Arken POV
"Babe, mali-late ako bukas, ah? Hanggang 7:00 P.M. pa kasi ang duty ko sa coffee shop, eh." Nahihiyang paalam nito kaya lumingon ako dito. I really admire him. He's juggling from work while still excelling in class. Kinakaya niya talaga kahit napakademanding ng course namin. Kaya napapabilib ako dahil nakikita ko talagang nagpupursige siya, lalong-lalo na sa pag-aaral niya. Kapag may konting oras siya ay nakikita ko talaga na nag-babasa siya. Kanina lang sa klase namin, eh ay napahanga ako sa kanya. Absent siya ng ilang araw, ha pero nakapag-catch up agad siya sa klase. Matalino talaga.
"Hmm.. Okay."
"Sa venue nalang tayo magkikita, okay? Sorry hindi kita masusundo bukas." Hinalikan niya ako sa sentido. Hindi talaga ito nahihiya kahit maraming tao sa paligid at nasasanay na rin naman ako sa mga paganito-ganito niya.
"Pssh! Why do I feel like, ikaw ang naghihinayang kasi hindi kita masusundo bukas?" Biro ko kaya natawa ito. Hinila niya ako sa bench malapit sa may dagat. Andito kasi kami ngayon sa labas ng mall at nagpapahangin pagkatapos naming kumain. Nauumay na kami sa kakalakad sa loob, wala naman kaming bibilhin.
"Ginawa mo na talaga akong babae, Babe."
"I didn't say that."
"Wushu! Para-paraan ka, ha? Gusto mo lang sigurong makaisa para mapatunayan ko sa'yo ang pagkalalaki ko, noh?" Umakto itong tinatakpan ang dibdib niya. "'Wag mo akong pilitin Babe dahil may dangal akong iniingatan." Hindi ko napigilan na matawa dahil sa ka-abnoyan nito. Abnormal talaga.
"Ang kapal..."
"Uuyy, tumatawa ang girlfriend ko."
'Girlfriend ko.'
Ayan na naman ang salitang may pag-aangkin niya. Napakasarap pakinggan. Tinitigan ko siya at ganoon rin naman siya sa akin.
"Are you really okay living like this? I mean, just living a simple life compared to what you were being used to?" Hindi ko mapigilang itanong. "No regrets or whatsoever?" Hindi pa kasi talaga namin napag-uusapan ang bagay na'to. He smiled and looked at the stars.
"Living out in my comfort zone made me realized that I can be more than just a Montreal. Sure, I was raised in a silver spoon, sheltered, provided by my wants and needs and I am really grateful for that... Napaka-hypocrite ko naman kung sasabihin kong hindi ko nagustuhan 'yon lahat, diba? But I didn't realized that I felt empty inside while growing up. More than just bringing the name of my family, more than just the fame, looks, money and popularity, more than just the front that I am trying to let everyone see is a kid who really wants an escape and freedom." Matalinhaga nitong pahayag. He looked at my way and tucked my loose hair behind my ear. "Who was I before anything of this happened? I'm just basically no one, branded only by my family's name." He sighed. I just continued listening to him. Napaka-deep niya talaga. Hindi lang halata dahil abnoy ito most of the times.
"Curiosity is what separates the alive from those who sleepwalk through life, Babe. Each one of us must steer our own wheels and create our own stories, and I am living that life right now." He smiled and I can see happiness in his face. "You know what? This is actually one of the bravest and liberating step that I made in my entire life next to admitting and confessing the fact that I am actually madly, dearly and deeply in love with you."
Lubdubbb... Lubdubbb... Lubdubbbb... Lubdubbbb....
Lubdubbb... Lubdubbb... Lubdubbbb... Lubdubbbb....
Lubdubbb... Lubdubbb... Lubdubbbb... Lubdubbbb....
