The Manila Charmers : TROY

25

There is no other way but this. I need to keep myself reserved hangga't maaari para hindi niya mahalata na alam ko na ang lahat.

I have fallen in love with her and I know that this is the only way para mapasa-akin siya. Hindi naman kasi ako yung tipo ng lalaki ng nanliligaw ng pagkatagal-tagal.

I get what I want very easily. And unfortunately, someone like Roxanne is really hard to get. Nakaka-challenge at nakakatakot. Alam kong mahihirapan ako sa pagririsk pero alam kong siya lang ang babaeng dapat mapunta sa akin whatever happens.

" Then be my girlfriend.", I told her habang nakahawak ng mahigpit sa mga kamay niya. She really looked surprised. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako or what pero ang cute niya. Nakanganga siya at nakatingin lang sa akin. Never blinked once.

Ang cute. Grabe!

" Wh-whaaat?" , sabi niya nang parang bumalik ang kaluluwa nya sa katawan niya.

" Be my girlfriend.", I repeated that made her blushed even more. She breathed heavily and smiled.

" Are you f*cking serious about this, Herrera? Mamaya nasa Wow Mali lang tayo! Grabe ka ha! Hahaha!", she laughed.

Napaka-kunot ang noo ko ," There is no way in hell that I am not serious about this, Salvador. I'm f*cking serious. I don't want anyone else to have you so if you trust me and if you want to take a risk, be my girlfriend."

Ngumiti siya sa akin at pinisil pisngi ko, " Say the magic word."

" Pretty pretty please?", I smiled with puppy eyes. Dapat paawa effect! Girls like that effect lalo pag may hinihingi.

She looked away and smiled, then looked at me.

" Okay."

I blinked a couple of times and felt that her hands held mine even tighter. Nasa Earth pa ako. Totoo ang narinig ko!

" Okay. I'll be your girlfriend."

I stood up and pulled her in her seat then hugged her so tight. I don't even care if lahat ng tao at barista pinagtitinginan na kami sa Starbucks. Pati yung waitress na nasa tapat namin na may dalang dalawang java chip frappe napatigil.

" Hindi ka magsisisi. Ever."

She faced me and pulled something in her wallet.

A photo of us when we were in Boracay. Nakaakbay ako sa kanya habang nakadantay ang ulo nya sa balikat ko.
Both of us were smiling.

Perfection.

" Ingatan mo yan ha. Ingatan mo din ang puso ko, ehem. Let me rephrase, lalo na ang puso ko. "

Napailing na lang ako habang naka-facepalm. " Grabe. Ang corny."

" Mahal mo naman.", she said while grinning.

After the Starbucks incident, we went to the arcade. Oo, pakana niya kaya kami nag-arcade. Mapilit kasi kahit ayaw ko talaga. Like, look at what I'm wearing now tapos mag-aarcade kami?i just got back from a hectic meeting! Naka-three piece suit kaya ako tapos nag-aarcade? This girl is something. How could she even force me to go inside a karaoke booth and sing Hallelujah(Bamboo) na naka-amerikana? Halos lahat ng tao na napapadaan sa booth namin eh napapatingin.

That was so embarrassing! Tawa lang siya nang tawa habang kumakanta ako that time. Pumapalakpak pa!

That there was this photobooth na may 6 shots. Pwede kang mamili if you want it as a plain photo or sticker. She was crazy! Kung anu anong pose pinaggagawa. Seryoso look, nakapogi sign,naka-peace, naka-pout, naka-cross eyed at yung isa naka-akbay naman ako sakanya like we were a perfect couple.

Roxanne made me believe today that with her, everything I see is perfect. We were in a toy store nang bigla syang nawala sa tabi ko. I kept on looking for her sa may Barbie section pero puro maliliit na batang babae nakikita ko. Mukha na akong tanga na naka-suit tapos pabalik-balik sa section ng Barbie at Lego pero wala pa rin siya. After 15 minutes, I saw her. Nakatayo lang at nakatingala sa may screen. Nanonood lang pala siya ng favourite game nya,Crash Bandicoot for PS4 game teaser.

I cannot afford to lose her. Not now.

Hinatid ko siya ng bahay. Gusto pa niya akong papasukin sa kanila kasi miss na ako ni Tita pero nagtext na si Daddy na may kailangan akong gawin. I kissed her on the cheeks and was about to get inside the car when she pulled me.

" Troyieeee. " Kadiri pero dahil siya nagsabi, cute.

" Yes, Roxanne?"

She kissed my cheek and put something in my wallet. " Pampa-goodvibes pag nagsusungit ka sa Battens." She ran inside their house and peaked at me, giving me a flying kiss before she closed the door.

I opened my wallet when I sat in the driver's seat. Pampa-goodvibes nga.

Our photobooth photos na naka-sticker.

" Ang baduy mo talaga, Troy.", I said to myself. For the first time in my life, I felt love. Real love.