First Love

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

"Thank you," I said.

I fixed my facemask and face shield before I started to walk through the canteen. I am here in the school, to get my card and to take my graduation picture. Mizuki is not done yet so I just sat at one of the tables here waiting for her.

Andrei: sabi ng daddy mo sunduin daw kita

Me: no need, i just commute na lang

Andrei: sunduin na kita, delikado mag commute ngayon

Me: no need na nga

Andrei: susunduin nga kita, kulit. sumbong kita sa daddy mo

I rolled my eyes and replied 'okay'. Ngayon hindi lang si Mom ang ka-close niya pati si Dad na! Hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari 'yon dahil sobrang dalang lang naman nila Dad sa bahay pero pakiramdam ko nagkakausap sila sa messenger e, parang narinig kong sinabi ni Mommy iyon. Tumingin ako kay Mizuki na tumatakbo papalapit sa akin.

"Let's go to Starbucks! My treat!" salubong niya sa akin.

Kung hindi lang sana ako susunduin ni Andrei papayag ako lalo na mukhang magkaaaway sila ngayon ni Mia kaya hindi sila magkasama kumuha ng card. I sighed.

"Susunduin ako ni Andrei e,"

"Oh my! Really? Then, sama na natin siya!" she suggested. Napatango ako nang maalala na magkaibigan nga pala sila dati. Naalala ko dati na tinanong ko si Andrei kung nagkakausap pa ba sila ni Mizuki after that pero hindi na daw so I think this is a great chance to catch up.

I received a text from Andrei na nandito na daw siya kaya lumabas na kami ni Mizuki.

"Oh shit, Andrei!" Mizuki shouted once we got inside the car. Andrei is in the driver seat, I am in the shotgun seat while Mizuki is in the passenger seat. I laughed at her energy.

Parang hindi sila magkaaway ng jowa niya, ah.

Andrei laughed. "Long time no see!"

"Oo nga e!" she giggled. "Sino nga ba naman ang magaakala..." she eyed us with her annoying stares. I sighed. Mukhang puro inis lang ang aabutin ko dito ah.

"Well..." mayabang na sabi ni Andrei.

"Oh, shut up." I said. They laughed and gave each other a high five. I will probably experience how to have two kids for today. We stopped at Starbucks to order some coffee. I was blushing profusely because Mizuki told Andrei how I got jealous of Deahn! and they're just laughing at me!

Ilang oras ang nakalipas ay dumating na rin ang sundo ni Mizuki kaya umuwi na rin siya. I waved at her as she got in the car. I felt Andrei's stare while we're sitting, facing each other.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Can't I?"

"Tss..."

He laughed.

I fell asleep once we got home. Wala pa sila Mom at Dad pagdating ko at wala pa din sila paggising ko noong gabi na 'yon. May message pala sa akin si Mommy na hindi sila makakauwi ngayon. I replied 'okay' after two hours she sent it.

I glanced at my side table when I saw Andrei's love letter. I always felt myself smiling at the thought of it. I will always treasure that. I was planning on answering him on the day of my graduation. I don't know how I'm gonna answer him but I'll think of it, I still have five days pa naman.

It's been three months since he courted me and I felt really assured of him, he's really a good guy. He proved that to me so many times.

I opened his letter.

Should I write a letter too?

I bit my lip. I should write a letter and I will answer him using that. Also, I will give it to him on the day of my graduation like he did before!

I took out my paper and a beautiful pen and started writing my letter in the middle of the night. I sealed it with wax stamper after I put it in the envelope to make it look like a vintage. Did I make it right?

I fell asleep again while thinking how Andrei would react to that.

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising. Since the semester has ended, I have nothing to do. I went for a run and did my workout routine after that. I feel so energized whenever I do my routines!

Actually today is the graduation day which will be held live on the school's Facebook Page. But since it's not required to be there naman dahil 'yung graduation picture na lang ang ipapakita, I just bake cookies instead since I'm done to all the things I need to do dahil naalala ko na ngayon naman ang distribution ng grades nila Andrei so I want to surprise him.

At dahil ngayon ko rin ibibigay 'yung letter na ginawa ko para sa kaniya.

I'm quite nervous but...

I know it's worth it.

Once I took it out of the oven it looked good naman so I packed it in a box and put a ribbon on it before I texted him if he had time to meet in the gazebo.

Andrei: yeah, tingnan natin dalawa kung makakapasok pa ba ako sa third year hahaha

Me: I know you will!

Andrei: hays, patay na patay ka na naman sakin

Me: eww

Andrei: ay grabe siya

I laughed at his text. I arranged the tools I used before I fixed myself. I wore a green crop top and simple maong shorts. Nagpaalam ako kina Ate Nina at Ate Nira bago umalis, dala-dala ang letter at ang box.

Mainit na dahil summer na naman kaya tirik na tirik na naman ang araw. I saw him sitting at the bench, staring at the buildings in front of us. He's wearing a casual white polo shirt and shorts but he looks so good in that. I greeted him.

"Cookies?" I said. He opened his mouth widely, exaggerating his reaction. "Tss, I bake that?"

"Weh?"

"Yes! That's the recipe that your sister told me to," I proudly said. He opened the box, hindi pa napapansin ang papel na nakaipit sa takip nito. He bit one of them and gave me a thumbs up.

"Sarap!"

I laughed and flipped my hair.

Napatigil siya dahil mukhang nakita na niya 'yung papel at kukuhanin na niya 'to nang pinigilan ko ang kamay niya. "Just read it once your home,"

"Letter ba 'to?" he said, grinning. I nodded. "Basahin ko na ngayon-"

"Huwag kasi!"

He laughed and raised his hands. "Okay, mamaya ko na babasahin,"

"Good." I replied. Sumandal ako sa upuan at tumitig sa harapan. Hindi naman kami naiinitan dahil nasa loob ng gazebo ang inuupuan namin at marami ding puno sa paligid na sumasayaw dahil sa hangin. Ilang minuto akong nakatingin lang sa harapan habang pinapakinggan ko ang mga puno sa paligid.

"Andrei, did you know-" I stiffened when I saw him reading the letter. I just let out a sigh out of my nervousness.

Gosh, he's so kulit.

I stared at his face, weighing his reaction. He licked his lower lip before he turned to me, amused. Hiyang hiya na ako, pakiramdam ko sobrang pula na ng pisngi ko lalo na tuwing naalala ko ang mga pinagsusulat ko sa letter na 'yon.

"Tayo na?" tanong niya, parang hindi naniniwala.

"It's written in there!" I made sure that I made it clear when I wrote that!

"Sabihin mo muna,"

I groaned and he laughed before he opened his arms, asking for a hug. I slowly leaned my head on his chest. I wrapped my arms around his waist. I can clearly hear how fast my heartbeat is or... is it his?

"Thank you for giving me a chance..." he said.

You are worth every chance, Andrei.