Pangalan (One shot)

Everybody calls you with your name,

but there is someone who can give meaning to it

and make it sound so special.

"I like you, Christine."

"I-I'm sorry but... sorry, mukhang hindi ko masusuklian yan,"

Kung noon palang sana sinabi ko na, hindi ka na sana naghanap pa ng ibang prinsesa...

Noon pa lamang, mahal na kita, di ko lang magawang masabi sayo dahil natatakot ako na baka di mo rin ako magugustuhan.

All this time, isa lamang akong kaibigan at little sister para sayo. Nothing special, at wala nang pag-asahang humigit pa doon.

Hanggang sa isang araw, nalaman ko nalang galing mismo sayo na may gusto ka rin pala sakin. Ang saya saya ko noon, pero hindi parin nawawala ang takot saakin.

My heart did skipped a beat and a sign of happiness was evident on my face. Di mapapantayan ang ngiti sa mga labi ko nung mga panahong iyon.

Even them, aware sila. Alam nila. Everyone says that we are perfect. Bagay na bagay, they even considered us as a perfect childhood couple, pero imbes na matuwa ay lalo akong nalungkot.

You're too good for me. I'm nothing compared to the other girls you might meet in the future.

Besides, masyado pa tayong bata nung mga panahong iyon, in fact, baka nga puppy love lang yan.

We are just in 3rd grade, for pete's sake, and there is still time for that in the future.

Kaya nga noon palang I'm aware na may iba pa tayong makikilala.

Call me a pessimist but that's reality.

This can't be another fairy tale, I'm not even a princess and I'm not expecting you to be my prince no matter how hard I wish.

Years passed and I was proven correct.

"Hey, Christine! Bakit ba kasi hindi mo pa sinasabi? May bago na naman tuloy si Gino, oh!" bungad saakin ni Doll.

"Di na bagong balita yan," sagot ko.

"Asus, di kita maintindihan kung bitter martyr ka ba? Akala ko ba matagal ka nang may crush dun? Eh bakit hinahayaan mo nalang?"

"I'd rather wait than to rush things. Love is serious, it doesn't need to be rushed." sagot ko sabay upo.

"Nakanaks, ikaw na! ang lalim naman nung sinabi mo! Di na ako magtataka kung bakit ka kasama sa honor, saludo akooo!"

High school days finally came. Nakamove on ka na nun, and ang pinaka kinatakot ko sa lahat ay, we became distant, kahit ba nandyan sina Dale at Doll na sinisikap tayong gawing malapit. May iba ka na kasi, samantalang ako hindi pa kaya I indulged myself with my studies. Wala na akong inintindi kundi ang pag-aaral ko lang.

I'm happy with that na lagi akong kasama sa honor list pero I can't hide the fact that I'm not happy because we are now distant from each other.

"Witwiw! Sino naman yang kasama mong chicks, pre?" tanong ni Dale nang makita ka nyang papalapit sa table namin habang kumakain.

"Hello!" Masayang bati naman ng girl na kasama mo. Winelcome siya nina Dale at Doll pero me? Neutral lang. I just gave her a simple smile and I continued eating.

"Haha! Nakakatuwa naman! Pano ba yan, Christine? Ikaw nalang ang NBSB sa barkada ah, kailan mo ba balak magkaroon?" pabirong tanong naman ni Doll.

"I don't know. Alam mo naman ang motto ko diba? Don't rush things." Even though at the back of my mind, I wanted to rush things and be with him.