21 Minutes

Twelfth

J: Ganun ka-powerful yung impact sa akin nung nangyari sa resort. I turned into a loverboy. (laughs) But seriously, I realized na kaya di ko mahanap yung sagot kasi I wasn't asking the right question. Or maybe, subconsciously, like Mika, dinisregard ko rin yung idea na pwede nga kami.

How did you let her know of your feelings? Did it happen right away or did you talk to Jessey first?

J: Well, nagkaroon kasi agad ng isa pang event. Our love story is quite eventful, you see. (laughs) Anyway, then came the Athlete's Ball. Because of that, I got the chance to speak with Jessey and... all I can say is, she's an angel. Mika's angel. She's the angel that brought my now wife to the love of her life. (winks)

M: (shakes head while laughing) Sige na nga. Pero yeah, my best friend really is one of my angels on earth. (smiles) Never kaming naging teammates after high school but we were a team pagdating sa love life.

--- Flashback ---

JERON

"Hey, um... Thanks for saying yes.", I told Jessey as we sat across each other.

I invited her to have coffee with me in Cafe Breton Ermita, which is roughly thirty minutes away from her school.

I've always loved the ambiance of the place regardless of the branch. And of course I keep coming back here because of their crepes. Favorite namin ni Mika pareho 'to.

"No worries! Ako nga dapat mahiya eh kasi dinayo mo pa ako dito.", she answered as she took a sip of her cafe au lait.

I took a deep breath as I tried to let go of the nervousness in my body.

"Jess... uhm... May gusto kasi sana akong sabihin sayo eh.", I began.

"Actually, ako rin.", she replied with a smile.

Kinabahan ako bigla doon. In the movies, usually, bad timing yung mga ganito. Yung pareho kayong may gustong sabihin sa isa't isa. And the two parties end up hurting each other.

But I can't back out now. Whatever she's gonna say, I'm going to be honest about my feelings. I need to do this for Mika.

"Ladies first.", I told her after a minute of contemplation.

"Okay. Hmmm... Gusto ko kasing maging honest sayo, at sa sarili ko na rin, siyempre. While it's still early and wala pa tayong commitment talaga.", she began.

I braced myself for what was coming.

"Jeron... I like someone. I like Karl."

I remained frozen, repeating her words inside my head. Never pa naman akong natinik, kaya hindi ko masabing nabunutan ako nun. Right now, para akong nabunutan ng sampung needles sa katawan.

"Jeron?"

I tried to compose myself by drinking a glass of water.

"Jess... You don't know how relieved I am right now."

Her forehead creased.

"Bakit? Ganun mo ba ka-ayaw sa akin? Grabe siya!"

"No, no! It isn't like that!", I was quick to say.

I cleared my throat before giving a definite answer.

"I want to be honest with you, too. Kaya naman as soon as na-amin ko siya sa sarili ko, gusto agad kitang kausapin para aminin naman sayo. You see, I like someone else also. And ayokong maging unfair sayo kaya nandito tayo ngayon."