The Beautiful Thing (Lucky Girlies #1)

TBT 130

Kung hindi sa library ay inaaya ako ni Anton sa kung saan man. 

His reason? 

He told me he doesn't like to see me frustrated kaya madalas ay ine-interrupt niya talaga ang pag-aaral namin na dalawa at hinihila ako palabas ng campus. Madalas kumakain lang kami ng pangpa-tanggal ng stress, minsan naman ay dinadala niya ako sa nature. Pareho na demanding ang schedule namin, palagi siyang busy sa banda... madalas kahit gabi na ay nasa labas pa siya dahil sa mga scheduled gigs nila. Unlike other bands, Invisible String still wants to experience starting from the rock bottom. 

Biglaan na lang din kasi ang pag sikat nila. 

They released a single, it became famous nationwide, they were noticed by lots of celebrities and musicians abroad, and with their help the boys finally debuted an album six months later. Hindi talaga nila naranasan ang mag-street basking, o kaya naman ay mag schedule ng napakahirap na event para lang maging known ang banda nila. Anton explained it to me one time while we were laying down and staring at the ceiling. He was playing with my fingers when he answered me, "Kuya Amir and Kuya Ben experienced the street-basking, they were pretty young when they started. Hindi pa kami banda no'n. Magda-dalawang taon lang naman ang banda and last year was our debut. Gusto sana namin na maranasan din yung naranasan nila nung high school." 

"Hindi ba kayo magkakasama sa iisang club nung high school?" I whispered. He smiled at me, "Magkakasama kami sa club. That time, Kuya Krenz's priority was to finish his undergrad. Ako naman, hindi ako masyadong sanay na exposed sa mga tao. Kuya Amir was the one to pull Kuya Ben to the scene. Nagustuhan naman nilang dalawa, kaya minsan kapag tapos na ang session ng club ay sila ang una na umaalis dahil may gig pa." 

I returned to him the smile he gave me, "Mukhang maganda nga na ma-experience niyo," his smile grew bigger habang sinisiksik ang mukha sa gitna ng aking kaliwang balikat at leeg.

We never really talked about the busy schedules. 

Hindi rin naman namin pansin. 

Lately, I was occupied with finals at idagdag pa ang Student Council duties. We have meetings left and right kaya madalang na lang akong gumamit ng social media. Kung hindi pa ako tatawagan nila Azi tungkol sa Q and A portion ni Chance noong nakaraan ay hindi ko rin malalaman na he took a picture of me while I was lost in my thought. In the end, we both laughed about it. 

"How was my baby?" Bungad sa akin ng aking boyfriend while I was exiting the classroom of my last final examination. It was a major subject of mine and I can say that all the review sessions turned into flirting games with Anton helped me a lot. 

"Your baby's fine, how was my love?" I asked him back habang sinagot ng mahigpit na yakap ang nakalahad niyang mga braso. 

I can feel his lips smiling even though it is pressed onto my head, "I submitted the song I created for the practicum exam. They loved it," sagot niya.

"When will I ever hear of that song?" 

"Soon," he replied back with a toothy grin. 

"How soon?" 

"Real soon," Anton stated. 

Kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniya kasabay ng tanong na dumaan sa aking isip, "What was it about?" He stared at me with a puzzled look, "The song. What was it about?" 

"It's about you," he said like it was obvious. 

I smiled more. 

I've never felt this type of love from anyone else. Maybe from my friends, yes, but they are more of my lifeline and platonic love. This one hits differently for me. The romantic gestures, the gentle actions, and the pure intentions, it was bringing me to heavenly bliss. 

I did not know that this is how falling in love feels like. 

"I love you," I said out of nowhere. Pareho na kami ngayong naglalakad sa hallway, papunta sa elevator habang magkahawak ang kamay. 

"I love you more," he replied in a heartbeat. 

No hesitation. No second guesses. 

"I love you for what you are," he added. 

From then on, I genuinely realized how immensely lucky I am to be loved back by this person, by a human being named Anthony Chance L. Young. Back then I was joking about his second name, but when he really gave it to me I grasped it like it was my life... it made my living so much better. He makes everything so much better. I am happy for him. I am happy with him. And I will never have it the other way.