Lumipas ang mga araw at halos bawat araw na 'yun ay magkasama kami ni Cody. After classes ay nagpapractice kami at tuwing Saturday ay dumadaan s'ya sa bahay namin. Oh yes, nakakapunta na s'ya sa amin. At each time ay may dala s'yang flowers at kung anumang pasalubong. Sabi n'ya hindi pa daw s'ya nanliligaw nang lagay na 'yun. Kung hindi pa panliligaw ang tawag dun, I wonder kung paano s'ya talaga manligaw.
That question was answered not long after that kasi tinotohanan n'ya ang sinabi n'yang his courtship will start after our presentation. Literal talaga na right after our song number, nung nasa backstage na kami, ay inabutan n'ya ako ng isang bouquet ng white roses. Ni hindi ko man lang napansin kung saan nanggaling 'yun.
"Ms. Salazar, I'm Cody Santillan, you're new suitor. Sana hindi ka pa nagsasawa sa akin kasi from now on mas lalo pa akong magiging visible sa 'yo at hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi ko nakukuha ang matamis mong oo," he said after he handed me the bouquet.
I don't remember saying anything after that. All I know is I flashed him a smile that would pass for a toothpaste commercial. Nablangko ang utak ko.... ah correction, nablangko ang buong pagkatao ko dahil sa ginawa at sinabi n'ya. I don't know how long I was in that trance. Nagising na lang akong sinasabi ni Cody ang pangalan ko.
"Clarq? Clarq? Okay ka lang ba Clarq?"
"Ha? Ah. Oo. Okay lang ako."
"Nabigla ka ba? Di ba sinabi ko naman sa 'yo dati pa na liligawan na kita?"
"Hindi, hindi ako nabigla," ang sagot ko. Hindi naman talaga ako nabigla eh kasi ang totoo nawalan na ako ng malay.
"So?" he asked.
"So, what?"
"Okay lang ba na ligawan na kita?"
"Do I really have to answer your question?"
"Yes because just like what I've said gusto kong buong puso mong tinatanggap ang panIiligaw ko."
"Wow Cody! Buong puso talaga?"
"O sige ganito na lang. In the past few days that we've been spending time together, do you think I am worthy enough to be given a chance to court you?"
'Yung totoo, may script writer ba itong taong ito sa likod n'ya? Bakit ba palagi na lang winner ang mga linya nito?
"You've been the perfect gentleman the whole time we're together. I just hope kung anuman ang kahihinatnan natin ay maging ganun ka pa rin sa akin hanggang dulo," I replied.
"So is that a yes?"
Again, I smiled but this time it came with a nod. I saw how his face lit up. My gulay, hindi ko pa sinasagot nang lagay na 'yan ha. Paano pa kaya kung sinagot ko na. Note to self: Be sure to be in a private place 'pag sasagutin mo si Cody at baka mag-eskandalo.
"And I promise you, hindi ako magbabago. Kung paano mo ako nakilala ngayon, ganun pa rin ako sa 'yo kahit anong mangyari," he added.
"Thank you. That's assuring to know."
********
I was getting ready for a date with Cody when I heard a knock on my door.
"Poopie?" I heard Grant say.
"Poopie, pasok ka."
"Hi! May lakad ka?" he said when he came in.
"Movie lang with Cody. Why?"
"Ah. Aayain sana kitang lumabas eh pero naunahan na pala ako."
Nakita ko ang lungkot sa kanyang mga mata kaya parang nakonsensya naman ako. "Sorry Poopie. Di ko naman alam na gusto mo ring lumabas eh. Bakit, anong meron?"
"Do I need to have a reason to spend time with my bestfriend?"
"Aaaawww. Sorry naman."
"Namimiss na kasi kita eh. Hindi na tayo masyadong nakakapag-usap simula nung nagfinals kami at ikaw naman palagi mong kasama si Cody."
"Namimiss rin naman kita eh. Gusto mo sama ka na lang sa amin ni Cody?"
"No way! I don't wanna be the third wheel."
"Eh nakakahiya naman kasi if I cancel on him now. Papunta na 'yung tao dito."
"I'm not asking you to cancel."
"Nakakakonsensya naman kasi 'yang itsura mo eh."
"Don't worry about me. Atsaka nauna naman talaga s'yang nag-aya sa 'yo so it's just fair that you go out with him."
I stood up from my vanity table and walked up to him. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong umakap sa kanya. "Sorry na. Next time tatanungin muna kita kung gusto mo lumabas bago ako magyes sa kanya."
"Ano ka ba? Future boyfriend mo 'yung tao, bestfriend mo lang ako. You don't have to do that."
"Correction. Future boyfriend ko lang s'ya at ikaw ang bestfriend ko kaya gagawin ko 'yun. Atsaka, future boyfriend talaga ha?"
"O bakit, hindi ba?"
"Aaaaah... well..."
"See! Okay lang ako, Poopie. Don't worry about me. Hindi naman ako nagtatampo eh."
I hugged him tighter. Sobrang mahal ko talaga ang lalaking ito. Napakabait at napaka understanding. Wala na akong mahihiling pa sa isang bestfriend.
"Poopie?" he said.
"Ha?"
"Bakit parang tumataba ka 'ata," he teased while lightly pinching my side.
This made me let go of him and hit him on the arm. "Nakakainis ka! Bad trip ka!"
"Ha... ha... ha! Naglalambing lang. Hindi ka na mabiro."
"Pero 'yung totoo Poopie, tumataba na ba ako?" I asked him.
"Hindi ah. Nagbibiro nga lang ako. Pero ano naman kung tumaba ka?"
"Wala lang. Baka..."
"Baka hindi ka na magustuhan ni Cody? Ito ang tatandaan mo, you are a very beautiful person. Kahit tumaba o pumayat ka man, you will still be beautiful."
"Aaaawww, Poopie! Kaya love na love talaga kita eh. Hindi man kita boyfriend pero you still make me feel so special like how Cody does to me."
"Like Cody huh? Ito pa ang isang tatandaan mo, nandyan man si Cody o wala you will always be special to me."
"I know, Poopie. Kaya nga I love you eh."
"I love you, Poopie," he softly said then hugged me.
