❝Some of the best stories are yet to begin.❞
*****
Serial dater Karyn Sonia "Karson" Chua meets photographer Noel "Nowi" Winston-Vergara. Despite being in each other's orbits for years, the two never interacted until an unfortunate accident occurs...
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NO ONE has noticed how Nowi has been hiding by the garden's entrance. He wasn't hiding because he felt lonely. It was nothing like that. Gusto lang niyang makita nang buo ang ambiance ng bakuran nila.
Every year on his birthday, his dads would set up a picnic in the middle of their small garden – just like today. Tall trees hovered over his parents, Natnat, and Karson. Presko naman ang hangin. Gayunpaman, nakalulusot pa rin ang mangilan-ngilang sinag ng araw sa siwang ng mga sanga.
Tuloy ay parang umiilaw ang girlfriend niya sa paningin niya. Nowi couldn't help but fish his phone out. He secretly snapped a picture.
Karson was talking with Natnat. She crouched slightly, meeting the child's eyes. "Ay, ang galing naman. May talent ka rin pala sa cartooning, e," Nowi overheard her exclaim. Isang bond paper ang hawak nito. "Do you want to try two categories? Alam ko kasi, p'wede 'yong gano'n. Nag-Feature nga ako before, saka News."
Natnat's eyes sparkled. "Really? P'wede po ba 'yon, Ate?"
"Bakit naman magiging bawal?" nakatawang tanong ni Karson. "Ask mo muna siguro adviser niyo if p'wede, tapos kung gusto mo talaga, ask mo sina Daddy and Kuya mo. May MTAP ka pa kasi, 'di ba?"
Tumango lang ang bata habang marahang tinatapik ni Karson ang ulo nito.
Umingay ang mga dahon kasabay ng pag-ihip ng hangin. The paper with Nat's illustration flew toward Nowi's direction. Karson gestured at Nat before running after it.
Nang mapansing malapit na sa kanya iyong papel, mismong si Nowi na ang kumuha niyon. Binagalan ni Karson ang paglalakad. "Naks," pumapalatak nitong sabi habang papalapit sa kanya. "Ang tangkad naman pala ng boyfriend ko."
Nowi blushed at the compliment. He kept his cool anyway. "Oh, come on. As if that wasn't the first thing you noticed when we met." Nakangiti niyang ibinigay sa girlfriend ang drawing. It was a cute illustration of Miffy. Karson was right. May talent nga si Natnat.
Maingat na itinupi ni Karson ang papel. "Hindi naman talaga," pagtanggi nito sa ibinibintang ni Nowi. She placed her hands on her waist. "How was I supposed to notice na matangkad ka? The first time na nag-meet tayo, nakaupo ka sa may coffee bar, tapos umiinom ka ng iced Americano."
Smiling, Nowi reached for her hand. Nang tuluyang mahapit palapit ang girlfriend ay siya mismo ang nagpatong ng mga kamay nito sa batok niya. "But baby, even I don't remember what I was drinking that day. Are you sure you weren't attracted to me from the beginning?"
"Hindi, a. Sure, sinabi ko kina Mon na cute ka pero hanggang do'n lang. Sinira mo laptop ko, e."
Ngumuso siya. "I already apologized kaya. Besides, you gained something more valuable than your laptop naman." Nowi batted his lashes, attempting to charm the fake frown off of Karson's face. "Me," he said proudly.
