"Ano ba 'yan, kadiri," nakangiwing sabi niya habang tinitignan yung panyong puno ng dugo. Binatukan ko dahil sa kaartehan. "Kasalanan ko ba at di ko na maintindihan yung math? Ayan nag nose bleed tuloy ako." Papaano ba naman kasi, nagkanose bleed ako habang nag kaklase kami. Buti nalang at to the rescue itong kaklase ko. Di man kami close, pero masasabi ko kahit papaano ay mabait ito para pahiramin ako ng panyo.
"Huy!" Gulat ko sa bespren ko. Sa sobrang gulat niya'y nabitawan niya 'yung gtec ballpen niya. Nanlaki yung mata naming dalawa at tinignan kung okay lang ba 'yung ballpen niya. "Bakit mo ba kasi ako ginulat? Gusto mo bang paduguin ko ilong mo?" Bulyaw niya saakin. Natawa naman ako sa kasungitan niya. "Di ka ba maka move on sa pag nose bleed ko nung first year? Pasalamat ka nga at dahil doon, nagkaroon ka ng magandang bespren," asar ko sakanya. Mukang mas nairita pa ata siya pero wala na lang sinabi. Ang sungit talaga.
"Ang panget mo," sabi niya pagka kita niya saakin na umiiyak. Di ko siya pinansin at tumalikod dahil masyado akong pagod para makinig pa sa sasabihin ng iba. Tinabihan niya ako at tinignan. Maya-maya, niyakap niya ako. "You forgot you have me. You don't have to face this alone, dumbass," bulong niya habang naka yakap saakin. Niyakap ko na lang siya ng mas mahigpit.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" Bati ko sa bestfriend kong walang kaalam-alam sa nangyayari. Inaway ko kasi siya kagabi. Sabi ko huwag siyang mangialam sa buhay ko. Papaano ba naman kasi, pinagalitan ako kagabi. Pero syempre, planado lahat 'yon. "Wow, after telling me to stop giving a damn about your life, here you are, holding my favorite cake in front of all these annoying people whom I love, wishing me a happy birthday," inis niyang sabi. Pero alam ko, natouch sya. "You're welcome," sabi ko nalang at kinantahan namin siya ng happy birthday. Tinuro niya ako sa harap ng mga kaibigan at sa pamilya niya. "This girl is the best gift I received so far. Pero salamat sa mga regalo," aniya na may pilyong ngiti, at dahil doon napuno ng asaran yung silid.
Tinawag na ang pangalan niya sa entablado. Todo sigaw naman ako dahil sa sobrang tuwa makita siyang grumduate. Mula highschool hanggang college, nakita ko siyang ginawa ang lahat para maabot ang pangarap niya. Pag baba niya ay tinapos na lamang namin ang ceremony. Puno ng iyakan, tawanan at flash ng camera yung paligid ko. Tumakbo ako papunta sa mga kaibigan ko para makakuha kami ng litrato. Biglang may yumakap saakin sa likuran. Amoy palang, alam ko ng bestfriend ko 'yon. "Congratulations," bati niya. Humarap ako para mayakap siya. "Congrats! Finally graduate na tayo," bati ko pabalik pero naluluha. Balak kasi niya mag Singapore. Isipin lamang na aalis siya'y hindi ko na kaya. "Oh bat ka naiiyak? Hindi mo kayang wala ako noh?" Pang-asar niya sa akin at di ko na pinigilan, sinapak ko na. Tumawa lang siya at niyakap ako. "Hindi naman ako aalis. Baka mamaya mag bigti ka." Bulong niya saakin.
"People keeps on asking if I like this girl. My answer will always be no. She's my bestfriend. She's the most annoying yet the most amazing person I met. And she deserves not just the word 'like' but 'love'. Whenever I see her cry for her exes back in highschool and college, I wanted to punch those guys who hurt her. Her father can't even throw hurtful words at her, how dare them hurt our princess. Haha! I remember how crazy she was for making a scene when she saw my girlfriend making out with another guy in our library. It seems like she was the one who was betrayed. She's an actual crybaby but she's such an independent woman," napatigil siya at tumingin saakin. Nakakainis, ano ba 'tong pinag gagawa niya? "She's such a carefree girl but she's so much trouble. I don't know when, why and how. But one day, I just woke up not feeling the same way anymore. Taking care of her became an obligation. Doon narealize ko na mahal ko na pala 'to mahal bilang babae, hindi na bilang kaibigan na lang," natawa siya habang nag sasalita. Tumawa rin yung iba pero ako, nagpipigil luha. "Im courting her for almost a year already. And yet ito pa rin siya, feeling dalagang Pilipina. Now, I think it's time for me to ask you again. It's either you'll still ask me to court you or you'll be my girlfriend, okay?" Napailing na lang ako dahil sa kapal ng muka niya. Sinapak ko siya at tinawanan. "Can you be my girlfriend?" He asked. I smiled at him and answered, "yes."
Remembering the past never fail to make me smile. I saw him at the end of aisle, laughing but looking at me intently. I flashed the best smile I have and it made him smile, too. Immediately, I went to my sit. Because I know, the bride had arrived. As she walked slowly but gracefully, I couldn't help but be mesmerized by her beauty. I saw a tear fell from his eye as he looked at her, smiling. Things didn't turned out the way we wanted it to be. But surely, we have no regrets. I'm so proud of my bestfriend. How he managed to be the kind of man he is right now from the boy I met when I was in highschool. "Mama!" My baby boy is already awake. "Hey, baby, look at your ninong! He's finally getting married," I pointed his ninong and kissed his cheek. "Mama, hungry." My son said. I just gave him his milk and watched my bestfriend exchange vows with the one he love.
