Isang napakalalim ba buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ni Lei habang pinagmamasdan ang madilim na kalangitan mula sa kanyang bagong silid. Colorful sky, setting sun, slightly cold wind- those things reminded her of something.

Magtatatlong linggo na rin ang lumipas mula nang umalis siya ng Korea, nang magdesisyon siyang iwan ang lahat ng mayroon siya noon- maging ang pagibig na noon ay inakalang sa mga nobela at pelikula lamang niya matatagpuan. At sa loob ng tatlong linggong iyon ay napagtanto niyang hindi pala nga talaga ganoon kadaling kalimutan ang lahat.

“Who am I kidding?” She chuckled. “Paano ko nga naman aalisin sa sistema ko ang isang bagay na ayaw ko rin namang kalimutan.”

Because all throughout those three weeks, all that she thought about was him, Kim Heechul.

She moved her chair back to its original place, facing her laptop computer at isang napakagwapong mukha ang sumalubong sa kanya.

“Kim Heechul, it’s been three weeks but my feelings for you still kept intact. Ano bang mayroon sa iyo at di kita makalimutan?” Wika niya na para bang nasa harap nga niya ang lalaki while every contour of his face on her laptop’s screen. “Kamusta ka na kaya? Tinupad mo kaya ang sinabi mo sa akin noon? O nabawi mo na ang puso mo para ibigay sa iba? Kasi ako, mukhang ikinadena mo na ata ang puso ko sa iyo.”

“You know, instead of just talking to that screen like an idiot why don’t you just go back to the Korea and make up with him? Nakakainis kang pakinggan at panuorin eeh.” She eyed the girl that was sitting at the edge of her bed while flipping a random magazine that the girl randomly took from her shelf, it was her cousin. “Wala namang masama kung babalik ka at babawiin mo ang kagagahang ginawa mo. Kung hindi ka nga lang mas matanda sa akin, malamang na kinaladkad na kita pauwi.”

Imbes na sumagot ay sinimangutan na lamang niya ang babae.

“Sayang din to ano, ang gandang lahi.” Itinaas nito ang hawak na babasahin at itinuro ang lalaking kanyang iniwan.

Binalot ng katahimikan ang apat na sulok na silid na kinalalagyan nila. Nanatili lamang siyang nakakatitig sa gwapong mukha ng lalaking itinuro ng kanyang pinsan. His dimpled smile lingered in her mind as the memories they spent together played right before her eyes.

“Ang tanga ko ano? I was the one who chose to leave pero ako ang hindi makagawang pakawalan siya, or rather, ang mga ala-ala niya.”

Her tears were about to fall kung hindi lamang sila inabala ng doorbell.

“Were you expecting someone?” Nakakunot noong tanong niya sa pinsan at kibit balikat lamang ang isinagot nito sa kanya.

“Get the door.” Utos niya rito but instead of doing what she said, the girl even lay down on her bed, curled up and pretended to sleep. She cursed under her breathe at tinapik ang braso ng pinsan. “This brat.”

Tinakbo niya ang pintuan na ilang hakbang din ang layo mula sa kanyang kwarto at laking gulat niya nang bumungad sa kanya ang isang bagay na inakala niyang imposible na niyang makita pa.

A very familiar music started playing and soon after that, a very familiar voice started singing while a group of beautiful men also started dancing at the background.

“Love oh baby my girl geudaen naui juhnbu nunbushige areumdawoon naui shinbu shini jushin suhnmul”

Love, oh baby my girl. You are my everything. My dazzlingly beautiful bride.

“Haengbokhangayo geudaeui ggaman nunesuh nunmuri heureujyo ggaman muhri pappuri dwel ddaeggajido naui sarang naui geudae saranghal guhseul na maengsehalgeyo”

You are a gift from god. We’ll be very happy; your black eyes well up with tears
Even if your black mesmerizing hair turns white. My love, you my love, I swear I love you.

“Geudaereul saranghandaneun mal pyuhngsaeng maeil haejugo shipuh. Would you marry me? Nuhl saranghago akkimyuh saragago shipuh”

Saying I love you is what I want to do the most everyday in my life. Would you marry me? I want to love you, treasure you, and live with you.

Isa isang lumapit sa kanya ang mga lalaking kanina ay nagsasayaw at inabutan siya ng iba’t ibang kulay ng rosas habang ang isa na nakapako pa rin sa kanya ang mga mata ay patuloy lamang sa pagawit.

“Geudaega jami deul ddaemada nae pare jaewuhjugo shipuh. Would you marry me? Iruhn naui maeum huhrakhaejullae?”

I want you to lean on my shoulders each time you sleep. Would you marry me? With this heart of mine, will you accept me? 

“Just go straight and don’t look back. Don’t think about being hurt, forget about pain..stop listening to anything except for the beat of your heart and his voice.” Si Leeteuk iyon, ang lalaking minsang nagpatibok ng kanyang puso. Nginitian siya ng lalaki at dinampian ng mabilis na halik ang kanyang pisngi bago nito itinuro sa kanya ang daang kailangan niyang tahakin- towards the guy with a dimpled smile who was waiting for her while still singing the sweetest song she ever heard in her life.

“Pyuhngsaeng gyuhte isseulge I do Nuhl saranghaneun guhl. Nungwa biga wado akkyuhjumyuhnsuh. Nuhreul jikyuhjulg. My love.”

To accompany you for the whole lifetime, I do. To love you, I do. Regardless of snow and rain, I will be there to protect you, I do. Let me be the one to protect you, my love.

He stopped singing as soon as she was just at least two steps away from him but the music still kept on playing, boosting the serenity of what she was feeling that moment. Butterflies filled her stomach as her heart beat like it’s going to pop out her ribs and jump to the gorgeous man in front of her.

The guy reached for her hand and held it tightly, intertwining his fingers with hers. Saglit silang nanatili sa ganoong posisyon habang hindi iniaalis ang mga mata sa bawat isa, tila ba’y binabasa nila ang inisip at nararamdaman ng kaharap.

Hinatak siya ng lalaki at niyakap ng mahigpit. She felt very vulnerable yet so secured in his arms while listening to his heart beat that has the same rhythm as hers as if they were beating as one.

“Heechul.” She whispered.

“Shhh.. I just want to feel you in my arms again. It took me a while to gather the courage that I have right now to do this. I miss you so much and I’ll definitely die if I to let you go again.” Humigpit ang pagkakayakap sa kanya ng lalaki habang hindi pa rin binibitawan ang kanyang kamay. “I once promised that I will not let you leave me but I still did and I will not let that happen again kasi kahit ano pang sabihin mo, kahit sabihin mo pang hindi mo na ako mahal, hinding hindi na ulit kita bibitawan.” Kumalas ito sa pagkakayakap sa kanya ay hinawakan ang magkabila niyang pisngi. “You may call this force…but I call this love.” He gave her a quick peck on her lips before showcasing his dimpled smile. “I love you Lei, so much that I’m willing to announce to the world that you’re the only girl that this rock hard heart of mine will beat for.”

Noon lamang niya napagtanto kung ano ang nakapaligid sa kanila – cameras, press, paparazzi, reporters or whatever you want to call that. Ibinroadcast talaga ng herodes na lalaki ang pagtatapat nito sa kanya.

“What do you think you are doing?” Nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya rito.

Bago sumagot ang lalaki ay lumuhod muna ito sa kanyang harapan at may sinenyasang kung sino na nagabot sa lalaki ng isang bulalak.

“Proposing to the woman I love…the only woman that I will love. I’m sorry that I’ve been a coward. I’m sorry that I made you wait for a long time. I’m sorry for being too selfish. Will you forgive me?”

Kasabay ng mga sinabing iyon ng lalaki ay ipinagpatuloy ng mga miyembro ng grupong kinabibilangan ng lalaki ang kantang hindi nito tinapos ilang minuto lamang ang nakalipas.

“Hayan dressreul ibeun geudae tuxedoreul ibeun naui moseup. Balguhreumeul matchumyuh guhdneun woori juh dalnimgwa byuhre. I swear guhjitmal shiruh uishimshiruh. Saranghaneun naui gongju Stay with me”

You, wearing the white bridal gown; me, wearing the suit, both of us walking in sync towards the stars and moon, I swear. No lies, no suspicion. My dearest princess, stay with me.

Nanuot ang tingin niya lalaki kasabay ng pagtango niya at pagtulo ng kanyang mga luha.

“Wooriga naireul muhguhdo wooseumyuh saragago shipuh. Would you marry me? Naui modeun nareul hamgge haejullae? Himdeulgo uhryuhwuhdo. Neul naega isseulgge. Woori hamggehaneun manheun nal dongan. Maeil gamsahalge my love.”

Even if we are becoming older, we will smile and live on. Would you marry me? Are you willing to live the rest of your life with me? No matter how weary and tired we are, I do. I will always be by your side, I do. The days when we will spend together, I do. Everyday will my heart be thankful, my love.

Biglang tumigil ang musika ngunit nagptuloy sa pagawit ang lalaking noon ay nakaluhod pa rin sa kanyang harapan. He then recited the lyrics of the song that they just sang…

“I have prepared this for you since a long time ago. Please take this shiny ring in my hand. Just like the mood today, remember the promise that we’re making now. Would you marry me?” He smiled at her and kissed the back of her hand. “I may have not prepared a ring for you yet but I am here kneeling in front of you offering you a promise that will last for a lifetime.” He offered the rose that he was holding as he looked at her with full sincerity and love. “Let’s continue loving each other until all of those roses wither, together with this.”

Inabot ng lalaki sa kanya ang rosas na agad naman niyang tinanggap at isang malapat na ngiti ang kumurba sa kanyang mga labi nang mahawakan niya iyon.

He gave her ten roses, nine of them were real, and one was fake.

“Will you marry this jerk kneeling in fornt of you, na nangangakong magtitino na sa abot ng kanyang makakaya? Hindi ko kayang ipangako sayo na hindi na kita sasaktan at paiiyakin dahil parte iyon ng buhay pag-ibig, but one thing is for sure…mamahalin kita ng buong buo hanggang sa aking huling hininga, hanggang sa malanta ang huling rosas na iyan.”

Her tears blinded her vision once again as the word YES escaped her lips and Heechul wrapped his arms around her.

“I love you Lei…forever.”

“Me too.” Iyon na lamang ang kanyang naisagot bago siya siilin ng halik sa mga labi ng lalaki and just like the first time, his kiss brought her to a paradise that only the two of them know off. Just like the garden where he gave her the permission to love him, just better…much much better. The kiss was an explosion of intense emotions that she never knew a kiss could contain, the electric currents that passed between them was like a fire that was burning rapidly like a forest fire.

“Okay..so what’s happening here?” She broke their kiss when she heard the voice of her cousin.

Nilingon niya ang bagong dating nang nakataas ang isang kilay. Halata kasing kakabangon lamang nito sa higaan dahil sa gusot gusot nitong damit at magulong buhok.

Pero tumagos sa kanya ang tingin ng dalaga at nagtatakbo ito palapit sa isa sa mga lalaking nagkukumpulan sa isang sulok.

“Cho Kyuhyun!” sigaw nito.

“Sino ka?” Nagtatakang tanong naman rito ng pinakabatang miyembro ng Super Junior.

“Anong sino ako? Timawa ka! Panagutan mo ang ginawa mo sakin!”

She clearly heard how the crowd gasped as the cameras started flashing while its lenses were focused on her cousin and the confused young man.