Love At First Heard

PAGE 2

That day, I can't forget him...

Yes, I only heard his voice but I doesn't know him so well. I don't even know what is he looks like. Nakikita ko lang yung face niya sa ginagamit niyang profile sa meet, but it's not enough dahil hindi naman masyadong kita ang mukha niya doon.

I also tried to stalk his social media and see some of his old pictures but it's not enough to know his face right now.

I just feel so so so hopeless ...

So, I decided to let him go. Nag focus ako sa pag-aaral, pero hindi ko mapigilang hindi siya pansinin everytime na sumasagot siya sa guro namin.

Little by little, I moved on.

Pero hindi ko inaasahan na sa unang pagkakataon ay makakausap ko siya, matatanong, at makakasagutan noong araw na magkaroon ng debate ang lahat ng nasa grade 11.

We're both the First speaker. I'm the affirmative speaker while he's the negative speaker. In short, we're enemies ...

Our topic is about the regulations of online games here in the Philippines, and I'm so nervous knowing that he will be my opponent.

"Hay, Marem wake up!" Bulong ko sa aking sarili saka ako dumukdok sa mesa at agad ding umayos ng upo, pero hindi ko napigilang bumagsak ang balikat ko maisip pa lang na madidinig ko muli ang boses niya.

Mariin akong napapikit saka ko mahinang tinapik ang magkabila kong pisngi.

So, this will be our first conversation?

Talaga ba? Away agad, walang bawian?

For the first place, I shouldn't be here. Hindi dapat ako ang makikipag debate but because of my classmate who don't want to be the speaker asked me to do this, and for me who thinks na pampataas ng grade ko accepted her role right away.

It's so hard being a grade conscious!

But I don't have any clue that he will be my opponent! What do I do?

"Rem! Let's pasok na sa meet." Pagchachat ni Dustine sa akin. "Practice ka daw sabi ni leader."

Agad ko namang kinuha ang laptop ko at binuksan para pumasok at mag practice nang sasabihin ko.

Ayokong magkamali sa harap niya, kahit na sa meet lang naman kami nag kaklase. I still want to do my best not just for my group but to impress him also and for myself.

I thought I moved on!!!

Isang malalim na pag hinga ang ginawa ko bago mag simula ang klase. Ilang minuto na lang ay magsisimula na ang debate pero grabe na lang din kung lamigin ang kamay ko.

How I wish na sana isa ka sa mga nag g-goodluck sa akin?

But It won't happen, because we started as an enemy. We're both speakers pero magkaiba ang mga ipinaglalaban natin.

It's just a hopeless romantic ...

"Go Rem!!!" My group mates keep cheering me before I fight for what we are fighting.

I can do it! I'm sure I can! I'm their voice, I should speak and focus for the rest of our Grades...

I SHOULD DO THIS!

"Greetings to all Teachers and Students!!" Pagbati ko sa lahat ng mga tao sa meet. "A pleasant afternoon everyone!"

While speaking I was wondering... is he listening?

"Do you know someone who plays online games? Maybe one of your family? Or it might be some of your friends? Perhaps, you, yourself." I paused.

What is he thinking? Did he like my voice, the way I speak?

"Their choice of words, how was it? When someone calls them while they're in the game, how do they respond?" I continued. "Is it possible they've turned rude and aggressive? Asocial? Or, in the worst-case scenario... violent?"

I badly want to know kung anong tingin niya sa boses ko, but I should speak louder, focus! He is my opponent. This is not the right time para isipin ang mga bagay-bagay na hindi naman dapat.

"Too many questions that have yet to be answered." I closed my eyes, that sentence hit me hard. I have so many questions for you that you'll never know, because this is us.

"Our 2nd speaker will continue our argument by focusing on the benefits of regulating online games in the Philippines." I stated. "Our 3rd speaker will summarize our team's argument, summarize the oppositions, and leave you in no doubt that regulating online games in the Philippines is necessary."

And by that time, with my trembling hands... I ended my speech. It's his turn to ask me a questions. Our first argument... and our first conversation.

"Do the affirmative side believe that they want to protect the youth? Based from the..."

His first question...

And just like what I expected, I got carried away when he asked me a question related to our research.

"Yes, we believe!"

It's just a yes or no question, but I still can't answer it immediately because of his baritone voice.

"Is online games-" His voice, kahit na online class lang ito. I can hear his voice clearly, but when he asked me... hindi ako nakasagot.

Masyado akong naka-focus sa boses niya and forgot that we're still in the class, debating.

"Ms. Maramira," Our teacher called me and I said sorry for being pre-occupied.

"Again?" I asked one more time.

"Is online games is illegal?" He repeat and I said "No, we're answer is no."

One more question before he asked our teacher if he can start to tell their side.

At times like this, I just want to listen to him forever. I'm just wondering, pinakingan niya rin kaya ng maigi ang boses ko katulad ng pakikinig ko sa kaniya ngayon?

His voice is like pulling me under the water and swaying me with the waves of the ocean. It's like dragging me into the deepest but magnificent view under the water that no one doesn't discover yet. So peaceful, so alluring.

I just want to stay here forever...

Now, it's my turn to ask a questions... regarding to our debate.

"Do we really need to look in the dictionary just to know if it is necessary to regulate online games? What about the people affected by it?" I asked nervously.

"It's under the law-"

"It's only a yes or no question, Mr. Guazon." Pagsita ng guro sa sagot niya dahilan para palitan niya ang kaniyang sagot ng "No,"

"Anymore questions, Ms. Maramira?"

"Uhmm... Are you sure that everyone would listen if you tell them to leasen their time consumption in online games?" I asked and he answered "No" again.

After asking him a question, I felt like someone pulled me up to the ocean to breathe in the depth of what I had been to. He's too good and I can't say anything about how good he is in making my heart flutter without knowing.

Hindi nagtagal ay agad ding natapos ang klase. Sa dami ng nagsalita, ikinatutuwa ko na nakausap ko siya ng ilang beses kahit na tungkol lamang sa subject namin ang usapan.

Few minutes later, our teacher in our group chat announced the winner and napili ako as the best interpellator. Our team didn't win, but I'm happy that they're still supporting me. Binigay pa rin nila ang best nila to make our side win.

And suddenly,

"Congrats." His name, his name is on my phone screen!

He congratulate me in our group chat making me want to shout for the fullest! He just congratulate me...

With my hands... trembling, I replied, "Thankyou, congrats den sayo!"

Damn, got so much energy!

I didn't expect that this thing would happen to me. Feel so much excitement in the air and full of hopes...

And with that, this is when our first conversation started...