14.

As I walked back to my desk from our superior's office, Kiraz looked up at me with a curious expression. "Wow, one week leave ka?" she asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

I nodded, smiling. "Pa-Japan kami," I said, excitement evident in my voice.

Kiraz's eyes grew even wider, and she let out a squinted shout. "Sana all!" she exclaimed, playfully hitting my arm.

I chuckled, feeling happy to share the news with my friend. "It's our first wedding anniversary, eh," I said, grinning.

Kiraz's face broke into a wide smile. "Watering season nanaman," she said, her voice dripping with amusement.

I furrowed my brow in confusion, but then my eyes widened as I realized what she meant. I jokingly hit her, feeling a bit shy. "Gagi ka," I said, laughing.

Kiraz just chuckled, unfazed. "Kasal naman na kayo, kaya no issue na," she said, winking.

I laughed, feeling relieved. "Let's go shopping," Kiraz suddenly exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I raised an eyebrow, hesitant. "We have work," I reminded her.

But Kiraz just grinned mischievously. "Wala naman masyadong paper works ngayon, ako bahala," she said, standing up.

Before I could protest, she was already heading out the door. "Fix your things, aalis tayo pagbalik ko," she called out over her shoulder.

I was about to stop her, but she was already gone, leaving me with no choice but to follow her on this impromptu shopping adventure.

As we strolled through the mall, Kiraz turned to me with a curious expression. "May naisip ka na bang regalo kay Jarred?" she asked, referring to my upcoming anniversary with Jarred.

I thought for a moment before responding. "He's been eyeing those leather shoes," I said, recalling Jarred's recent conversations about wanting to buy a new pair.

Kiraz's eyes lit up with excitement. "Let's go, bilhin natin!" she exclaimed, already heading in the direction of the boutique.

As we walked, our eyes scanned the storefronts until we stumbled upon a beautiful necklace that caught my attention. It was a simple silver chain with a stunning silver cherry blossom pendant that shone brightly. I was tempted to buy it, but I prioritized Jarred's shoes.

"Bibilhin mo?" Kiraz asked, noticing my interest in the necklace.

I hesitated, torn between buying the necklace and sticking to my original plan. "Next time," I said finally. " 'Yung regalo ko muna," I added, referring to Jarred's shoes.

Kiraz nodded understandingly, and we continued our search for the perfect shoes. After a few minutes of browsing, I finally spotted the exact pair Jarred had been wanting - the black leisure flows espadrilles in split leather.

I excitedly grabbed the shoes and examined them more closely. They were perfect - the exact style and color Jarred had been eyeing. I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when I surprised him with them.

Kiraz noticed my excitement and smiled. "Bagay talaga sa kanya 'yan," she said, nodding in agreement.

I nodded, already imagining Jarred's reaction. "I am so exited to see his reaction." I said, barely containing my excitement.

Kiraz chuckled. "Maging subrang saya 'yun na sa subrang saya, hindi ka maka lakad," she said, teasing me playfully.

I grinned, feeling happy and content. I knew that Jarred would love the shoes, and I couldn't wait to give them to him.

After purchasing the shoes, Kiraz and I decided to stroll to some clothing stores to buy some new clothes. We went from one store to another.

When we felt tired and hungry, we decided to eat at a fast-food chain. I ordered a spaghetti, fries, and Coke. Meanwhile, Kiraz ordered a lot: 1-piece chicken with rice, spaghetti, a burger, large fries, and a sundae.

"Kala ko diet?" I asked her.

"Nagutom ako sa shopping," she said.

I grinned at her, feeling suspicious. "Okay.." I said, still feeling suspicious.

"Sayang, busy si Ashley," Kiraz said. We had called her earlier, but she declined, saying she had a lot of work. She's been working extra hard because her colleagues think that she only got the position she had because her family owned the company.

"Let's visit her before I leave for Japan," I said, and Kiraz nodded in agreement.

"Gago, sila Clint at Jarred oh," Kiraz said, pointing behind me. I looked back and saw the two men who had just entered the fast food chain. They didn't notice us because we were seated in the corner.

"Nag-shopping din sila?" Kiraz asked when she noticed the shopping bag the two guys were holding.

I squinted at them when I saw that the shopping bag was from a boutique that only sold lingerie.

"Hindi siguro sila nag-shopping. Pang fashion lang siguro 'yung hawak nilang shopping bag," I said, trying to play it cool with Kiraz.

But she wasn't having it. She immediately hit me on the arm, as if to say, "Pilosopo!"

"Gago, bumili ng bra at panty," Kiraz said, pointing to the shopping bag. They looked tired and embarrassed at the same time. Some girls were staring at them and their shopping bags, but they still hadn't noticed us.

I grabbed my phone and texted Jarred. "Sa'n ka?" I asked.

"Tapos nag-sinungaling sa 'yo no," Kiraz teased me.

"Hindi siya tulad ni Clint," I shot back.

"Pero magkaibigan sila," Kiraz teased, smiling.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Anong konek?" I asked.

"Birds of a feather, we should stick together," she suddenly sang.

I rolled my eyes at her. My attention immediately went back to my phone when I felt it beep.

"Fastfood chain, I'm with Clint," Jarred replied.

I showed my phone to Kiraz, proving that my husband hadn't lied to me.

"Edi ikaw na," Kiraz said, accepting defeat.

I typed out a response on my phone. "Yeah, I know. You seemed to enjoy buying lingerie."

We watched as Jarred checked his phone, his jaw dropping in surprise. He immediately showed it to Clint, and they looked around, trying to find us.

When they spotted us, Kiraz and I waved at them, grinning mischievously.

As Jarred and Clint approached us, their awkward waves were met with crossed arms and raised eyebrows from Kiraz and me. The air was thick with amusement, and I couldn't resist taking a jab.

"Masaya bang bumili ng bra at panty?" I asked, trying to stifle a grin.

Jarred's face turned bright red as he scrunched the back of his head, while Clint looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. Kiraz jumped into the fray, her sarcastic voice dripping with amusement.

"Expert na expert, Clint no? Ikaw kasi bumilibili sa mga naka-fubu mo."

The two guys looked like they'd been caught red-handed, and Jarred's attempt to salvage the situation only made things worse.

"These are for you," he said, offering the paper bags like a peace offering.

Clint chimed in, "Yeah, we bought it for our lady,"

But Kiraz and I just exchanged a knowing glance and nodded. We'd had our fun, and it was time to make a quick exit.

Since we'd already eaten, we stood up, and Jarred asked, "Sa'n kayo?" But I just smiled sweetly and said, "Strangers, my friend already has a boyfriend, and I am married, so back off. And we also have a lot of things to do, so please excuse us."

With that, Kiraz and I grabbed our shopping bags and made a hasty retreat, leaving Jarred and Clint looking bewildered. As soon as we stepped out of the fast-food chain, we burst into laughter.

We laughed some more, reliving the absurdity of the moment. It was clear that this was a memory we'd cherish for a long time.

As we walked away from the fast-food chain, Kiraz and I couldn't help but burst into laughter. The image of Jarred and Clint, standing there with their paper bags of lingerie, was just too ridiculous.

"Sayang wala si Ash," I said, still chuckling. "She would have loved this."

"Kaya nga, dapat talaga next gala natin kasama na siya," Kiraz replied, grinning mischievously. "Namiss ko 'yung gaga na 'yun."

We continued walking, our laughter slowly dying down as we made our way through the crowded mall. But every so often, one of us would glance at the other and we'd both crack up again.

"I can just imagine Ash's face if she saw Jarred and Clint with those paper bags," Kiraz said, giggling.

"Priceless," I agreed, shaking my head. "Those two are just too funny."

As we turned a corner, we stumbled upon a small coffee shop. Kiraz raised an eyebrow at me, and I nodded. We decided to take a break and grab a cup of coffee.

As we sipped our coffee, we couldn't help but relive the hilarious moment we had just witnessed. Jarred and Clint, the two guys who had been caught red-handed with their lingerie purchases, were just too entertaining.

"I'm so glad we ran into them," Kiraz said, smiling.

"Me too," I agreed. "Parang mga tanga, nagmukhang fresh na kamatis sa subrang pula.l

We clinked our cups together in a toast, still grinning from ear to ear. It was moments like these that reminded me why I loved spending time with Kiraz. We always had each other's backs, and we never failed to make each other laugh.

Sana nandito si Ashley.

As I entered our house, I was greeted by the sight of Jarred lounging comfortably on our sofa. He looked up at me with a mischievous grin and said, "Ba't may nakapasok na stranger dito?"

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly and asked, "Where's my new undergarments?"

Jarred pointed upstairs, saying "Kwarto," and I nodded. He then got up and walked over to me, wrapping his arms around me in a warm hug. I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling a sense of comfort and security.

"Pagod na siya," he said, and I knew he was right. I was exhausted from our shopping trip.

As we hugged, Jarred asked gently, "Ano binili niyo?" I replied, "Some new things I could use in our Japan trip." He asked if I was excited, and I nodded enthusiastically.

Jarred suggested we head upstairs, and he took the shopping bags from my hands. As we climbed the stairs, I reminded him not to open the bags, saying "Don't open it, or you'll spoil the surprise." He smiled and put the bags away in our closet.

After a quick shower and my night routine, I slipped into bed and snuggled up close to Jarred. He asked, "Our flight is next Wednesday. Do you have more plans before we leave?" I nodded, telling him that I planned to visit Ashley.

Jarred offered to come with me, telling me that he wanted to make sure Luke wasn't there. I filled him in on what had happened the last time I visited Ashley's condo, and he listened intently.

He told me to let him know if Luke made me uncomfortable again, and I promised to do so. Jarred then wrapped his arms around me, holding me close as we drifted off to sleep. His fingers played with my hair, and I felt my heart fill with love and gratitude for this wonderful man beside me.

As we lay there in the darkness, Jarred's voice was filled with emotion as he said, "1 year married na tayo next week." He paused, his words dripping with sincerity. "But here I am, still can't believe that you are my wife."

I chuckled softly, my heart swelling with love for this man. "The young Clyde must be so happy right now,"

Jarred's voice took on a whispery quality, his words sending shivers down my spine. "I can't wait to spend more years with you."

My heart skipped a beat as I replied, "Me too." I leaned over, my lips meeting his in a tender kiss. The world around us melted away, leaving only the two of us, lost in the depths of our love.

As the night wore on, we spent our hours pouring out our love for each other, our hearts beating as one. It was a night that would be etched in my memory forever, a reminder of the love that Jarred and I shared.

I held my phone to my ear, listening to Ashley's apologetic tone. "Wala ako sa condo ngayon," she said, and I could sense her stress levels rising.

"Sa'n ka?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Office," she replied. "Tinambakan ako ng superior namin." Her voice sounded frazzled, and I could imagine her rubbing her temples in frustration.

I pouted, even though she couldn't see me. "I want to see you pa naman before ako magpa Japan," I said, trying to convey my disappointment.

Ashley's sigh was audible. "I'm sorry, super busy ako ngayon eh." She sounded genuinely apologetic, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her.

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "It's alright, I understand," I said, trying to reassure her.

Ashley's voice was rushed as she said, "Alright, ingat kayo and enjoy. Baba ko na baka makita pako ng superior namin." I chuckled at her hasty goodbye, knowing she was eager to get back to work.

"Okay, bye," I said, before she hung up her phone. I smiled wistfully, feeling a little disappointed that I wouldn't get to see Ashley before my trip to Japan.

I spent the remaining time packing my clothes for our upcoming trip to Japan, enjoying the quiet Sunday morning after our church service. Jarred, on the other hand, was engrossed in a football game, cheering loudly from our bedroom sofa.

"Yown!" he shouted, pumping his fist in the air as his favorite team scored a goal. I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm.

After packing a few more things, I walked over to him and sat down on his lap. He immediately wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close as he kissed my shoulder.

"Busy mo ah," I teased, laughing at his intensity.

Jarred grinned at me, his eyes sparkling with amusement, before turning his attention back to the game. "Minsan lang naman ako nanonood," he said, pouting playfully.

I couldn't resist his adorable expression, and I found myself pinching his cheek. He looked up at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

We spent the rest of the afternoon watching the game together, enjoying each other's company as we relaxed on our cozy Sunday afternoon.