Hinatid ako ni Hans pauwi nang araw na iyon matapos naming ubusin ang maghapon sa paghahalikan at paglalandian. Nakatulog rin naman kami, iyon ang unang beses na natulog kaming magkayakap at pakiramdam ko'y iyon rin ang pinakapayang tulog na naranasan ko. Kahit masakit ang buong katawan ko sa ginawa namin, I felt well-rested.
The news of me dating Hans spread like wildfire through the school after my eighteenth birthday. Everyone saw how I only had eyes for him that night, how I entertained just him while ignoring the other guests. The whispers started almost immediately, but I couldn't care less. It felt liberating, almost exhilarating, to finally be open about my relationship with Hans.
Walking through the hallways, I noticed the curious glances, the hushed conversations that abruptly stopped when I passed by. Ang usap-usapan kasi ay nagkagusto ako sa trabahador while everyone expected me to fall in love with someone within my league, iyong anak ng gobernador o ano pa. Eh, ano naman kung trabahador si Hans? Masipag siya at masigasig! Higit na importante sa lahat ay masarap! Kaya kahit ano pa ang sabihin nila, it didn't matter. Their opinions didn't affect me because, for the first time in my life, I felt truly alive.
The biggest opposition came from home. My dad's disapproval hung over me like a dark cloud. He couldn't hide his disappointment, and it hurt more than I wanted to admit. Lagi kong iniiwasan ang mga usapang tungkol kay Hans dahil ayaw kong magalit kay Daddy at alam ko na kung ipagpapatuloy niya ang pakikialam sa relasyon namin ay hindi malabong mangyaring lumayo nga ang loob ko sa kaniya. It was hard to live with him like this. But Hans was worth it. Every bit of tension, every uncomfortable dinner conversation, every sideways glance from my father—it was all worth it just to be with him. Hans made me feel cherished and understood in a way no one else ever had. Kaya kahit pa anong sabihin nila ay hindi ko iiwan si Hansen.
Even Kourtney tried to talk to me about it. Ilang beses niya akong sinubukang tawagan, hindi ko sinasagot. Alam ko ang opinyon niya tungkol kay Hans. Ayaw kong magalit sa kaniya kaya mabuting huwag na lang kaming mag-usap. Hanggang sa makabalik siyang muli sa California ay hindi ko siya binigyan ng pagkakataon na makausap ako. Kung anuman ang opinyon niya tungkol kay Hans ay sarilinin niya na lang dahil hindi ako interesado.
The days that followed were a mix of bliss and tension. Every moment with Hans was a treasure. We spent hours talking, laughing, just being together. The outside world faded away when I was with him, leaving only the two of us in our own little bubble of happiness. He was my escape, my sanctuary. At iyon ang hindi maintindihan ng mga tao sa paligid ko.
Despite the negativity that followed us, I had never been happier.
"Nagmamadali ka na naman," nakangiting tukso sa akin ni Lulli nang makita ang mabilis at basta ko na lang na pagsuksok ng mga gamit ko sa bag. "Nasa gate na ba ang sundo mo?"
"Ano pa nga ba? Friday ngayon!" Humagikgik naman si Therese.
Mabuti pa silang dalawa, suportado lang kung saan ako masaya. Tumayo na ako, uunahan na silang umalis. "Yes! Kaya bye na! See you on Monday!"
"Ingat kayo!" Pahabol na sigaw ng dalawa.
I rushed down the stairs, nearly running toward the gate. My heart leapt when I saw Hans waiting outside, a bag slung over his shoulder. He had two classes at the community college today, and another class at SDL-Air around seven. That gave us less than three hours to spend together. At hindi ko sasayangin iyon!
Without hesitation, I ran to him, throwing my arms around him in a tight hug. I didn't care about the curious stares from my schoolmates; all that mattered was that I was with Hans.
"Pogi mo," I murmured into his chest.
"Hm," mahina siyang natawa, kissing the top of my head. He took my books from me and carried them. "Saan mo gustong kumain?"
