"Chae Fajardo pala ha." pang-aasar sa' kin ni Noah sabay ngisi. Ito nanaman siya, nang-aasar nanaman akala niya naman magkakaroon siya ng sweldo sa pang-aasar ng mga tao.
"Mateo pala ha." pang-aasar ko pabalik, nakita ko naman na namula ang kaniyang mga tenga. "Gago!" tinulak niya ako ng mahina bago pumasok na sa room namin.
Rumors started circulating around our university that I'm "dating" Blanche, may mga nakakita raw kasi samin sa coffee shop, ano bang masama kung nagkakape ka lang kasama ng kung sino man? Oh wait Blanche is not "kung sino man" to me.
If only they knew that I am not interested in dating then they wouldn't have assumed that I am dating her.
Not interested? Niloloko ko parin ba sarili ko?
I want to rephrase that.
Hindi ako interesado kung hindi naman si Chae. It's her or no one.
That's better.
Hanggang ngayon may halong dismaya parin ang nararamdaman ko, I was planning yesterday to tell her that I'm the same Giovanni from seven years ago but it got out of my plan. At honestly, naduwag ulit ako.
Nag kwento lang siya ng nag kwento habang ako ay nagkunyari nalang na wala akong pake pero sa totoo lang, nabighanin nanaman ako sa kislap ng kaniyang mga mata, sa tunog ng kaniyang tawa — the lopsided smile that a lips of an angel forms was something I would die for. The euphonious voice of Chae talking about her love for book had me wishing that she would talk about me that way as well.
Chae, what a heaven-sent art you are. You're probably every poet's muse.
"Eh kung gusto mo, bakit ka umiiwas o tinataboy?" narinig kong tanong ng blockmate ko na si Saorise kay Mona, mga kaibigan ni Noah. Kahit na alam kong hindi ako yung tinatanong, I mentally answered that question.
May halong takot parin akong umamin sakanya na ako si Giovanni kahit na ilang beses ko nang plinano. Blanche don't deserve a coward boy. He deserve a brave man.
That's the reason why I acted cold and distant. Kasi duwag ako. Kaya minsan pinepeke ko na ring hindi ko naiintindihan ang mga banat niya sa'kin kahit na sa totoo lang sobrang bilis na ng tibok ng puso ko. Tulad nung unang bumanat siya sakin ng "star ka ba?" I know what she meant by "I feel something bituin us". I can't deny the fact na namula ako non and I'm so thankful that it's dark when she told me that.
Ang babaw ko pag dating sakanya, lagi nalang akong namumula pag ginaganon niya ako.
I wanted that to last forever. Gusto ko ako lang sinasabihan niya ng mga banat. I just realized that I don't want to stay away nor make her stay away from me anymore but before doing that, I want to be the man he deserve first. Aaminin ko nang ako si Giovanni na hindi siya sinipot dati.
I stared at her eyes for too long and it slowly went down to her lips, I saw her gulped hardly. I smirked then I turned my gaze back to her eyes, it's as if she's inviting me to kiss her.
After this kiss, I'll tell her.
I swear that.
I didn't move so she moved instead, nilapit niya ang mukha niya sakin and when our lips are about to touch my phone rang, she quickly pulled away and I saw a little disappointment written all over her red face.
"My mom... She's calling me." umayos siya ng pagkaupo at tumango nalang siya sakin.
After talking with my mom, I had to say good bye to her. Surprisingly, hindi naman siya yung tipong gagawin awkward ang paligid. She just bid me good bye and greeted me happy birthday again.
Next time... I swear next time will do.
"How's grandpa?" Bungad ko agad kay mama, dahil sabi niya ay inatake raw ng asthma si lolo. Gusto kong magpakita ng lungkot sa harap ni mama kaso gusto ko muna siyang umiyak sa loob ng braso ko dahil sobrang importante ni lolo para kay mama. I don't want to be a burden to her.
