Love Is For Real

Chapter 1

I scan for another book to read.

Iyong best selling na bago pa pinublish ng isa sa mga paborito kong local writer.

"Ang sagwa naman ng book cover"I giggled softly

Ayoko namang may makarinig na kinakausap ko ang sarili ko,pero sa totoo...I used to talk with myself alone.Wierd.

Laking gulat ko ng may humablot sa librong hinawakan ko kanina,na ngayo'y napasakamay na ng isang lalake.

Im still examining the book ta's hahablutin niya lang basta basta?

"Excuse me Kuya?"pairita kong tanong

"Ay mahal naman nito.250 o?"anito sabay bigay balik sa'kin

"Nasa kamay ko iyan kanina ta's agad mong hinablot.Ano to?Bastusan?"masinsinan kong tanong

"Ah!Miss,ipagpaumanhin mo na.I was just trigger by the book title.Im so sorry,naunahan siguro ako ng excitement.I'm looking for that kind at nabalitaan kong ngayon iyan isasale ng store.Pasensya na."ani nito

He's still wearing his school uniform.He likes to read?Um in this kind of book?

He handed me the book and I quickly get it.I cover the front page.Its kind of liberated.

''Y-You can have this.Kukuha nalang ako ng isa.''I said

"Ay sa susunod ko nalang balak iyang bilhin.Pasensiya pala ulit.''anito

He looks so weary and tired.Siguro nagcucutting class to.Kakabukas lang ng pasukan alangan namang nastress agad siya sa paper works.

''Birthday kasi ng kapatid next week.I just want to grant her wish.Kaso medyo kapos pa ako ngayon."he trailed off

Kinunot ko ang noo ko.

"Birthday gift mo sa kapatid mo?"I clarify

Tumango siya sabay ngiti.Kinamot niya ang batok niya.

"Oo sana."aniya

Napansin ko ang namumugtong mata nito,as if he's not sleeping for a decade.

''M-Mahilig magbasa iyong kapatid mo?"tanong ko

Im not used to this.I dont do conversations to strangers.But something urge me to,and its kind of strange and unusual.

Tumango ito.

"Well...I can pay for this.Baka maubusan ka pa ng libro kung di mo'to mabili agad."wika ko

His smile fade.He give me a poker look.

" 'Wag na Miss.Thank you but no thanks.Hindi naman ako pulubi,may kakayahan naman akong bilhin iyan.Siguro hindi sa ngayon,maybe a little bit time soon.Hindi ko pa kasi natanggap ang sweldo ko.Salamat sa pagmamagandang loob Miss,pasensiya na ulit at mauna na ako."anito sa isang baritonong boses

Is he a working student?

"Wait.I dont intend to tell your a beggar or something.Nararamdaman ko rin iyong nararamdaman ng kapatid mo.I just want to pa--"

"Alam ko naman.I just want to make my sister happy."anito

May mga ganito pa palang taong nag-eexist sa panahong ito?Ang bait niya bilang Kuya.He's indeed rare.Tapos working student pa!Unbelievable.

"Kaya nga,I'll buy that for your sister.If I'll be in your sister's shoe.I'll be extremely happy.I love books so is your sister.Kaya,I can feel the same way your sister may feels.Sige na,Im so privilege to make someone happy."I sincerly said

Totoo iyon.

"T-Talaga?"aniya sabay kamot ulit sa batok nito

I widely smile.Ang galing kong magconvince!

"Oo!''I answered

Bakit pakiramdam ko ngayon lang ako ngumiti ulit.Naging masaya muli.

"Ayokong magkaroon ng utang na loob sa kapwa ko.So,pupwede bang ilabel ko munang utang ito?"aniya

"Huh?Okay lang kaya.Wag n--"

"Pera iyan galing sa magulang mo di'ba?Pinagpawisan nila iyan.You still rely in your parent's assistance just intended only for you."paliwanag niya

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Ikaw rin naman di'ba?"I asked

"No.Im working and studying.I do multitasking.I act as a strong father,a caring mother,a great big brother towards my sister.Still,I can suffice our needs by my own.Im not dependent."he said

He didnt even cock,he speak softly and humbly.

"G-Ganun ba?S-Sige.Utang nalang."nahihiya kong tugon

Utang nalang.I know hindi rin naman niya iyan mababayaran.Imposible namang magkita muli kami,unless kong...

Ugh,wala ako sa libro.In reality,people goes and leaves.Tsaka hindi naman siya iyong tipong pangfictional e,iyong ideal man ko na only nag-eexist sa book.Iyong matipuno,matangkad,syempre pogi,hot,hunk,cool or even the rich.He's the total opposite of my likes.

Sinugod ng iilang kababaihan ang section'g eto.Sabi ko nga ba at dudumugin 'tong libro to.

I was caught off guard ng may bumangga sa'kin

"Okay ka lang uh?"tanong 'nong lalake

Hinawakan niya iyong siko ko.Dali akong kumawala sa hawak niya,may naramdaman akong ano...this is misconception!It only happens in a book!Not in reality!

''Uh di ka bibili ng iyo?"tanong niya

"Nabasa ko na iyan online.So,I won't buy it nalang."sagot ko

Naiilang ako sa titig niya.

"Utang ko to a?Don't worry,babayaran ko rin naman ito."wika niya

''Im Lance."aniya sabay lahad ng kamay niya

"I-Isa.I'm Isa."bigkas ko

The effect from that touch earlier is not true.Agad kong tinaggap ang kamay niya.

But I was wrong!

The touch is electricfying.What the heck!This is suppposed to be found only in books not in damn reality!

Inihiwalay ko ang kamay ko sa'kanya.

Buti't tumunog iyong cellphone ko.I convert my gaze to my phone.Kuya's calling.

"Ano ba Isabelle!Asan ka na ba?Go home right now!"he harshly said

Agad kong inend-call ang tawag.Kainis.

Buti nga at tumawag si Kuya.He really wake me up...that unfortunately,I'm living in reality.

I handed him the money.

"I'll need to go."mabilis akong naglakad paalis

He even shouted my name.But I never dare to look back.

We're not in books.