what if we happened

6. Avocado And Matcha

Chapter 6: Avocado And Matcha

Seren

Heto ako ngayon, nagpuyat kaiisip kay Elias.

Last night, ilang oras akong tambay sa account niya. I grabbed the opportunity to get to know him and understand him better. What amazed me immediately was how dedicated and passionate he seemed to his studies—his timeline was filled with academic achievements and updates from our school. Klarong masipag at focus talaga si Elias on his studies above all else, hindi maitatangging may utak talaga siya based on his awards and medals.

Nahiya pa nga ako nang kaunti. I realized na ang dumi-dumi pala ng timeline ko compared sa kung gaano katino no'ng kaniya kaya mabilisan kong dinelete lahat ng shared post kong memes bago niya pa i-check. Wow. I must have been comepletely out of it to think he would visit my account too. Nagtira pa rin ako siyempre ng mga quotation para masabing matured akong tingnan. Seeing his serious and focused feed made me question my own frivolity in posting random pictures online. Simula ngayon, I need to be extra careful of what I share.

Gayunpamam, gusto ko sanang may malaman ako about sa family background niya but I felt like he didn't seem to have a conventional family setup. I scrolled through to his very first post, but there were no family pictures at all. Ipinagtaka ko 'yon. Bawat achievements niya, 'yong lola niya palagi ang special mention at pinasasalamatan niya lang, walang nanay o tatay. It touched me deeply. I could say that she was his constant supporter at pakiramdam ko, siya lang ang nag-aalaga kay Elias at kasama sa bahay. His bond with his grandmother was heartwarming yet I sense there's something missing that he feels. On another note, halatang may kaya sina Elias base sa postura ng lola niya.

Marami pa akong nalaman about him, especially sa hobbies niya at interests. Maya't maya rin akong check kung online ba siya o hindi.

I couldn't help but wonder if he had ever glanced at my profile too, and if he would ever know that I had spent the night getting to know him well, one click at a time. Would he think it strange that I delved so deeply into his online presence?

Overthinking overload.

-

I slid my phone across to my friends, their curious eyes narrowing at the screen. "How profound! Ganda mong mala-rosas! Wow. Grabe naman 'yan, Seren. But sorry, wala akong ideya kung sino 'yan, eh," nata-touch na reply ni Viviana sa akin nang ipabasa ko sa kanila 'yong sinend ni Pambansang Prinsipeng Makata na tanaga.

I needed to share something really strange that happened last night. Dumating na sa punto that I needed their help. I have been wondering about this and I have totally given up.

"But in fairness, that's so sweet. Gumawa pa talaga siya ng account para mai-message ka," Thalia commented. "The effort, though. Maybe it's someone who's too shy to reveal himself, right? Nag-reply ka ba?"

"Hindi. What would I even reply? Thank you for his tanaga?" I retorted. "I don't talk to stranger."

Kagabi ko pa paulit-ulit binabasa 'yong tanaga. I've almost memorized it. Obvious naman 'yong hidden meaning behind the each verse, attractive sa akin 'yong sender. Oh, well. Hindi ko siya masisisi but I did not expect that. Up until now, hindi ko mahulaan kung sino 'to. Wala rin kasing hint. D*mn it. Who could have sent this to me? Actually, hindi ko talaga alam kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng tanaga. Sinearch ko pa 'yon sa internet at nalaman kong it's a poetic form composed of four lines with seven syllables each. Ganoon na ganoon ang gawa ni Pambansang Prinsipeng Makata.

Viviana chimed in, her brow furrowed in thought. "Maybe you have a secret admirer?" hirit niya. "Or maybe, si Elias kasi Principe surname niya?"

"Baliw! 'Wag mo nga ako paasahin!" 'di ko na mapigilang mapangiti nang magsalita. Although, never pumasok sa isipan ko na paghinalaan na si Elias ang nasa likod ng taong nagpadala sa akin ng ganito. Again, we've only just met, it's impossible for him to write to me like this so soon.