A LOVE STORY, ALMOST

Janus to Rayah

****PLEASE READ FIRST!

I have dedicated this upload to fallenbabybubu, a very popular wattpadder, because of how much I have loved her story A and D. This work has been with me for two years now, this is the first time I have posted it anywhere online. I do not want to create confusion so I am making this clear: I did not, in any way, pattern my story to A and D (although you may notice the Best-Friends-Falling-In-Love theme was used). The chapters were done a long time ago. What I have been doing is just copying and pasting from my saved document. So yeah. ENJOY!

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We have a really long history, Janus and I. When I come to think of it, he may be the longest existing relationship I’ve had for the whole of my life. I’ve had him for six years. And unlike many of typical relationships that are hard to maintain, we pass by the years with unbelievable breeze. What we have is almost free of complications. The rule is quite simple: I have to be there for him, as he is there for me.

                Nakilala ko siya ng high school. I was this awkward chubby girl who doesn’t know anyone in class—I was a migrant from another side of the country. He, on the other hand, was a pipsqueak—literally speaking. Sobrang tinis ng boses niya nun, mas boses lalake pa ko. Hindi pa siya nagbibinata nun eh. Maliit, patpatin. Exactly my opposite.

                It was the first day of school. Nerbiyos na nerbiyos ako. Parang hindi ako makahinga, at hindi maka-prente sa kinauupuan ko. Sobrang awkward talaga. I was nervous about how I look to other people. I was afraid my new classmates won’t like me. Basically, I was ashamed because I was fat. I seem to lack self-confidence, even then.

 I couldn’t remember everything that happened that day. All I could recall when I think about it now is Janus. The rest of it was a blur.

                It was actually a pretty funny story, how he and I met. It was recess time, at lahat ng mga kaklase ko—strangers—rushed out para pumila sa canteen. Nakatayo na ko,  kukunin ko na lang yung wallet ko from my backpack, na hindi ko alam kung sa sobrang nerbiyos ko eh nahihirapan akong hanapin. It took me a few more minutes of searching to realize that I didn’t have my wallet with me. I didn’t have any money at all. I sat down, acting as if I was invisible. Hoping against hope na walang makakapansin na hindi ako nag-recess kasi wala akong pera.

                There were only a few people left in the room: a bunch of rowdy looking girls that obviously come from the same elementary school, me, and Janus.

                Janus was at the back of the room eating his sandwich, staring at me with interest. He was so short his feet do not quite reach the floor; they were dangling from his desk. I didn’t take notice of this little person, ang corny niya kasi, high school na nagbabaon pa. Baka nga gawa pa ng nanay niya yun.

                After a few minutes, he walked up to me.

                “Bakit hindi ka kumakain?” he asked in his very high-pitched voice. I looked at him, wanting to say that it’s none of his business and that he should go away, but his expression was so pleasantly friendly that I couldn’t help but answer back.

                “Nawawalan ako ng pera...” Gulat din ako sa honesty ko. Medyo naiiyak-iyak na rin ako nun eh, hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko. Hiyang-hiya ako sa sarili ko. True, kahit walang nakapansin, maliban sa maliit na taong to.

                “Nawawala? Nahulog mo?”

                “Oo ata. Hindi ko na rin alam eh.” His sympathetic voice made my eyes watery. “Magagalit si Mama ko sa akin pag nalaman niya..”