RJ's POV
This is it, today marks Charm and I's 365th day together as Mr. and Mrs. Richard Faulkerson, Jr., almost two weeks din akong aligaga para sa celebration na 'to, I wanted this to be memorable and certainly one for the books.
I woke up early today because I plan to prepare a special breakfast for her, nothing fancy, just her usual favorite pancake breakfast with lots and lots of fruits. What's special about that? Eh di yung effort ko to prepare it.
Before I went out of the room to do my first chore for the day, I can't help myself but to look at this beautiful lady sleeping beside me. Staring at her upon waking up in the morning while she was still asleep has been my daily habit for 365 days already. I will never get tired of looking at her at peace while asleep.
Everyday within that 365 days, I keep on telling myself, "I am forever grateful to God for your Lolo and my Lolo in coming out on this kind of promise to each other. I love this woman beside me so much and I will make sure that our togetherness will be eternally." Loving her everyday is already a habit that I could no longer remove in my system.
After five minutes of watching my wife while she is still asleep, I went off to the kitchen to prepare our breakfast. Since today is Sunday, Celestine is still asleep this early, therefore it will be easy for me to do what I have to do before Mrs. Faulkerson, Jr. wakes up. It took me less than thirty minutes to go back to our room for the breakfast.
I put the breakfast tray on the table then kneel beside the bed and started stroking Meng's hair, another gesture that I will never get tired of doing. Shortly, Meng move and slowly opens her eyes. "Good morning my love." I greeted her in a wide grin.
She smiles back and said, "Good morning, Love."
"Happy anniversary, Mendoza Girl." I said.
"Yeah, happy anniversary Faulkerson, Jr." She greeted back then I pressed my lips to hers. "I made breakfast." I said and pointed at the food on the table.
"Wow, nice one Faulkerson, Jr." She said and I helped her get out of the bed.
"Ang sweet ah." She commented.
"Syempre naman, and to complete that breakfast for today, dito ka lang may kukunin lang ako sa labas saglit." I said then I hurried out and come back with a bouquet of flowers. "Syempre hindi pwedeng walang flowers. Again, Happy Anniversary Mrs. Faulkerson, Jr." I said.
"Ohhh .... Ang sweet naman talaga ng asawa ko. Happy Anniversary, Love." She said and accepted the flowers from me. "This is so beautiful my love. Thank you." She added then cupped my face for a kiss.
"You're welcome" I replied. "Kain na tayo." I said.
"Akala mo ikaw lang ang may surprise, meron din ako." She said and walks to her bedside table.
She took out a card from the drawer and handed it to me. "Happy Anniversary my love, pasensya ka na ha, card na lang muna. Kapag pwede na, I'll make sure to buy something for you." She said.
I excitedly opens the card and read it. I felt Meng's bare hand wiping the tears on my cheek. I did not notice that tears started to stream down my cheeks. I was move on the what was written on the card.
"This is more than enough than those material things that you were talking about. I love you too, Mrs. Faulkerson, Jr." I said and gave her a passionate kiss then suddenly we heard her stomach growling which made both of us laugh.
"That's the sign na kailangan na nating mag-almusal." I said as I went back to my seat.
"Tuloy ba ang lunch kila Daddy?" She asked.
"Tuloy na tuloy, tumawag na sila Tatay kanina, paalis na daw sila ng Bulacan, sasabayan na lang nila tayong mag simba." I replied.
"Teka lang, ano nga pala ang isusuot ko mamayang dinner natin?" She asked.
"Don't worry I got it covered, pinabili ko na si Rizza, and mamaya ibibigay nya sa iyo." I said.
"Inistorbo mo pa talaga si Rizza, pwede naman akong pumili sa mga damit ko basta sabihin mo lang kung ano ang appropriate na isuot ko." She said.
"Hayaan mo na ko, I want to do these for you." I said. "Are you excited?" I asked.
"Sobrang excited na." She replied.
"Ako rin sobrang excited para mamayang gabi." I said.
///
The whole Faulkerson and Mendoza family gathered together for a thanksgiving mass. Lola Linda prepares a sumptuous lunch for all of us at their house. It was after lunch when Lolo gathered everyone in the living room.
"I'm sure you all know why we are gathered here." Lolo Danny said. "First of all I would like to thank RJ and Meng for fulfilling my promise to my best friend. You don't know how much you made me happy. I know I don't need to ask this anymore because we all can see how much love you have for each other now." He further said.
"But I still wanted to know and hear it from both of you RJ and Charm. Can you honestly say to me after one year that you can still live without each other?" Lolo asked. "RJ, I want to hear you first. What is your answer?" He asked me first.
"As you said Lolo, there is no need to ask me about it, because you already know the answer. I love my wife so much and everyone knows that. I cannot live without Charmaine Mendoza Faulkerson, Lolo." I replied and everyone expresses their gladness.
"Wag ka munang magsaya RJ, baka biglang mag back out ang misis mo." Lolo said and everyone laughs at what he uttered.
"Would you like me to answer for her Lolo?" I bragged.
"No, your wife has a mind and heart of her own, she should speak for herself." Lolo Danny said.
"Wag kasing atat kuya, baka masilat ka pa eh." Rizza commented.
"Pinapakaba mo naman si Kuya RJ eh, tingnan mo butil butil na tuloy ang pawis." Dean seconded.
"It's your turn now Charm, can you honestly say that you can live without RJ?" Lolo asked.
"Yes Lolo I can live without Richard Faulkerson, Jr." Charm proudly said and everyone got speechless including I.
I did not see that coming, what have I done wrong to her? Was all of this a prank? Did I really hear it right? Too many questions come into my mind and all of those, I don't have even a single answer.
"Are you saying we are pushing through with the annulment Meng?" Lolo asked and I honestly could not understand myself if I wanted to hear her answer or not. I did not remove my stare to her as I am actually seeking an answer but too frighten to hear it.
She then looks at me straight, her facial expression is blank then bravely uttered, "I have to live even without RJ, Lolo. I know how much Daddy needs him for the business. I have to survive the times he will be away from us because of his work outside our home. But if you'll asked me if I can live without RJ's love my answer is NO. His love is like the air I breathe. I definitely could live without him Lolo but not without RJ's love, Lolo." She explained which made me grabs her for a tight hug.
"Did I gave you a fright Faulkerson, Jr.?" She asked giggling.
"You surely did Mendoza Girl." I replied.