My Perfect Stranger

-For The First Time-

"Hanep San Roman. Koreano pala yung suitor mo. Sosyal pang banyaga pala ang ganda mo eh." Gonzales said with a hint of astonishment in his voice and face.

"Interesting way of expressing admiration. Sino kaya ang nagbigay." kuya Dax looked at kuya Aidan and straight face lang siya.

"It means I really like you." Ethan said matter-of-factly.

Napatingin kaming lahat kay Ethan except si Gonzales na kinakalikot pa rin yung kaleidoscope.

"How did you know? You speak Korean?" I asked him curiously.

"I stayed in Korea for 3 years when I was 7 years old. But I only know a few. I really can't speak fluently." he explained.

"Really? I didn't know that." Amazing 101 Facts about soon-to-be-doctor-Ethan.

"Paano mong malalaman eh wala ka namang pakialam sa paligid mo." Gonzales chime in and still holding my gift.

"Akin na nga yan!" I snatched the kaleidoscope out of his hand. Jimbarney ha. Ang daming comment nitong mokong na to.

"Tsss. Damot." Gonzales hissed.

Wait a second. It suddenly hit me. Your stranger? Could it be him? The jeepney boy I mean. Bloody hell, he knows me!? I don't wanna jump into conclusion but I can't think of anyone but him. I don't know but he automatically crossed my mind when I saw the word stranger on the note. It creeps me out a little knowing that he knows who and where I live.

"Hoy mga tao! Anong ginagawa nyong lahat dito sa labas? Nasa loob ang kainan. Hinahanap kayo nila papa. What's the commotion?" kuya Keith yelled while walking towards us. He noticed Ethan and greet him,

"Hey Ethan. Musta na? Doctor ka na ba?"

"Hindi pa kuya. First year pa lang ako. Matatagalan pa yun." Ethan giggled. OA kasi ni kuya parang kakagraduate pa lang ni Ethan last year tapos doctor na agad.

"Lodi ka talaga. Kung ako yan, kahit may magpapaaral sa akin, I would never consider that degree. Nakakabagot kaya parang almost half of your life kang nag-aaral." he said.

"Ang sabihin mo tol, mahina lang kokote mo kaya ka nababagot mag-aral. Natatandaan mo ba nung college tayo halos igapang mo na ang lahat ng minor subjects natin. Minor pa lang yun ah. Kulang na lang ligawan mo din yung mga prof nating babae para lang ipasa ka." asar ni kuya Dax.

"Tangina nito! Parang ang talino mo Dax ah. Sa pagkakaalam ko dalawa tayo nun." kuya Keith countered.

"Hahaha. Hindi ko naman ikakaila eh, pero mas mataas naman ang grades ko sa'yo nun. Pumapalya lang naman ako dahil sa mga late at absences ko at oo naman Keith, mas matalino ako kesa sa'yo nang di hamak." and the point goes to kuya Dax.

"Pakyu!"

Everyone burst into laughter. True yun. Hindi na nga nag-eexpect sila papa ng mataas na grade kay kuya. Sabi nila pumasa lang si kuya, masaya na sila. Luckily, nakagraduate naman siya ng college. They all returned inside and I stayed for a while.

"Do you like it?" I didn't notice kuya Aidan stayed with me.

"Mmmm yeah, I've always wanted to have one kaya lang medyo creepy. Paano niya nalaman na I wanted to have this at sino ba siya in the first place?"

"Baka naman siya yung kinikwento mo sa akin, yung jeepney boy." See? Pareho kami ng iniisip.

"Impossible eh, pero siya lang din yung naiisip ko. Ewan ko ba. Why am I so drawn to him? Eh, bilang naman sa kamay ko na nagkrus yung landas namin, ni hindi ko nga alam yung hitsura nya eh. Likod nga lang kilala ko sa kanya plus his shirt."