Love At First Heard

PAGE 11

"Marem, right?" I nodded as she look at me. "I'm just wondering, where did you meet my brother?" She asked, at bago pa ako makasagot ay inunahan niya na ako agad. "My brother told me that he met you by accident."

My eyebrows furrowed, accident?

"It just that, my brother is lucky to have you. I feel like, you're too innocent in this world. And I'm happy to meet someone like you." Sandali siyang huminto at tinignan ang ayos ng mukha ko bago pumunta sa likuran ko at ayusin ang buhok ko. "You just need confidence. You're so beautiful in and out. Why don't you show your face proudly?"

"I'm too shy," I looked at myself in front of the mirror. "My eyes are different from the others. My nose, my lips, my moles, the shape and skin of my face, and because of pimples-"

"Nobody's perfect, lahat may flaws." She cut me off. "I actually like those eyes, unique, and it suits you... mukha kang korean kaya!" We laughed.

"And your nose?" I nodded. "It's not pointed nor flat. Maliit lang talaga ilong mo, no need to feel insecure to the others. And your lips? It's just okay! Nukaba!" Marahan siyang tumapat sa salamin at tignan ang mukha ko.

"The shape and skin of your face and moles? It's beautiful. I can see your jawline right here." Napatingin ako sa kaniya ng marahan niyang haplusin ang jawline ko. "Pimples? Saan?"

"Dito po," turo ko sa magkabilang pisngi ko. "It's not obvious, sa pwesto ko ngang too you look like someone who doesn't have pores and pimples. It looks like I'm going to envy you for having a glass skin. I can't see your flaws. You're so beautiful para lang mawalan ng kompyansa."

Pumunta siya sa harapan ko at nakangiting inoffer muli ang kamay niya sa akin. "You're just like a butterfly, Marem. You can't see your own wings. That's why you can't see how beautiful you are." Napatingin ako sa kaniya ng marahan niyang hawakan ang mga balikat ko matapos kong tumayo.

"You're too good to be true."

Kita ang pag aalala sa kaniya matapos niyang makitang mamasa ang mata ko. "No, no, no, you can't cry. It's my fault, sorry my dear sister-in-law."

Maya-maya pa ay hindi niya rin nakayanan at mahigpit akong niyakap. "Get ready, paniguradong galit na sa akin yung kapatid kong yun for having you too long." Mahina niya akong tinapik at muling niyakap. "Hope to see you again. Have confidence, okay? You're way too beautiful." I smile at her as I see her go out.

Again, marahan akong umupo sa upuan ko at marahang pagmasdan ang sarili sa salamin. "Confidence," I whisper. I stood up and try to turn around. Try to make imperfect circles out of this gown.

"Marem!" My mother shouted and tell me to go down.

Paalis na ako ng mabunggo ko muli yung box na pinaglagyan ng gown. Kung kaya't agad ko itong inayos at hindi sinasadyang makita ang isang pirasong envelope sa gilid nito.

Litrato naming dalawa ni acedhelo ang unang bumungad sa akin, hindi ko alan kung saan kinunan to pero natuwa ako dahil mukhang masaya kami sa litrato.

I slowly open the letter and read what he wrote.

'You didn't expect this, right?
But do you know that you're the most unexpected person In my life?
You came, give me light, hope...'

Agad akong tumingala ng maramdaman ang pamamasa muli ng mata.

'From the moment I saw you in my dreams,
From the moment I finally saw you personally,
And from this moment, I'll cherish you.'

I smile... mukhang siya pa tuloy yung naunang nagkagusto kaysa ako ah!

'I'm willing to go back with that accident and save you this time. Just to meet our real soul again.'

"Accident?" That's it, that's what her sister said. "What do you mean accident?" I asked, and read the the sentence at the back of envelope na parang tinatago pa sa akin.

Nangunot ang noo ko ng mabasa ang huling sulat niya, ngunit agad napukaw ng atensyon ko ang pag katok ng kung sino sa pintuan ko.

Nagtataka man ay nilagay ko sa bag kong maliit ang letter niyang yun at marahang buksan ang pintuan.

"Tulo mo, lumalaway." Agad naman nangunot ang noo ni acedhelo ng marinig sa ate niya ang binaliktad na salita.

"Marem," Nginitian ko si Mama at marahan siyang yakapin.

"Ako rin-"

"Tita, yung kapatid ko huwag niyong papayagan manligaw sa anak niyo po ah?" Pag banggit naman ni ate chelsey.

"Wala ng ligaw, kami na agad-" Nagtawanan kami ng bigla na lang takpan ni ate ang bibig niya.

"Bastos talaga itong bata na ito eh. Pagpasensyahan niyo na Marem, Tita!" Sagot naman ni Ate Chelsey.

"O siya siya, umalis na kayo... late na kayo sa party!" Paalala ni Mama sa amin pagkatapos muli ako yakapin at picturan.

I carefully go down stairs when someone offer his hand. "Need help?" He asked, still waiting my hand. I nodded and hold his hand, but unexpectedly, may humampas sa braso niya.

"Ops, sorry I got asim kilig." Asar pa ni Ate Chelsey bago umalis.

"Before we go, I'll give you something." He said after taking out the box out of his pocket. "Do you like it?" He said after showing the gold necklace and carefully put it on my neck.

I almost forgot how to breath when he lean towards me just to get the seat belt at my back at isuot iyun sa akin.

"Comfortable?" He asked while staring at my eyes. He's too close, inches lang pagitan ng mga mukha namin. "Ohh! I'm too close, sorry-" I grab his clothes and hug him. "Iisipin kong may gusto ka na sa akin, kanina ka pa yakap ng yakap ah! Bango ko ba?"

"Thank you," I genuinely smile at him saka ko siya hinayaang makaupo at magsimulang paandarin ang sasakyan.

"Ready?" He asked after we saw the grand entrance of the prom. "You can squeeze my hands if you're nervous." Umiling ako at saka ako lumabas ng pintuan matapos niya itong buksan para sa akin. "Let's go?" I nodded and hold his hand.

As the door open it feels like I'm in heaven. The camera flash, the lights from the music light, the people, the loud music, the reception, the designs of each side, stage, and table... It's awesome. And for the food, it's so much fancy.

"Woahh! Marem!!" As I heard them shout, I immediately go to them and greet all of my friends. Especially, yung nga closest friends ko."Dustine! Nj! Nico!"

"Have a great night, Rem! I know kinikilig ka na kanina pa." Bulong sa akin ni Dustine na tinanguan naman ni Nj.

"You too, pre." Dinig kong sagot ni Nico kay Acedhelo.

Maya-maya pa ay nag play ang music at natuwa ako ng makita ang mga estudyanteng babae na inaaya ng mga lalaki na pumunta sa gitna at sumayaw. Meron pa yung iba, mga mismong babae na ang nag aaya sa kapartner nila.

Yung iba magkaibigan, nagsasayaw silang lima sa gitna at umiikot. Ganun den yung ibang part ng lgbtq... nakakatuwa.

Unexpectedly, someone offer his hand to me, tapos sunod-sunod na na may lumapag na kamay sa harapan ko only too see my friends want me to join with them to dance.

I'll miss this moment!

"Okay!" Nj shouted and they start counting. "One! Two! Three!" In just a blink of an eye, they left me at the center.

I'm at lost, so I decided to go back but before I step out of the center, someone called my name the same time the music changed.

I turn around and see acedhelo in front of me. Staring at me while having a beautiful smile.

My eyes grew bigger when he show me a bouquet of roses that he's trying to hide at his back.

Tinuro ko pa ang sarili ko and asked him if it's really for me, and he said yes... I thought he only want to give me the flowers but he offer his hand again.

"May I?"