If I'm Not In Love

38

This is it.

I seriously didn't expect it, pero ngayon totoo na to!

Gusto kong sumigaw at tumalon sa tuwa nung finally nagsink in sakin yung ibig sabihin ni Ethon sa sinabi niya. Pero hindi naman ako scandalous para gawin iyon at baka isipin pa nilang may baliw na kasama si Troy.

“That's the date you've been waiting for, huh,” Troy stated.

My lips stretched widely as my arms snaked firmly on his, “Yes! And I want to be the most beautiful girl tomorrow! Para hindi na siya lilingon sa iba, Troy! I'm so excited!” I squealed.

“Maganda ka na..” sabi niya.

Parang mapupunit na ang labi ko sa sobrang pagngiti pagkadinig ko sa sinabi ni Troy. Hindi ko na kasi matandaan kung kailan niya ko huling na-compliment or if there was even a time he actually did. At talaga namang nakakataba ng puso at nakakadagdag ng confidence na masabihan na maganda.

“Iba pa rin ang pinakamaganda, Troy,” I giggled.

He didn't respond on that. Tahimik lang kaming nagpatuloy sa paglalakad papunta sa classroom habang hindi na nawala yung ngiti sa labi ko.

Our classmates noticed it though, but they thought I was just well pampered by Troy kaya ganun na lang ako kasaya. Well, hindi ko na tinama since hindi din naman sila maniniwala. Ewan ko nga, pero iniisip talaga nila na may something sa amin ni Troy kahit wala naman talaga.

Then, the night came and I couldn't sleep. Tinawagan ko si Mama para ibalita sa kanya na may date ako bukas. Expectedly, she was surprised. Of course, sino bang hindi, e, never naman akong nagkwento sa kanya about boys apart from Troy and Tan-tan. Fortunately, hindi siya nagalit. Nagbilin lang si Mama na mag-ingat ako at wag masyadong magpa-gabi saka dapat uuwi ako sa bahay namin at hindi sa ibang bahay. And that's how I realized she's not against me having a boyfriend.

Napangisi ako.

Yes, Ma. Dalaga na ang anak niyo.

I giggled as I cuddled my pillow tightly. I tried to sleep pero alam kong imposible dahil sa sobrang excitement na nararamdaman ko. O sighed. This is how it feels, huh. To have finally getting the date from my first love after quite a long time of waiting. It makes me sleepless.

Pero hindi pwedeng magka-eyebags! Paano na ‘ko magiging pinakamaganda bukas kung may dark circles ako sa paligid ng mga mata?

Slightly panicking, I dialed Troy. Isang ring lang at mabilis niyang sinagot ang tawag ko.

“Can't sleep?” he asked as if he's already expecting it. “You want to hear some fairytales?” he added.

I chuckled as I shook my head kahit na hindi niya naman nakikita, “No fairytales this time. I want a lullaby..” I kidded.

There was a long silence after I said it at akala ko binabaan niya na ko. But he's still on the line when I checked it and I realized he was just shocked or something to my unexpected request. I smiled at what I did. Na-iimagine ko ang itsura niya ngayon at sigurado akong nakakunot na ang noo niya.

“You can say no, you know.. ” I snickered.

I heard a sigh then a click of a tongue. “Turn your phone into loud speaker,” he ordered.

Hindi ko inaasahan yon kaya hindi agad ako nakapag-react. But eventually, I did what I was asked to do. Linagay ko sa loud speaker ang cellphone ko at pinatong na lang sa may unan kung saan ako nakahiga.

“Done?” he queried.

“Oo,” mabilis na sagot ko. I shifted from my position kasabay ng paglipat ko rin sa cellphone ko, “Kakanta ka nga? Seryoso yan?” hindi makapaniwalang dagdag ko, dahil seriously, never ko pa siyang narinig kumanta simula nang makilala ko siya.