The gates of the Ramirez residence loomed ahead as our car slowly rolled up the long driveway. My heart raced in time with the gravel crunching beneath the tires, the weight of my decision is settling like a stone in my chest.
I had thought this through a thousand times, weighed every risk, and now, as we approached the mansion, I knew there was no turning back.
This is the only way. I can't let my family's legacy crumble. I can't stand by and watch everything my father built be reduced to ashes. If that happens, I don't know where we'll end up.
"Nandito na po tayo, Ma'am." Manong Denis said, breaking through my thoughts.
He brought the car to a halt in front of a sprawling garden, a vibrant sea of blossoms swaying gently in the late afternoon breeze. It had been years since I last visited this place, yet it felt like nothing had changed. Except for the towering tree now standing proudly at the garden's center, its branches stretching wide as if to embrace the sky.
"Ms. Atienza, Mr. Ramirez is already waiting for you," came Mr. Fernandez's voice as he approached my side of the car. His face, always unreadable, betrayed nothing.
I stepped out, my heels sinking slightly into the soft earth, and followed him without a word.
The garden felt alive, every petal and leaf whispering secrets in the gentle wind. It was beautiful, but the deeper we walked, the more the vibrant colors gave way to shadows as the air grows thick with an almost tangible silence.
And then after a fleeting moment, he stopped without a word, lifted both hands, and pointed down the dimly lit path ahead. "He's just ahead," he said with his voice low. And just like that, he slipped into the shadows—disappearing as if he'd never been there, leaving me in the silence.
I glanced around, my nerves stretching tighter with each passing second. The sky was growing darker, the last rays of sunlight dipping below the horizon. I hate darkness, and if I stay alone here much longer, I might not be able to handle it.
Then, as if sensing my unease, the tree in front of me burst to life. Tiny fairy lights wound around its branches as it cast a warm, golden glow. It was as if the entire tree had been set ablaze by fireflies.
As I watch each light dance gently in the growing darkness. A smooth and familiar voice, cut through the silence.
"You came."
I turned sharply while my heart leaps into my throat.
It's Isaac.
He stepped out of the shadows, his tall frame wrapped in a sharp black coat, his dark hair was neatly parted to the side, exposing his thick brows and intense eyes.
He stopped — just a breath away — he slowly slipped his hand into his pocket. Our eyes locked, unmoving, and for one suspended moment, the world fell away. Time held its breath. It was just him, just me, and everything unsaid between us crackling in the silence.
Then he leaned in, so close his lips nearly grazed my ear. His breath was warm against my skin — soft, deliberate — sending a wave of shivers down my spine — as if every nerve in my body had suddenly come alive.
"Do something. They're watching."
I blinked, my mind racing. My gaze swept across the dark edges of the garden—then I saw them. My mom, my brother, and his parents, peeking from behind a nearby hut. Half in shadow but clearly present.
In a moment of desperation, I threw my arms around him. Loud and relentless, my heart pounded violently against my chest as I forced a trembling smile, hoping it would be enough to convince them.
This isn't what I expected. I thought we'd just tell them about our engagement, get their blessings, and go home. But now, here we are, under the glow of a thousand tiny lights, making this moment felt like something much bigger.
For a fleeting second Isaac held me tighter, and in that closeness I felt his heartbeat, fast and uneven, against my own.
"I'm glad you came," he speaks with delight, but his rushing heartbeat tells the truth.
I stayed in his arms a moment longer, my heart pounding wildly he finally pulled away. He let out a quiet sigh and adjusted his stance, as if preparing for something. He locked his eyes onto mine with a raw intensity as he swallowed a word. For a fleeting second, I thought it was over. That this was the end of everything.
But then...
My breath hitched, caught somewhere deep in my chest. Time seemed to slow, every heartbeat pounding louder, every second stretched taut with anticipation. And before I could even say a word...he dropped to one knee—his gaze never leaves mine—turning this moment into something unforgettable.
My mind went completely blank. I stumbled back a step, breath caught while my heart stutters violently in my chest.
"Serena Isabel Atienza..." His voice was steady but the flickering uncertainty in his eyes betrayed him.
He reached into his pocket once more, and slowly opened a small black box, revealing a diamond ring sitting quietly as it glints in the fairy lights...like a promise waiting to be spoken.
"Will you marry me?"