My Best Friend is my Boyfriend (Book 2)

Chapter 25

UGH! Ano bang nangyayari sa'kin?

Why can't I get Caleb out of my head?

"Actually, we had broken up."

"Actually, we had broken up."

"Actually, we had broken up."

"ARIA! Anong oras na? Hindi ka ba papasok?" sigaw ni mama.

Thank goodness, kahit papaano ay nadistract ako from my thoughts.

"Ito na, bababa na ko."

**

"Girl, excited ka ba for today?" tanong sa'kin ni Denise.

"Why should I be?" tanong ko.

"Ano ba yan, ang talitalino mo tapos hindi mo alam kung anong meron ngayon." sabi naman ni Gretchen.

"Duh! Valentine's Day po ngayon. And in case you haven't noticed, your boyfriend has some surprise for you." pagpapaalala ni Fille.

Tumingin ako sa paligid at nakita ko na wala pa pala si Ezra.

"Uy, kunwari pa siyang hindi excited at hindi alam." pang-aasar ni Gretchen.

Napangiti ako.

Yes, I'm excited. But not the way they think I should. Excited lang naman ako kasi alam ko that if Ezra will pull out a romantic surprise for me, I'll be able to get Caleb out of my head.

Tama! I should be happy now.

Distracted pa ako with my lovely thoughts nanh biglang dumilim ang paligid.

Naramdaman kong may humila sa'kin.

Kikidnapin na ba ako katulad sa mga teleserye? Oh no! Walang pangtubos si mommy sa'kin.

"Hey! Get off me." sinubukan kong pumalag.

Pero napatigil ako sa pagpapanic nang may isang spotlight na tumutok sa gitna at nakita ko ang isang nilalang na may hawak hawak na gitara at may microphone sa harapan.

Ang boyfriend ko, si Ezra.

"This is for you, the one I truly love and the one I want to spend my entire lifetime with, Miss Arianne Nicole Clemente."

Napangiti naman ako. Hindi talaga siya pumapalpak sa pag-iisip ng mga paraan para pakiligin ako.

-If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go

I can take you places you ain’t never been before

Baby take a chance or you’ll never ever know

I got money in my hands that I’d really like to blow-

He's got a good voice. He even plays the guitar well. I bet hindi kayang gawin 'yan ni Caleb.

-Swag swag swag, on you

Chillin by the fire why we eatin’ fondue

I dunno about me but I know about you

So say hello to falsetto in three two-

Puro sports lang naman ang alam ni Caleb eh. Well, sige sabihin na nating matalino siya at isa siya sa top students ng batch namin. Kaya nga maraming babae ang nagkakagusto sa kanya. Bihira lang kaya ang jock na concerned sa studies.

-I’d like to be everything you want

Hey girl, let me talk to you-

He can act too. Ang galing nga niya bilang Julian noon sa play eh. Naalala ko tuloy, he's also a good kisser. Well, based sa ginawa niya sa'kin noon sa play.

-If I was your boyfriend, never let you go

Keep you on my arm girl, you’d never be alone

I can be a gentleman, anything you want

If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go, I’d never let you go-

Suddenly, hindi na si Ezra ang nakikita ko. Pinalitan na siya ng isang imahe ni Caleb.

Parang ang bagal ng oras habang pinapanood at tinititigan ko lang siya.

Pero ang almost eternity para sa akin na kanta ay natapos din at bumalik na sa harapan ko si Ezra.

What are you thinking, Aria? Si Ezra ang boyfriens mo, hindi si Caleb.

Nakita ko namang unti-unting lumapit si Ezra na nagpakaba sa loob ko.

"For you." sabi niya at ibinigay niya sa'kin ang isang bouquet of flowers.

But it's not just any flower. It's Carnation Roses, my favorite.

"I-I'm speechless." 'yon na lang ang nasabi ko.

Bumukas na ang ilaw at lumiwanag na uli ang paligid.

"Ang KJ mo, dude!" sabi ng isang kaklase namin kay Caleb.

Oo, si Caleb ang nagbukas ng ilaw.

"Aba, malay ko bang may eksena pala dito." sagot ni Caleb at dumiretso lang siya sa pwesto niya.

Everyone returned to their normal state.

But for me, I feel like I can't feel normal again.

**

"F-For you." sabi ko at ibinigay ko na kay Ezra ang regalo ko.

Nasa labas kami ng bahay. Hindi na kami nakapagdate dahil late na ang uwi namin.

And besides, gulong gulo na ang isip ko. Baka may magawa lang akong hindi kanais-nais.

Binuksan niya ang regalo ko at nakita niya ang love cockroach.

"Ang cute naman nito. Thanks, baby girl." sabi niya with his signature smile.

Baby girl. Somehow, nang marinig ko 'yon ay naalala ko ang pagmamahal ko sa kanya. Simula noong 1st year hanggang ngayon.

Mahal ko siya. And he's all that I wanted.

He began to move closer.

I know he's going to kiss me.

I closed my eyes and wait for his lips to touch mine.

I can already feel his breath. He's drawing closer.

I opened my eyes to catch a glimpse of him.

I was astonished when I didn't see him. All I see is Caleb.

I accidentally pushed him without me thinking.

"I-I'm sorry." sabi ko.

He looked disappointed. Pero nagbounce back agad siya at ngumiti na alam kong pinilit lang niya.

"It's okay if you're still not ready. I can wait." sabi niya.

Hinalikan na lang niya ako sa noo at tsaka siya umalis.

What if I can never be ready?

The guilt inside me is stinging me.

Am I taking him for granted?

No, Aria. Stop thinking that. Mahal mo si Ezra. At 'yon ang importante.