what if we happened

28. Because of You

Chapter 28: Because of You

Seren

Puwede pala 'yon? 'Yong kahit kakakita pa lang namin ni Elias isa't isa kanina, miss na niya ako agad? And what's even strange is wala naman kaming label. Posible ba talaga 'yon?

"Magkasama lang tayo kanina, 'di ba? Miss mo na ako agad?" I asked curiously. I was literally clueless about it.

He chuckled, nodding a little. "Bawal ba iyon?"

"Oh. Now I know." I crossed my arms. "Mabilis ka palang maka-miss," I teased, a smile playing in my lips.

He chuckled again, shaking his head slightly. "Gusto ko lang talaga ibigay sa iyo 'to kaya ako nagpunta rito."

Bumaba ang paningin ko sa box na hawak niya. "Macarons ba 'yan? You got these for me?"

"Alam ko kung gaano mo paborito ang macarons."

Binuksan niya 'yong box sa harapan ko, and as soon as I saw it, my eyes widened. Much to my surprise, all of them were the same color. Sure, macaron is my favorite food in my entire life but this time, hindi maganda ang kutob ko. I had a feeling I knew what the flavor was, and I wasn't sure if I'd like it.

I looked up at him. "Bakit kulay green lahat?"

"Paborito mo rin matcha, 'di ba? Kaya sinadya kong lahat ay gawing matcha," he explained.

Sabi na, eh!

I smiled awkwardly. "Yeah. You're right."

"Ayaw mo ba?"

"No! Gusto ko, siyempre! Mukha rin namang masarap 'to. I'm sure, I'll enjoy eating this." I forced myself to sound as genuine as possible as I accepted the box from him. "Actually I've been craving macarons lately, so this is perfect. Thank you, Elias but seriously, you really didn't have to."

"Hindi ako makakatulog hangga't hindi ako nakakampanteng ayos ka," sambit niya. He then slid his hand into the pocket of his jacket as he spoke again. "Kaya kumusta ka? Malalim pa rin ba iniisip mo? Nakapagpahinga ka na ba nang sapat?"

Tonight, there was something different in the way he's looking at me. It's much softer and more protective than earlier. I really could see how sincere and concerned he was for me. I apprecited him going here at this hour just to check on me. Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga bago naupo sa gather sa tabi ng kalsada, it means I'm ready to tell him about it. He sat next to me without a word.

"Elias, do you remember the last time I told you that my dream is to become a nurse?" panimula ko.

He nodded immediately. "Oo naman. Natatandaan ko lahat ng kuwento mo sa akin."

Niyakap ko ang sarili ko at ngumiti habang may inaalala. "Noong bata ako, every year ng career month, I always dressed up as a nurse. I really imagined myself as a nurse. Naalala ko isang beses, nag-tantrums ako sa harapan ng magulang ko noong pinagsusuot nila ako ng pang-teacher na uniform instead of nursing. 'Yon lang daw kasi ang meron sila kaya napilitan silang mag-rent na lang for me. Ganoon ko kamahal ang pagiging nurse. I was so sure about it back then, about what I really want to achieve for myself. Lahat ng laruan ko, lahat ng games sa phone ko, lahat ng pinapanood ko—all of them had something to do with nursing. I was completely interested and invested in that career."

Elias didn't take his eyes off me the whole time. "Masaya akong marinig na sigurado ka na sa kung ano 'yong nais mong gawin sa buhay mo. Alam kong matutupad mo 'yang pangarap mo na 'yan."

That's when I turned my gaze at him. "Thank you, Elias," I said sincerely.

He smiled back. "Wala 'yon. Palagi mong tatandaan na susuportahan kita at tutulungan kita kung sakaling kailangan mo ako."