I shOuLd HaVe KnOwN...

MEC: Baby, what do you plan to do ba on your birthday? We can take your family out to dinner if you want...
JOJO: Naah, yaan mo sila, birthday ko yun eh, I just want to spend it with you

*~*

MEC: Mahal, what do you want to do tomorrow?
JOJO: Uhmm.. if what I plan goes well, basta, Ortigas tayo
MEC: Should I bring a change of clothes ba?
JOJO: Yes, sana.. would you mind?
MEC: No naman po
JOJO: Ok lang ba sayo, papagurin kita kasi i'd make you travel to Ortigas pa?
MEC: It's your birthday eh, you're the boss

*~*

MEC: (text message) Musta na kaya ang birthday boy? Love you, baby!
JOJO: Sensya mahal, am still trying to work things out pa, basta text na lang kita maya ha? Samahan ko lang si Mommy shopping sandali

later

JOJO: (text messages) Mahal, ok lang if we meet up sa Glorietta? And gagabihin ka?
MEC: (without even questioning the change of plans) Ok baby, see you later, kaso naka-mini skirt lang ako maya ha? and sporty kinda top
JOJO: Uhm, Hard Rock kasi sana tayo mamaya eh, pede kaya yun?
MEC: I think I look decent naman, but see for yourself later na lang. At worst, we can buy a top na lang at Glorietta
JOJO: Ok mahal, will see you later? Will be waiting at McDo around 6:30 pm ok?
MEC: (having checked Click the City) Circus Band? Never heard of them... anyway, see you later mahal, love you, mwah mwah!
JOJO: Hmm, you checked click the city no! Ahehe... see you later and ingat ha, mahal?

later

JOJO: (text messages pa din) Mahal, me kasalanan ako sayo, nasabi ko kina Sandy what we planned to do. Gustong sumama, galit ka ba?
MEC: Am ok with your friends coming along mahal, tell them to bring dates. See you later.

*~*

MEC: So, how do I look?
JOJO: Ok naman nga sya, so where do you wanna have dinner?
MEC: Ayoko sa Mangan mahal... Maxim's na lang kaya, i want soup lang
JOJO: Uhm mahal, would you mind ba if we buy a top for you nga? Baka lang po kasi nde pede outfit mo sa HRC?
MEC: (exasperated smile) Yan ang problema sa surprises mahal, you should have told me at least to dress up
JOJO: But I thought I sort of told you, pupunta ka bang ortigas ng ganyan? Ang hirap naman nito, you dress up for your friends, sakin hindi
MEC: (quiet and fearing a quarrel)
JOJO: Mahal, ok lang if i buy beer? expensive sa HRC eh, simulan ko na, para 2 bottles na lang ako dun?
MEC: Eh Mahal, you're only allowed up to 2 bottles diba? (smile here)
JOJO: Oh para 1 bottle na lang ako dun.. hehe
MEC: Go ahead mahal, you want soup?
JOJO: No, am not hungry eh
MEC: How come you're not hungry? Did Mommy cook for you at home?
JOJO: No, I had cake while waiting for you. Birthday ko eh
MEC: You had cake alone?

later

JOJO: Baby, when was the last time we fought?
MEC: Yung fight as in super fight? Kasi diba everyday we fight? Ahehe... uhmm.. sa phone, that matter about Dad asking us to fastforward the wedding?
JOJO: OO nga no.. hmm.. eh when was the last time I made you cry?
MEC: That time din...
JOJO: Umiyak ka ba nun?
MEC: Oo naman! Ako pa!
JOJO: Ok lang bang awayin kita? Away tayo... gusto ko umiyak ka
MEC: Bastush to, porke birthday...

*~*
after dinner

MEC: So, where do I buy a top?
JOJO: Landmark na lang tayo... what do you think will go well with your denim skirt ba?
MEC: A lot ahehehe... and baby, i'd just like to tell you po, unless I know am really going to party po, I don't dress up din when I hang out sa Ortigas?
JOJO: Baby... biro lang naman po yun eh... haay, feeling ko, bumabalik asthma ko
MEC: (alarmed) Why Baby, having trouble breathing ba? You feel sick?
JOJO: No naman, no.

*~*

JOJO: pakakasal ba talaga tayo?
MEC: Opo naman, bakit, ayaw mo na?
JOJO: para kasing me kulang pa eh
MEC: Kulang? ano namang kulang? Ay bebe... tingnan natin mga fones! Ayoko ng 6600 pa din kaso sya lang me voice record na pedeng message alert
JOJO: Lika, pasok tayong Nokia...

*~*

JOJO: Lakas ng kabog ko ah
MEC: Mahal, seryoso, do you feel your asthma is recurring ba?
JOJO: Nde naman, biro lang... lakas lang ng kabog ko... Bog, Bog, Bog
MEC: Hmmpf, bakit ka naman kabog? Nerbyos ka ba?
JOJO: Ewan ko

*~*

JOJO: Gago to sina Sandy, nag-iinarte
MEC: Who else is coming ba?
JOJO: Sandy and Ed lang... sensya talaga Baby ha? Nde pa raw kasi nakakapasok si Ed sa HRC eh
MEC: Oks lang po... teka Baby, merong sign ng THE COMPANY... check ko lang gigs nila!
(after realizing that the band was playing that night too) baby... baby... bad ka.. bad ka.. away moko!
JOJO: What?!
MEC: Baby, its your birthday... why am I the one getting the nice surprise?
JOJO: Baby, you know naman na happiest ako when you're happy eh
MEC: Siguro nerbyos ka when i checked out who's playing at HRC no!
JOJO: Actually... ahehe
MEC: Hay Baby, happy ako

*~*
watching THE COMPANY play their first songs

MEC: Ang galing Baby, alam mo agad what they're playing
JOJO: Baby naman, it's so easy sa tune pa lang
MEC: Grabe mahal, I can't think of anything better... you with me, birthday mo, and The Company playing... haay... i think mas magiging perfect na lang sya if Pyro was here
JOJO: Wag ka alala Baby, the best is yet to come
MEC: (grinning) OO naman mahal, the best is yet to come...

*~*

MEC: Mahal, banana split oh! Look at the whipped cream!
JOJO: Mahal umiinom ako eh
MEC: Fine, akin lang to... baby ang sarap o
JOJO: Eh diba I told you nga, the best is yet to come
MEC: Baby, have I told you na ba I always meant for that phrase to be inscribed sa wedding ring ko?
JOJO: OO nga, diba TBIYTC
MEC: Yupf, TBIYTC JOJO sa ring ko, tas TBIYTC MEC sa ring mo
JOJO: Yup
MEC: Eh mahal, kelan na yung deadline natin bumili talaga ng wedding rings?
JOJO: (breathing deeply and looking serious) Mahal, pede bang we don't talk about that muna tonight? tonight lang... lots of things lang on my mind
MEC: What things? Work?
JOJO: Yeah, work, you know me
MEC: You can think of work on your birthday but we can't discuss our wedding?
JOJO: No, baby... please lang po, tonight lang? Other things besides work on my mind.. please?
MEC: OK (hurt and misty-eyed, she concentrates on the ice cream and the band)
JOJO: Baby, order pa ako ng another beer ha?

*~*

JOJO: Good thing you brought your cam
MEC: Wanna see our Sagada pics? It's in the cam
JOJO: Ok, inggit ako sayo mahal... I've always wanted to see the rice terraces...
MEC: Eh di, you want, let's not go to Donsol na lang next year? Sagada na lang tayo.. sama natin si Luis
JOJO: Baby, no! Ayokong mag-alaga kay Luis.. and I want to experience whale sharks-watching din
MEC: Baby, enjoy nya yung cave pramis..
JOJO: He's a child
MEC: Yung mountaineer that we met... sinama anak nila na 8 years old
JOJO: Anak ko ba si Luis?
MEC: Hmmpf...
JOJO: Turo mo na lang kay Ed pano mag-video
MEC: EH mahal, nothing to it, he just clicks and points pag video mode
JOJO: Turo mo pa din

*~*

JOJO: Turo mo na ke Ed
MEC: Mamaya na... ngayon na ba tayo magsasayaw? Baby... mahal kita, but those are obviously GROs dancing with those foreigners... sasabay ba tayo talaga sa kanila?
JOJO: Basta turuan mo na si Ed
MEC: Nothing to it nga mahal (preoccupied on how to slip a birthday greeeting to be read by THE COMPANY without Jojo seeing it)
JOJO: baby, order ako ng last beer ha?
MEC: Ok po (hmm... nakakaapat na sya ha!)

*~*

RUBEN: Are there anybody here celebrating a birthday, anniversary...
MEC: (pointing to her Baby with pride) My baby... birthday nya
SWEET: I Know Jojo Arevalo is celebrating his birthday
RUBEN: Yes, where is Jojo?
MEC: (realizing that Jojo might have told Ruben about his birthday when they met after their PLDT gig) baby, ayan tawag ka nila

THE COMPANY SINGS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

MEC: Ay shucks, sobrang happy ko, nde ko na-video
ED: Pano ba mag-video
MEC: Ganito lang o... sayang, they should sing again for him
JOJO: (onstage) Thank you very much, of course, my birthday won't be special without my Baby...
RUBEN: Oh, so you're special someone is here
SWEET: What's her name?
JOJO: Uhm, Mec... Baby, will you please come here
SWEET/RUBEN: Yes Mec... come here onstage with Jojo
MEC: Ed, i-video mo kami dali!
(onstage... )
JOJO: I hope everyone will bear with me... Birthday ko naman eh... I just really want to have my Baby here with me.. Baby, you know how thankful i've been that I have you... and like what I'm telling you earlier, it feels like there's still something missing between us... there's something missing in our life... and I think this is the perfect time to tell you
(crowd cheering)
MEC TO RUBEN: (clueless pa din)O diba, I think I should be the one making a speech for him... it's his birthday!
JOJO: (suddenly kneeling on one knee) Baby, will you marry me? (whipping out a ring)
SWEET: Ay ang ganda!
(crowd cheering)
MEC: (shocked, trying to pull Jojo back to his feet, crying)
JOJO: So Baby, will you marry me?
MEC: Of course!!!
hugging
THE COMPANY: (singing) Darling did you know that something happened to us... right before the future...
SWEET: So, Mec, Mec, how are you?
MEC: I'm very, very, very happy
RUBEN: Isuot mo yung ring, Jo...
(crowd cheering)
JOJO: Baby, you really, really changed my life...
(crowd cheering)
ENGAGED COUPLE: Thank you, thank you...

*~*

MEC: (still crying and holding onto Jojo) Bad ka mahal, I had no idea!!!


And I really had no idea. I thought he was just making the most of a birthday, and The Company's kindness to fans.

Turned out, when Ruben texted him their gigs, he already told him that he intended to propose to me during one of their gigs. Ruben was all for it (aren't they the bestest?). It also turned out, that after combing several countries (when he's sent abroad for trainings), e-bay, other jewelry shops, he'd still end up finding THE ENGAGEMENT RING in Ongpin...

Turned out, he also only bought the ring yesterday... and when he found it, he realized he could finally pull the proposal off...

And that it's mainly why he's broke the past few days...

He then immediately texted his colleagues for back-up... which is why Sandy and Ed were there...

He also went early to HRC to ask for permission to pull this stunt... and texted Ruben that it's happening tonight. (isn't HRC the bestest?)

He then texted his parents.

And he spent the whole time waiting for me at McCafe a nervous wreck.

And he said he'd bop me on the head if I said NO.

And isn't my fiance the bestest?

And yet, he whispered to me several times after... that THE BEST IS YET TO COME

*~*

HOW PERFECT THINGS WERE/ARE
I've always loved THE COMPANY... our list of wedding songs include a lot of their songs... we've watched their major concerts and gigs, on Valentines and anniversaries...

Our theme song is You changed my life in a moment...

And ever since I was in High School, I vowed that I want a ruby ring for an engagement ring. I find diamonds cold and ostentatious. I preferred rubies because of the fire and the passion the stone inherently possess.

Jojo also didn't like diamonds much... and was considering rubies or jades... anyway, having known each other this long, we've talked about preferences like that...

*~*

My Baby said it hurt him when i'd casually mention that I get stumped when asked when our engagement date is...

But I was really happy settling with his Grand Gesture... I mean, of course, most girls would dream of being swept off their feet and being taken by surprise... most girls would appreciate romantic guys... but I knew that my Baby was already romantic and loving and good, he was already both the icing and the cake..

I guess tho... the stunt he pulled off (he was amazed too that he completely floored me with surprise... usually, I get things pretty easily... being eternally paranoid and suspicious) would be another serving of dessert...

And yet, he kept on telling me... small steps would take us to great happiness in our togetherness... and that THE BEST IS YET TO COME...

*~*

We kitikitexted everybody we could think of... My sister was sooo happy, they waited for me to get home. Upon regalling her with the gory details... she casually remarks... "To think, matalino ka no... tas nde ka nakaramdam"

Wish I can share the haphazard video taken of us by his colleague... :)

*~*

I couldn't sleep last night... and when I finally did... I dreamt again and again of that moment when we were onstage... and time stood still...