Sweet Lost Love

12

I couldn't take my eyes away from the man who's standing beside me. He's holding my hand like I am going to run away any moment. He is so happy that even his eyes smiles.

"Hindi nga marunong 'yan, Hesper. Kaya nga ako gumagawa nito noon pa."

"Kaya nga ngayon magpractice na siya..."

Tahimik lang ako habang pinapakinggan si Ate Emma at ang boyfriend ko na magtalo. I will enroll today. Well, inaya ko ng date si Hesper, si Ate Emma lang talaga ang pupunta sa school dapat. But Hesper insisted I should enroll myself— dapat daw matuto na ako.

"Akin na ate..." kinuha niya ang papers ko kay Ate Emma tsaka niya inabot sa akin. "Mag-date nalang kayo ni Kuya Pete. Ako na bahala sa alaga mo."

"Hindi nga niya alam saan dalhin mga papeles niya."

"Nandito ako. Ako na tutulong."

Nag-alangan si Ate pero sa huli ay pumayag din. Iniwan niya kay Hesper ang payong at pamaypay. Bumaba naman ang tingin ko sa plastic envelope kung saan ang papers ko.

"I don't know what to do," I honestly mumbled.

"Teller and registrar lang 'yan. Mabilis lang."

"But—

I stop myself for another rant when he shook his head. Why do I need to do this? Nandiyan si Ate Emma. I can even ask dad to call the school and enroll me with no sweat.

"I'm hungry," reklamo ko papasok pa lang kami sa main building.

"You're not, baby. You just had your breakfast."

"My knees are tired..." I tug his hand, stopping him from walking.

He sigh, looking at my high heels. "Stay there—" tinuro niya ang upuan sa harap ng library. Binitiwan niya ang kamay ko at walang sabi na iniwan ako.

Sinunod ko ang gusto niya. I am seriously tired and hungry. I only had milk ang pancake for breakfast, nagjogging kami kaninang madaling araw kaya pagod ako.

Hesper went back shortly. He has a strapped flat sandals on his one hand, and a sandwich and water on the other.

"Eat this. Tapusin natin enrollment mo then we'll have our early lunch."

Tinanggap ko ang pagkain. I put my feet away when he knelt on one knee in front of me. "W-what are you doing?"

"Palitan natin suot mo. Masyadong mataas. Nahihirapan kang maglakad."

The high heels isn't comfortable. But I will wear it anytime— I have to look my best. I need to compensate with my baby face and dress like a lady to atleast match him.

"No."

He squinted his eyes on me. "Mapapagod paa mo. Huwag kang pasaway."

I eye the sandals on his hand. It will look good with my dress but still—

"Where did you get that?"

"Sa kotse. Sa ate ko 'to. It's branded if that's what you are concern about..." kinuha niya ang isang paa ko at tinanggal ang suot. "Namumula na paa mo," puna niya.

He massage my foot a little before putting the sandal, he did the same to the other. Pagkatapos ay iniwan niya uli ako para ilagay sa kotse niya ang hinubad kong sapatos.

Hesper is literally not helping. Nasa likuran ko lang siya at nakasunod. He'll only tell me if I'm doing things wrong. He made me stand on the teller line for more than half an hour. Some boys at the front is okay with me cutting the line but he ended up scolding them.