And because of those shoes, I had turned into a stalker – I somehow got a hold of his class schedule, I got his full name, his course, his student number, his Kalayaan Residence Hall room number, his birthday and zodiac sign, and the brand of perfume he's into.
Because of those shoes, my world would go into slow mo every time I'd see him. Because of those shoes I experienced palpitations of near-cardiac arrest levels when he was near.
And because of those shoes, Carmichael Adam Talavera III became my world.
"Hala ka, Gwaps, humot kaayo s'ya tan-awon ba. Hustisya man ni, uy. Dili s'ya kaya sa akoang matres. Ginoo ko, tabang..."
My bestfriend laughed. "Ajaw na ug i-angin ang Ginoo, Gwaps, uy. Unsa ba, pila ka buwan na man ka naglaway ana nija?"
"Ija-ija, aho-aho na pud ka, Gwaps, ay."
"Pasensya-i ko. Ingon-ani baja ko kung mag-istorya mi sa ako-ang Lola unya dugay baja mi gaistorya sa telepono gaina."
"Komedya ra, Gwaps. Love ta baya gyud ka kahibalo ka ana."
"Ajaw na ana, Gwaps. Kahibalo tang duha nga kaning naglingkod sa atuang atubangan ang imong tinuod nga gihugma. Sakit man dawaton pero kasabot ko, Gwaps."
"Supportive kaayo ka, Gwaps. Pero, kahilakon ko sa iyang pagka-dreamy, uy! Nganu man ning tawhana nga ambongan man intawon ni kaayo?"
"Basin baja ug mabujagan na sija, Gwaps, tungod nimu. Hinay-hinay pud."
"Langga, duol diri bi. Palinaan ta ka," I said. "Ayaw kabalaka, Langga, ha. I will take care of you."
"Hesus maryusep, manambalay na kintahay ka tungod ani nija?"
"Pwede na gyud ko mahimu ug doktor, mananabang, bisag abogado para niya, Gwaps!"
"Kajat."
Shane and I giggled like crazy.
We were inside the dorm, it was a Saturday and the study hall was almost full. I knew I should be minding my Math 53, after all, these numbers and I were not exactly the best of friends.
"Mo-shift na gyud ko next year. Basin mahutdan na ko ug dugo aning Engineering giahak."
"Unya dili na mo magkita sa Eng'g ni crush, Gwaps?"
"Bitaw no? Luoy pud s'ya basin mingawon s'ya nako. Oh, my God, the burden he puts on my shoulders," I kidded.
The subject of my daydreams looked up from the book he was reading to stare at me.
I quickly pretended to flip the pages of my College Algebra and Trigonometry book.
"Ayaw ug sige ug tutok diha, 'Do. Himusan unya ko ug samot nimu. Maglagot gani ko, halukan ta man ka, 'ron. Impas gyud ka diha, ay..."
Shane started laughing and I kicked her foot under the table.
I was one of his many fan girls. Or at least I considered myself one. Tall, tanned, and gorgeous, he's such an eye candy and he made my heart thump like crazy inside its cage. I was smitten, that I'd readily admit. I and apparently more than half of Kalayaan Residence Hall's female population.
"Gwaps, nag-tan-aw pa gihapon s'ya nako?" I asked in a whisper.
"Wala na, Gwaps..." my best friend whispered back.
"Ka-kyot ba niya, uy. Kahibalo ba ka nga SpongeBob SquarePants iyang keychain? Meant to be gyud mi kaayo, uy. Himuon kaha nako ni s'ya ug personal keychain, 'no?"
"Kagwang, uy. Unsay personal keychain, nganong keychain man? Uyab, 'di ka?"
"Gwaps, stop giving me ideas. Basin mo-adtu ko ug kalit sa bukid arun patudlo ko ug lumay."
