Nanginginig akong tumatakbo palabas sa school. Hindi ko akalain na may ganung eksena akong nakita.
My phone beeped. It was Dandreb.
Zare, can I see you?
My phone beeped once more.
Anak, the family dinner is cancelled. May urgent kasing nangyari kina Madel.
To Mom:
Okay mom. Uuwi ako ng medyo late, okay lang ba?
Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta ngayon. Ang gusto ko lang ay 'wag munang umuwi sa bahay. Hindi ko alam kung bakit but I just want to let myself over the things.
Palabas na ako sa gate at nais ko nalang pumunta sa mall to refresh my mind. "Zare!" his voice stuttered my mind. My eyes widened. "Saan ka pupunta?" he asked and immediately felt his hand on my arm. Napalingon ako. I was caught at awe.
"Hatid na kita?" he asked.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" I looked at him.
"Hinintay kita," he looked at me back.
"Bakit mo naman ginawa yun?" nagkakatitigan na kami.
"Kasi gusto ko lang,"
"Nasaan pala si Ri? Akala ko ba ikaw ang sundo niya?" bahagya akong naguluhan nang tumawa siya.
"Nakauwi na. Binalikan lang kita dito," sagot niya at unting-unti ng nawala ang kamay niya sa braso ko. Lumipat na ang mga iyon sa kanyang mga bulsa. Ngumiti siya.
"Hatid na nga kita,"
"No, I don't want to go home yet. Can you come with me instead?" I asked as I remembered what happened, kumirot na naman ang puso ko. Napapikit ako.
"Why? Had something happened? Ano?"
"Basta, Dan. I'm fine though, don't worry much. Gusto ko lang magisip-isip ng mga bagay-bagay."
"I understand. Okay, saan tayo pupunta?"
"Can you bring me to your favorite place?" tanong ko kasabay noon ang kanyang pagsulyap sa akin ng mabilis. He smiled as he handed me his right hand.
"Sige ba. Ano, tara na?" aniya bago ako napangiting muli.
Tinulak niya ang swing at napa-sigaw ako ng puma-ere ako. Napabalik-balik lang ako sa baba, sa taas at nagpatuloy lang sa ganung sitwasyon. Nabigla nalang ako ng tumigil ang swing. "Zare," he called at umupo sa tabing swing.
"Promise me na kapag lumaki na tayo, magkaibigan pa rin tayo,"
"S'yempre naman, bukod kasi sa'yo wala na akong ibang kaibigan. I can't afford to lose a friend. Especially you," I smiled, "Kahit kasi palagi tayong nag-aaway nung elementary kids days natin noon, at the end of the day, tayo lang naman ang nagkakaintindihan. You know, you're my only bestfriend," ngumiti siya pabalik sa akin.
"Zare,"
"Ano?"
"Would it be..." he paused, "good if, we'll remain like this forever?" napatawa ako sa naging tanong niya.
"Anong ibig mong sabihin? Na baka ma-inlove ako sa'yo ganun? No, Grant. As I told you, I can't afford to lose a friend."
The memories vanished slowly as I watched the relaxing view of the place. I smiled when the wind had blown my hair. Agad kong inayos iyon. "Zare, here comes my favorite place," he said. "And'yan na," sabi niya at kaagad tinignan ang sun na papalubog na sa malayo. The sea spanked its wave as the sun had settled. I smiled as the refreshing view had came across to my eyes.
"Amazing..." I murmured as I continued to watch the view. "Your favorite place shall be my favorite place too," I had said as I slowly faced him. He beamed at me as I returned him his smile. Nagkatitigan kami but I was the one who looked away first.
I can't stay with him too.
"Zare,"
They act the same. Very much.
"Would it be..."
They have the same features all over.
"Fine if I'll court you?"
