You're The One

Twelve

"Why do you want to be a teacher?" Biglang tanong ni Moxel. Nakatingin siya sa akin habang hinihintay ang sagot ko.

"I just wanna be one of the childrens' way of learning and one of the way of that children to achieve their dreams and goals in life too," I said.

Mabuti at nakapagsasagot pa rin ako sa kaniya ng maayos kahit papaano. I'm still dumbstruck of what just happened. Ang bilis pa rin ng tibok ng puso ko kahit natigil na kami sa paglalaro, nakakain na kami ng street foods sa tabi nitong park, at nakatulog na naman si Dylan dahil sa pagod.

What I felt that moment? May kakaiba akong naramdaman habang nasa damuhan kami ni Moxel no'n.

"Ikaw? Bakit gusto mong mag doctor?" I still managed to ask that, huh?

Hindi pa rin ako makatingin sa kaniya ngayon. I just can't... now.

"Well, I just want to help other people, you know..." simpleng sabi niya at nagkibit-balikat pero kahit ganoon mahihimigan mo ang passion niya sa piniling field.

He really wants to be a good doctor. I can say that.

"Scasie..."

Agaran akong napalingon sa kaniya na ikinabigla naman niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Scasie? I thought you preferred to call me Bryl than that?" I asked but immediately looked away ng mapagtanto ang tanong ko. Uminit ang pisngi ko sa hiya at biglang paghalakhak niya.

What now, Scasie Bryl? Ano naman ngayon kung ano ang itawag niya sa 'yo? Is it a big deal to you?

"Okay, Okay. As you wish, ma'am. I'll call you Bryl. Looks like I am just the only one calling you like that, huh? Ay!" Napatingin ako sa kaniya ng bigla siyang nagtaas boses sa huli. Bumuntong hininga siya at ngumuso naman. He looked at Dylan who is sleeping now on his lap while we were sitting on the grass of the park. "Dylan called you too that rin pala," nagtinig malungkot pero sa huli ay humalakhak siya.

I avoided my gaze and looked in front of me where people is enjoying their moments.

Nalulunod ako sa pag-iisip ng tungkol sa nangyari kanina pero pilit ko itong iwinawaksi sa isipan ko.

"Bryl..."

"Hmm?" I replied without looking at him.

"You are beautiful, Bryl," doon ako gulat na napatingin sa kaniya.

"Huh?" I asked, shocked.

Pero tinawanan naman niya ako. My forehead frowned.

"There! You finally look at me," at humalakhak pa siya.

I immediately looked away. What Bryl? Why you feel offended?! Why is it a big deal to you that he said you're beautiful but then again laughed you and just only want you to looked at him that's why? Why?

Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang sarili ko ngayon. Nagtatalo na ako sa sarili ko.

"Bryl..." may himig ng pag-alala sa boses niya, siguro ay napansin ang reaksyon ko. "Look Bryl, I-I don't have an intention to make you feel bad. I'm sorry..."

I looked at him and gave him a small smile. "It's fine, Moxel. You don't have to worry," I assured him. Totoo naman. It's just me that suddenly have a problem with that. Hindi naman ako ganito, ah?

It's because... he is the one who said that?

"Scasie Bryl Salista, look at me, please..." awtomatiko akong napatingin sa kaniya dahil sa tuno at pagtatawag niya ng seryoso sa kompletong pangalan ko. His adams apple moved. "I..." Sambit niya na mukhang nahihirapan. Pumikit ito ng mariin at huminga ng malalim. Sa pagmulat ng mga mata niya ay muntik pa akong mapatalon at atakihin dahil sa intensidad ng tingin niya. Pinagmasdan niya ako na nagpainit muli ng mukha ko. Mag-iiwas na sana ako ng tingin ng napa-estatwa ako sa sinabi niya. "You are the most beautiful I've ever seen in my entire life, Scasie Bryl," seryoso niya itong sinabi habang nakatingin sa mga mata ko.

I gulped. I'm dumbfounded right now.

Umiwas naman siya ng tingin sa akin ng mapansin ang itsura ko.

What? What he just said?

Oh, Scasie c'mon! Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, as if he is the first and only man or person who said that to you? My parents, family, friends, and some other people said that too but why is it like its not the same of what I felt right now when they said that? My heart is pounding fast!

"U-Uhmm..." natataranta niyang untag at biglang tumayo, karga ang mahimbing na natutulog na si Dylan habang parang estatwa pa rin ako roon. Nakakahiya! "I think we need to go. I still need to put Dylan on bed. Keep safe, Bryl. Una na kami, huh?" And then he walked away from me immediately, leaving me still processing of what he just said.

Seriously, why is it so big deal to me? Hindi ko rin maintindihan.

Dahan-dahan akong humarap sa harapan ko at umiling-iling para matauhan. Sinampal-sampal ko pa ang sarili ko ng mahina para bumalik sa reyalidad. "Scasie, gising!" I said to myself.

Nang medyo nahimasmasan ay tumayo na ako sa pagkakaupo ko at lutang na umuwing bahay.

It's already lunch so I prepared myself a food, wash the dishes after eating and took a nap. Sa pagbabakasakaling pag gising ay gumising rin ako sa kawalan ko sa sarili.

Scasie Bryl, umayos ka!

Isip at isip pa rin ako sa mga nangyari sa kaninang umaga haggang sa ang nap na sinabi ko ay inabot hanggang tatlong oras sa pagkatulog.

Bumangon ako sa pagkahiga at umupo sa aking kama. I reached my phone that is on my side table now to check the time.

It's already 3 pm. May notification from Instagram din doon.

With my trembling hands and as my heart starting again to beat fast, I opened Moxel messages.

@jmoxelg:

Dylan already on his parents now.

Ahm. Just inform you.

Kahit 'yon lang ang message ni Moxel ay tila sasabog na sa tibok ang puso ko.

I gulped and my heart beat fast more when an idea came up on my mind.

Does... it possible?

Do I like Moxel Jan Galves?

As I put my hand on my chest, it's like they are celebrating and having a fiesta there with loud music as my heart joining to its fast.