The Perfect Boyfriend List

Chapter 22

[Chapter 22] Hyperventilate

I'm used to hang out with straight guys. The friendliest guys who would never hesitate to play dare. Who will somehow never shriek in a roller coaster ride.

Kaya nga tawa ako nang tawa while looking at Wren. He didn't intertwined his hand on mine again. Siguradong nagpapawis ang mga palad niya pero ayaw niyang ipahalata sa akin.

I'm the one who lead the way. Para kasing bigla siyang nawalan ng mood e. Ayaw ko namang hindi makapasok sa horror house.

I've been entering different horror houses since I was in first year. Nung unang horror house namin sa school, Liesl and I were too brave to handle it. Ni hindi nga man lang kami sumigaw sa loob. So on second year, we presented to be part of the team that are tasked to build the horror house. Ako bilang isang manananggal at siya naman bilang isang white lady.

Pagpasok namin ni Wren, nakakatakot na music ang sumalubong sa amin. It's so dark that I can't see anything. But when my eyes starts to adjust, dun ko lang napansin yung kulay red na ilaw that highlights different statues.

May isang statue na may axe sa leeg niya and it was covered in blood. Yung iba, parang mga normal na nakakatakot. May statue pa na parang isang reaper mula sa Texas Chainsaw Massacre. May naka mask pa na statue from My Bloody Valentine. There are different statues that were all inspired by movies but none of them caught my attention.

I saw Wren flinched when the background song played. Bigla biglaan kasing may tumawa. Kaya sa sobrang gulat, napakapit siya sa braso ko. Nanginginig siya.

I chuckled. "Ang hina mo pala e!"

"Shut it," he said.

Lalo siyang napahiyaw nang all of a sudden, someone grabbed out ankles. Sumigaw siya nang napakalakas na halos maging dahilan ng pagkabingi ko.

I grasp his hand. "Easy. Tao lang 'yan. Wag kang masyadong kabahan."

But he didn't stop. I found his chest rising and falling in a peculiar motion. His breathing was ragged. And in a matter of seconds, he starts to hyperventilate.

Hinagod ko ang likod niya. Kahit na natutuwa ako sa kaninang pagkatakot niya, nagaalala na din ako.

"I...labas...mo...ako...dito." sabi niya habang kinakapos sa hininga.

I search for the exit. Mabuti na lang at medyo malapit lang ang exit dito kaya agad kaming nakapunta dun, with me dragging him out.

Nang makalabas kami, unting unting nag-even ang paghinga niya. Nawala na rin ang pangamba ko.

I pat his shoulder. "Okay ka lang?"

Tumango naman siya. He grasp my hand at huminga ulit. "Let's go grab some uhm... midnight snack."

"Okay ka lang ba talaga?" tanong ko ulit.

He smiled. "Nag-aalala ka?"

"Malamang! You hyperventilated you idiot! Buti sana kung hindi ako ang kasama mo sa kamatayan mo e!"

"Okay na sa'kin na ikaw ang kasama ko sa huling hininga ko."

I don't know but I found myself blushing.

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pabalik kasi hinatak na niya ako palayo. We started running. Marami kaming nadaanang booths. Marami ding rides na gusto kong pasukan but I can't bring myself to ask.

Until I saw a shooting booth. I stopped and he instantly looked at me with curiosity.

"Bakit?" he asked.

"Laro tayo nun." I said pointing at the booth.

"Bakit gusto mo nang teddy bear?"

"Hindi. I'm not dorky noh. Kung gusto ko 'yun, edi sana kinuha ko na. Wala namang taong nakabantay e."

He grinned. "Iba talaga ang mentality mo."

"I know right." I rolled my eyes and drag him to the booth.

So yeah. We ended up fighting to get a prize. And it's a teddy bear. He won. And I admit, masakit sa pride 'yun.

But in the end, I was surprised when he gave the teddy bear to me. Sabi niya, it was a beautiful memoir of my birthday. Syempre, I rolled my eyes even though it touched my heart.

After that, we ran again and found myself sitting inside a Ferris wheel ride. Nagulat ako nung una kasi nakita ko na may basket doon.

But when he opened it, bumulaga sa akin ang mga pagkain that he told me he prepared. It tasted nice.

He opened a bottle of champagne and poured down into the two wine glasses.

Nagaalinlangan akong kinuha ito.

"Pwede ba sa'tin ito?" I asked.

"Yeah. And it's for celebratory occasions," he said. "And your birthday is an occasion that is worth to be celebrate for."

I stopped again. Hindi kasi ako sanay na palaging naririnig si Wren na nagsasalita ng choosy words kaya I flinch every time he does that.

I don't like romantic words but with him and his so called hirits, I found my heart being touched. Kasi ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng ganito. To be cherished.

Nagtataka akong nagtanong sa kanya.

"Why are you looking outside?" napansin ko kasing tinititigan niya yung madilim na kalangitan.

"Bakit? Would you rather found me looking at you?" He asked back and I blushed.

"Bakit nga?" Umirap ako.

"I'm just looking out for something."

"At ano naman iyon?"

At sumakto nga. Colorful lines of fireworks displayed in the sky. Tumagal iyon ng ilang minuto before it dissipated completely.

I found my mouth hanging open. I am too stunned para makapagsalita. I have no other words but wow.

I'm thankful. Kasi for the first time in my life existence, someone provided me a birthday gift na hinding hindi ko malilimutan. A birthday present that I will cherish forever.

At dahil dun, I realized na hindi ko na pinagsisisihan na nakilala ko itong lalaking ito. Because, like a firework, he gave glow into my dark and lonely sky.

He gave me a reason to celebrate my birthday. He gave me a reason to smile even though there's no tomorrow ahead. He gave me a reason to laugh even though there's nothing's funny.

Napatitig ako sa kanya habang nakaawang ang bibig ko. He looked at me with a sincere smile on his lips. Our eyes locked at para bang for a second, kami lang ang taong nakatira sa mundong ito. It feels like the time stopped.

"Paano mo nagawa lahat ng ito?" I asked, breaking the silence.

He smiled. "This theme park was my father's birthday present to my mom fourteen years ago," he stood to look outside once again. Pero ngayon, I'm sure na wala siyang tinitignan physically. He was reminiscing the past. "We used to come here every Sunday until Mom died because of breast cancer. Then this place was shut down. Until now."

"Bakit mo binuksan?" I asked. "This place was special to your mom. This was a sacred place. Dapat hindi mo ako dinala dito."

He turned to face me. "I came here to fulfill a promise."

Lumamlam ang mga titig ko sa kanya. "And what is that?"

He smiled.

"To bring the girl who is special to me. To bring the first girl who makes my heart race. To bring here the first girl who I found myself falling in love with."

Akala ko si Wren lang ang pwedeng mag hyperventilate. Pati din pala ang puso ko.

Then he leaned closer to me and pressed his soft lips on my forehead.