Love Maneuver (LOVE TRILOGY #2)

✭ LOVE MANEUVER 06 ✭

٩꒰｡•‿•｡꒱۶
Drino Wang

As expected from Mark, kauwi ko, may text message na naman siya sa 'kin, telling me na pagbutihin ko raw sa pagre-review. Ang hindi niya alam, I always do advance review. Nga naman, hindi ko pa naman pala na-mention sa kanya 'to, but I really appreciate his concern. The thought na naalala niya akong i-remind, it made me feel special. So I texted back: woy, ikaw din! sasapakin kita 'pag nakita ko low scores mo.

Wait . . . just a sudden realization, hindi ko pa talaga siya totally kilala, even siya, sa akin. So, basically, we're like that couple who's just in that phase of getting-to-know-each-other? Well, if I think about it, kahit naman na n'ong hindi pa kami, eh hindi naman kami sobrang close talaga, so I guess, it is just natural na ganito 'yong love process namin.

Honestly, the thought of us getting to know each other deeply made me excited. I know, hindi namin kailangang magmadali. I'm just wondering kung paano namin kikilalanin 'yong isa't isa. I mean, in what way? And sino mag-i-initiate to keep the relationship going? Why this kinda bother me? Like, seriously? This is new to me. N'ong time naman kasi na may naka-MU ako, I remember na hindi naman ganong nag-matter sa 'kin 'yong ganitong love process. May love process love process nga akong nalalaman ngayon? I mean, ano dapat 'yong role ko sa relationship na 'to? Do I need to just wait na mag-initiate siya ng conversation to keep our relationship going? Do I need to jut sit prettily at hintayin na lang siya to make a move since siya naman 'yong lalaki sa amin?

Wait, kailangan ko bang maging taga-receive lang ng love?

I don't think I want to be just that. Ano 'yon, maghihintay na lang ako? I need to give love, too. This isn't just about me. It's about us. It should be a give and take relationship. Mark and Celine, hindi lang Mark.

For now, kami ni Mark, nasa stage kami na hindi kami 'yong tipo ng mag-bf/gf na laging nag-uusap through phone call or video call. I don't know kung dahil ba 'yon sa nag-a-adjust pa kami sa isa't isa or kung gan'on lang talaga siya as a person knowing his nature or maybe busy siya sa course niya. Wala rin naman ako sa stage ng obsession na dine-demand ko siya na kausapin niya ako almost every minute or even update me kung ano ginagawa niya, kaya sa akin, okay lang naman 'yong ganitong set up. I just don't know what he thinks about this matter.

It has been only two weeks when our relationship started, so I think, bibigyan ko muna ng chance 'yong relationship namin to unfold naturally without setting expectations. As what I've said, I don't prefer the idea of societal pressures and setting my own high expectations when it comes to our relationship. This relationship is just about the two of us. Hihintayin ko na lang muna siya kung ano gagawin niya or kung wala talaga, that's the time I must do something about it. Besides, ayokong ma-stress pa 'ko at ma-disappoint dahil sa mga expectation ko.

To distract myself from those thoughts, lumabas ako sa kuwarto ko para d'on mag-review. Dinala ko na rin phone ko if ever na merong text si Mark. If ever lang na mag-good night na siya or something, not that I'm waiting for him, but because it is already expected routine of him.

Uminom muna ako ng tubig before making my way sa sala namin. After seconds, saka biglang lumabas si mama from her room. Napatingin naman siya sa gawi ko so I smiled at her.

"Finals n'yo na, 'di ba, 'nak?"

"Yes, Ma, why?"

"Ibagsak mo, sweetie."

"What, sira ka ba, Ma? Sa 'yo pa talaga nanggaling 'yan?"

"That was a joke only, anak. Alam ko naman na laging high scores nakukuha mo."

"Kung kaya binagsak ko nga, Ma, tingnan ko lang kung makatawa ka. Don't challenge me," pang-aasar ko naman.

"Okay lang, at least maganda pa din ang anak ko na mana sa 'kin."