Love is... (The Choice)

chapter 1

"Hey, Dhale! Earth to! Hello??" natauhan ako when I heard my best friend call my name.

"Huh?"

"Hay, tulala ka na naman. Kanina pa ako dada ng dada dito eh, di ka naman pala nakikinig." She pouted.

"I'm sorry... may iniisiplang ako. What were you saying again?"

"Hay, Siya na naman ba ang iniisip mo? C'mon, best, it's been three long years... You have to move on... It's time for you to let go..."

"Sino ba kasi mesabi sayong siya ang iniisip ko? I was just thingking..." seryoso kong sabi. "Ano nga ba ang nauna? Itlog o manok?" sabay batok sa akin ni FJ, my bestfriend. "Ouch! Habang tumatagal nagiging brutal ka na ah *pouts.*"

"Loka-loka ka kasi. Deny ka pa. alam ko naman na up until now, you're still hurting."

"Ano ka ba. I'm fine. Really."

"Hay naku! Sige na nga. Fine na kung fine. Basta best. You know naman that I'm just here for you, right?" sabay tango ko nalng sa kanya. "Anyways, as I was saying, sasagutin ko na ba si Pep? Matagal-tagal na rin naman kasi siyang nanliligaw. In the process, I've learned to love him na din naman. What do you think?"

"Well, nasasayo na yan. You know you don't have to ask for my opinion. I like Pep for you. He seems nice. And, hello? In the process? If I know, na-love at first sight ka kaya sa lalaking yun *grins*"

"Shhh! Quiet ka lng." And pareho na kaming natawa. Pinagtinginan tuloy kami ng mga tao dito sa loob ng café. Sunday kasi ngayon and nagkayayan kaming gumala sa mall. Nung napagod na kami, we decided to rest and have some coffee kaya kami napadpad dito.

My name is Dhale Lyndenne Jereza. I'm 19 years old and a fourth year college student. I am the only child of the famous Atty. Armand Jereza and Dr. Cynthia Lee-Jereza. Yes, I am half Korean, pero basic Korean lng ang alam ko. Ang baliw na kausap ko kanina? Well, she happens to be my best friend. Her name is FJ Kim. Tunog lalaki noh? Pero, huwag ka! Mas babae pa yun sa akin noh. And the guy we were talking about? Well, he was... no. let me scratch that. He IS my first love. 

Flashback. (4 years ago)

"Hey, Dhale! Wait!" napalingon ako nang may marinig akong tumatawag sa akin. Its first day of school and uwian na ngayon. I am now in my senior year and the guy who was calling me happens to be my closest boy FRIEND, Dee Gonzales. Andito na nga pala kami ngayon malapit sa gate.

"Kanina pa.. kita.. tinatawag.. pero di mo.. ata ako naririnig,"Nakauyko at nakapatong ang dalawa niyang mga kamay sa kaniyang mga tuhod na sabi nya sa pagitan ng paghingal nang maabutan nya ako. Aba? Hinabol talaga ako eh, noh?

"Sabay na tayong umuwi,"  pagpapatuloy niya. His breathing is almost even.

"Okay," tanging nasabi ko. Kinuha nya ang 2 librong dala ko. Kinilig naman ako. Aba. Gwapo to mga, friend. Hindi lang yun, matalino't mabait pa. hay! Kelan pa kaya kami magiging more than friends?

YES, people! You read it right. I-AM-IN-LOVE with Dee. Sino ba naman ang hindi maiinlove dito eh package deal na to. HE IS MY DREAM AND IDEAL GUY. We have known each other since we were kids kasi magkapit-bahay lang kami. Our parents are best of friends kaya naman hindi rin naiwasang maging close kaming dalawa. He was like the brother I never had. Don't get me wrong. I DON'T see him as a BROTHER. I WANT us to be more than THAT. And it pains me to think that he only sees me as a SISTER.

"Ano ba iniisip mo kanina? Halos maubos na boses ko kakatawag sayo. I told you kaninang break na sabay tayong uuwi pero nalingat lang ako, nawala ka agad sa room," sabi nya, tonong nagtatampo.

I was thinking of you, Idiot! Gusto ko sanang sabihin sa kanya pero syempre, di ko sinabi. Aba! Hindi ko keri noh.

"Eh kasi akala ko kay Maville ka sasabay pauwi eh. I saw you guys talking and enjoying each others' company before I went out of the room," I tried not to sound jealous though ganun pa rin ata ang dating ng sinabi ko. Haha