what if we happened

21. The Other Side of Him

Chapter 21: The Other Side of Him

Seren

Saturday came. Hapon ako susunduin ni Elias sa bahay. He still hadn't told me where we were going, so I just decided to wear my favorite outfit of all time; a casual dress over jeans, a perfect blend of comfort and style. It was also my first time na gamitin na 'yong makeup na iniregalo sa akin ng mga magulang ko and it turned out great on my face. And because of that, I think I've forgiven my parents. To top off my look, hindi ko makalilimutan ang aking ribbon sa buhok.

"Anak, andiyan na si Elias," sabi sa akin ni Mama noong pagkapasok niya sa loob ng bahay, maloko ang ngiti niya. We're on good terms now.

Naka-receive rin ako ng message mula kay Elias. Excitement danced in my chest. I stood up and put on my summer hat. "Alis na po ako."

"Enjoy kayo. Ingat!" she replied.

Ngiti agad ang bungad sa akin ni Elias nang pagkalabas ko ng pinto. I noticed for the first time that he was almost taller than our gate. Ang lakas ng dating niya. Naka-long-sleeve ito ng dark green at black na jorts, his sleeves rolled up to reveal his toned arms. He had a cap on, with some hair falling over his forehead, and had a backpack slung over his one shoulder.

He looked incredibly handsome! Naiinis ako. Kapag ito hindi naging akin, hindi ako makakapayag talaga. Sayang 'to. Minsan lang na may poging nag-aabang sa tapat ng bahay namin para sa akin!

Mas pumopogi rin siya dahil sa sinag ng araw na tumatapat sa kaniya.

"Hi," I beamed back.

"Handa ka na ba?" he asked. I was momentarily distracted by how good he smelled.

"Oo, sana buhay pa rin ako makakauwi," I joked. "Ingatan mo ako, lagot ka kay Mama."

He laughed, a sound that made my heart skip. "Oo naman! Ano tingin mo akin, kirminal?"

Tumawa rin ako. "Sabihin mo na kasi sa akin kung saan tayo tayo pupunta."

I don't expect too much. Ayaw kong umasa na dadalhin niya ako sa isang restaurant na kung saan ay sabay kaming kakain doon, habang may mga music ng ochestra sa paligid or anything elaborate. 'Di kaya, dalhin niya ako sa mall at mag-shopping kami, puwede ring pumunta kaming theme park. Hindi talaga ako nag-eexpect! As in, hindi!

But I'll consider this as a date . . . at least in my head.

The only thing that mattered to me is the idea that I'll be with him. Kahit saan kami magpunta, walang kaso sa akin.

"Sikreto nga 'yon. Malalaman mo rin," he said. "Tara na, mukhang hindi ka na makapaghintay, eh."

Namula ako nang bigla niyang kinuha ang kamay ko. This wasn't the first time na ginawa niya 'yon pero kinikilig pa rin ako. How could I not? Pinagmasdan ko ang mga kamay namin at hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti, our fingers intertwining naturally. It felt so right, so warmth.

Kumaway siya sa isang tricycle driver at pumunta ito sa gawi namin. Elias told him where to drop us off but I didn't hear it. The driver revved the engine, and we took off. Mas lalo kong na-appreciate ang kabanguhan ni Elias dahil sa katabi ko siya. I wished he could smell me too, dahil halos maubos ko ang perfume ko kanina.

"Salamat po," sabi ni Elias nang pagkatapos niyang magbayad. Bumaba ako at iniikot ang paningin sa paligid.

We were in a park, but unlike any I'd been to before. Hindi ko rin naalala 'yong pasikot-sikot na dinaanan namin kanina. "Where are we?" I asked, obviously curious. I heard the tricycle leave, it was just two of us now.

"Sa parke. Hindi ka pa ba nakakapunta rito?" reply niya habang isinusukbit ang isang strap ng bag niya.

"First time pa lang," I admitted.