First Love's Magical Place

WARNING: First time ko gumawa. Grade 8 ako nung ginawa ko 'to. Inedit edit ko lang! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ewan, goodluck.

Today is my 13th birthday at sa wakas teenager na ako. Tagal na 'tong hinihintay ng mga pinsan ko, surely because napag-iiwanan na ako, lahat sila ay nasa teenage years na nila- kinikilig, naiinlove at nagdradrama. Sabi rin nila, I am really unique and beautiful compared to my siblings and cousins, ako lang daw yung nakamana ng natural brown hair and brown eyes ng grandmother namin. Yun din siguro ang dahilan kung bakit favorite ako ng lolo ko, na-appreciate niya daw ako at vinavalue, tulad ng lola ko, pero love niya rin daw ako. Romantico ang lolo ko. Mestiza ako pero kung papapiliin ako, gusto ko maging morena, black hair, black eyes, para hindi agaw atensyon. Sabi nila, my eyes speaks so much about me. Kitang kita daw nila ang innocence and purity ko, just by looking at my eyes. 'Di ko gets yung pinagsasabi nila, but still I feel flattered by their compliments. Even though I am labeled unique and beautiful, I am humble. I never wanted attention, especially in our university. I'm trying my best to be out of the spotlight. Kung hindi nga lang puro english ang language dito sa bahay, hindi talaga ako mag-eenglish. I'm trying my best to learn fluent and deep Filipino Language. Gusto ko kasi simple lang ako, at hindi maarte magsalita o tignan. Ayoko rin maging cool. Gusto ko maging probinsyana-type ng babae, pero gusto ko palaban din ako.

"Blaire, hija." Narinig ko si lolo na tinatawag ako. Without any doubt, lumapit ako sa kanya.

Kahit lolo na siya, malakas parin siya at kayang kaya parin niyang magtumbling ng sampung beses tuloy-tuloy. Hindi ko nakikita kay lolo na nanghihina na siya, o kahit ang pagsuko sa mata niya dahil sa matinding lungkot simula nung nawala si lola. Dahil alam naman naming lahat kung ano si Lola para kay Lolo. Hinawakan ni lolo ang kamay ko at lumabas kami ng bahay. Maingay sa bahay at may malilikot na ilaw, siguro hindi na nag-eenjoy si lolo dun, kaya niyaya niya akong lumabas. We were walking but lolo wasn't saying anything, so I decided to start the conversation.

"Lolo, bakit po tayo lumabas? Don't you like it inside? Is it too loud? Why, Lolo?" I asked.

He looked at me and smiled, " No Hija, I enjoyed it there. Pambagets ang music, feeling ko bata pa ako." We both laughed. "I want to show you something." He looked at me and I saw his eyes sparkle.

Grandfather took me to a place. It was a place so magical that I can't even forget it. It was a peaceful place, where you can see animals living quietly in the day and the stars shining brightly at night. The lake was peaceful and you can clearly see your reflection, it was a thousand time prettier at night, because it reflects the twinkling of the stars. I loved that place, because it's a place full of magic, love and peace.

"Hija, you deserve the best. I'm showing you this place because I want you to get the desires of your heart. Gusto ko na makatuluyan mo ang lalaking mahal mo at mahal ka. I don't want anything nor anyone to stop you from being happy with the man you love." My lolo said in a calm voice.

"but Lolo, I'm just 13 years old. Ngayon pa lang ako naging teenager, I want to make sure that I finish my studies first before I fall in love." I tried my best to explain it, but lolo looked at me and smiled.

" I know. Pero Hija, Ang pag-ibig walang pinipiling panahon, walang pinipiling lugar. Soon enough, you'll fall in love, and maybe that love is the right love... your true love. Tayong mga Monterama, we only love once. Isa lang yung taong magpapakita satin kung gaano kaganda at kasaya magmahal, and then, we start fighting for that love." Nginitian ako ni Lolo. Pakiramdam ko may pinaghuhugutan talaga si Lolo sa mga sinasabi niya. I can see the pain and disappointment in his eyes.

"What is this place, Lolo?" I smiled, trying to give him a chance to open my eyes to the concept of falling in love.

My grandfather told me that the magical place was their secret place. Yes, that place is the secret place of my grandfather and his first love. He wasn't able to marry his first and great love but still, he was thankful to have my grandmother as his wife. A Monterama only love once...