My Perfect Stranger

-The Stranger-

"Gonzales, pangit ba talaga ako?"

Muntik ng mabuga ng napakagaling kong bestfriend ang iniinom nyang Zagu sa katapat naming babae sa jeep. Good thing nalulon nya kaagad yung sago bago pa niya mapaliguan si ate.

"Pota San Roman?! SHABU PA!!" he yelled in front of my face. Ako tuloy yung napaliguan nya.

"EH, BAKIT KASI DI MO MASAGOT YUNG TANONG KO?! ANO PANGIT BA AKO HA, HA? ANO?!! Dali na. I just want to know...." Halos matanggal na yung ulo nya habang winawagwag ko siya. Brutal ako pero sa kanya lang. Wala akong pakialam kung makita ako ng pulis na binubugbog ko to. Ang sarap kasi niyang saktan.

>>>>>>>>>>

Kwento ko muna background story namin.

Daryl Lucas Gonzales is my bestfriend for years. We've known each other ever since we were 14. We were just second year high school then.

Before we became bestfriends, nagkaroon kami ng pagnanasa sa isa't-isa. I had a crush on him, before I knew what kind of person he is or Is he a human being? Parang hindi minsan.

Mysterious kasi ang dating nya. I only get to see him every Sunday, during mass sa OLAP (Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish). He was always wearing a polo. Well actually, his family dress up like they were going to attend a formal gathering right after the mass and it's kinda weird for me.

One Sunday morning, nagkatabi ang family ko at family nya and much to my surprise, mag-kakilala pala ang mga tatay namin. They were classmates back in high school. Small world, huh?

We were introduced to each other after mass. Kilig naman ang lola mo the moment his father mentioned his name. Parang tumama ako sa lotto that time. Mas memorize ko pa yung full name nya kesa sa multiplication table.

I used to scribble down our names on a piece of paper or sa likod ng notebook ko, then e-FLAMES, LOVERS, HOPE. Grabe! I have to admit, I was once head over heels to Daryl Lucas Gonzales. Alam naman nya yun at lagi nya akong inaasar dahil dun. Pag naalala ko pa ang lahat ng mga kagagahan ko before, natatawa at nasusuka ako, seriously.

And guess what? Crush din nya pala ako wahahahahaha!

How did I know? Simple! Idinaldal lang naman ng kanyang ever loving mudrakels na lagi nyang nahuhuling tumitingin sa akin si Gonzales every mass.

Kaya pala lagi na siya sa may malapit sa aisle umuupo noon, kasi pinapalipat siya dun ng kanyang mudra para mag-concentrate sa mass. Ganda ko kasi.

How did we become bestfriends? Eto kasi yun, naging close kami simula ng madapa ako right in front of him habang pabalik na kami sa upuan after communion. OMG talaga yun! Isipin mo madapa ka sa harap ng crush mo. Sana nilamon na lang ako ng lupa sa sobrang kahihiyan. Bawas ganda points.

A normal person would laugh at you when you trip, ganun kasi ako but he didn't (so ibig sabihin ABNORMAL SIYA). Instead, he reached out his hand to me and said "Be careful, Anna Elise."

Putangina! KILIG ako to the highest level. Nahawakan ko yung kamay niya. Oh, saan ka pa! Kaya keri achieved lang kahit nadapa ako in front of madlang people kasi he showed me naman that he was concerned.

Ever since that day, he was always greeting me every time we see each other (dati kasi deadma). We became friends sa Friendster. Tandaan nyo: Siya ang nag-add sa akin at yun pa ang uso that time wala pang FB. Pinagpipilitan nya kasi na ako daw ang nag-add sa kanya. Feeling gwapo ampota!

Kahit once a week lang kami nagkikita noon, hindi naging hindrance yun sa friendship namin. One day, they moved in next to our house. At dahil malapit na ang bahay nya sa amin, halos everyday na kami nagkikita at nag-uusap.

We became even much closer because of Meteor Garden. One of our favorite Asianovelas. Sabay naming pinapanuod yun kung di sa bahay nya, sa bahay namin. Siya daw si Jerry Yan at ako naman si Barbie Hsu. Hahaha feelingera kami eh.

Nakakatuwa siya kasi kahit lalake siya, he's also fond of watching those Asianovelas even chick flick movies. BUT HE'S DEFINITELY NOT GAY! SWEAR! Ang pervert kaya nyan (secret lang yun ah).

Nagkakasundo kami in a lot of ways and we share a lot of common interest. We both know how to play guitar and piano. We love to sing together in karaoke. Our favorite ulam is Sinigang na baboy. We both hate MILK TEA. Mas gusto pa namin ang Zagu and many to mention.

Kaya siguro nawala na lang yung pagiging crush material nya in my eyes dahil we're both the same. Kasi di ba, like poles will repel. In other words, we're meant to be bestfriends. Basta one day di ko na siya crush, Period.

>>>>>>>>>>

So much of our story, back to the future na tayo.

Tumingin muna siya sa may bintana before answering my question. He heaved a sigh.

"Anna Elise, you should learn how to fix yourself. Try to look in the mirror and you'll know what I mean. And one more thing never ever shout again to a guy like that. Para kang nakalunok ng microphone. Guys hate that, you know. It kinda implies that you're a nagger." he said calmly and seriously. You'll know when we are both serious kasi we say our full names.

But I want to hear a different answer. Alam mo naman, Girls. "Ganun?! Ganun?! It's like saying that I'm ugly indirectly. May pa-sugarcoat at advice ka pang nalalaman, Yes or No lang naman ang gusto kong marinig." Inis kong sinabi sabay hampas ulet. Sarap niya talagang saktan ewan ko ba.

"I don't get you! You want an answer di ba? I gave you a good one then galit ka pa? Makakurot ka pa. Hay! GIRLS!" He said exasperatedly.

"Will you please stop speaking in english! Arrgghhh!! Kita mo nahawa na ako sa'yo. Ano na Gonzales, Yes or No?" Yun lang naman ang gusto kong marinig eh. Ang dami niya pang sinabi.

But before even Gonzales could open his mouth, a guy from my side answered my question.

"No, you're not. Sa tabi lang manong. Para." He immediately get off of the jeep right after he answered my question. I didn't have a chance to see his face. Ang bilis bumaba at maglakad eh saka hindi man lang lumingon.

WEIRDO! O_0