Setting You Free (Let Me See Side Story)

Prologue

When can you truly say that you have found the one? William Tiongson has been asking that question over and over for the past few years in his life. Sa dinami-rami ng babaeng gustong makuha ang atensyon niya, hindi niya pa rin magawang magustuhan ang kahit na sino sa kanila.

William has finally accepted that it would be difficult for him to find the one for him not until he saw her from afar.

She was this snobbish girl from the Business Administration Department. She was always alone and barely had friends. But despite all of that, her beauty stood out in the crowd.

"Huy, sinong tinitingnan mo riyan?" Jiv asked William nang mahuli niya itong may tinititigan sa malayo. Sinubukan niyang sundan ang tingin nito pero masyadong maraming taong naglalakad sa school grounds. He can't help but wonder kung may nakakuha na nga ba ng atensyon ng kaibigan niya. Sa taas kasi ng standards nito, parang mas malaki pa ang tsansang tumanda itong binata.

"Wala," matipid na sagot ni William. Nakatingin pa rin ito sa malayo at halos hindi na kumukurap pa. Para bang takot na takot itong mawala sa paningin ang kanina pa nitong tinitingnan.

"Wala mo mukha mo. Dali na. Sino nga?" pangungulit ni Jiv. William knew that his friend wouldn't stop bothering him and so in the end, napilitan din siyang sabihin ang totoo. He pointed at the girl with long and straight black hair. Halatang plantsado ang uniform nito at maingat sa pagsuot dahil halos walang lukot ang damit. What caught his attention though was the beige Chanel backpack that the girl was using. She looked so simple yet here she was, using a luxury bag in school.

She must be just like him. William couldn't help but conclude.

"Ah, siya ba? That's Aisleen Echavez, only daughter of the owners of MJ Corp. Bakit? Type mo?" Type niya? William couldn't help but laugh at the back of his mind. He just saw this girl now. Paano naman mangyayaring gusto na niya agad ito?

William shook off the thoughts at tiningnan niyang muli ang lugar kung saan niya huling nakita si Aisleen. But to his dismay, wala na ang babae roon. And so he concluded that maybe, he was just fascinated. Hindi na dapat niya bigyan ng ibang kahulugan ang pagtingin niya kanina sa babae. It was something simple and he shouldn't complicate things. Imposible namang magkagusto siya roon. Right?

Nagkamali si William.

Pagkatapos ng araw mula nang nakita niya si Aisleen, hindi na siya natahimik pang muli. He would always hope to see even just a glimpse of her. He would always look for her in the crowd. Kahit hindi niya aminin sa sarili niya, he looked forward to seeing her. It was downright weird especially when they didn't even know each other but he couldn't help feeling that way.

Kaya nang mahuli na naman siya ni Jiv na nakatingin sa malayo, napilitan siyang aminin sa sarili niya ang pilit niyang itinatanggi sa sarili niya.

"Nakatingin ka na naman diyan. Ligawan mo kaya nang makausad ka naman. Walang mangyayari sa 'yo kung titingin ka lang nang titingin. Ikaw rin, baka maunahan ka ng iba." Napahinto si William sa ginagawa niya at napaisip siya bigla. Gugustuhin niya nga bang mapunta sa iba si Aisleen? But he was in no position to do so. He was just someone who's been admiring her from afar. But...

Does he really like her?

"Tigilan mo nga ako, gago," William said in an attempt to shove the unnecessary ideas away. There was no way in hell that he would admit to Jiv that he might have started to like Aisleen. Ni hindi niya nga alam kung paano ba lalapitan ang dalaga. Kakantiyawan lang siya ni Jiv 'pag nalaman nito ang totoo.

"Ako ang tigilan mo, Tiongson. Halatang-halata naman sa mukha mo na gusto mo 'yong tao. Lapitan mo. Get to know her. Your families are practically in the same social circle. That should be easy for you to do." Nang sabihin 'yon ni Jiv, napaisip na naman si William. Doon niya na-realize na ilang beses na nga palang nagkikita ang mga pamilya nila sa iba't ibang business functions and events. Pero bakit hindi niya napapansin si Aisleen noon? Ah... Umaalis nga pala agad siya dahil ayaw niyang makihalubilo sa iba.