Chasing Happiness

Twenty-second Chase

Twenty-second Chase

[ JOY ]

"I love weddings," masayang sabi ko kay Kael habang naglalakad kami papunta sa private pool kung san gaganapin yung reception after the wedding. "I mean, obviously, it's a grand occasion pero what I love more? The vow that the couple makes. Alam mo yun, choosing to spend the rest of your life with that one person? And then all your loved ones gather together to celebrate that vow---" Napahinto ako nung marealize ko that I'm babbling. "Sorry." I smiled sheepishly at Kael.

Ngumiti lang siya. "Okay lang. Nakakatuwa ka namang pakinggan eh."

Lalong napalaki yung ngiti ko doon. "Sabi nga nung mga pinsan ko, masyado akong hopeless romantic."

"Anong masama dun?"

"So hindi engot yung tingin mo sa'kin dahil hopeless romantic ako?"

"Nope. Sa tingin ko, maswerte yung magugustuhan mo."

"Hey, I liked you before tapos binasted mo lang ako," pabirong sabi ko.

Kael cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses nervously. "Joy---"

"Joke lang! Relax!" Tapos tumawa ako. May dumaang dalawang batang nagbabike sa harap namin. Sinundan sila ng tingin ni Kael. "Parang kayo ni Cat," I observed.

"Ha?" Wala sa sariling sabi niya.

"Parang little versions niyo. Lagi kasi kayong nagbabike papunta sa kung saan saan ni Cat." I sighed. "Buti pa kayo. Ako nga, hindi marunong magbike."

"Hindi ka marunong?" Gulat na sabi ni Kael. "May mga tao pa palang hindi marunong magbike."

"Ang yabang mo! Ang dami kaya!" Pinalo ko yung braso niya at tumawa si Kael. "Well, nung bata kasi ako, takot akong mahulog sa bike at mapilayan or something. Sobrang paranoid ko noon kaya hindi ako maturuan ni Papa na magbike."

"Eh ngayon?"

"Anong ngayon?"

"Takot ka pa ba?"

"Hm... hindi na siguro. I mean, that's how you learn you right? You have to fail first so you know how to do it right the second time. At minsan, hindi maiiwasan na mahulog at masaktan ka habang natututo ka."

Kael grinned. "Bakit parang iba na yung sinasabi mo? May pinagdadaanan ka ba?"

I bumped my shoulder with his and we both laughed. This feels really nice. To talk comfortably with him and to laught together. Kahit pa ang daming tumitingin sa'min ng weird dahil nakasuot ako ng dress and he's wearing formal clothes pero naglalakad lang kami sa gilid ng kalsada. Bitbit ko pa yung bouquet na para sa mga abay. This is the reason why I could never regret my first rejection from Kael. Akala ko noon magiging awkward kami pagkatapos but that wasn't what happened. Kasi dahil doon, I stopped being conscious around him and I got to be with him as a friend.

But liking someone is so weird. Noon, ang gusto ko lang maging kaibigan niya. So I would get to know him better and I could talk like this with him. Pero ngayong magkaibigan, I want more. I want to spend more time with him. I want to talk to him more, to be able to hold his hand whenever I want to, to go out on dates with him. I want him to see me as more than a friend. I wish that he'll like me back.

"Gusto mong turuan kita?" Biglang sabi ni Kael at napatigil ako sa pag-iisip.

"Ha?"

"Magbike. Pwede kitang turuan. Ako kaya yung nagturo kay Cat. Bago pa matapos yung summer, expert ka na magbike."

"Talaga? Okay. Game. Pero dahil ikaw yung nag-offer, walang bawian yan ah?"

Ngumiti si Kael. "Oo ba."