A Change of Heart

XX

"Jane, pwede ba manligaw?..."Alvin asked earnestly.

She didn't answer. Nakatitig lang siya kay Alvin na nakatingin din sa kanya. She couldn't believe her ears. "Totoo ba to?" she asked herself. While she was stuck there, Alvin was gazing at her tenderly. He knows what might be going on her mind right now. But he'll be patient. He'll wait for her to process everything.

The music stopped playing and everything goes silent. Wala sila ibang naririnig kundi yung nakakabinging katahimikan or minsan ang pagbuntong hininga ni Jane. Ilang segundo na ba ang lumipas? O marahil minuto na. He doesn't know and he isn't complaining. All he knows he can stare at that beautiful face for all eternity.

Maybe ilang minuto na ang lumipas pero wala parin kumikibo sa kanila.

Hiccup! The sound broke their silence.

Hiccup! Hiccup! Hindi mapigilan ni Jane ang pagsinok niya. "Universe, why of all this moment ngayon pa kailangan ako sinukin? Nakakahiya," sinabi niya sa isip niya.

Hiccup! Patuloy parin ang pagsinok niya.

"Are you okay?" may pag-aalalang sinabi ni Alvin. "Teka, I'll get you water." Hahakba na sana palayo si Alvin para kumuha ng tubig nang hinawakan ni Jane ang braso niya. She shook her head telling him not to bother. Giving him a thumbs up sign, telling him she'll be fine.

After a couple of deep breaths, natigil din ang pagsinok niya.

"I'm okay now," she said. He gazed at her again and smiled.

"Aaahm. Yung tanong mo kanina?" may pag-aalinlangan na tanong niya. "Are you sure?"

"Jane, this is one of my decisions I know I'm hundred one percent sure," sagot ni Alvin with confidence.

"Pero bakit? Bakit ako?"she asked. Paulit ulit nalang tumatakbo sa isip ni Jane iyon. Sa dami nang babae na gustong mapalapit kay Alvin at sa dami nang nakikilala niya... Bakit siya?

"Why not?"he asked tenderly.

"Kasi..." she didn't expect na tanong din pala ang isasagot sa tanong niya." Kasi... Ako lang ito. Kilala mo na ako simula dati pa. You know me so well. Lahat ng kapintasan sakin alam mo. Lahat ng flaws siguro nakita mo na after all this years. Ako to. Ako lang to. Simula dati hanggang ngayon."

He didn't answer her right away and just gaze at her again. Na siya naman kinailang ni Jane. Hindi niya matagalan ang mga tingin ni Alvin sa kanya. As if he can read her well with just those gaze.

"Jane, you don't see it, do you? Kaya kita minahal. Kaya kita mahal na mahal kasi ikaw yan. At kahit ano pa mangyari, sa tingin ko mamahalin pa rin kita. That's how I love you Jane. I fell so deep and I don't think I could swim up the surface anymore. And the thing is, ayaw ko na umahon. Hayaan mo lang ako mahulog sayo," sabi ni Alvin. Speechless na naman si Jane for the nth time. Lately, parang hindi gumagana ang isip niya sa ganitong sitwasyon.

"So....let me show you how much I love you. Let me win your love and be worthy of you... So Jane, pwede ba manligaw?" Tanong ulit ni Alvin.

"Pero......hindi ba ito distraction lang? Lalo na sayo... Last year mo na sa collegiate basketball.. Hindi ba makakasagabal lang ako sayo?" May pagaalinlangan na tanong ni Jane. She had reflected on everything already. Ano ang pwede maging epekto kung sakali man na dumating ang point na to at payagan niya manligaw si Alvin. Pero mas madami pa siyang naisip na cons kesa sa pros. Kaya naman mas lalong gumulo ang isip niya.

"Jane, don't worry about me," he said softly. "Ako ang bahala sa lahat. All I need is your permission. Hindi kita minamadali. I can wait kung kailan ka na ready. Kung mababasted ako....pero sana wag naman.... Okay lang sakin. I respect all of your decisions. I value them as much as you value them.."