He Was My Umbrella

11

"Maybe it was your mysteriousness. Kasi nung una kitang nakita, parang wala kang masyadong kinakausap. Tsaka, ngayon nga lang kita narinig na magsalita ng ganyan kahaba," nagpipigil na lang ako ng tawa kanina pa.

"Mysterious ako, pero marami kang alam? Stalker," he scoffed and looked away.

"The reason why I wanted to distance myself was," I paused for a moment. He looked at me directly with hopeful eyes. "I didn't want my feelings to grow. Based on experience, I fall for every guy I have a crush on. I know, it's just a crush. But the more you get to know the person, that's where you'll see his actions. Further into your seeking, you'll like him based on his actions, words, and no longer on looks. And that's true. The more I get to know you, the more I'll be more interested. Kaya gusto ko pigilan kasi hindi tama." I sighed.

"Ano'ng mali?"

"Kuya, you're 21. And I am just 12 years old, I'm not even a teenager."

"Alam mo ikaw minsan talaga ang advanced mo mag-isip. Bakit, papakasalan mo ba ako?" He chuckled and looked away. 

Ene be, pereng shere. Pwede naman kung gusto mo.

"You'll never know. Besides, by the time I am already eligible to marry, you'll probably be married by then," I drank my water.

"You'll never know."

I almost spit my water when I heard what he said. Talagang ginamit niya ang sinabi ko against me? Pero ba't parang affected ako. Why ganon?!

"But again, it's just a crush. Paghanga. Cool mo kasi, ba't ganun. Talino, tangkad, gwapo, faithful tapos mabait pa ng slight," tumawa ako kasi nahiya pa akong sabihin na ang bait niya talaga.

"Gwapo ba talaga ako?"

Kapal.

"Oo," nahihiya kong sagot. "'Di naman pala sobrang gwapo."

"Ngunit type na type mo? Gulo mo," tumawa siya dahil ginamit niya na naman ang line sa 'Mr. Kupido'.

"Sakto lang. Yes, fit sa type ko HAHAHAHA," tumawa ako ng malakas kaya naman napatingin sa akin si Icah at ngumiti dahil sa tagumpay ng plano niya. Hays, what would I ever do without her?

Since the lighting was nice, and we were dressed up cutely, I asked him if we could take a picture. He said yes. Sinandal ko ang phone ko sa tumbler at nag set ng 10-secs timer. Tumakbo ako papunta sa tabi niya at siya na ang nag-isip ng first pose. Iyon ay nakaakbay siya sa akin. Ang second shot naman ay naka silly face kami habang nakaharap sa isa't isa. We took about 12 pictures. Ang huling picture ay ako na nakapasan sa kanya at naka taas ang dalawang kamay habang hawak niya ang mga binti ko para hindi ako mahulog. I took my phone and looked at the pictures. They were all so cute because our smiles looked so genuine. I have never seen him smile like this. He just smiles without teeth all the time but this time he showed it. I have to admit it this time, pogi talaga.

I saw him peek at my phone that's why I showed it to him and it made him smile. Kagandang tanawin ng kanyang mukhang nakangiti. I didn't notice how long I was staring, basta ang alam ko lang, tumingin rin siya sa akin.

"Ganda talaga ng mga mata mo, 'no?"

I blushed at his words. Kakilig, pri. Grabe naman this boy. Paasa much?

"Maybe, I can't say that for myself," I chuckled and pushed his face slightly. "Gusto mo pumunta don?"

He nodded and we raced to them. Pero syempre, siya ang nauna dahil nga mabilis siya tumakbo. E 'di ikaw na. I ran first to Icah. I hugged her really, really tight.

"Thank you sa plano mo," I laughed and let go.

"Well, what can I say except you're welcome."

Si Kuya Ren naman ay nakatayo lang doon sa gilid, kausap si Daddy. I kinda want to see him play but I think he wouldn't.

"Kuya Re-Ren, let's play nga kasi!" Sigaw ni Rai.

He looked at me and he looked like he was asking permission. I gave him a smile, it's a sign of my agreement. And then within a few seconds after my action, he chased Rai with his wide arms and long legs. Oh my, he was such a kid.
Wow, what a blessing to see his soft side. This is a total different Renzo. His smile was wide while playing with his sister. Tumingin ako kay Ate Rach at nakitang tuwang-tuwa rin siya sa nakikita niya. She looked really proud.

After a few minutes, Rai hid behind my back, but since Renzo was too fast, when he headed to my direction, na delay ang preno niya kaya napayakap siya sa akin. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ng tatlong segundo. Agad ko naman siyang tinulak dahil tinitingnan na kami ng lahat.

"Oh my gosh! Ew! Yuck, pawis mo!" I started punching him lightly on his chest.

"Wow, arte ah," he scoffed and sat down for a while. "Next time nga, Ate Rach ikaw mag asikaso d'yan sa isang 'yan."

"You call playing asikaso already?!" Binatukan siya ni Ate Rach. I would say, deserve.

I checked the time and it was already 2:19 AM. Hindi na lang ako siguro papasok bukas since puro lectures lang naman. Bumalik na kami doon sa may blankets at nagayos-ayos na. I brought the cooler again tapos nilagay 'yun sa likod. Sumakay na 'ko sa van kasi cool ako. Pare-parehas lang din ang mga pwesto namin. Pero parang hindi ata inaantok ang kahit isa sa amin. Umalis na si Daddy at inestimate na mga 2 hours ang byahe pauwi. Ang sarap talaga suotin ng outfit ko, grabe. Wala talaga akong magawa kaya naman sumandal na lang ako balikat ni Kuya Ren para subukang matulog. Kaso ang bango niya talaga, nakaka distract. I looked up and I saw him smirking. Nangga-gago ba 'to?.

"Ilang awit pa ba ang aawitin o giliw ko," I heard him sing Ligaya by Eraserheads dahil iyon ang nasa playlist ni Daddy. My eyes widened as I heard his voice. It was so damn attractive.

"Sagutin mo lang ako aking sinta'y walang humpay o ligaya!" Pagkanta ni Kuya Ren ulit.

"At asahang iibigin ka sa tanghali sa gabi at umaga. 'Wag ka sanang magtanong at magduda. Dahil ang puso ko'y walang pangamba na tayo'y mabubuhay na tahimik at buong ligaya!" Nagsi-kanta na ang lahat, nangingibabaw ang boses ni Icah at 'yung akin din. Wow, ang saya naman nito. Jamming sa roadtrip tas katabi mo crush mo?! Duh!

"At asahang iibigin ka sa tanghali sa gabi at umaga," kinanta ko ng solo at tumungin ako sa kanya.

"'Wag ka sanang magtanong at magduda. Dahil ang puso ko'y walang pangamba na tayo'y mabubuhay na tahimik at buong ligaya!" Tumingin siya pabalik sa akin nang kantahin niya ng solo ang huling line. Ngumiti siya sa akin at ngumiti rin naman ako, syempre.

Nagkantahan lang kami ng mga 60s songs tsaka mga 90s songs hanggang sa makauwi kami. Ang saya pala nito. Nakauwi kami ng 3:43 AM. Nagpaalam na ako sa kanila.

"Bye guys! Ingat kayo! Thank you for tonight!" Naglakad na ako papunta sa pinto.

"Anong 'Bye'? Dito kami matutulog. Alangan naman umuwi pa kami," sabi ni Kuya Ren.

Ano...?

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