Unang araw ng klase. Blaine was in her 7th grade and she's excited and nervous at the same time. Wala na siya sa elementary at nasa high school na siya. She doesn't know if she can make friends with her new school and environment.
"Hi," she greeted the guy who's busy reading a book. He looked up to her. "Is this seat taken?" sabay turo sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi nito.
"No. Wala naman nakaupo dito. You can sit here."
"Thank you." She take her seat. "Im Blaine by the way. What's yours?"
"Ryan." Nagpatuloy na ito sa kaniyang binabasa. Tinignan iyon ni Blaine dahil na-curious. Mukha kasing interesting and binabasa nito.
"Oh is that the latest release book. Yung about sa time travel? Nabasa ko na yan. Maganda yung story. I recommend you should also read the book two. Maganda rin yun," pagdadaldal niya. Ryan looked at her confused.
"There's a book two of this book? Hindi ko alam yun. Ito lang kasi yung libro na meron ako."
"Meron ako nung book two. Gusto mo dalhin ko bukas. I will lend it to you."
"Okay. Thanks."
And that's how their friendship started. Agad silang naging close dahil pareho silang bookworm. They would sometimes exchanged books.
Naging maganda ang samahan nila. Palagi silang magkasama at hindi mapaghiwalay. People would always tease them that they were a couple. When in fact hindi naman. But Ryan can't deny that he has feelings for Blaine. Hindi lang niya alam kung pano aamin. And after their Completion Ceremony he finally got the courage to confess.
"What?"
"I like you, Blaine. Matagal na. Can I count you?" lakas-loob na tanong ni Ryan. Matagal bago ulit nagsalita si Blaine. She was speechless by her best friend's confession.
She likes him too but...
"Im sorry, Ryan. Focus kasi ako ngayon sa studies ko e. Ayaw ko munang pumasok sa relationship dahil makakaabala iyon sa pag-aaral ko. I hope you understand."
"No, I completely understand, Blaine. Mga bata pa naman tayo e. Pag-aaral nalang muna ang atupagin natin. Maghihintay naman ako hanggang makapagtapos tayo."
She smiled at him. "Thank you, Ryan. For respecting my decision. Friends?" She stretched out her hand for a handshake.
"Friends." They shook hands.
At yun ang ang ginawa nang dalawa. They focused on studying until they graduated high school. Si Blaine ang valedictorian and proud na proud sa kaniya si Ryan. They now entered college life. Engineering ang kinuhang kurso ni Ryan while Fine Arts naman si Blaine.
"What are you doing?" asked Ryan when she saw Blaine doing something on her sketchbook.
Pinakita nito ang ginawa. Its a wedding gown. "Look. Maganda ba? Its always my dream to be fashion designer. Gusto kong makilala nang lahat ang gawa ko. Yun talaga yung pangarap ko."
"At nandito lang ako para suportahan. Kahit hindi ako magsusuot bibili pa rin ako."
She laughed. "Baliw. Pwede mo naman bilhan yung babaeng mapapangasawa mo. Bibigyan kita ng discount dahil kaibigan naman kita."
"Hindi ba libre kapag ikaw nagsuot nang gawa mo?"
She became speechless and her face turned red. Kinikilig siya.
"Sira!" sabi nalang niya para itago ang pamumula ng kaniyang mukha at kilig.
Dumaan ulit ang ilang taon. They finally graduated from college. Nagkita silang dalawa sa playground kung saan sila madalas magkasama.
"Congrats satin! Where's my gift?" tanong ni Blaine at nakalahad pa ang kamay. Nakasakay silang dalawa sa swing.
"Asa ka naman. Wala ka ngang regalo sakin."
"Ay oo nga pala."
Dumaan ang ilang sandali. Tumikhim si Ryan kaya napatingin si Blaine rito.
"Blaine, ngayon graduate na tayo. After all these years I still like you. Can I court you now?".
He's hoping that she'll yes this time. Ang tagal na niyang gusto si Blaine at matagal na siyang naghihintay. He waited for them to graduate before asking her to court her.
"Inaamin ko gusto rin kita, Ryan," pag-amin nito na pulang-pula ang mukha.
Napangiti si Ryan. After years of waiting, umamin na rin itong may gusto rin ito sa kaniya. He's so happy.
"But Ryan I have to tell you something. Yes I like you but I still a dream. May pangarap pa akong gustong tuparin. Im sorry. Sana maintindihan mo."
Hinawakan ni Ryan ang kamay niya. "No its alright. Don't apologize. And it's your dream we're talking about. Pangarap mo iyon at ayokong maging sagabal sa pagtupad mo sa pangarap mo. Go and chase your dream. Pagbalik mo nandito pa rin ako. Maghihintay pa rin ako sayo, Blaine. Ikaw at ikaw pa rin."
She hugged him tight. "Thank you, Ryan. For always understanding me. Always keep in mind that I like you."
"I will. Gagawin ko itong inspirasyon para maging matagumpay. Para sa pagbabalik mo may maipagmamalaki ako sayo."
"Friends?"
"Friends."
Nagtungo si Blaine sa ibang bansa para makipagsapalaran. At first it was hard. May pagkakataon na gusto na niyang sumuko. Ngunit bumangon siya at sumubok nang sumubok. Hanggang unti-unti ay nakikilala na ang mga gawa niya. She's now well-known around the world. At masaya siyang natupad na niya ang kaniyang pangarap.
After three years, umuwi na siya para dumalo sa kanilang reunion. There she met Ryan again. He's now a successful engineer. Balita pa nga niya may sarili na itong bahay at kompaniya. Talagang malayo na ang narating nilang magkaibigan.
"Balita ko may sarili ka nang bahay. Pasilip ako minsan," biro ni Blaine nang magkasama sila sa iisang table.
"Anong pasilip? Doon ka titira balang araw."
"Huh?"
Hindi siya makapaniwalang naghihintay pa rin sa kaniya si Ryan. Matagal na itong naghihintay sa kaniya. He's so understanding, respectful and patient with her. Hindi niya alam kung meron pang mga lalaking kayang maghintay nang matagal para sa mga babaeng mahal nila.
"Blaine Dizon. Mahal na mahal pa rin kita after all these years. At maghihintay ulit ako kahit gaano pa katagal. Another 3 years? I can wait. So Im here again and asking you. Can I court you?"
Ngumiti siya ng matamis. "Yes."
Niyakap siya ni Ryan sa sobrang tuwa. Finally. After waiting for her for long time. Sulit lahat ng paghihintay niya.
"I love you, Blaine."
"I love you too, Ryan."
