It Might Be You

4

Maria Selena Ocampo

The struggle of having no internet connection in my place is so real. More real than the existence of forever.

Kailangan ko pang mag-stay sa school longer than my class hours para lang matapos yung mga tasks ko na kailangan ng internet. Alam mo, yang internet na yan dapat ihanap ako ng forever eh. Makabawi man lang siya sa perwisyong dulot niya sakin.

Buti nalang nairaos ko ang exam week namin ng mahusay. I think.

Napatawa ako. Mahusay? Wait 'till I see the results. Baka ika-husay din ng pag-tatapos ko ng buhay ko.

Of course joke lang. I believe naman I did good.

Since the exam week's over, I need to pamper myself. Yes, it's become a need.

I planned to go out and treat myself some great lunch then finish some movies until I fall asleep and wake up the next day for a sunday mass and prepare myself for another week at school.

Napaka-iksi ng pahinga. Hindi mo pa naeenjoy ng lubos yung weekend, marerealize mo nalang papasok ka na uli kasi lunes nanaman.

I was too preoccupied of thoughts about how to not get tired of going to school nang madinig ko ang pag-ping sa messenger ko. Yes, I 'm using my mobile data. It's so reliable on times na wala kang wifi.

I checked kung sino yung nag-message, and you wouldn't believe who just did.

Akala ko he was already gone by the wind kasi hindi na siya nagreply noon. Atsaka, isang linggo kaya siyang hindi nagparamdam. At yung linggong yun ay exam week ko, kaya hindi ko na talaga siya naalala.

I clicked on his chat head at agad na nagload yung message niya.

Lucian: hey :) i'm sorry about last week. I was actually on board for batanes that time and nag-baka sakali lang naman ako that you'll reply. I never really expected that you would kaya ngayong nakabalik lang ako ko nabasa :) sorry 😄✌

Hmm, bakit kaya siya nag-eexplain?

Pero, huy teka, ano sasabihin ko? Uhh, shit.

Me: ahh haha okay

Ganyan?

Hindi. Erase-erase. Pangit.

Di rin kaya ako magreply ng isang linggo? Hayaan ko nang na-seen. Sabihin ko napindot ko na yung convo tapos nung magrereply na 'ko, nawalan ng connection kaya di ko na-send reply ko.

Kasi diba, I've been hearing that tip from so many others about dating someone. They said if you don't want to appear too easy to get, don't reply to his messages right away. Wait for at the least 7 minutes before replying. And when he replies, reply after a little longer than how long before replied to you.

Ang kaso, hindi ko naman siya dine-date. And I haven't formally met him yet. So hindi rin applicable yang tip na yan for my situation.

Kasi all I need to do, is act casual.

Me: uy hi :) no biggie. No need to apologize roo. Hope you enjoyed batanes 😉😄

Casula ba 'yan?! Pero yan lang ang kinaya ng powers ko.

At alam mo pa ang nakakaloka? Seen agad after naging 'delivered' yung status ng message ko. At alam mo mas nakakaloka? 'Typing' yung status ng kanya.

Ang una kong naisip, 'Edi siya na ang may mabilis na internet. Ako na ang pinagdamutan ng connection.'

Nagulat ako nang dumating na uli reply niya.

Lucian: 😊😊 thank you

Lucian: yah, i did thanks 😃 have u been to batanes? :)

Okay, shit. He's trying to make a conversation. Patay.

Kapag nag-reply ako magtutuloy-tuloy na 'to. It's fcking now or never.

Pero I still replied anyway.

Me: i haven't yet :) but i often hear it's beautiful

Wala pang isang minuta ay nag-reply din siya.

Lucian: beautiful is an understatement. It's glorious, tbh

Me: oh talaga? Edi pakasalan mo na --says the btch inside me.

Me: i believe it is :)

Yan nalang nireply ko. Kingini Batanes ha, pa-inggit ka. Mukhang in love na sa'yo 'tong isang 'to. Ano, pa-inggit pa.

Lucian: well but not as much as you :)

Ano sabi niya?! 'Not as much as you' amputek! Juicecolored.

Lucian: hey i just wanted to ask you if you're free this afternoon? Maybe we could grab some coffee :)

Okay, I need to calm myself down. Kalma ka lang, Selena. Niyaya ka lang mag-kape, kalma ka lang. Niyaya ka lang ni kuyang pogi na binigyan ka ng sweet note noon na mag-kape. Wala talagang ibig sabihin yan. Siya'y friendly lang, don't worry.

Me: sure :)

Lucian: nice :) i'll see you sa cafe?

Me: sure :) 4pm?

Lucian: yes, 4pm :)

Me: okay :)

Lucian: okay, thanks. Can't wait 'till 4 😄 see you!

Me: *SEEN 10:49 AM

Can we skip 11-3 nalang?

**
Matapos kong masabi kay Pash ang nangyari, agad na din akong nagtungo sa Café de Quintero.

Explain ko lang ah, di ko gaanong pinaghandaan 'to. Hindi talaga. Nag V-neck at black jeans lang ako. Naka-sandlas lang din ako. Tapos hindi din ako nag-mascara, hindi talaga. Wala ito. Hindi ako prepared.

Papalapit palang ako ng café ay tinatanaw ko na sa labas kung nasa loob si Lucian. Shit, ang weird na first name basis na kami gayo't hindi pa kami personally nag-mineet.

Pagpasok ko, I'm not sure, pero feeling ko si Lucian yun, ay nginitian niya ako mula sa counter ng café.

Pucha. Ang gwapo niya, I swear. Mas narealize ko yun ngayon kesa noong unang beses ko siya makita ng personal.

He walked towards me at nakita ko din na hindi siya prepared. Simpleng plain na sky blue na 3/4 ang suot niya at naka Polo na Faxon low sneaker na khaki canvas. Ganun kasimple lang yung suot niya pero ang lakas ng dating niya. Not to mention his pretty face na mas nagpapa-lakas ng kabuuan ng dating niya.

"Hi," bati niya sa'kin. "You're Selena?"

Tipid lang yung ngiti ko, a smile not even showing my teeth, saka ako tumango.

"I'm Lucian," saka niya nilahad yung kamay niya at tinaggap ko din. "Nice to formally meet you," he chuckled.

Omg, what did he just do? His chuckle should be illegalized mula ngayon.

He shrugged and offered me a table. "So, coffee?"

--
Hi yes I know bitin. Sorry na. Haha. But next ud will be kilig-packed I can promise you that. Thank you :)