Sunod-sunod ang iba't ibang event sa mga sumunod na mga araw ng foundation week. Dance and singing contest, sports tournament, at iba pa. I didn't pay much attention to those, but I'm looking forward to the opening of booths. Plano naming ikutin ni Julie ang lahat ng nakatayong mga booths sa campus at subukan ang mga iyon. But we didn't expect that I'll be part of the blind date booth.
Nasa isang booth kami kung saan may nagbi-benta ng pastries nang may lumapit sa akin na SSG officer, asking about my identity which I innocently confirmed and told me that I have a blind date.
Plano ko sanang tumanggi kaso masyadong malaki ang rejection fee nila, kaya wala akong choice kundi sumunod. I even accused Julie, but she swore that she doesn't have any clue about this scheme.
Hanggang sa nahanap ko na lang ang sarili kong nakapiring at nakaupo sa lugar na hindi ko alam kung saan.
It's pitch black. Ang naririnig ko lang ay ang ingay sa labas at mga kaluskos malapit sa pwesto ko. Ramdam kong may mga kasama ako at nagbubulungan sila sa isa't isa.
"Good day! I'm Ms. Cupid, the facilitator of this blind date. The one who binds connection between strangers and binds the connection stronger to those who already have their strings attached together." wika ng isang babae, somewhere in this room.
Walang kumibo, kung sino man ang ibang kasama ko sa kwarto.
"According to my source, this date will spark connection between the two of you. You only have five minutes to talk so, make it worthy and unforgettable. You can talk about anything, but we don't tolerate foul words and you cannot reveal your identity to your date," paliwanag pa niya.
Wala na namang kumibo sa paligid ko kaya nakaramdam ako ng kaba.
Then suddenly, I heard a ping. "Time starts now."
"Hello?" bati ng isang lalaki. Medyo nagulat ako dahil malapit lang sa akin ang boses niya. Tila nasa harapan ko lang siya, ilang pulgada lang ang layo namin.
Siya ba ang ka-blind date ko?
"Hi..." bati ko pabalik.
"Nervous?"
I remained silent for some moment, trying to think where I heard that voice. Parang pamilyar pero hindi ko ma-point out kung saan ko ba narinig iyon.
"Medyo," matipid kong sagot.
"First time? Pangatlong beses ko na dito ngayong araw," wika niya. There's some amusement in his voice, mas lalong kumawala ang kaba sa dibdib ko.
My mind is playing his voice repeatedly, thinking of any possible candidate. I suddenly froze on my seat when a face flashes in my mind.
Hindi maaari. Hindi siya ito.
"Talaga? So, sikat ka..." I said, striking the same conversation I had with someone, and hoping that he's not who I am with right now.
"Hindi naman sa sikat," he responded, that destroyed my hope. "I just have a position."
No way.
Si Gian nga ito!
Oh my ghad.
"Pst!" saway ng babae kanina.
"Come on, it's just a hint."
It seems like he's having fun. Nagagawa pa niyang makipag-biruan sa facilitator. Mukhang totoong pabalik-balik siya rito. Alam kaya niyang ako ang kaharap niya?
"How about you?" biglang tanong niya.
"I don't have any position," sagot ko. Sana ay hindi niya makilala ang boses ko.
"Not that," he chuckled. He murmured something but I didn't hear it clearly. "Tell me something about yourself."
"Senior high student ako," I said, trying not to leak my identity. I'm planning to give him vague answers, para hindi siya makahalata.
"Really? So, you're my senior." Sandali siyang natahimik, tila pinag-iisipan ang naging sagot ko. "That's interesting..."
Nagsitayuan ang buhok sa batok ko nang marinig ko ang mahina niyang boses. This is the first time I heard him say something with his low voice that's slightly hoarse.
Walang kumibo sa amin sa mga natirang minuto. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isipan niya kaya nanahimik ako para pakiramdaman ang bawat galaw niya. But he remained steady on his seat that I overthink that maybe, he doesn't have any blindfold at all, and he might be staring directly through my soul.
"Time's up!" hirit ng babae nang biglang may tumunog na timer sa hindi kalayuan. Nakarinig ako ng yapak papalapit sa amin.
"Did you enjoy the date?" tanong ng babae na ngayon ay malapit na sa amin. "Now, we will both give you a freedom to decide whether you want to know who's your date or not. Just nod if you want to or shake your head if you don't," paliwanag niya.
Anong klaseng rule iyon?
"I'll count and you decide."
Wait, what? Ang bilis!
"One, two, and three!"
I aggressively shake my head while desperately hoping that we have the same decision. Kung makikita nga niya ako, magpapanggap na lang ako na hindi ko siya nakilala para hindi awkward kung sakaling magkita ulit kami sa waiting sh—
"Well, I guess this date will remain as mystery. But I hope your connection will bind together soon," the girl concluded.
Biglang dumami ang naririnig kong bulungan sa paligid. May iba pang sinabi ang babae pero hindi na ito pumasok sa isipan ko dahil sa sobrang tuwa ko na hindi ako makikita ni Gian.
Nang makalabas ako, kahit medyo nag-a-adjust pa ang paningin ko dahil sa tagal ng pagkaka-blindfold sa akin ay naglakad na ako pabalik sa booth kung saan naiwan ko si Julie, tuluyan akong napaisip.
Kung hindi si Julie ang may pakana nito...
Sino?
BINABASA MO ANG
Marahuyo
Teen FictionHave you ever met someone for the first time and wondered if they'd become an important part of your life or they'd just passed by like a fleeting breeze? Arianne Valerio never thought of that when she met Gian Chavez at the waiting shed. Their firs...
