Weh? Di nga? You're a GIRL?!

27. The Real Me

The Real Me

"PICK-A-BOO!!!"

Jared's POV.

Para akong na wrecking ball nung sumigaw sya nun.

Hayy... I guess I don't have a choice para sabihin yung totoo..

Yes, I am pick-a-boo..

Ang childhood friend ni LJ.

Kaya nga halos malaglag ang panga ko nung narinig kong sumigaw si Louise nun.

Parang lahat ng memories ko with LJ ay bumalik in that one moment. Halos mapagkamalan ko nga din na si LJ si Louise. He kind of remind me about her, I don't know why... Probably because Louise acts like LJ sometimes. Kaya nga akala ko din, bakla sya. Which is, hindi naman daw.

Ah ewan..

Iniwan ko si Louise sa kwarto nya right after nyang isigaw yung nickname sa akin ni LJ. Bigla ko kasi syang na-miss..

It reminded me of her. How I missed her so much.

I miss how she calls me pick-a-boo...

I miss how she chase me around...

I miss how she looks when she cries because of me...

I miss her beautiful smile whenever she sees me...

The beautiful sound of her laughter when I joke around...

I miss everything about her...

Sya kaya, nami-miss rin kaya nya ako? Is she still waiting for me to come back?

I hope she's still hoping.. Holding on to a chance that I'll come and get her, cradle her in my arms and say that she is the most precious 'jewel' in my life.

If only I knew where I'll find her, pupuntahan ko sya kaagad at kukunin ko sya. Kahit saan lupalop pa ng mundo yan, pupunta ako para hanapin sya.

My friends told me to move on. Pero anong sinasabi ko? HINDI. Hindi ako susuko. Loyal yata tong pogi na ito ^_~ Hindi ako susuko sa ganung bagay. Kung anong pinangako ko sa kanya noon, pwes tutuparin ko iyun kahit late na ko.

I've decided to go out. Kinuha ko yung red jacket ko sa kwarto at lumabas ng dorm. Mas mabuti siguro kung maglakad-lakad muna ko sa labas ng university.

Nung makalabas ako, feeling ko lumabas ako sa kulungan. It's been a while since the last time I walked alone in peace. Usually kasi lagi kong kasama yung tatlo. At least ngayon, wala sila.

Naglalakad ako ng hindi tumitingin sa dinadaanan ko ng hindi ko napansin na may nabangga akong naglalakad din.

"Ms! Sorry, hindi ko kayo napansin..." Sinabi ko at tinulungan syang tumayo.

"Hindi, okay lang. Hindi rin naman ako tumitingin sa dinadaanan ko." She looked at me then stopped. Pati ako nagulat nung makita sya.

"Jared?"

------

Abby's POV

"Jared?" Nagulat ako nung sya pala yung nakabangga ko. I quickly picked up my phone, "Uhh, Lay, I'll just call you back.."

"Hah? Bakit? Is everything okay?" Kausap ko kasi si Lay sa phone nung nabangga nya ako. "Everything's fine.. I just have to talk with someone.." After that, I hung up.

I looked at Jared. He still have that shocked face nung nakita nya ako. "Yow pick-a-boo? Okay ka lang?" He shrugged his thought off and nodded as a response.

"Never thought I'll bump into you, Abby. How are you?" I smiled at him. Na-miss ko itong taong to. It's been a while at halatang malaki na talaga ang pinagbago nya. I bet LJ will get surprised once she see this handsome guy that fell head-over-heels for her.

"I'm doing good. You?" We started walking while talking with each other.

He nodded again. "Good. Still searching for her though..." Bahh! I'm sorry Red, kahit gusto ko man sabihin sayo kung nasaan sya, hindi talaga dapat ako yung magsabi sayo.

I smiled. A warm one, to be exact. "Hayy, you're one tough person huh. You're very loyal when it comes to LJ. Don't worry, you'll find her soon."

"I was hoping na agad ko syang makita. Abby, you don't know how much I miss your cousin. Akala ko.talaga matutuloy na yung kasal, pero kung hindi sya umalis-" Pinutol ko kaagad yung sasabihin nyang kasunod.

"Ehdi sana nakita mo na sya ngayon." Napatingin sya sa akin. "Red, hindi naman natin sya masisisi kung umalis sya. You know the reason already. She thought na hindi nya na matutupad yung promise nyo sa isa't isa nung mga bata pa tayo."

Huminga ng malalim si Jared, "Sa tingin mo, magpapakasal pa rin sya sa akin kung nalaman nyang ako yun?"

That got me stuck. Pero I found the courage to answer him straightly.

"Jared, hindi ko man alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isip ni LJ, kung ginawa nyo lang ba yung promise nyo dati dahil mga bata pa kayo or what... Pero kilala ko si LJ. She always do her promise, and I'm sure, she'll be more than willing to marry someone if it's you..." Napangiti naman si Jared dun sa sinabi ko. But I know it's a force one. Hindi ko naman sya masisisi dahil ganun ang nangyari. Pero no matter what happens, mas bet ko si Joshua Jared Coronado a.k.a pick-a-boo or Red, na maging husband ni LJ at in-law namin.

"Sana nga ganun..." Sabi ni Jared.

Napadpad kami sa isang park at dumiretso dun sa may playground. Since 2pm palang ng tanghali, deserted pa yung lugar dahil malamang, natutulog muna yung ibang mga bata bago maglaro dito mamaya.

Umupo kami sa swing at nag-swing ng dahan-dahan. "Abby?" Narinig kong tawag ni Jared.

"Hmm?"

"Sa tingin mo, ganun pa rin ang feelings sa akin ni LJ?"

SILENCE.

SILENCE.

SILENCE.

SILENCE.

Our atmosphere became so silent right after his question. What can I say? I don't know LJ's feelings as of now.. but I have a gut that says, she's still in-love with Jared.

"Abby," Napatigil ako sa pag-iisip, "what do you think?"

I softened at his expeession and smiled right after, "I may not be LJ, but I know that her feelings for you will never change."

"How can you say?"

Jared, kung alam mo lang...

"Sabihin na natin na hindi ko alam, pero kung ipaparamdam mo naman sa kanya ulit yun pag nakita mo sya, sya mismo ang magsasabi ng nararamdaman nya para sayo."

He smiled, I know that he felt contented at my remark. He stood up and stretched out his arms, "Hayy... Nakakagaan naman ng loob makausap yung cousin-in-law ko."

Tumayo din ako kasunod nya, "Heh, tigilan mo nga ako Coronado. Baka gusto mong bangungutin mamayang gabi."

He chuckled and faced me, "Pero syempre, thanks to you. Buti na lang at nabangga kita diyan sa tabi. Hahaha!"

I pouted at him, "Bwiset ka, ansakit ng pwet ko noh!"

"Eh sino ba naman kasi yung tao na nakikipag-usap sa phone habang naglalakad sa kalsada? Paano pala kung magnanakaw ako, ehdi naagaw ko na yung cellphone mo sayo?"

Hayy, ehto nanaman yung pang-asar na Jared Coronado -,- "Oo na, panalo ka nang PANGET ka."

"Wow. Ramdam ko yung pagiging capital nung panget ah."

"Eh yun naman talaga ang itsura mo eh. Bongga nga, kahit papaano may nagkakagusto pa sa panget mong mukha." Solid yun ah >:D

"Sama naman ng cousin-in-law ko. Sige, papanget ka din." Tinaas-baba nya yung kilay nya.

"Ayy! Tigilan mo nga ako!" Sumigaw ako. Pero right after that, tumawa naman kami pareho.

Hayy, kelan kaya kami ulit mabubuo?