Ethan
My hands were shaking when I drove to the office to pick her up. Kahit positive yung response, I was giving way for the possibility that she wanted to reject me face-to-face.
I parked and waited at the lobby for a few minutes and then the next time I looked up, there she was holding up a sign: YES.
Eh office lobby, so anong ginawa namin? Eh di magtitigan.
Pero yung smile ko nakakapunit ng mukha.
"Ethan?"
"Yes?"
"Are we going stand here nalang all day?"
"Oo. Tingnan lang kita, okay na ako."
Laura laughed. "Pwede ba tayong magdinner? I'm hungry eh."
"Ay, ano oo. May hinanda ako, okay lang ba kasi nasa condo ko?"
She nodded.
When we got there, I got busy asikasuhin siya. In the middle of preparing our food, I stopped and said to her, "Huy, girlfriend na kita."
"Oo," she confirmed.
"Wow. Nagwork yung gayuma."
She hit me.
"Joke lang! Hahaha! Joke lang." I hugged her then cupped her face. Running my thumbs through her cheeks, I whispered, "Girlfriend."
She bit her lip and nodded again.
Hay Laura, wag kang ganyan. Marupok ako. Out loud, I said, "Boyfriend mo ako. Wow. Wow."
"Why are you so cute?"
I shrugged. "Hayaan mo na. That's the only thing I have eh."
"Huy! Hindi ha. Ethan, I have one request pala."
"Ano yun?"
"Can you stop calling me 'Sugarplum'? I really hate it."
I laughed. "Eh bakit mo tiniis?"
"I like you eh and you seemed entertained... I'm not that peeved actually, but if there's something else... or kahit Laura nalang."
I agreed to think about it. For the meantime, I asked her to sit and served her the food I prepared for us.
"Laura?"
"Hmm?" She asked, while taking a bite.
"Ummm, walang kiss 'no? Kasi yun ang sabi natin sa pamangkin mo?"
She giggled. Ang cute nito. Bakit lahat ng ginagawa niya cute?!
Laura leaned over and sniffed. "Hindi ka naman smelly. Sabi naman ni Alena, not to kiss boys kapag mabaho."
Siyempre inamoy ko agad yung kili-kili ko, yung kamay ko, yung hininga ko - "TEKA LANG. MAGTOOTHBRUSH LANG AKO."
Laura
Gosh ang cute, cute ni Ethan. Nagtoothbrush nga! Naubusan pa ng mouthwash so tumakbo sa convenience store sa baba to buy one.
I was laughing the whole time.
"Yabang nito. Ayaw ko lang na ma-trauma ka sa first kiss natin 'no? Baka hindi ka na umulit," he said.
After dinner, we settled on the couch listening to music and wala na naman kaming ginawa kundi magtitigan. "Bakit parang hindi tayo makapaniwala na tayo na?"
"Oo nga. Hayaan mo ng ienjoy ko ito."
"Ethan?"
"Hmmm?"
"You want na ba your kiss?"
His eyes widened and he nodded vigorously. "YES!"
Bigla akong nahiya kasi parang abang na abang siya eh. "Close your eyes."
When he did, I had all the time to look at his face. He really is so good looking.
"Laura?"
"Hmm?"
"Ba't ang tagal? Nag-i-isip ka na naman ba ng gimik parang yung Jeopardy mo?"
I pinched him. "Yabang mo naman eh. Ang bagal mo kasi!"
"Oo nga. Epic fail ka pa din."
I pouted and got up. "Uuwi na nga ako."
"Noooooooo! Joke lang. Sorry na. Sorry!"
He hugged me from behind as a random song played on the radio.
"I know what I'll call you!" He suddenly declared.
"Huh?"
"Hana."
"Anong Hannah?! Sino si Hannah? You are not calling me another woman's name!"
"Hindi! It's short for TADHANA. Destiny -"
"Break na tayo."
"JOKE LANG! JOKE LANG KASI. Walang break! Bawal ang break!"
I fell back on the couch laughing. Hindi naman talaga kami magbebreak (hoy, akala niyo makukuha niyo na si Ethan at ang kanyang Carbonara?!) but he looked so adorable that I can't help but laugh.
"Thank you. You make me very happy," I said to Ethan.
"You're welcome! You make me very happy, too, my darling sweetheart honey." He hesitated, "Laura..."
"Yes?"
"Kung pwede... wag mo ako iwan ha?"
I held his hand. "Best effort, I promise. Just... let's always talk ha? If we need seminars on effective communication or counseling or whatever... yun lang hihingin ko. Let's always talk."
"Yes. Promise. Pero I swear na magiging loyal din ako."
"Ako din."
"Laura?"
"Yes?"
"Wala pa din ba akong kiss?"
I smiled widely. Siyempre meron.
*
When he brought me home that night, he decided on calling me "Ni" or "Nini". Akala ko short for Honey.
Short for Destiny pala. Napaka-walanghiya.
Buti nalang mahal ko eh.
Yiiiiiiii mahal ko.
Pero nakakainis pa din.
-
Note: Sorry! Short update lang. Super busy! 😊
