RJ's POV
I could not let go of Charm as I tightly hugs her now, ensuring she will not change her mind at biglang bawiin ang sagot nya kay Lolo.
"You are such a naughty girl, Menggay." Daddy Ricky said. "Akala ko hihimatayin si RJ eh." He teases.
"Level up kasi ang confidence Dad, hinila ko lang pabalik sa lupa." Charm replied.
Yes, this lady never failed to remind me on putting my feet on the ground. I was too confident and even volunteered on answering for her earlier. That small pinch in my chest after hearing her first statement is my wife's subtle way of telling me that not all things goes on how I wanted or planned it.
But in laters dinner, everything should go on how I planned it. I dedicated much time and effort preparing to this celebration and I could not afford any mistake. Everything should go perfectly well as planned.
///
It is already almost six in the evening but Charm never stops on asking what I prepare for our dinner date. My typical impatient wife, who keeps on reminding me that patience is a virture now ranting because she could not anticipate what's in store for her later.
"How can I make myself appropriate for our dinner celebration if you will not tell me where are you taking me." She claimed.
"Dinner lang naman yun, you don't have to be this worried." I replied.
"Dyan ako kinakabahan sa 'I should not be worried' eh." She declared.
"Don't you trust me Mendoza Girl?" I asked.
"I do but .... I could not understand bakit kinakabahan ako, sobrang kaba ko Faulkerson, Jr." Charm said.
"Kasi kung anu-ano ang iniisip mo, dinner lang naman talaga ang meron mamaya." I said.
"Kapag hindi dinner lang, anong gagawin ko sa yo?" She asked.
"Kiss mo ko sa lips." I flirty replied.
"Gago ka." She said.
"I love you, too." I answered back.
"Gago ka ulit." She repeated.
"I love you, too, ulit." I replied back laughing.
"Ang kulit naman eh" She said, pouting.
"Hay naku, ako pa ang makulit ngayon." I said.
"Naibigay na ba sa iyo ni Rizza yung dress na pinabili ko? I hope you like it." I evetually asked.
"Yes, nagustuhan ko naman, simple but elegant. Maganda talaga ang taste ni Rizza sa damit." She said.
"Excuse me, ako ang pumili ng dress na yun. Naka video chat kami when she was purchasing the dress." I said.
"Oh eh di ikaw na ang maganda ang taste sa pagpili ng damit." She sarcastically said.
"At dahil nag-uumpisa ka nang mapikon, I think it's time for you to get dress." I instructed her.
"Hindi mo ako sasabayang maligo?" She flirty asked.
"We will have more of that later Mendoza Girl. I'll just use Celestine's room so we could simultaneously prepare. You don't need to exert an effort to look good because for me, you are the most beautiful of all. I love you Mrs. Faulkerson, Jr." I said.
"O sige na, napakilig na naman ako ulit. Get out of here." She said giggling.
///
It was passing seven in the evening when Charm and I left home for our dinner date. "Aren't we too early for dinner?" She asked.
"Nope, it is better to be early para makarami." I teased.
"Makarami talaga ha, grabe ka sa harot. Bawas-bawasan mo naman ang harot Faulkerson, Jr." She said giggling.
"Ok, bawasan natin ng one hour ang harot, para may konting pahinga." I replied laughing.
"Susme, goodluck naman talaga sa akin." She said.
In less than thirty minutes of driving, we arrived at the events place I exclusively rented and romantically set-up with candles and rose petals for this occasion.
"This is so beautiful, ang galing naman ng asawa ko. Very romantic naman ang ambiance." She said and it made me so proud of myself.
"I'm glad you like it." I said.
"Hindi ba mahal naman 'to just for a dinner date?" She whispered and it make me laughed.
"You are too priceless for a cheap celebration my love. Don't worry I got good discount because the owner of this events place is my schoolmate." I replied.
"Schoolmate? Babae o lalake?" She asked and I got stunned because it's been a while that she got a little jealous.
"Lalaki." I replied chuckling.
I asked the servers to serve our dinner. We talk a lot of things while enjoying the menu that I choose for tonight. We both could not believe that the 365 days would end that fast.
"Are you ready for the dessert?" I asked her.
"What are we having for dessert?" She asked.
"Something sweet." I replied. "Don't worry, hindi naman nakakataas ng sugar level ang dessert natin." I said and instructed the servers to serve our dinner.
Charm'e eyes widen as she got stun when the server took of the cover of the dessert plate and sees a plate with a slice of strawberry cheesecake with a message written as 'Will you Marry Me?'
"What is this?" She asked and she got more stunned when she saw me on my knee and holding an open box with a necklace and infinity pendant inside.
"What are you doing Faulkerson, Jr?" She finally asked.
"Proposing." I straightly replied.
"Proposing??? Hello .... one year na po tayong kasal and we are celebrating our first wedding anniversary tonight remember?" She said.
"I don't remember I did this before." I replied.
"You don't need to do this Love, alam mo naman kung ano ang magiging sagot ko di ba?" She said.
"But I still want to do this, ayoko naman na hindi mo ma-experience yung mag propose ako sa iyo." I replied.
"O sige na nga, I would also wanted to know how the great Faulkerson, Jr. will do the proposal ... Go ahead love let's see kung mapapasagot mo ako ng Oo." She said smiling.
The pressure now builds up in me, na pressure ako sa challenge ng asawa ko na mapasagot ko sya ng Oo. Pero kasubuan na 'to eh so eto na ... game na ...
"Love, I want you to know that I will always be grateful for the simple things you do for me and make me feel so loved and cared for. Thank you Mendoza Girl for always making me feel so special. Today actually reminds me how God really loves me, because he gave me the most wonderful person to be my lifetime partner. This day also reminds me that I made the best decision in my life, that is to share my life and heart with you. Sabi mo nga di ba, life is a journey, at naniniwala ako that your love is what will make this journey worthwhile. I love you Charmaine Mendoza Faulkerson, please stay with me for the rest of our lives." I declared.
Charm is in all tears as I slowly uttered the words dictated by my heart. I know no one else would understand me the way she do.
"Why are you making me cry Faulkerson, Jr.?" She asked while tears flow down her cheeks.
"I am not doing this to make you cry. I'm doing this because this is what you deserve. You are the best thing that ever happened to me Mendoza Girl. I really hope you'll say yes. I promise you Love, in the years to come, it will be nothing but awesome. I promise our future will be nothing but joyful and happy." I said while my hands wipe away her tears.
"At sa mga darating na panahon, we will create precious memories together. You and I, hand in hand, will discover new things about each other." I further declared.
I waited for her to say something but her tears continue to stream down her cheeks. It took a while when her hands cupped my face and kissed me, long and sweet.
"Love, our journey so far, has been an amazing ride. And the best part of that journey is that you and I have been side by side. Every single day I spend being your wife, I realized how fortunate I am to live such an amazing life. I'm so grateful to be sharing life, love and parenthood with a wonderful man like you." She said.
"Is that a yes my love?" I asked.
She smiled and replied "You know, I have been into too many motocross races already. I also have my own race in life, in both races I want to win. Pero sa hindi parehong paraan, in my motocross races I want to be the fastest to win but in my life races I want to win it by walking slowly hand in hand with you because I feel secured in your arms. You annoy me more than I ever thought possible. But I want to spend every irritating minute with you. Every moment I spent with you is like a beautiful dream come true. So yes Richard Faulkerson, Jr., I will stay by your side for the rest of our lives. You and I, just the two of us, together for a lifetime."
I know it was more than a year overdue but hearing those words from Charm still gives me some chills. I wonder if this is the same feels as 365 days ago. I took out the necklace from the box and put it on her. I'm happy that it fits her perfectly.
"I love you Mendoza Girl" I said
"And I love you too, Faulkerson, Jr." she replied
We share another passionate kiss when she suddenly pulls back, "Ahhh ... " She said.
"Mukhang nagpaparamdam na naman ang kambal, hindi pa nga lumalabas seloso na, gusto agad masolo si Mommy ." I commented.
"Humilab ang tyan ko, Love." She said.
"Sigurado ka ba?" I worriedly asked.
"Mukha ba akong hindi sigurado? Manganganak na ako Faulkerson, Jr." She exclaimed.