Slobby Firsts

Epilogue

"Baby Vicky!"

"FUCK OFF, THOMAS!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! PIKON!"

I slammed the door of Kuya Baste's rooftop and marched to the bed. Seconds later, I heard the sound of laughter as he pushed the door. I rolled my eyes at him and faced my left where the whole town was visible.

The city lights were blinking, from the distance I could already see the fireworks. Wala pang alas-dose pero may pa-fireworks na sila? Wow. Sila na ang excited.

"Sorry na nga." Thomas said when he stood beside me.

I rolled my eyes and sat on the bed. Naupo rin siya sa tabi ko as he tossed me a box. "Hindi ako late. Technically, December 31 pa ha. Maaga pa nga ako e."

I frowned even more.

"Happy monthsary." Nakangiti niyang bati sa akin.

"YAAAAAH!" Sigaw ko sa kanya. "Sabi ko sa'yo ayoko nang ganito e."

"Anong ayaw mo?"

"Nagcecelebrate ng monthsary. Pakshet, ang corny!" Bulyaw ko sa kanya.

Last month, ginawa niya na 'to. May pa flowers pa ang gago. Hindi ko nga tinanggap, binigay na lang niya kay Mama. I cringed at the idea of celebrating monthsaries. It's so clingy and corny at the same time.

He laughed. Ginagawa niya 'to para bwisitin ako.

"I feel sorry for you Thomas. Ano ka na lang talaga kapag wala ako? Siguro ang lungkot lungkot ng buhay mo dahil wala kang bubwisitin ng sobra ano?"

"Kunin mo na kasi."

"Ayoko. YUCK!"

He smiled and handed me the box. "Long socks lang yan. Malamig panahon ngayon e."

I glared at him.

"Late Christmas gift." Dagdag niya. "Hindi monthsary gift."

"Umayos ka ha." Banta ko sa kanya bago kinuha ulit yung inaabot niya.

He grinned.

Halos two months na rin mula noong gabing yun. Akala ko may magbabago pero bully pa rin siya sa akin at ganun din ako sa kanya so tabla lang. The people around us were more than happy when he changed our Facebook relationship status.

Kulang na lang magpa-party sina Mama at Papa sa bahay nang sabihin ni Thomas sa kanila ang ganap nung umuwi kami noong gabing iyon. Even the friends were happy as well. Medyo nagulat lang si oh so poor Jeron ng very light. Pero natanggap na rin niya dahil hindi na raw kami magseselos kay Mika. Wow lang talaga.

Sino nga naman ba kasi ang mag-aakala na magiging kami pa? Ang daming move on na 'te moments, ang daming holdbacks. Parang naniniwala na tuloy ako sa hula ni Madam Mozel. That she was referring to Baby Thommy all along. If it wasn't Thomas, I would have protested anyway.

He was there in all my firsts. My first petty heartbreak, to my biggest one. The first to comfort me in my downfalls, the first to pick me up when I'm down. He was the first to get mad at me and he was also the first to say sorry. He was always the first to listen and he was the first to back me up. He was my first Santacruzan partner, my first date, my first leading man in stage, my first kiss, my first dance, my first love.

Hindi naging perpekto ang taong ito para sa akin. The road had been rough, messy and sloppy but I am glad because I have Pong to hold my hand. I can't wait to experience what is ahead of me as the new year approaches... I can't wait to experience more firsts with this guy beside me.

He was looking at the sky when he turned to my direction. Napansin na siguro niya na tinitignan ko siya. He stuck his tongue at me, "Pangit."

"Gago!"

Tumayo ako para silipin yung mga tao sa baba. Nakita kong nasa kalye na sila at mukhang magsisimula na ang countdown para sa bagong taon. "Uy, magsisimula na ata yung countdown. Nandun na sila lahat." I said.

Then the people down our street started chanting numbers.

"TARA NA!"

He held my hand lazily. "Wag na, pagdating natin sa groundfloor tapos na yung countdown." Tinuro niya yung langit. "Mas maganda panoorin yung fireworks nila mula dito."

Well, he has a point. I shook my head but I sat beside him anyways. "Tamad mo talaga, Thomas."

He frowned. "Akala ko makupad ako?"

"Tabla na." I told him.

"Well, thank you." He said with a small smile. "At least that makes me one of your slobby firsts."

I smiled a little too. As the night sky burst into different colors, he reached for my hand. I did not withdraw. We spent the first few seconds of the new year holding each other's hand. I don't see these intertwined fingers drifting away anytime soon, not in the next year or so.

Oh scratch that. I mean to say, not in a million years.

THE END