Chapter 14
Nick gripped the object he was carrying. He did not know if he will give it to Say or not. It was past midnight on Sunday and like the rest of their sneaky evening meetings at the mansion previously, they chose to meet on the rooftop outside of Say's room.
“Congratulations! I saw your name on the board for the upcoming graduation - Summa Cum Laude! ”
Nick almost dropped what he was holding due to Say's sudden appearance. She was hugging him on the back. He just laughs, "Thanks...three weeks more to go, and it's my graduation."
“I didn't know I had a genius guy for a boyfriend. I’m proud of what you have achieved Nick. Have you told Nay Sabina already?"
“You now call my mom ‘Nay Sabina’?” He teased. Normally, only a wife calls their husband’s mother as Nay or Nanay.
“Well... I kinda like the sound of it. So, did you tell Nay Sabina?”
"Not yet. I want to surprise her during the ceremony. What I told her instead is another good news - that I have a job in the bank waiting for me in town already…”
Say glanced up at the sky, her gaze drifting over the tall pine trees, the deserted pool below them, and the zen garden of the mansion before looking at him again with such a gleeful face. Say was a picture of a happy girl.
“AHHH...this is such a perfect night...on top of a roof, hearing you getting your goals and being happy with your achievement and just me being me! The sky is full of stars it’s too good to be true!”
“Say, if you can wish something, what will it be?” He asked.
“Wish for what?”
“For everything that will happen in your life. Anything ... goals or whatever."
“I can’t think of anything. I’m okay with everything now. I have my cheer squad. I have my dad. I have you. I’m happy. How about you, do you have any wish or wishes?” Her dreamy hazel eyes innocently looked at him.
Nick was giddily aware of her warm fingers firmly clasping his and his heart is overlapping with joy. If only, this moment can stay forever. He thought.
“That you’d stay happy. That you’d stay with me for a long, long time…. “ He took the object out of his pocket and held Say's hand.“I’m giving you this in advance...”
Say looked at the object Nick was referring to.“A ring?” Her heart somersaulted with delight.
The ring was made of fine wood in its outer, but there’s a small gold in the middle. Beneath the ring is letters “S. N”. She heard from Nay Sabina that Nick was working in too many part-time jobs out of town including being a jeweler-maker.
“It’s just an ordinary ring. You can’t even pawn it. But I made it for you...I specially carved it for you, the tiny gold in the ring was from a melted single earring my mom used to own before.”
When he didn’t hear her answer, Nick puts the ring in Say’s third finger then whispered. “Advance Happy 18th birthday, my queen...”
Say hugged him fast. “Thank you, Nick! And don’t ever think this is just an ordinary ring. Anything from you is more than enough for me. Thank you for making this…” Her arms slid up in his neck and gives him a quick kiss. “Wait, how do you know my birthday is upcoming?”
Nick was still reeling with her kiss when he answered while smiling.
"Nay Sabina heard it from someone working for your dad. She told me about it last week. I know the debut they are preparing next week for you is big. I just want to celebrate with you first. ”
“You should be in my debut, Nick...” She quipped.
He averted his eyes from her.
“Why can’t you answer? And why can’t you look in my eyes now?” He knew Say was curious now with his deliberate evasiveness to answer her invitation.
Nick didn't know how to tell Say what he and her father, the Governor, had talked about earlier over a game of Chess - why he can't go to his girlfriend's debut party.
****
“It’s your move now Nicholas...”
"Sir, are you sure that's your next move? You chose to move your King over your other chess pieces. Your queen’s covered but not your King. You will lose in my next move.”
"Ever since you were in high school when you first played chess with me, I haven't even won over you, Nick. Do you remember how I joked that you could at least let an old man win sometimes? ”
“What are you trying to say, sir?”
“I would rather make my King lose its life than its Queen, whether it’s in chess or in reality. Nick, I know you’re a good man. But I wanted someone for my daughter. I may still be in a good position now and can afford to give her everything she wants. But I do not know how long that will be. I just want to make a smart decision now ... ”
***
“Nick?”
Say's hold on his hand woke Nick up. She was still looking at him intently, wanting to get a positive answer from her invitation.
Nick looked at her innocent, lovely Samantha Yvette De Plaza - the Governor's Daughter who chose him as her boyfriend over anyone her father has chosen for her.
She was too beautiful, and Nick knows come her eighteenth birthday, the lady will be in full bloom. His sigh was long when he thought of it. Why would he follow the governor? He is not the one inviting me but Say. And he doesn’t want to make her think he is choosing somebody else’s wishes before her.
“Yes, I’ll be there. I will watch you from afar. I know you will be the most beautiful girl of all on your special night. ” He gave her a frugal smile, an assurance that he would not disappoint her on request.
“No, not only as a visitor, Nick. I want you to be there. I want you to be with me, dance with me, laugh with me, celebrate with me - as my partner, my last dance... I want you to be the special man on my most special night... Can you do that for me?”
“Are you sure?”
“Very...Please promise you’d be there....”
“I promise.” He smiled and kissed her on the forehead. Say snapped her head back and teased him.
“You’re kissing me like I’m your granny.”
“How do you want me to kiss you then, my queen?” He laughed back at her.
“Like that night in the shed.” She said with an irrepressible smile. Her eyes were twinkling with some naughtiness.
Nick remembers that night they became a couple on a rainy night over a dilapidated waiting shed. He remembered as well how he kissed her in a deep, insolent sensuality - scattering both their wits. He laughed and puts his forefinger in her lips, pushing her a little from her embrace.
“My queen, you are still seventeen and --”
“Eighteen next week.” She interrupted him, still smiling next to him and pouting her lovely lips. Oh if only she knew how he wanted to pull her now and kiss her senseless.
“I think I need to bring you back in your room now if I still have my restraint not to do what you’re suggesting.”
“Well, If you ever changed your mind…” She was laughing still.
He stood up and pull her back too from sitting on the roof then he helped her walk back to her open window pane.
As Say went inside and was giving him her last goodbye, Nick was looking at her beautiful girlfriend from outside her room.
“Goodnight, Nick.”
She was about to close the windowpane when Nick held one of her hands - pulling her to him and whispered.
“I changed my mind.”
Before Say knew it, she watched Nick’s firm, sensual lips slowly descend to hers. His mouth covered hers - giving her the kind of kiss they had last time in the shed - long and deep. His mouth opened hungrily, his tongue plunging into her mouth and stroking against hers, and Say doesn’t have a choice but to kiss him back as hungry as he is. Nick’s arms tightened around her but with the wall and the windowpane separating them, Say lifted her arms to his neck and pulled her to enter her room. That was when Nick lifted his head and stopped kissing her.
“Let’s keep it PG 13, my queen. I’d probably be shot to death by your father if I enter your room now. Please don’t give me that naughty suggestion again next time.” He was smiling but was breathing heavily still when he let her go.
“Yes, sir. I promise not to be naughty again.” She happily replied before sending her real goodbye.