Love At First Heard

PAGE 12

"May I?" I smile at him, bow like a princess and gladly hold his hand to dance.

We laughed as we heard our friends, shouting like they're going to give up there lungs.

"They're insane!" I whispered.

"So are you?" I sarcastically laughed and try to kick his foot. "You crying baby, stop harassing me!" I look at him with my eyes widely open. "Now, you look like an owl." Mabilis kong hinampas ang braso niya at samaan siya ng tingin. "Wala na, tampo na siya." Pang aasar niya pa.

Maya-maya pa ay napaiwas ako ng tingin ng matagal niya akong titigan "Ganda mo," nakagat ko ang loob ng pisngi ko ng marinig yun mula sa kaniya. "You're always beautiful but now? I can see your confidence. You're really like a princess, Marem—"

Agad kong tinakpan ang bibig niya at masama siyang tignan. "Huwag mo ako ganyanin, bawal pa ako mag boyfriend." He paused for a second then laugh.

"Noted po," He replied and continue our dance.

"But I just want to say that even without make up, without this and that... you're always naturally beautiful." He sincerely said that before he turned me around and hug me while still dancing. "From being a person who admire the moon. I'm admiring you from afar, and now... I'll be the lucky and the shiniest star for having me by your side."

"I like you, Marem."

As he said that, the confetti explode at the same time na tumapat din sa amin ang spot light. There's so many people around us but I can't take away my eyes from him.

He confessed, the guy that I like confessed to me!

"The King and Queen of the night, not other than Ms. Maramira at Mr. Guazon!" The MC announced, and I'm shock to hear my name as the Queen of this prom tonight. It's unexpected!

I look at him with my teary eyes. He's  clapping while looking at me. "Congrats! You deserve it!" He whispered after he hugged me. He once hold my hand again and take me to the stage to get our rewards.

As we take pictures, he stop holding my hands but grab my waist instead. And as we go down stairs, he hold my hand again and carefully support me.

"You're always be my Queen." He whispered and escort me to our table.

"Kuha kayo ng picture!" Sigaw ni Dustine. "Closer! Closer! One, two, say kesyyy!"

"Kiss!" Sigaw ni Nico na sinang ayunan naman ng iba. Masama ko siyang tinignan pero wala rin ako nagawa ng hatakin papalapit ni Acedhelo ang upuan niya palapit sa akin.

"H-Hoy!" Pagbabanta ko pero tinawanan niya lang ito saka ako tinitigan. "Tinitingin-tingin mo dyan? Alam kong gwapo ka pero huwag mong—" I feel like my soul left my body for a second he kissed my forehead, at the same time the camera flashes.

"I know..." He whispered and look at the photos taken by Nj's camera. "Marem!" He shouted, dahilan para agad akong humarap sa kaniya pero flash ng camera ang sumalubong sa akin.

"Hoy, burahin mo iyan!" Inis ko siyang hinampas ng tumabi siya sa akin at ipakita ang litrato.

"It's not bad, you're beautiful in any angle." While holding the camera, I see him, laughing... I slowly observe his face again like how I observed him on the first day I saw his face personally.

"I'm scared," I whispered, pero mukhang narinig niya yun dahilan para agad niyang bitawan ang camera at lapitan ako.

"Uy sorry na, buburahin ko na—"

"Can we go home?" I asked, because I have the feeling that I'm going to cry again. "Don't worry, it's not about the picture. I just want to go home." He nod as he see my teary eyes.

"Let's go,... guys una na kami!" He shouted, and I also beed goodbyes to my friends.

"Sorry, pero pwede ka naman bumalik pag want mo—"

"Ayoko, wala ka na doon eh." We stopped walking, and look at me seriously. "What happened? You told me that it's not about the picture, then what is it all about?"

Sandali ko siyang tinitigan at umiling. "Wala, just have questions that no one can't answer." Nginitian ko siya saka ako umiwas ng tingin matapos tumulo ng luha ko. "Tara na?"

"Marem, why don't you ask me? Try if I can?" I laughed, pero agad din ako natigil ng makita kung gaano siya ka seryoso.

"Gusto mo talaga malaman?" He nodded. "Wala lang yun, I'm just wondering if this world really exist. I mean, I feel like I'm dreaming." His face doesn't make any changes, he's too way serious but you can see in his eyes that he's really worried for me. "It's weird, I know... but sometimes, I feel like this is not the reality. I'm clueless and confused, that's what I always feel."

"You think that you're hallucinating? That just like a lucid dreams?" He asked and start to walk again.

"I know, it's funny, but that's how I feel. I'm confused if all of you are real. Kasi parang ang bilis lang ng pangyayari, and I remember!" I continually said as he open the door of his car.

"Your sister told me that we met on an accident, but as I remember... nagkakilala tayo sa online class?" I asked after he jump in. "Then yung picture, sa envelope... where did we take that picture? Then, kailan pa kayo naging magkaibigan ni Nico? If he's trying to warn me about you at first, pero hindi ka pa rin niya kilala that time?"

Pinagpatuloy ko pa rin ang pagsasalita ko kahit sinusuotan niya muli ako ng seatbelt. "And how come that you don't have any friends? And about your school, you're enrolled in other school, you transfered. So why are you here?" He started the engine and go to the exit gate. "A-And how come you know my face? How we became this close? And how come you like me if you told me before that you like your childhood friend?"

"I'm confused, sorry for being weird—"

"You're not being weird, that's what you notice. So I'm just going to listen and explained what happened later." My brows furrowed, did I heard him right?

"What do you mean explained?" Before he answer my question. He invited me to eat an icecream before we go back, I agree knowing that he knows what the answers.

"About what you noticed," I carefully listen to him as he started that topic again. "You're not weird, you're just confused about how things work recently. But I have just one question for you."

"What is it?" I ask while eating my icecream.

"If this isn't the reality... if this is just a dream. Would you still want to go back? I mean, what will you choose... this dream or the reality?" He asked while wiping the side of my lips.

"Actually, I just want to stay here. But how about the people in my real world? Maiiwan ko sila. I can't exchange my life for this dream. So, I would still choose the reality. If this is just a dream."

Habang kumakain ng ice cream, agad nakakuha ng atensyon ko ang isang matandang naglalakad sa daan habang may dalang mabigat na sako.

At ang malaking truck sa hindi kalayuan.

"So, you still want to go back?"

"Teka!"  Before I give him my answer, I immediately run towards the lady and push her away. Trying to save her from the truck that are going to hit her.

"Marem!" But dying with him isn't the plan.

I feel the blood running through my head, and as he reached out my hands, I close my eyes and remember what he said at the letter.

'I promise, our path will cross again as the sun and moon collide after a long long time.'