Say My Name

This is a work of Fiction.

Everything that is written here is purely made out of the writer's imagination. Nothing that is here is based on actual events unless stated.

with all my love, swn.

© All rights reserved 2024.

PROLOGUE

I've liked someone for a very long time. He's a family friend. Both our parents always make sure that we gather at least a few times before the year ends. It's always been like that. My siblings weren't too fond of that arrangement but they eventually got used to it, and because I could see him during those times, I always look forward to those days. 

"You forgot to say hi to your kuya, Marvene." My dad looks at me as if urging me to say hello to the boy in front of me.

Naka-suot ito ng puting t-shirt at maong pants. Simple lang 'rin ang suot niyang sapatos para ganitong pagtitipon. Medyo magulo ang kaniyang buhok pero bumagay naman 'yon sa kaniya at mas nadepina pa ang korte ng kaniyang mukha. 

Habang naka-tayo ito sa harapan ko at tahimik na naka-tingin sa akin ay pakiramdam ko para akong hinuhusgahan. His eyes, even though they're beautiful and mesmerizing to look at, having those look at me felt cold and uncomfortable. He looked as if he's going to throw daggers at me anytime. 

"H-hi po." Lumiit ang boses ko sa hiya.

At first, I didn't understand why he was so distant and hostile towards me. Parang ayaw na ayaw niya akong makita. May nagawa ba ako na hindi ko napansin na nakasakit sa kaniya?

I see him around often that's why I don't really need to get to know him. Kilalang-kilala ko na nga ang kabuuan ng katawan niya kahit na nasa malayo pa ako. We would only meet a few times a year but that doesn't stop my feelings from developing.

It seems as though it only got worse each time I see him. 

"Hello." His firm and snobbish tone gets to me every time. Parang laging nang-aaway. Laging parang handang magsalita ng hindi maganda. But that's only when it's me he's talking to. 

He doesn't sound like that when he's talking to my siblings, or his brothers. I know because I was always around them. Minsan nga iniisip ko na hindi niya talaga itinatago ang kaibahan ng pakikitungo niya sa akin para ipakita na ayaw niya talagang nasa paligid ako.

Nalulungkot ako sa tuwing ganon ang ginagawa niya. It sometimes frustrates me because I don't know what to do every time he's like that. I just wanted to be close to him like my other cousins and siblings are. Pero parang ayaw niya talaga sa'kin at napatunayan ko 'yan nang bigla akong ibuking ng pinsan kong pinagsibihan ko ng sikreto tungkol sa nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya.

"Si Marvene nga crush niya si Aquiro e!" bigla ay sabi nito habang naka tayo pa at naka turo sa akin. Napayuko na lang ako sa hiya. Lahat kasi sila ay naka-tingin sa akin habang may panunuyang mga tingin.

Nasa sala kami ngayon at habang nag-lalaro ang ilan, ang iba naman ay nag uusap habang ako nanonood lang sa kanilang lahat habang nagbabasa ng libro. Hindi naman ako pwedeng umalis dahil ang sabi sa'kin kailangan kong makisama. 

Pero parang gusto ko na lang tumakbo paalis ngayon. 

"Totoo ba 'yon, Mavi?" anang isa sa mga pinsan kong babae na ka-edad ni Aquiro.