Back To The Night We Met

Chapter 21 : Finally

Auria

Weekends are over, and we're back to reality.

Actually, kanina pa occupied ang utak ko. Maaga akong pumasok kaya wala pa sila Amelie at Rafael.

Speaking of Rafael, buong weekend niya ginulo ang utak ko! He really has his way of boggling my mind.

Buong weekend rin akong nag-tantrums dahil sa kiss na 'yan! Pambihira!

Pero I won't deny, syempre kinilig rin naman ako sa ginawa niya. It's just--I'm a sentimental person kaya lahat ng bagay sa'kin, lalo na 'yung mga unang beses kong mararanasan, they're all important to me. Siguro, nabigla lang rin ako, but it doesn't mean na ayaw ko kay Rafael.

I actually--I like him a lot. I would be kidding myself if I said otherwise.

Ayan, ginugulo na naman niya ang utak ko. This is so gulo for me! Please, give me the clarity that I need.

***

Amelie told me before she got into her first class today, that Rafael has basketball practice pala. Nakasalubong niya raw kasi sa gate pagpasok.

So here I am, heading to the gym to watch basketball practice. I'm not really fond of sports, pero I'm very supportive of friends so I'm watching the games and practice just for Rafael.

When I entered the gymnasium, my eyes were quick to scan the place, looking for a familiar figure whom I came here for.

Mukhang hindi pa naman start dahil wala pang nagsisigalawang mga players, at nakakalat pa sila ng upo sa mga bleachers.

Finally, I found the person I was looking for. He's sitting alone on the left side bleachers, drinking water from his jug.

Something in me just wanted to stop and admire him from afar. He looks so dedicated and focused. He's got his game face on na nga eh.

The sight of him made me smile, and weirdly enough, calmed my senses.

My brows arched upward when I noticed a woman walking over to him. Hindi ko pinansin no'ng una dahil akala ko, dadaan lang--eh kaso, nasa harapan na ni Rafael eh.

I crossed my arms as I slowly walked towards them, discreet enough to not be noticed or seen by the two.

I climbed up the bleachers para mas lalo akong hindi makita, but I was close enough to hear their conversation.

"Hi!! Ikaw si number 27, right? Lagi akong nanonood ng practice niyo, you're so great!" The woman complimented him with a hint of flirtiness in her annoying, high-pitched voice.

"Yep. Thank you," Rafael politely answered.

"I'm Kimberly! From business management ako. Naging blockmates na tayo. What's your name again?"

"Rafael," he sounds so awkward!

That Kimberly offered her hand to him, and I noticed Rafael's hesitation but he still shook her hand anyway.

"So nice to meet you!! May kasama ka ba?"

Rafael shook his head 'no', as he chuckled awkwardly.

"Oh okay. Actually, I've been meaning to ask you this since I've been seeing you a lot lately rin, and you look such a gentleman rin kasi. Uhm--are you single?"

I took a few steps down the stairs, landing behind Rafael. The girl immediately noticed my presence, but Rafael didn't, so I sat beside him as I flashed a fake smile at the girl.

"No, he's not. He's not single," I firmly said while smiling. "He's in a relationship, with me."

The glow in Kimberly's eyes dulled in an instant as she switched gazes between Rafael and I.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I thought he was," she apologized, but she wasn't even looking at me. Kay Rafael pa rin siya nakatingin eh.

"Anyway, it was nice meeting you!" she said before leaving.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin habang papalayo siya, saka ko tinignan si Rafael na kanina pa nakatingin sa'kin.

Pinaglapat ko ang mga labi ko habang nakatitig sa kaniya. He looks so shocked and puzzled at the same time.

"Uy, okay ka lang?" tanong ko dahil titig na titig siya sa'kin at hindi man lang umiimik.

It took him a while to open his mouth and spit out a sentence. "Totoo 'yung--sinabi mo?" he stuttered.

Tumawa ako habang hinahawi ang buhok niya pataas. "Yeah, why?"

Umiwas siya ng tingin kaya sinilip ko ang mukha niya, saka ko lang napansin na he's doing secret celebratory gestures. Ang cute!!!

"Tuwang tuwa!" kantyaw ko kaya lumingon ulit siya sa'kin at bigla akong niyakap ng mahigpit.

"Walang bawian ah, tayo na," bulong niya.

"I'm a woman of my word," I whispered back.

His presence brings such comfort to me, that I didn't wanna let him go from this embrace.

For the longest time, I realized that only Rafael was able to make me feel loved and appreciated at times when I didn't even want to love myself. He was my safe space. He surprised me with a side of myself that I didn't even know existed.

I'm lucky enough to find a friend and a guardian who never got tired of me, and now--may isa pang taong nagpapakita ng pagmamahal at alaga sa'kin. Hindi man sila marami, pero alam kong totoo sila.

Nang humiwalay na ako sa pagkakayakap, tinitigan ko siya sa mata at mas lalo kong nasisigurado na tama ang desisyon ko.

Kahit na kinakabahan pa rin ako sa mga maaaring mangyari, siguro hahayaan ko munang sumaya ang sarili ko sa napili kong desisyon. After all, I think he deserves this because of how hard he's been working to make me say 'yes'.

"Hindi ko alam kung paano pa ako makakapagpractice dahil dito. Parang gusto na lang kitang makasama buong araw," sabi niya habang nakangiti.

Hindi naman siya singkit, pero sumisingkit ang mga mata niya sa pagkakangiti niya. He looks so happy!

"Galingan mo sa practice! I'll be watching, wala pa naman akong class," I told him. "Then later, we can talk about this again. We need to set some rules ha," I reminded him.

"You're the boss--" he got cut off when the coach's whistle echoed around the gym.

I tapped his back with an assuring rhythm. "Go na! Ako nang magbabantay sa mga gamit mo. Good luck!"

He got up and did a few jogs in place. Before he walked away, he surprised me with a kiss on my cheek.

I swear, I think I turned red when I felt his lips on my cheek. The feeling never gets old!

*

End of Chapter 21

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