AKIOs' POV
. . .
"Matagal ba? Sorry, nagloko kasi yung machine. Ang tagal bago ako nakapag turn over." Bungad sakin ni Celine habang nilalagay sa loob ng bag niya yung hairnet niya.
"Okay lang, kakarating kolang din naman nung nag text ako. Akin na 'yang bag mo." I replied and lend my hand, signalling for her to give me her backpack.
"H-Huh? Bakit?" Tanong niya sakin.
"Pagod kana, ako na magdalala nyan." Sagot ko naman. Though still confused, she handed me her bag.
"Nagugutom kana?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Tumango tango naman siya.
Inakbayan ko siya tsaka nagsalita, "Tara, kain muna tayo." Sambit ko tsaka kami sabay naglakad papunta dun sa restaurant na mejo malapit lang samin.
✧#ㅡ
"Nabusog ka?" Tanong ko kay Celine habang umiinom siya ng tubig. Naparami yung kain namin parehas kaya di muna kami tumatayo.
"Yeah, thank you sa treat Aki!" Sagot niya tsaka ako nginitian.
I just smiled at her, "Anything for you."
"Kamusta naman exam mo kanina? Diba exam niyo kanina?" Tanong ko sa kanya.
"Ayun, okay naman siguro? Sana nga di ako bumagsak, ayoko na i-retake yun." Sagot niya naman tsaka nag pout. Ang cute talaga! I love it when she does that, it was such a nice view.
"Celine look, may sasabihin sana ako sayo."
This is it, wala nang atrasan Akio. Isantabi mo muna 'yang katorpehan mo for today.
"Ano 'yun?" Tanong niya sakin.
"We've known each other for years now, and i want to tell you that i developed very strong feelings for you. Celine, i like you." There, in just a solid 10 seconds; i finally let it all out. In just a solid 10 seconds, nalabas ko lahat ng saloobin ko na halos 7 years konang tinatago.
"Aki, seryoso ba? Prank bato? Daniel? West? Mia? Lumabas na kayo jan, tapos na!" She replied while laughing, trying to call our friends na wala naman dito.
I held her hand that made her look at me, "No, this isn't a prank. I really like you."
She just smiled at me, "I know, pinapakalma lang kita. Halata kasing kinakabahan ka."
"Ikaw ha? Kaya pala you genuinely care for me, ha? You like me pala, ha?" Pangaasar niya sakin habang tumatawa, natawa nalang din ako tsaka yumuko. Diko alam kung matatawa bako o mahihiya ako sa kanya.
After a few seconds, i felt her hand on the side of my cheeks. "I already know how you feel about me dati pa, nahahalata ko naman. I want to ask you about it pero diko na tinuloy. But now it already came from you, matatahimik nayung isip ko."
After that i looked at her, she's just smiling at me; revealing her attractive dimples and beautiful eye smile. Every detail of her just screams perfection and i can tell that i'm falling deeper the more i look at it.
"I really appreciate your courage to tell this to me, Aki. Pero i think we should still stay this way muna. Bestest of bestfriends, but with benefits." Sagot niya sakin. Ha? Panong with benefits?
After that, a ring from Celines' phone rings.
"Wait, excuse muna. It's prof." Sambit niya, tumango naman ako tsaka siya tuluyang lumabas ng restaurant para kausapin yung prof niya.
. . .
After a few minutes, she came back with a huge smile flashing on her face. Ano kayang meron?
"Anong sabi?" Tanong ko sa kanya.
She didn't said anything but she hugged me instead, "I passed the exam. Ga graduate akong Summa Cumlaude. Isang exam nalang, may Architect kana."
"R-Really?! Congrats!" Masaya kong bati sa kanya.
In the middle of our mini celebration, her phone light up by itself; revealing a message from someone.
"Sino 'yan?" Tanong ko.
Kinuha niya ang cellphone niya para tignan 'yung message. Binasa niya ito at unti unting nabura ang mga matatamis na ngiting nakapinta sa kanyang muka kani kanina lang.
She just looked at me and put her phone inside her pocket.
"May pasok kaba bukas?" Tanong niya sakin.
"Oo, sa weekend pa ulit day off ko eh." Sagot ko sa kanya.
Tumango tango naman siya tsaka agad agad na tumayo, "U-Uwi na tayo para makapag pahinga, maaga kapa papasok bukas."
"Oh sige." Sagot ko tsaka binitbit yung bag niya.
. . .
Naglalakad lang kami pauwi sa bahay namin, malapit lang naman 'yung bahay namin sa restaurant na kinainan namin tsaka sa restaurant na pinagtatrabahuhan niya pati 'yung coffee shop na pinagtatrabahuhan ko.
We're just casually talking and laughing about things, life at kung ano ano pang mga bagay.
Not until Celine stopped for a second.
"Celine? Anong nangyari?" Tanong ko sa kanya tsaka siya hinawakan sa kamay.
Unti unti niyang inihawak ang kabila niyang kamay sa ulo niya, "Aki, nahihilo ak--"
She didn't even had the chance to finish her sentence at bigla bigla nalang siyang natumba.
