"Sorry."
Iyon agad ang unang salitang sinalubong ni Kenneth sa akin the moment I opened our gate and led him to our balcony. Lumabi ako sa kanya. Gusto ko pa sana magtampo yet seeing him look so worried melted all the bad feeling. I just found myself wrapped in his tight embrace.
"Bad ka," naiiyak na sabi ko.
"I know," he whispered. "But was it really a big deal? I mean, kasama mo naman ako kanina. Was that not enough?" tanong pa niya. I pulled away and looked up at him.
"I guess it's a big deal. I was hoping you would remember. Alam kong isang date lang iyon out of the many days in the calendar kaya lang kasi kapag naalala mo, it would let me know that this relationship is important to you as much as it is to me. Selfish na siguro ako pero it's not enough na kasama lang kita. I need your attention too. Aanhin ko naman kung kasama nga kita and yet you don't even know the reason why we went out together," paliwanag ko.
He didn't answer. He just stared at me in stoic silence. Tumalikod ako sa kanya to hide my disappointment. Naiinis na naman ako sa kanya. Ang haba na ng dialogue ko ngunit wala man lang response from him. As in dead air. I sighed and decided to continue with my speech.
"Well, unless this is just a game to you, mabuti pang sabihin mo na habang maaga pa so I--"
Bigla na lang may sumulpot na maliit na kahon sa harap ko. It was wrapped in glittering fancy paper with an oversized ribbon on top. Parang kasing laki lang ng dalawang pinagpatong na posporo ang size ng kahon.
"W-what's that?" I asked.
Mula sa likod ko ay umikot siya sa harap ko and we stood facing each other again. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanya at sa maliit na kahong hawak niya.
"Happy monthsary," nakangiti niyang sabi with those pleading eyes. It was a very brief eye contact but it was enough to get his message across.
At wala na, talo na uli ako. Nakalimutan ko na ang sasabihin ko pa sana. I just stood there and stared at him. Hanggang sa naging malabo na siya sa paningin ko. Umiiyak na pala ako.
"Sorry, bee. Huwag ka na magalit," sabi niya and hugged me again. I sobbed in his chest.
"Akala ko kasi…you completely forgot about it," I said in between my sobs.
"Matagal ko na binili ito. Hindi ko lang naalala na ngayon ang monthsary natin. It just slipped out of my mind and it was my fault. I have been busy."
I only sniffed and tried to compose myself. Nakakahiya na akong tingnan. Namumugto na ang mga mata ko sa kakaiyak.
"Sowe ha? Inaway kita," sabi ko while wiping the tears from my eyes.
He only kissed me on my forehead and led me to the couch. Umupo ako at Tumabi siya akin."Buksan mo na. Tahan na muna, okay?"
I did as he asked and was completely surprised. The box contained a silver bracelet.
"It's a charm bracelet," sabi niya isinuot iyon sa wrist ko. "See? I included some of your favorite things," dugtong niya and held out each charm ,between his fingers. "Here is your favorite cornetto, a bottle of coke, a cat, a bus kasi ang hilig mong sumakay ng bus without any planned destination. Here is your piano, a star kasi mahilig ka magwish at magstar gazing, the number twenty because it's our day, and a heart. It's my heart and I'm giving it to you," sabi niya.
I swallowed a lump in my throat. Reklamo ako ng reklamo and yet, there he was giving me his special gift. Hindi lang niya iyon basta binili sa jewelry store. Pinag-isipan pa niyang mabuti ang bawat charm na ikakabit niya roon. And because of that, I was teary-eyed again.
"O, iiyak ka na naman," sabi niya.
"I don't know what to say. Thank you."
"Shh. You don't have to say anything. Pasensiya ka na ha? Nangangapa pa din kasi ako eh. But I'll try not to disappoint you too often," he said and sniffed my hair.
"Thank you uli," sabi ko. Inangat niya ang mukha ko so I could look up at him and gave me a quick kiss on my lips.
"I love you," bulong niya.
"Love din po kita," sagot ko. "At may surprise din ako for you. Wait here." I stood and went back inside. Tuluy-tuloy ako sa room ko and took out the gift I prepared for him.
"Here. For you," sabi nang maupo ako uli sa tabi niya.
"What's this?"
"Open it." Binuksan nga niya and it was his turn to be surprised. Kinuha ko ang laman ng kahon at pinasuot sa kanya. It was a silver CK watch. Pina-customize ko so our initials were printed on the clock face.
"Ito ang pinili ko para maalala mo ako at mabigyan mo ng time kahit konti. I hope you like it."
"I love it. Ang ganda. Thank you," sagot niya. The look on his face was enough to make me smile.
"At may isa pa akong surprise for you. Halika sa loob," I said and took his hand. Hinila ko siya papasok sa sala ng apartment. Mitch is already inside her room so kaming dalawa lang ni Kenneth ang nandoon.
"Uhm…w-what are you doing?" tanong niya. I din't answer. Instead, I closed all the glass windows before taking his hand again. There was that funny look on his face.
"B-bee?"
"Huwag kang paranoid. Upo ka dito," sabi ko as I opened the cover of my piano. Tumabi siya sa akin ngunit clueless pa rin ang hitsura niya. I rolled my eyes.
"I closed the windows para hindi masyadong maingayan ang mga kapitbahay when I play the piano," paliwanag ko. He looked relieved.
"Tutugtog ka? For me?"
"Yeah. I had this song rehearsed a few days ago. Wanna hear it?"
"Sure."
So there I was. I played the intro of "The Gift" with trembling fingers. Then I started singing kahit conscious ako habang kumakanta. I almost choked when I reached the chorus.
"So you could give me wings to fly and catch me if I fall. Pull the stars down from the sky so I could wish on them all. But I couldn’t ask for more. Cause your love is the greatest gift of all…"
When the song finally ended, I couldn’t face him. Nasa piano keys lang ako nakatingin. Then he clapped.
"Wow. Ang ganda. Ngayon lang kita narinig na tumugtog at kumanta at the same time."
That was my cue to finally face him. "I'm glad you liked it."
"Oo naman. I'm not really musically inclined but I can appreciate a good music when I hear one. Plus, I love that song."
I smiled and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "Your love is the greatest gift. Ikaw lang naman ang kailangan ko eh. Isang hug mo lang, okay na ako."
He cupped my cheeks with both hands. "Pwede bang yakap at chaka kiss?" bulong niya.
I giggled. "Pwede."
It was more than I could ask for. He kissed me and everything is alright with my world again.
[behind the scene]
Muntik ko nang paghiwalayin sina Kenneth at Yhonna. Buti na lang nagparamdam si *kenneth aka 
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