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Dedicated to @jmpwlnase
“Hawak ang 'yong mga kamay, sa ilalim ng buwan.”
“Stell? Are you ready to celebrate your birthday?” Tanong ni Paulo kay Stell na kausap niya ngayon sa telepono.
It’s a Saturday, and his weekends are off so most of his personal errands happen during the weekend. This also includes the days when he is able to meet his long-time boyfriend Stell. It’s been two weeks since they met, he was busy cleaning the condo last weekend kaya hindi na rin sila nagkita, Stell wanted Paulo to rest. Alam kasi nitong naglilinis ang nibyo kapag maraming iniisip sa trabaho.
“Yes, love! Ito nan ga lang ang hinihintay ko buong linggo ko. Susunduin mo ako” Excited na tanong ni Stell sa kanya.
“Of course, love. Will be there in 10 minutes. I’m driving now.” Paulo smiled, ending their call after saying their goodbyes to focus on driving and his eyes on the road.
They have been together for two years now, pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang kilig at ang pagkasabik nilang makita ang isa’t isa. Siguro ganon talaga kapag parehas kayong mature at may kanya-kanya ginagawa sa buhay, lagi pa ring hinahanap ang pahinga.
Between the two of them, Stell is more vocal than Paulo, however, when it comes to clinginess, si Paulo ang panalo dyan. Stell can easily declare his love for Paulo, he posts them on Instagram and declares their anniversary on social media, but still keep their private lives He knows what Paulo would like for them to share and what not.
Paulo, on the other hand, is the one who loves to spend time Stell. He prefers to show his clingy side when they are alone. The warm and cozy breakfast during mornings where they talk about anything under the sun, or what happened during their busy weekly schedules. He loves cuddling on lazy afternoons or spending the night outside his condo trying out foods from restaurants they haven’t tried before.
Stell’s birthday happened on a weekday that week, and they promise to vacate their weekend para naman makapagcelebrate na ang magnobyo. Niyaya ni Paulo si Stell na pumunta sa amusement park, bagay na nagaya na nila dati pero maraming rides and di nila nasubukan dahil sa takot ni Stell sa mga rides na matataas.
Paulo planned to change that today.
In no time, he arrived at Stell’s place. Yumakap agad si Stell kay Paulo, enjoying their intimate moments like that. Palagi talaga siyang napapanatag sa bisig nito.
“I missed you so much, love.” Bulong nito, habang nakasiksik sa leeg ni Paulo.
Paulo smiled and kissed the top of Stell’s head, taking in his favorite scent. Gamit na naman nito ang regalo niyang Jo Malone na binili pa nila noong trip nila sa Dubai. Paulo loves it when Stell uses his gifts, pakiramdam niya mas nabibigyan pa ito ng halaga ang bawat regalo na bigay niya,
“I missed you too, Stell. Belated happy birthday, my love.” Paulo answered.
“Nung Wednesday lang nama yung birthday ko pero parang ang tagal na kasi ngayon lang tayo makapagcelebrate.” Malungkot na saad ni Stell sa nobyo.
Paulo cupped his face and made him look up to him before kissing him on the lips, tightening his embrace. “I’m sorry ngayon lang tayo nakapagkita, love. Sabi ko naman sa’yo, live with me para kahit birthday mo macecelebrate natin sa bahay ko.” He added.
Stell looked at Paulo once again and grinned, “Kakatanong mo niyan love, uuwi na ako sa condo mo.” He answered and pecked Paulo on his lips again.
They were back again in the car and drove to the amusement park for about an hour. Sa buong oras na ‘yon, nasa kaliwang hita lang ni Stell ang kanang kamay ni Paulo, hawak ang kamay nito. Stell always loved the little things that Paulo does. Hindi man ito sing vocal ng nobyo ar ramdam niya ang pagmamahal nito sa mga maliliit na bagay na naaalala niyang gawin. Sa tuwing tahimik si Stell at nakatingin lang sa labas, Paulo would rub his thumb over his fingers to relax him.
Nang makarating sila sa amusement park, halos wala pang tao sa paligid, mga isang oras pa lang ang nakalipas simula nang mag-bukas ang amusement park. Nagpakuha muna si Stell ng picture kay Paulo, kagaya ng madalas niyang ginagawa kapag lumalabas sila. Mas madalas kasing mag-picture si Stell kaysa kay Paulo na madalas ay sa phone lang niya tinatago ang mga litrato nila.
Una nilang pinilahan ang carousel dahil ito naman talaga ang paboritong rides ni Stell. Nakangiti agad ito habang nasa pila, masayang nagkukwento kay Paulo habang kumakain sila ng French fries.
“Thank you, love! Alam mo, I needed this. Sobrang nakakaburyong na sa trabaho. Siguro kasi papalapit na ang Christmas kaya ang daming pinapagawa sa amin.” Kwento ni Stell kay Paulo.
“Of course, love. ALam kong gusto mong bumalik tayo dito. Nung huling birthday mo, iba ang ginawa natin. Bumalik lang din tayo dito kasi diba, dito moa ko sinagot no’n?” Paulo asked while smiling at Stell.
Stell blushed slightly, turned his attention to Paulo’s face, and grinned at him before giving him a peck on the lips. “Naalala mo ‘yon? That’s the happiest moment of my life, Paulo. Kasi binuo mo yung mundo ko.” Stell answered.
At kagaya ng dati, this made Paulo’s heart melt. Hindi naging mahirap para kay Stell ang sabihin ang nararamdaman niya, bagay na laging kinahahangaan ni Paulo. If there’s anything he wants to learn from his boyfriend, it is to be honest with his feelings. Marami kasing pagkakataon na nagtatago ng nararamdaman si Paulo, but he’s learning from him.
Their turn came, and Stell happily conversed with Paulo while riding the carousel, telling him about the things he looked forward to doing with him.
At natapos din agad ang ride, at masaya silang bumaba dito.
“So, saan na tayo, love? Siyempre hindi lang naman yan ang ride natin ngayon diba?” Stell asked Paulo excitedly, as he waited for him to tell him their next agenda.
“Always so impatient, love. Tara, pila tayo sa Ferris Wheel?” Sabi nito.
Agad na natigil ng bahagya si Stell at alalang nakatingin kay Paulo. “Love? Mataas doon, Pau. Baka hindi ko kayanin kapag nasa taas na tayo?”
“Kasama mo naman ako. I won’t let you fall, love. Akong bahala sa’yo.” Paulo assured Stell with a back hug, while falling in line for the Ferris Wheel. Susunod na sila sa sasakay at inaantay na lang matapos ang mga nakasalang.
“Alam ko naman, pero paano kung hidni ko makahinga? Paano kung mag-panic ako?” Tanong na naman ni Stell, pisil ang kamay ni Paulo ng malamig niyang mga palad.
Paulo knows it’s risky, but he always believed in Stell. Marami na ring takot sa buhay si Stell na sabay nilang hinarap, kagaya ng pagpapakilala nila sa pamilya ng isa’t-isa. Ngayong paborito na silang makita ng magulang nila, at paminsan sinasama pa sa mga gala nila. It’s like they complete each other.
Kagaya ng sabi ni Stell, binuo rin nito ang mundo ni Paulo. While holding hands, they entered their own capsules. Tahimik lang si Stell, halatang tinatantsa ang pag-galaw ng pod. Umupo sila sa iisang side ng capsule, at dahan-dahan ring nakatingin tumingin si Stell sa tanawin sa labas.
“Love, umaangat na!” Tahimik niyang tugon, pero rinig pa rin ang kaba.
Pinisil ni Paulo ang kamay niya, habang ang isa ay mahigpit ang kapit sa railings ng capsule, Kahit na takot, pinipilit pa rin ni Stell an pakalmahin ang sarili niya.
“Yes, love. Look how beautiful everything is from here! Kung ganito palagi ang makikita natin, ikaw ang gusto kong kasama, Stell.” Paulo mentioned at bahagyang gumalaw papalapit sa nobyo.
“Huwag kang gagalaw Paulo! Umuuga yung capsule!” indi napigilan ni Stell na mapasigaw ng bahagya ng naramdaman nito ang pag-alog ng pod.
Natatawang si Paulo pero tumigil din ito para kumalma si Stell, ang isang kamay ay may kinuha mula sa bulsa ng pantalon.
“Stell.” Tawag nito sa kasama.
“Bakit? Ayaw kong gumalaw, love.” Sagot ni Stell na nakatingin pa rin sa labas at natigil parang isang statwa.
“Look at me, love. I have something for you.” Paulo whispered, the anxiety now creeps inside his veins, but he pushes through.
It’s now or never.
“Stell, please, harap ka muna sa akin.” He asked Stell again, to which Stell obliged.
Humarap si Stell at tiningnan si Paulo, gulat sa hawak ni Paulo sa kanyang kanang kamay, ang kalawi ay hawak pa rin nang mahigpit ang kanang kamay niya.
“Pau…” Stell trailed off, forgetting they were inside a capsule of a Ferris wheel for a while.
It’s nighttime now, and the city lights shine bright behind Stell, making the moment more intimate for the couple. Paulo looked at him with such intensity, before speaking again.
“It’s been two years, love. Dalawang taon na rin simula nang samahan moa ko sa takbo ng buhay ko. Sa tagal kong nabuhay sa mundo, hindi ko akalain na makakakita ako ng taong mas bubuo pa sa akin na pagbubuhusan ko ng pagmamahal ko,” Paulo started, quickly wiping a single tear that escaped his eye, and holding Stell’s hand again. Kahit nanginginig ang mga paa, nagpatuloy pa rin ito.
“Kaya ko napili sa lugar na ‘to, kasi dito ako nagsimulang mangarap ng buhay na kasama ka, Stell. Dito ko simulang naramdaman na may magmamahal pala sa akin ng kung paano mo ako mahalin. Loud and proud. Between us two, you never held back into declaring your feelings for me. At ngayon, gusto ko rin ‘yun gawin para sa’yo. To not be scared, to face my own fears.” Dagdag pa nito, habang nakangiti kay Stell na halatang nagpipigil na rin ng mga luha.
“Baliw ka talaga, dito mo ginawa sa mataas para hindi ako maka-hindi sa’yo.” Sagot niya, at tahimik na ring bumagksak ang mga luha mula sa mga mata nito.
“Yeah, I did that on purpose love,” Natatawang sagot ni Paulo at nagpatuloy sa sasabihin.
“Kidding aside, I wanted for us not to forget this place, nor this day. Kaya gusto kong tanungin ka, Stellvester Ajero, while the moon shines, witnessing us two as I ask for your hand, will you accept my love for you? Will you marry me?” Paulo finally asked. Despite not dropping to his knees, his legs shook as he anticipated Stell’s answer.
Please, love.
“Yes, Paulo.” Stell answered him back, showing him his long slim fingers.
“Sorry, this is just our promise ring. Hindi pa ito yung ring mo. But I hope, you still love it, love.” Paulo said as he slid the ring on Stell’s finger, embracing him in a long, warm hug.
“It doesn’t matter, Paulo. Okay lang.” Stell assured him as their tears fall on each other’s shoulders while still connected by an embrace.
Bago bumaba ang Ferris Wheel, tahimik lang ang dalawa habang magkatabing nakatingin sa maliwanag na siyudad at sa bilog na buwan.
It’s the last full moon of the year, and Paulo really wanted the moon to shine brightly while he propose to Stell. Kagaya rin kung paano nito nasilayan ang araw na sinagot ni Stell si Paulo, nasilayan din nito ang araw na nag-desisyon silang sabay na harapin ang mundo.
“So, sasama ka na ba sa akin, love? Gusto mo bang tumira kasama ko?” Tahimik na tanong ni Paulo, habang bumababa sila ng Ferris Wheel.
“Pagiisipan ko muna. Pero payag akong dun muna umuwi sa bahay mo ngayong gabi.” Stell said while grinning at a blushing Paulo.
They have been into numerous car rides in the last two years, but Stell knew that tonight was his favorite. Bukod sa hindi siya mag-isang uuwi ngayong gabi, matutulog din siyang may malaking ngiti sa labi.