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17

17 | Donny

I'm glad that I'm going to prom with Sierra. At first, I was really anxious to ask her out. I mean to prom. The last time I asked her to a party, it was a disaster. I honestly don't know what I was thinking, but it was just a time to leave. Dahil din dun, naging mas malapit na rin kami at marami na rin akong nalaman tungkol sa kanya. But today, I asked her to go to prom with me. Nilakasan ko talaga loob ko, dahil nahihiya ako. Ewan ko kung bakit, pero yun, nahihiya ako.

Back then, I didn't like her that much, palagi ko nga siyang binu-bully eh. Pero nung naging close kami, iba talaga ugali niya sa ibang friends ko. Siya yung tipong hindi iju-judge ang mga nagawa mo, but instead she tells me that it's okay, lahat naman tayo nagkakamali sa buhay natin.

"Donny!" sigaw nung babae, I'm heading out na kasi dismissal na eh. Paglingon ko, it's Sierra.

"Uy," bati ko na may kasamang ngiti tapos ngumiti rin siya. Shet, ang cute mo.

Sabay kaming naglalakad palabas. "May gagawin ka pa ba?" tanong niya.

"Wala naman, bakit?"

"Tara! May pupuntahan tayo." sagot niya. Mukhang ang saya-saya niya ngayon ah.

Dahil nga hindi ko dinala kotse ko, si kuya Manny ang sumundo sa'min. The rest of my siblings already went home, mas maaga kasi dismissal nila. Kaya't binabalikan lang ako ni kuya Manny. Hays, mabuti pa si kuya Manny, binabalikan ako jk hahaha. Nung nakasakay na kami sa kotse, binulong lang ni Sierra kay kuya Manny kung saan kami pupunta. Nakakainis na ha, saan niya kaya ako dadalhin?

"Malayo pa ba?!" nai-irita kong sabi tapos tinawanan lang ako nila. Naiinip na ako ha. Qiqil mo si acoe.

"Chill ka lang, malapit na." kinindatan ako ni Sierra. As much as I'm annoyed, pero I can't help it. She's so cute.

After a few moments, huminto na yung kotse. Mukhang andito na ata kami. Ako yung unang bumaba at nagulat ako. Hindi ko alam saan banda ito sa Manila, pero sobrang nakakatuwa lang tignan. Street foods. Sunod-sunod na pushcart yung nakikita ko, yung nakakatakam na bango ng street foods. Medyo marami-rami na rin ang mga tao including estudyante dahil mukhang dismissal na ng iba.

"Diba nai-kwento mo sa'kin noon na hindi ka pa nakakakain ng street food?" sabi ni Sierra na may kasamang ngiti, "Kaya andito na tayo! Dito matatagpuan ang pinakamasarap na mga street food para sa'kin."

Hanggang ngayon, tulalang-tulala pa rin ako. First time kong kumain ng street foods dahil kahit minsan hindi kami nakakahinto sa mga ganito, pero sobrang excited na ako.

"Halika na! Bago pa tayo maubusan." hinawakan niya kamay ko at naglakad papunta sa mga pushcart. Her hand is a bit rough, ramdam ko yung mga gawain and responsibilidad niya. Hindi ko alam pero sobrang shook pa rin ako, dahil hinahawakan niya pa rin kamay ko. I don't want her to let go of my hand, kaya I held hers.

May mga pushcart ng siomai, yung mga fishball, kwek-kwek, may mga barbeque din at iba pa. Sobrang nakakatakam, umuusok pa yung mga bagong luto.

Bigla siyang bumitiw, tinignan ko siya. Uy, nagblush siya. "Pili ka na."

I looked at the foods, hindi ko alam kung saan magsisimula. Kasi gusto kong pagsasabayin lahat.

"Try mo ito, sobrang sarap niyan." she said, "Sa sobrang sarap, makakalimutan mo problema mo."

I laughed at her, then I did. I just ate fishball. It's really good, after that, sunod-sunod na ang pagkuha ko ng pagkain. Parang eat-all-you-can hahahah. Paulit-ulit rin sinasabi ni Sierra na paborito niya raw. Eh parang lahat naman paborito niya.

Nung natapos na yung food trip namin, kasama rin pala si kuya Manny. Iaabot ko na sana yung bayad para sa lahat ng nakain namin, naunahan ako ni Sierra. "Why are you paying for it?"

"Libre ko kayo." she smiled, "Madami na rin kasi kayong naibigay sa'kin, kahit ito man lang, makabawi ako." Nung nakuha na niya sukli niya, nagpasalamat na kami pero mayroon pang sinabi yung street vendor.

"Ang cute naman ng girlfriend mo." sabi ni ate tapos nanlaki mata namin. Shookt.

"Ay, hindi ko po siya girlfriend."

"Hindi ko po siya boyfriend, ate."

Sabay naming sabi, hindi naman awkward pero ang weird lang na mapagkakamalan kaming couple. Humingi ng sorry si ate sa'min, akala niya daw kasi tapos ang cute daw naming dalawa. Di naman hahaha. Tapos tumawa nalang kami ni Sierra.

Nung paalis na rin sana kami, may mga nagpa-picture pa sa'kin. Hindi naman ako gaanung kilala, katamtaman lang. Pero may mga tao talagang nagpapa-picture eh. Hinatid na namin si Sierra sa kanilang bahay, it's almost six na rin eh.

Bumaba ako after niyang bumaba. "Thank you for today, I had fun eating those foods." I said with a smile plastered on my face.

"Wala yun, maliit na bagay." she fixed her bag, "Thank you rin dahil makakapunta rin ako sa prom."

I didn't know she appreciates it. She deserves to experience it rin kasi eh. "Alis na ako, mom is kind of worried." I chuckled tapos bigla siyang nag-sorry. I said it's okay, and besides, mom knew about it. We bid good-byes and I watch her went inside their house before kuya Manny drive off.

When we arrived at home, it was already dinner time kaya I went to the dining area immediately seeing the whole family gathered. After we prayed, kumain na kaagad kami. Mom and Dad started asking about our day, tapos nung ako na, ayun kinuwento ko sa kanila yung tungkol kay Sierra na kumain kami ng street foods dahil dun panay na naman kakatanong nila at mukhang hindi na mapapalitan yung topic.

"Kuys just asked Ate Sierra to go to prom with him!" Hannah squealed, my family's reaction was priceless. I promise you.

"Really kuya?!"

"I'm so happy for you, Donny."

"Great! You guys look so cute together!"

Those are like few of the things they said about what Hannah just spilled. Thanks Hannah, the attention is on me again.

"To be honest, I'm really glad you asked Sierra to prom. She's really simple and kind." Ate Ella smiled genuinely, she barely knew Sierra but based on what she heard from our younger siblings. She seems convinced that she is indeed really kind.

"I want her to experience this prom thing before leaving high school." I explained before I could take another spoonful from my food. Even mom was touched by what I said, I really want her to experience prom. It will make me happy. Because she makes me happy.

It's rare to meet someone like her. She's kind and caring. She's smart and pretty. Not really that attractive but when you get to know her more, you'll see more beautiful things about her. In this way, I can make her happy. I also wanted to go to prom with her, but it is my only reason? Dahil lang ba I wanted her to experience it? Or something more?

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