Infinity

6

As the days went by, something in me began to change when I was with Finilene. It wasn’t something I noticed immediately, but more like a slow realization creeping in. Every time we spent together, things felt... different. Yung simpleng mga usapan namin, biglang nagkaroon ng ibang bigat—mas espesyal, mas malalim.

One afternoon, we were sitting under a tree at the park, just like we always did. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting soft shadows on her face. I was telling her some random story, but halfway through, I got lost in my own thoughts. She was laughing, that familiar sound that always made me feel lighter. Pero habang tumatawa siya, napansin kong hindi lang siya basta kaibigan sa akin. There was something more, something I hadn’t been ready to admit to myself.

“James, ano bang iniisip mo?” she asked, her eyes narrowing playfully as she nudged my arm.

“Wala, nakikinig lang,” I replied, trying to play it cool, kahit sa loob ko, gulong-gulo na ako. I couldn’t stop looking at her—her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she was happy. Everything about her seemed to draw me in more than ever.

“Tingin ka nang tingin eh. May dumi ba ako sa mukha?” she joked, wiping her cheek.

I shook my head, chuckling a bit. “Wala. Maganda ka lang talaga.”

She paused, blinking at me for a second, then laughed softly, brushing it off. “Nambola ka pa. Teka nga, seryoso ka ba?”

“Fin, pag nagustuhan ka ng kaibigan mo, papatulan mo ba?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly, though I tried to sound casual.

Her laughter faded, replaced by a thoughtful look. “Depende. Bakit mo naman tinatanong?”

I hesitated, trying to find the right words. “Wala, curious lang. Kasi... ako, siguro, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko kung ikaw ang nagustuhan ko.”

She looked at me, her expression shifting from playful to serious. “James, ikaw ba? Naguguluhan ka ba?”

I met her gaze, feeling a lump in my throat. “Oo, Fin. Naguguluhan ako. Kasi... I think I’m starting to feel something more for you. Hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari, pero parang ang hirap nang hindi mo isipin.”

Finilene was silent for a moment, her eyes searching mine. “James, hindi ko naman sinasadya na mapakilig ka. Pero kung may nararamdaman ka, baka naman dapat natin itong pag-usapan.”

I took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of relief and nervousness. “Siguro nga, dapat natin.”

She nodded slowly, her gaze softening. “Okay, pag-usapan natin. Basta, nandito lang ako, kahit anong mangyari.”

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over us, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. Whatever this was, I knew we’d face it together. For the first time, I felt like I was no longer just dreaming about the future—we were actually building it, step by step, with all the uncertainties and hopes that came with it.