I
Tomorrow will be Atty. Ninia Salamera’s birthday. She will be twenty-seven years old by then. Atty. Ninia wanted to just celebrate it privately with Wilgreg. She even wanted to just cook at her apartment but Atty. Wilgreg insisted that he will reserve a seat for them at least at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City, which is a five-star and a popular hotel in the city.
The next day, Wilgreg felt so excited. It is four o’clock in the afternoon already. Their reservation at the Manila Peninsula is at five-thirty in the afternoon.
“Babe, are you ready now? I am nearby to your apartment already,“ he texted Atty. Ninia, who replied back with a yes.
They arrived at the Manila Hotel by around five-twenty in the afternoon. The hotel receptionist guided them to their reserved seat.
As they seated there, Wilgreg greeted her. “Happy Birthday Babe.” He smiled.
“Thanks, Babe.” She smiled back and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.
Just as their ordered food arrived, two important people in their lives came.
“Ma.” Atty. Ninia was so surprised upon seeing her mother together with Wilgreg’s Mom, Carolina. She looked at Wilgreg, inquisitively before standing and giving her Mother a kiss and a hug.
“Ma, I was about to go home tomorrow to spend my birthday with you too.” Atty. Ninia said happily.
“Happy Birthday Ninia. Wilgreg, have driven all the way to our home in Batangas this morning, to fetch me.” Mrs. Salamera replied nodding at Wilgreg.
“Well, we need to be here because we need to witness a very important event in your lives,” Carolina added smilingly.
As all their ordered food has been served already, they all started to eat while chatting from time to time. They were already eating their dessert when a man with his violin came to their table and played a happy birthday song.
Like a kid, Atty. Ninia giggled with happiness. She never knew that her happiest moment is coming her way.
After a while and to everybody’s surprise, an old yet still gorgeous man suddenly came and approached their table. Carolina was in shock while Wilgreg was all smiling.
“Dad, have a seat. Thank you for coming.” Atty. Wilgreg said while assisting Damian Lincuja to take a seat beside her mother, Carolina.
II
After the violinist played the happy birthday song, he again started to play one of the songs of Bryan Adams; the song entitled, I FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE.
I finally found someone, who knocks me off my feet;
I finally found the one who makes me feel complete;
It started over coffee, we started out as friends;
It’s funny how from simple things; the best things begin…
This time is different;
La la la la
It’s all because of you!...
At this point of the song, a waiter came near their table with a small plate in his hand. On the plate is a small box. Atty. Wilgreg got the box and nodded with a smile to the waiter.
Holding the box, he kneeled in front of Atty. Ninia, who gasped in surprise. He opened the small box and from there he got a flashing diamond ring.
Atty. Wilgreg cleared his throat first before he asked, “Ninia Salamera, will you be with me for the rest of our lives, as my wife?”
Tears immediately flowed out from Atty. Ninia’s eyes as she nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Babe... Yes, Wilgreg Monaro."
Carolina and Mrs. Salamera hold their hands while looking at this magical moment with their children while Damian Lincuja could not help to wipe the tears that are slowly peeping into his eyes.
Atty. Wilgreg put the ring on Atty. Ninia’s waiting finger and then stood up while holding her both hands. Atty. Ninia stood up also.
Atty. Wilgreg got his Mom’s offered hanky and wiped his fiancée’s tears and then kissed her gently thereafter.
The other customers who are dining inside the hotel were all clapping their hands with excitement. Some were even taking videos of what transpired; even the hotel staff did take videos on Atty. Wilgreg and Atty. Ninia. One of the waitresses even made it to the Facebook live.
Once again, Atty. Wilgreg and Atty. Ninia became a hot topic on all social media platforms for a couple of days.
Just six months after the proposal at the Manila Peninsula, a grand wedding has been held between Atty. Wilgreg and Atty. Ninia.
Damian Lincuja has a surprise wedding gift for them.
“Babe, we have to travel tomorrow to Mexico.” Atty. Wilgreg whispered to his wife. They are now resting in their suite inside the Manila Peninsula as arranged by Carolina Monaro.
Suddenly, Atty. Ninia looked at her husband with wide eyes. “Babe, don’t tell me… Oh my God.” She screamed as she looked at the reservation voucher shown to him by Atty. Wilgreg.