Her Hero

Open

"Hindi tayo masyado nakapag usap." Bungad ni Meera ng pumasok sya s kwarto ko. Alam nya ang code sa condo ko kaya hindi na nya kailangan pa na kumatok.

I turned my chair around her. Inaayos ko ang susunod na entry ko s vlog. Naka pantulog na ko. oversize na shirt at boyleg short.

"I got you something." She held up a paperbag.

"Give me! give me!give me!" excited na sabi ko na parang bata. I know its Balut.

"Alam mo na agad ah." pero umatras sya palabas ng kwarto.

"Dito na natin kainin sa kitchen. OC ka pa naman." dire diretso nyang sabi habang nag hahanda ng platito at mangkok sa kitchen counter.

I put my desktop on sleep mode at lumabas na ng kwarto at sinundan ang bestfriend ko. Sinabi ko na sa kanya na mag-isa na lang kami ng condo pero ayaw nya. Istorbo lang daw ako s love life nya. If I know, ayaw nya na makita ko na Kuya ko ang manliligaw nya.

"Ilan binili mo?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang busy to na kumuha ng baso at tubig sa ref.

"Just six. Tig tatlo tayo." Sabi nya sabay lapag ng mga baso at tubig sa kitchen counter.

"San tayo bukas?" Tanong nya habang sabay namin binubuksan ang balut. Pero di ako kumakain ng kiti. Wala pa ko sa ganung level ng pagkain ng exotic food.

"Sa The Vale. Sinabi ko na kay Mona na ireserve yung rooftop. Grill tayo."

"Ano naman sabi ng kuya Yvan mo?" saad nya habang nag bubudbod ng asin sa bagong bukas nya na balut.

"Hmm...yung sinabi ba taga ni Kuya ang gusto mong malaman, o kung tinanong ka nya sakin." natatawang sabi ko dahil nahirinan sya s pagtungga ng sabaw ng balut.

"Hahaha! Gotcha!"

"Hindi ah! Nahirinan ako dahil sa suka na nainom ko noh!"

"Tell that to marines."

"nga pala, napansin ko hindi kayo mukang aso't pusa ni Xavier kanina."

"We had a truce." mahiksi at pormal kong sagot.
"What kind?"

"More like an agreement...We should be civil with each other. Not like before as if we didn't exist, and unlike yesterday as if we'd declare a 3rd world war."

"Well, that's a start. Anyways, can I sleepover here?"

"You always sleep over here. Except the times you date my brother and you avoid making kwento." She blushed.

"I told you, you could stay here. I have a spare room and you don't need to hide about my brother."
she sighed.
"about that..."
She was supressing a smile while She looks at me still with the blush on her cheeks.

"Kayo na..." i whispered with wide eyes.
Nagtatalon ako sa tuwa.
"You'll be my sister in law!" I exclaimed in excitement.

"Ang advance mag-isip. Pwede ko na rin ba i declare na kayo na ni Xavier?"

"Malabo pong mangyari yun. Dahil hindi namin gusto ang isa't isa."

"Hmmm...the more you hate the more you love. He's the first person to awaken your emotions."

"Not gonna happen... I'm in love with his brother." Inuubos ko na ang last piece ko.

"Hindi love yan. Pinanindigan mo lang. Alam mo naman ang ugali mo. Why don't you open yourself to possibilities."

I closed my eyes. I know deep within me that what she said was true.

"I have lived my life like this. Safe. Planned. Organized."

"Pano pag hindi na reciprocate yung 'love' mo? I haven't seen you failed from your plans. It makes me worried." She placed her hand on my shoulder. I understand where she's coming from. Even my family is concerned about me being strictly by the books. I just can't let things happen to me. I need plans. And I need to follow it.

"Let me promise you this. Last sem na natin sa Senior High School. Pag natapos ang first sem at hindi naging kami ni Xymon, I will let go of my ten year plan."

Natampal ni Meera ang noo nya sabay ngiti.

"Ten years talaga? Iba ka talaga! Ok. Open yourself a little bit. Don't be like NBI na pati makikioag kaibigan sa'yo iimbestigahan mo." natatawang sabi nito.

"You know naman what happened before, di ba? I need to be careful."

"Yeah. I understand."

Nang gabi na yun halos hindi kami nakatulog dahil nagkwentuhan na lang kmi.