba pwedeng magbihis muna saglit? Ano ganto na 'ko pupuntang concert?" I asked sarcastically.

He didn't talk after that. So I went up stairs to change my clothes. I don't know what to wear, I can't decide because of too much excitement that I feel.

I remember the dresses that Mica bought for me. I look at it, there are five beautiful dresses. I was wondering if I should wear it because I'm not into dresses. But after thinking for a minute I decide to wear a black off shoulder dress and a white converse then I went downstairs.

"Woahhhhh you look so much better Cassiopeia." He looked surprised.

"Ang ganda naman ng apo ko dalagang-dalaga na." Nakangiting sabi ni lola.

Nginitian ko naman sila pabalik.

"Shall we go?" He asked.

"Let's go!"

"Lola we need to go, See you later." Paalam ni Rigel.

"Lola alis na po kami, kumain nalang po kayo dyan ah? I love you. Aling Binday alis po muna kami." Paalam ko sakanila.

Lumabas na kami at pinagbuksan niya 'ko ng pinto ng kotse. Hindi maalis sa labi ko ang ngiti dahil sa labis na sayang nararamdaman ko.

Nang makarating kami sa venue ng concert, tuwang-tuwa ako dahil nasa unahan kami. Kitang-kita ko sila mamaya habang nagpeperform. It's a dream come true.

Nag-antay lang kami ng isang oras bago magsimula. Pero sobrang worth it noong lumabas na sila sa stage. Grabe hindi ko ma-explain 'yung nararamdaman ko tumatayo 'yung mga balahibo ko, at sobrang saya ng puso ko.

Nang magsimula na silang kumanta, biglang naging galaxy ang buong paligid napakaganda. Nagsigawan ang mga tao sa sobrang sayang nararamdaman nila gaya ko.

Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars

I'm gonna give you my heart

'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars

'Cause you light up the path

Habang sumasabay kami sa kanta ni Rigel, bigla siyang tumingin sa 'kin at hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. Wala na ata kong mahihiling pa, labis-labis na ang sayang binibigay niya.

I don't care, go on and tear me apart

I don't care if you do, ooh

'Cause in a sky, 'cause in a sky full of stars

I think I saw you

He point his fingers on me and then he wink.

'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars

I wanna die in your arms

'Cause you get lighter the more it gets dark

I'm gonna give you my heart

He acted like he's willing to give his heart. And that made my smile wider.

I don't care, go on and tear me apart

I don't care if you do, ooh

'Cause in a sky, 'cause in a sky full of stars

I think I see you

I think I see you

'Cause you're a sky, you're a sky full of stars

Such a heavenly view

You're such a heavenly view.

After the song end, he looks at me the way he gaze at the stars.

Hindi ko alam kung kinikilig ba ko sakaniya o dahil sa mga titig niya. Nakakapanghina ang mga tingin niya, para kong natutunaw.

Sunod naman nilang kinanta ang Everglow.

Well, they say people come

The say people go

This particular diamond was extra special

And though you might be gone, and the world may not know

Still I see you, celestial

Tiningnan ko si Rigel, ansaya niya ngayon kitang-kita ko sa mga mata niya 'yung saya.

And I should but I can't let you go

But when I'm cold, I'm cold

Yeah, when I'm cold

Cold

There's a light that you give me when I'm in shadow

There's a feeling within me, an everglow.

Sumabay na ko sa kanta at tinaas ko ang aking kamay.

Like brothers in blood, or sisters who ride

Yeah we swore on that night we'd be friends 'til we die

But the changing of winds, and the way waters flow

Life is short as the falling of snow

And I'm gonna miss you, I know

But when I'm cold, cold

In water rolled, salt

And I know that you're with me and the way you will show

And you're with me wherever I go

And you give me this feeling, this everglow

What I wouldn't give for just a moment to hold

Because, I live for this feeling, this everglow.

Inakbayan ako ni Rigel at binulong niya sa akin ang huling lyrics ng kanta.

"So if you love someone, you should let them know

Oh, the light that you gave me will everglow."

Madami pang kinanta ang coldplay at halos buong concert nila ay nakangiti lang ako, kahit na malungkot na ang kinakanta nila ay hindi pa din mawala ang ngiti sa labi ko. Sobrang saya ko ngayong araw nag-uumapaw 'yung saya sa puso ko. Natapos ang concert ng coldplay na mayroong ngiting iniwan sa labi ko.

Sumakay na kami sa kotse ni Rigel. Naka-idlip ako, ang akala ko ay uuwi na kami ngunit nagulat ako ng mabasa ko ang nakasulat sa arko na "INTRAMUROS".

"Anong gagawin namin dito?" I asked myself.

The car stop in front of Risturante Delle Mitre.

Bumaba kami sa kotse niya at pumasok kami sa loob. Namangha ako sa ganda dahil mararamdaman mo ang historical vibes ng lugar.

Pinaupo muna 'ko ni Rigel at siya na ang umorder. Pustahan tayo sandamakmak na pagkain nanaman oorderin nito.

Pagkatapos niyang umorder, wala pang thirty minutes dumating na ang order namin, napakabango ng mga putahe at napakaraming pagkain.

Nagdasal kami at nagsimula ng kumain. Hindi ako nagkamali at napakasarap nga talaga ng mga pagkain dito.

"Rigel thank you for making my dreams come true." I sincerely said while looking at him.

"I will do everything just to make you happy Cassiopeia." He gave me a sweet smile.

Matapos naming kumain lumabas kami, iniwan niyang nakapark ang kotse niya sa Risturante.

Naglakad-lakad kami hanggang sa makarating kami sa San Agustin Church.

Namangha ako sa disenyo ng simbahang ito lalo na pagpumasok ka sa loob napakaganda ng mga disenyo sa pader at kisame.

Umupo kami at nagdasal. Matapos kong magdasal ay tumingin ako sa gawi niya.

He's also looking at me, we stared at each other's eyes with the same intensity.

"Cassiopeia can you be my girlfriend?" Rigel asked nervously.

Sumimangot ako sakaniya at tumingin. "Rigel s-sorry pero, matagal ko ng gustong sabihin sa 'yo 'to." I pause for a minute,

"I love you Rigel." Then I kissed him on his cheeks.

He doesn't have the amount of idea how much happiness he brought into my life. Kaya hindi ako nagdalawang isip na sagutin siya dahil siya ang nagbibigay ng liwanag sa panahong madilim ang aking buhay.

Halata ang gulat sakaniyang mukha, hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinabi at sa ginawa ko.

He hugged me so tight, then he opened a rectangular box. I see a beautiful two layer necklace. On the first layer it has the 'W' constellation which represents Cassiopeia, on the other layer it has crescent moon and star on the side.

Pinatalikod niya 'ko at hinawi niya ang buhok ko, sinuot niya sa 'kin ang napakagandang kwintas.

"If we're going back again here, I'm not giving you necklace, I will give you ring and that is the day of our wedding day. I love you Cassiopeia." He kissed me on my forehead.

"I love you too Rigel." I hugged him.

"Cassiopeia I can't promise you that things won't be hard for us, but I will keep trying even when life gets harder. I can't promise you that we won't have arguments, but I will keep fighting for our relationship no matter what happen. I can't promise that we wont have bad days, but I'll do my best for us to have better days. The truth is, I can't promise you anything in this world because everything seems so temporary and promises are just words that meant to be broken, that's why I don't like promises. All I can say is, I will keep fighting for you and for us. I'll do my best to be the best version of myself. I will always choose you every single day as long as you keep choosing me too. I hope our relationship will lasts because I don't want anybody else but you, only you Cassiopeia."

"Please don't expect me, to be always good, kind, caring and loving girlfriend. There are times when I'll be cold and so hard to understand. But no matter what happen I will stay with you, and that is always Rigel."

I found someone who can handle my mood, the one who understands me even at my madness, someone who's cheering me up and always making me feel better when I'm down, someone who helps me to fix all my problems, struggle in life and especially someone who praised God.

Rigel will always be my star, star that gives me light when days are dark. I finally found someone, I never want to lose.

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Sky full of stars by Coldplay

Everglow by Coldplay