YOUR FIRST LOVE IS YOUR FUTURE

Part 4 -Everything Except You

Alexine and Rainier became "secret" friends on mobile. They got to communicate through random calls and text messages.

The network signal was unstable in the province. Makakapag-reply lang si Alexine when she was in the city center. They also didn't have an internet connection. Wala ding Friendster or social media account si Alexine.

It got Rainier frustrated with the set-up.

He wanted to know more about her. He wanted to talk to her whenever he wanted. More than anything, he wanted to see her again.

But for now, all he had was a phone number, a few messages, and the memory of a girl he had only met once.

Rainier could only express his feelings towards Alexine through their random calls and messages. He'd admit that he had fallen in love with her at first sight. He was always thinking of her, day and night. He could not wait to see her again.

One evening, he finally gathered enough courage to call.

"Hello, sino 'to?"

She accepted the incoming call.

"Hi-hi-hi, A-Alexine..."

He was nervous to hear her voice on the line for the first time.

"It's okay. Relax, Rain. How are you?"

"I'm sorry. I sound stupid. How are you, Alexine?"

Rainier sounded naïve.

"Don't be. I'm good here. Ba't ka napatawag?"

"It's our final exams, and I don't think I'll pass. How about you?"

He just wanted to share his anxiety with her, hoping she could somehow comfort him.

"That's all, Alexine. Bye!"

Rainier urgently hung up.

Then the signal got lost.

Alexine was bothered by the call.

It was a strange one. Hindi man lang siya nakapagsalita nang maayos. It seemed that Rainier sounded more nervous than usual.

She stared at her phone for a moment.

She could still hear his nervous voice in her head.

"Why did he sound like that?"

She smiled faintly, then shook her head.

She didn't know it yet, but somewhere in the other end of the line was a boy who was slowly falling for her.

She's so far away... I wonder when am I gonna see her again. Or is it not gonna happen?

I need to see her face soon... I can feel she's the one I've been waiting for.

Rainier had no idea how long it would take.

But he knew one thing.

He wanted to wait.

Alexine had a suitor named Anthony. He was the first one who courted her. He was five years older than Alexine.

The guy left the town for an opportunity. He got a sponsorship to become a professional basketball player abroad. He did not pursue her later on since long-distance relationships would not work out.

Alexine was still trying to figure out Rainier's real intentions and why he had suddenly asked for her number that day on the bus.

Usually, she would not give her trust to a random guy whom she had not known for a long time.