Gabie's POV
"Congratulations Ms. Alonzo! You did great in your presentation! " One of my professors greeted me before I was finally exposed to AVR. I was not released immediately after my defense because my clinical psychology professor said I needed to talk to him, because it just so happened that he was forced to replace the original member of the panel who did not arrive because he had an emergency with his patient. Because I was happy, I didn't feel bored listening to the two remaining who presented and defended their theses.
"Thank you. Do you want to talk to me, prof? " I will ask.
"Ah, yes, come with me to my office please," she said. I followed them because he was still with the other panel. They separated when they reached the end of the hall because they were going to the cafeteria while we were going to Prof. Sanchez's office.
Maybe I also stayed in his office for more than thirty minutes. He just talked to me about the fact that he allegedly received a letter from the hospital where I did my internship. By the way, one of the patients just thanked me for handling his case. So my professor asked me if I wanted to work at that hospital so that he could give me a recommendation. Plus my points because I had a patient who was happy with what I did to help him. Of course, I was happy because it just meant that finding a job would no longer make it difficult for me.
I went out immediately after our conversations to eat because I was hungry, but I just put up with it because I had to wait for my professor.
"Thank you, lord! You heard my prayers for you! Little by little, I will be able to fulfill all my desires in life for mama and me. This is probably the best birthday gift you have ever given me in my entire life. It will no longer be difficult for me to find a job because my professor will give me a recommendation, so it will be easy for me to get into the hospital I will go to, "in my mind as I walked out of campus.
Because one of the private hospitals is run by one of the people confined there are rich people, I didn't think during my internship that I would be assigned there because we can't shop. Then I also never thought that a patient of mine would like me talking to him during my duty. His case isn't really bad. I know he's getting better as they just need someone to talk to who is willing to listen to them without being judged and to make them feel that they are not different from us. They were still years old and they didn't want to get sick like that. There are people who are emotionally weak, so it's easy to beat them, especially if they can't talk to anyone they can trust because they don't think they will understand them but will judge them.
Nor should they be stigmatized because there is no reason for them to be stigmatized. They are really pitiful, so they need broad understanding, not judgment from others. She is a former college student, a rich child, in love, and pregnant, but not held accountable by the man because she was sent to the US to be taken away from her. She could not bear the ordeal, especially when she was about to give birth. He had a post-partum depression and that's what his family didn't understand, so he was admitted to that mental institution.
Anyway, such scenes in life are okay because that part is heavy and painful. I have to focus on this day first because first, it's my birthday today and what happened to me is beautiful. I have many reasons to be happy, but first of all, I need to hurry so I can eat. But I was shocked when suddenly someone called me.
"Gabie!" Miggy shouted.
"I pass! Thank you! " I have good news for him.
To my delight, he greeted me, and to my surprise, I could not restrain myself from embracing him.
We were still in that state for a few more minutes before I let him go.
Then he guided me to the opposite car door and opened it to enter. "Come, you have to eat your lunch first. I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you," he said. Then he guided me to the opposite car door and opened it to enter.
"Wow!" I only said that when I saw the bouquet of flowers in the passenger seat.
"Thank you!" digtong ko.
"You like it?" I just nodded because I felt ashamed. He never fails to remind me every day, not only in text messages or calls, but he also delivers food to me just to make sure he eats at the right time, no matter how busy I am.
He let me eat the food he was taking out. I found out that he had just finished eating because he didn't know what time I would be able to leave, and then he said he couldn't stand his hunger anymore so he ate first.
"Where are we going?" When I asked him in astonishment, when he was driving, he didn't say anything; he was just driving.
"MOA because it's still early because it's nice to breathe there," he replied to me.
"Okay," I replied as I applauded the rest of my fries.
When we arrived at the parking lot of the MOA, he insisted that he just go down to look for a trash bin. It was agreed that we would just talk here in the car because there were a lot of people around us if we went to the curtain, so it would be difficult for us to find privacy there.
"So, what do you say?" when he sat down from throwing away the food we had eaten. All I know is that he doesn't know it's my birthday today because we haven't talked about that. I'll tell him later after we talk, because I'll invite him to have dinner at home. I know mama has prepared something because she doesn't miss a beat every year. Even if she only prepares a little for my birthday, because mama says that the birthday only happens once a year, she should prepare even a little.
"Maybe it's good now that he will also be answered for more memorable because it's my birthday and it will be our anniversary every year," I shuddered at what I thought, but of course I didn't notice it because he might be surprised. I didn't want him to know so I could surprise him.
"First, I want to congratulate you for your success with your thesis. That's another milestone in your life to celebrate. You're about to graduate, so I'm happy because you're about to achieve one of your dreams. "He didn't finish what he was going to say, but I didn't speak. I just let him take the moment first, and later I'll take the moment for him.
"Second is, I wanna greet you a Happy Happy Birthday!" I didn't let him finish what he was going to say because I couldn't stop myself from asking questions.
"How did you know?" I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Secret. Let me finish first, "he said so I could do nothing but nod and listen. Nothing else explains why he chose my birthday.
Your hardships really paid off! Another achievement that you have made for yourself! I'm so proud of you! And because of that, I have something for you, "I saw him take a paper bag from the back seat.
"Open it. Open I know you'll like it, "he whispered.
I felt him watching me as I opened the paper bag. Then I saw a blue box in it, so I snatched it from inside the paper bag.
"Come on, open up," he added.
I'm nervous because I know this thing that was bought for me will be expensive, so it's even more embarrassing because why would he give me something like this? I also don't want to think that I will only answer him because of what he gave me. That's not the reason why I liked him; I wanted him before he talked to me. I don't know how he saw me.
"Luh! It is expensive! I don't think I can accept this, "I said shyly to her then I looked up at her from the necklace placed inside the box.
"This is yours. I bought this for you as a birthday gift. Turn around, I'll put it," He only answered me, but I didn't keep quiet. I just kept looking at him.
"Hey! All right, don't think about me. Unless you didn't like it? " He asked me sadly.
"Not like that, it's just really surprising. It's just my first time to experience someone giving something expensive, "I explained to him. It's true because this is the first time someone has given me something like this that will still be loved. It's too embarrassing because maybe only those who know will say so. Society, on the other hand, is full of judgmental citizens. Hooo… the depth then! Maybe that's just the effect of what happened to me today.
"Okay, from now on you'll get used to it because I'll shower your gifts."
"No, that's not what I want. You're so serious about I'll shower you gifts. What can they say to me that that's all I'm after you so I let you woo me?" I said sadly.
"No, definitely not! Don't you ever think that? Okay? That's not how I met you in the few months we've been talking and being together, "he explained.
"Now, please let me put this thing on you, so turn around please," he said softly.
I couldn't do anything if it wasn't for what he said. Even though it was embarrassing, I thought it would be more embarrassing if I insisted on not accepting it because I didn't seem to appreciate his effort then.
"Thank you," I only said that when I touched the pendant, but my eyebrows furrowed because I could not find just one pendant but two.
"Why two pendants?" I wonder if the question is
"Oh, yeah, because I don't know which one you like. It's your birthstone and the other one is the symbol of your degree program psychology. "
I replied, "You don't need two. No matter what the pendant is, I'll still like it."
"Just think of that one because you passed your thesis and then the other one because it's your birthday," he reasoned.
"I don't know about you, you're really like that, aren't you!" we both laughed.
"But anyway, thank you very much for this. I had enough of the flowers given, but I didn't expect to have a necklace yet. "
"That's because you're special to me."
"I'll tell you something."
"Go ahead."
"Do you remember the night we mistakenly took your other woman for your sister Gabriella?" I will ask.
"Yeah," was his short reply.
"Do you remember what Jhay said then?" I saw his eyebrows furrow as if he was trying to remember the incident.
"You don't remember?"
"Which one? I'm sorry I'm not focused on what he said in the intensity of my fear that you might not believe what I'm going to explain to you. Maybe that's the reason you bastedin me," he explained.
"Ah… o-okay," I replied.
"So, what is it all about?"
I suddenly felt intense nervousness as if all the blood had dropped to my face.
"Are you okay?" Then he reached for my hand, then he felt my hands getting cold.
"Are you not feeling well?" he asked me worriedly.
I just shook my head because I didn't know how to start what I wanted to tell her.
"But wait, he should ask me first because that's what I see in teleseries and even in movies," in my mind.
"Why? What hurts you? What do you feel?" he repeatedly asked me.
"N-No, no. I mean, I'm okay, I'm not in pain, "I explained.
"Why are you pale? Then the coldness of your hands, "I wanted to laugh at him because he was thinking wrong, but I couldn't do it because I was so nervous. It was even more intense compared to my presentation and defense of my thesis.
"K-Kasi… a-ano ah," I stammered, but I couldn't continue because I didn't know if what I was going to say was right even if he didn't ask me.
"What?" at the same time he squeezed my hand.
I took a deep breath then looked into his eyes.
"Hey! What is it? "
"K-Kasi, don't you have anything to ask me?" I change.
"Huh?" he asked confused.
"Oh, wait, wrong. I said, don't you want to ask me anything? " I changed the question because he might not get it.
"About what?" Oh, I am dead! He doesn't even get it!
"About us," I said while pointing at myself and him.
He suddenly thought because he obviously didn't get what I meant. I slowly withdrew my hands from his grip, then I played with it because I didn't know if I should do it because I know we don't understand each other. I was restless, so I couldn't help but bite my index finger while looking in front of us.
"Ah, sorry I can't decipher what you mean. Can you please tell me instead? " He asked me, but I still didn't know what to start saying.
I rebuke myself, "Why didn't I think carefully first so that I could be ready for what I was going to say? I'm really stupid."
"Hold on, let me use the comfort room please. I'll be quick, okay? I'll be right back right away, "he hurried out of the car without even waiting for me to answer. I was just surprised that he was gone. The door closed just in time when I thought he was sitting before.
While waiting for her, I decided to pick up my cellphone and then I searched for how to say that you are already answering the one you are dating even though she has not asked 'will you be my girlfriend?'
I was busy reading the article. I found Google when I heard the car door open. A few minutes later, he left me inclined to go to the cr. So I simply in-exit it so he can't reach it because it's embarrassing for him to read more.
"Sorry for that," he apologized.
"It's okay, it's natural," he replied. Because it's true that it's only natural to use cr, we all urinate or have diarrhea, so we need to go to cr before we get kidney disease or see poisoning. It's dirt, so we have to take it out.
"Ah, I just replied to those who greeted me, only now because I can hold the phone again," I lied when he saw me holding my cellphone.
"It's okay, I understand." Then I heard him sneeze.
Gabie, ah, about what you're telling me. I'm sorry if I didn't ask you right away, but honestly, I was nervous. "He said softly, "
It's okay, I was also nervous when I said that, so we just quit, "I said, laughing, to somehow get rid of the nervousness I was feeling.
I saw him take a deep breath. I'm sure, like me, he was also fighting intense nervousness.
"Gabie, are you ready to be my girlfriend?" I was surprised by his direct question, even though it was really what I wanted to hear from him, so I asked earlier. But it's really different when you actually hear the question.
Since no voice came out of my mouth, I just chose to stare at him to let him know that my answer was yes.
Gabi, can you please say it? I just want to make sure I got it correctly. He was sure.
"Y-Yes, I am ready to be your girlfriend, Miggy," I said softly, but she was right to hear.
"I won't make any promises, just let me show how much you mean to me every day, okay?" He said it softly to me as he stared me in the eyes.
"Thank you. Uhm, Tara? Are you ready? I'll introduce you to mama, "that's all I said because I didn't know if I should answer what he said. But instead of starting the car so that we could leave, he hugged me tightly, so I hugged him back. The sweetness of feeling that everyone agrees with me. I really don't have anything more to ask for because it's complete. I'm happy because this is the replacement for all the hardships I've gone through for a few years.
They are right when they say that you should just strive for the things you want to achieve because the right time and place will come when you will be given all the hard work when it is destined to be yours.
While we were on the flight, even though we were in the middle of traffic, the smiles on my face still wouldn't go away because I couldn't hide the joy I felt. I never thought my birthday would be so beautiful this year.
"Thank you very much, Lord!" I whispered into the air.
"Hey! Just chill! If Mama doesn't eat people, then I know she'll like you, I'm sure. "I calmed her down when the car stopped in front of the house. Because he was looking at our house, I could clearly see that there were other people in it, maybe those close neighbors of ours were there that mama invited, because that's how mama is.
"It's still scary, because I didn't even know your mother before we became. "I didn't even let him know that you were a light, so I am afraid that he will get angry," he explained.
"It's not that, I know you've tried a few times so you just can't really reach here at home, so that's okay. Don't worry, I'm not a teenager anymore. Hello, I'm graduating! I'm sure mama will be even happier with you and will be even happier when she finds out that I passed my thesis defense earlier. So come on! That will make us wonder how long we have, "I comforted her.
I got out of the car first. I didn't wait for him to open it for me. Then I saw him take my belongings in the back seat of his car, and then I felt that he followed me.
"Ma! Here we are! " I shouted. I just heard them all sing me a birthday song. I also saw them approaching mama and Jhay helped carry the big cake with lit small candles. I smiled even more at them because, even though I knew my mom was preparing me, I didn't think it would be like this now. There are letter balloons for birthday greetings and many balloons for decorations. It's nice to see, especially the balloons floating in the air because I still have pictures. Wow! I think it's weird now like my debut, so I laughed but also cried.
My best friend Jhay calls me. "Lika ka na besh, make a wish and blow your candles!" my best friend Lika calls me.
I didn't take any longer, I immediately approached and closed my eyes.
"Lord thank you, I hope this is the beginning of my happy life with mama, and I hope Miggy is the right one for me," I wish. But of course I didn't force the statement. Because they said that no one should know the wish for it to come true.