The 10th First Love

8- Si James Reid

Pagkakataon nga naman oh. Akala ko totoo na ang sinabi ng boss ko na dapat nagpapahinga ako ngayon.

"Miss Catherine, I am so happy that I saw you again after two years! I was so sad when I had to leave back then. Hindi man lang tayo nagkita. Not to mention that you look even more beautiful." Sabay subo ni James Reid ng isang tipak ng pasta.

Dahil walang idea ulit si Catherine sa kung ano naman ang meron kay James Reid, nakapagisip na ito ng mga tanong para hindi naman siya "makasakit" ng damdamin.

"Ah, that. Two years na din pala ano. Sige nga kung talagang klaro pa sa isip mo yung mga yun, sabihin mo paano tayo nagkakilala two years ago?" at ngumiti ito matapos paikutin ang pasta sa tinidor at sinubo.

Ngumiti nanaman si James at excited na excited na nagkwento "Okay, I was here for a concert and I am having a hard time balancing my job and my studies. Not to mention that hirap ako talaga mag-tagalog. Most people I worked with had no problems with that but I just feel like not being able to speak in Tagalog somehow made me incomplete. So I asked my dad to hire me a tutor and we found you..."

Oh okay, so tutor naman ako ngayon.

"...At first I was like 'Dad, are you kidding? She looked so young to be my tutor' but your teaching powers were pretty impressive. You kept saying bulol pa din ako but I was so happy that I get to learn the language in a short span of time. Mas marami akong nakausap ang nakilala pa. Especially when I am doing my concerts abroad, mas naging malapit ako sa mga Filipino fans. And its all thanks to you. I was planning to invite you nung 24th birthday ko but unfortunately, hindi ko naman alam na sa hotel ka na pala nagwo-work." Pagtatapos ni James

Tumango tango si Catherine ng bigla itong natigilan.

W-wait... 24?! So you mean I am 5 years older than him? Ano naman kaya ang istorya namin ng batang 'to? Si Hana talaga oh, ayoko sa mas bata sa akin!

"I see. Eh ngayon kamusta ka naman? Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

Napahinto si James sa pagikot ng pasta sa tinidor niya. Napainom ito ng tubig at naging seryoso ang kanina lang ay punung puno ng excitement na mukha.

"I- uhh... I... Well..." utal utal nitong pagsisimula

Catherine slightly leaned para mas mailapit ang mukha nito kay James.

"I... I was on my way to meet you in that hotel that you are working with. When I was informed that the set will be located here, tumakas ako sa ngayon because I am really looking forward to see you."

"Paano mo naman nalaman na doon na akon nagtatrabaho?"

"I went to the tutorial center where you used to work and your boss told me, well my friend actually, that you changed your career plans and went to pursue what you really wanted to be –to work in a hotel."

Tumango tango si Catherine at walang patid na atensyon ang binigay pa din nito sa mga susunod pang sasabihin ni James.

"Eh bakit mo ba ako gustong makita? Don't tell me magpapaturo ka nanaman mag-Tagalog eh ang galing mo na nga. Hindi ka pa lang siguro sanay na madalas gamitin." Sabay subo na ni Catherine ng pasta.

"I can still remember the first time I met you. You were wearing a simple white shirt, skinny jeans, a black cardigan and a pair of sneakers. Very simple yet... for some reason, I don't know, I was mesmerized..." Pagto-throwback ni James "...I don't want to sound really forward and overbearing but I assume alam mo naman na gusto kita?"

Naubo ng malakas si Catherine dahil nahirinan ito sa pasta na kakasubo lang niya.

Takteng James 'to oh. Timing na timing! Nakakamatay na nga ang kapogian niya pero ang chaka kung mamamatay ako dahil nahirinan ako! Ano na lang ang lalabas sa mga diyaryo? "Babae, namatay dahil sa kasibaan"