Whispers in The Breeze

02

"Crush na crush kita. 'Di mo ba nadarama? Crush mo rin kaya ako?"

- Crush na Crush Kita, Tweens of Pops

ASTRID

[MONDAY]

My phone rang. It was Rach. Tingnan mo 'tong babaeng 'to, ngayon lang nagparamdam ulit.

"Hey, Astrid. Nasaan ka na?" she asked.

"Still at home," I answered. "Bilis beh. We need to get there on time," nagmamadali niyang sabi.

"Wait," she paused. It looks like she held the call. "Astrid, dadaanan ka na lang daw ni Chris sa inyo," she informed.

"No need. Mag-Grab na lang ako," I insisted.

She tsk-ed. "Huwag ka nang tumanggi beh," she said and hung up the call.

Inilugay ko na lang ang buhok ko at nagpabango.

Then, I heard a beep. Nakita ko namang bumaba na siya sa sasakyan niya.

He smiled at me widely. "You look stunning," he said.

"Che! Hindi ah. Ikaw, pogi," I complimented him.

I am not used to being the one who gets a compliment. Nagpipigil siya ng ngiti.

"Thanks," he said as he opened the door.

-

Well, Chris has been a good friend to me since we started college. He is a total gentleman.

I smiled. Matagal na rin siyang nanliligaw sa akin. Dati, I also informed him rin na as a friend lang talaga ang kaya kong ibigay. But, he still insists until now.

Nasanay na rin naman ako sa mga ginagawa niya. Swerte ang kung sinoman ang magiging girlfriend o asawa nito.

"Hey, Astrid. You okay?" tanong ni Chris. Kararating lang namin sa venue. Maliwang ang lugar. Marami ring tao kahit sa bungad pa lang.

I nodded. "Oo naman. Saan kaya sila?" I asked him.

Pagpasok naman namin, sumalubong ang maliwanag na mga ilaw everywhere. Maraming mga tao, may mga businessmen at mga kaedaran namin.

"Huy, Astrid, Chris. Andito kami," sigaw ni Vera.

Malakas rin kasi ang patunog ng DJ. "Kanina ka pa namin hinihintay beh! Buti na lang Chris is just around your area," sabi naman ni Rach.

"Hayaan mo na beh. Di naman ako ang may birthday," biro ko. Napatawa naman sina Sid.

"Heh! Tara na. Let's give it to her na," sabi niya.

"Ikaw ha. Baka pinaghintay mo pa si Chris ng matagal," sabi ni Vera.

Umiling ako. "Hindi naman. Mabilis kaya ako kumilos," sagot ko.

"Hindi naman 'yan ang ibig kong sabihin. I meant, 'yung panliligaw niya sayo," she said.

"Oh. Also, hindi naman sa pangingialam," she added.

I sighed. "I made myself clear na you know... But he is still insisting e," sagot ko ulit.

She nodded. Napatingin naman kami nang makita ang sister ni Nicole. We're kinda close kasi madalas rin kami nakatambay dito. "Hi guys! Missed you! Hindi na kayo tumatambay rito," nagtatampong sabi ni ate Blair.

"Nako, na-busy talaga kami," sabi naman namin.

"By the way, happy birthday, ate! 25 ka na!" masaya kong sabi.