I looked at my brother’s face first and noticed how a wide smile spread on his face before i turned to see my parents who wore the same expression as my brother. My parents pave the way and there stood the man i’ve known forever, aside from my father and my brother of course, my security blanket, my comfort zone, my safety net, my best friend, Tibias Autumn Nate Versace, wearing a suit that is so familiar in my eyes even though i’ve never seen it for five years already. I smiled as I saw him approach me. He looks impeccable in his Versace Barocco wool jackard suit that i designed for him before i left for Harvard. I smiled even more when I saw that he was only wearing a white vneck shirt inside. Typical Tantan.
His dark brown hair was combed neatly but a few fell on his face, probably wanting to be near his striking perfectly chiseled face, strong jaw, well-sculpted nose, thin lips, thick brows and under them is a pair of eyes, a shade just like mine. He was holding a bouquet of my favorite flowers, sunflowers. He smiled when he was a meter away and looked at my parents and I also looked their way. They nodded as if urging him on doing something and I knotted my forehead while smiling at them and turned my head to my brother who i am sure is observing my reactions on the events that turned. And I was right. He winked at me at inginuso niya pa si Tan who is now 2 feet away, his smile not leaving his face. “Hi, pretty girl.” He said and extended his arms to give me the flowers. Hindi pa rin ako nagsasalitang kinuha ko iyon. I love sunflowers. They always make me smile. They remind me that life has always something bright to offer kahit na nagkakandaleche leche na ang buhay mo. I hugged the flowers and I stared at him and smiled. Parang di na talaga mawawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko simula ngayong gabing to.
“Hi, pretty boy.” Sabi ko and i saw how he clasped his hands together as the tip of his thumbs were rubbed against each other, a mannerism he couldn’t avoid when he was tensed or anxious. My mother cleared her throat at tumingin ako sa kanila ni papa.
“We’ll give you a minute.” Nakangiting sabi ni mama.
“Thank you tita, sir.” He said na tinanguan lang ng tatay ko.
“But don’t take too long bro. Madami nang naghihintay sa kanya.” Sabi pa ni kuya na habang hawak hawak ang magkabilaang balikat ko. Bahagya pa nitong pinisil iyon and i tilted my head to smile at him. He proceeded at bahagya pang tinapik nito ang balikat ni Tantan bago nito sinundan sila mama.
“I can see that you’re nervous.” I teased him. And he just smiled lopsidedly still brushing his thumbs against each other.
“So... How did you know na dadating ako?” i started our conversation.
“Wala man lang ‘I miss you?” nagtatampong tanong niya.
“Depende sa isasagot mo.” Hinila niya ang kamay ko saka inilagay doon ang isang pin. Napakunot ang noo ko. It’s a pin at alam na alam ko kung anong pin iyon. Nagpalipat lipat ang tingin ko sa kanya at sa pin na nasa palad ko. “Why do you have-“
“I went there, too. In New York, to study.” Sabi nito na nakapagpalaki sa mga mata ko.
“Weh?”
“Yes, I’m studying Business Management in the same University, magkalayo nga lang tayo ng campus but I always see you, days and nights and afternoons.” And then i remembered one time when my friend told me that she saw someone who looked like Tan...
We were in our living room that afternoon, taking a break to soothe our mood from the oral exams we took that morning. Ayanna was my roommate and she introduced me to Cass and Kiera na mas maagang dumating nang isang araw sa dorm kesa sa akin. Silang tatlo ang magkakasabay but were from different schools din. Cass is a from New York City while Ayanna’s from Nevada. Si Kiera naman ay galing pang London. Pero lahat kaming lima ay may dugong Pilipino. Yun nga lang, mas prominent na sa mga ito ang foreign blood nila dahil na rin sa doon na raw sila lumaki at miminsan lang kung magbakasyon sila sa Pilipinas. We never discussed our classes at nagkagulatan na lang kaming apat nang magkasabay sabay kaming lumabas ng kwarto nang umagang iyon upang pumasok at magkasabay sabay rin kaming naglakad at pumasok sa isang class hall.
