Young Love Series #4: September Elizabeth Ferreira
September Elizabeth Ferreira has always hated life. One moment, everything is falling apart. The next thing she knows, she's being confessed at by someone she cannot even recognize because everythin...
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Have you ever felt regret?
Like. . . when a friend tells you he likes you, but during that time, you really had nothing for him so you told him you wish you could stay as friends? But months later, you catch yourself smiling while thinking about him? But now you can't tell him you like him too because he seems like he really respected your decision to be just friends? Because he doesn't seem like he wants to ask you again?
Yeah, that kind of regret. That kind of sayang.
I felt it.
I felt it with Hiram Nicholas.
Hiram was the first one to like me. Naging magkaklase kami sa Grade 11. Originally, his friends were boys. He had a crush on me immediately after the Grade 11 orientation and he didn't really keep it as a secret. His friends would always tease him to me.
Eventually, Hiram decided to pursue me. He tried to court me. We spent some time together. But because I really wasn't attracted to him romantically, I confronted him and told him what I really felt.
I asked him if we could be friends instead. I told him he's really fun to be with. . . but I want him no more than a friend.
Hiram respected that. He became my friend. He never dared to cross the boundaries of friendship. He teases me sometimes, that's alright. I let him. But that's that.
That's why. . . the past few days had been a wonder to me. Hiram is crossing that boundary of friendship. He buys me food and coffee, picks me up, and now. . . he bought us movie tickets. He wouldn't even let me buy our snacks for us.
"I was the one who asked you out so I should pay," aniya.
Asked me out. Hah.
Bumaba ang tingin ko sa mga popcorn. I glanced at Hiram. He's wearing a black shirt under an open brown shortsleeved polo. He paired it with a pair of pants and a pair of white shoes.
We didn't talk about it but his clothes matched my short brown a-line skirt where I tucked my white chiffon shortsleeved top. Even I can say that we look like a couple on a date.
Pumasok na kami sa sinehan. The cinema looks so full today. It's good that Hiram chose a good seat. Maganda ang pwesto namin sa sinehan.
Instead of choosing a romance movie, I chose a famous superhero movie instead because I know that it's something both of us can enjoy.
We watched the movie in peace. Well, except when the couple in front of us started kissing. Hiram couldn't help but chuckle in his seat and I keep on pinching him to stop him from laughing.
Because Hiram kept on snickering and chuckling, the couple in front of us left. Maybe because of embarrassment. Sinapak ko ang balikat ni Hiram at napapikit s'ya dahil do'n. He held my hand to stop me.
"Stop laughing!" I whispered angrily, pulling my hand away.
"Why would you kiss on a superhero movie?" Hiram asked.
"Stop it," saway ko sa kan'ya.
"Excuse me." Napalingon ako sa likod ko para tingnan ang nagsalita at nakita ko ang iritadong ekspresyon ng babae. The girl tried to get Hiram's attention. "Hey, can you please stop---" Her words stopped mid-air when Hiram looked at her and she was finally able to see his face.
Hiram bowed a little, grinning playfully. "Sorry 'bout that," he said.
"Okay," utal na sagot ng babae at napaatras pabalik sa upuan n'ya.
Huh. What's that? Pretty privilege?
"Ah, I should stop now," natatawang sabi ni Hiram, sumasandal sa upuan n'ya.
━━━ ☁ ━━━
Papalabas na kami ng sinehan nang biglang may tumawag sa atensyon ni Hiram.
When I looked at who it was, I saw the girl who sat behind us earlier during the movie. 'Yong mukhang nainis sa ingay ni Hiram.
The girl is now smiling apologetically at Hiram, different from her irritated expression earlier. I watch her tuck her hair behind her ear and the blush on her cheeks. Nasa likod n'ya ang mukhang kaibigan n'ya rin.
"I just want to apologize. Earlier, I got a bit bothered by the noise. Hindi ako nakapag-focus sa movie kaya. . ." the girl started to say.
"It's fine. I should be the one apologizing," ani Hiram.
The girl's face brightened up and she glanced at me.
"Uhm, so. To apologize, maybe I can both treat you somewhere. Have you had dinner yet? We know a good resto," aniya.
I'm not in the mood to socialize. Especially now that she's starting to get to my bad side. Why, you ask? I don't like the way she tucks her hair in front of me and Hiram.
"Thank you for the gesture. It's fine. You don't have to treat me and my girlfriend to dinner."
Natigilan ako at kumunot ang noo ko. I glanced at Hiram. He's smiling at the girl and I can't really tell if he's joking.
He's joking. Or maybe he used me as an excuse to decline the girl's offer.
Okay.
That's understandable. I don't need to overreact. It's just an excuse.
My heart shouldn't beat this way.
"Ah, is that so?" Halatang-halata ang panghihinayang ng babae. Nanatili lang akong tahimik habang ngumingiti s'ya sa 'kin at humihingi ulit ng paumanhin sa naging akto n'ya kanina at sa pang-iistorbo sa date naming dalawa ni Hiram.
I pursed my lips as I watch the girl walk away.
"Dinner?" Hiram asked me and I looked at him.
I want to ask him what he meant by telling that girl that I am his girlfriend.
But I don't have the guts to. I shouldn't overthink. It's not like it's true. . .
