"And they live happily ever after" Agad kong sinara yung hawak kong libro matapos ko itong basahin. One of my favorite. The classic Cinderella.
Who doesn't love cinderalla? For me, she's the epitome of what a woman should be.
Andito ako ngayon sa kwarto nang biglang malakas na bumukas yung pinto. At tumambad ang isang babae.
Crop top, Denim short shorts, Flowy, wavy long hair, and sneakers. A picture of a modern woman.
Juliet Taylorson. Half american and she preferred to be called 'jules'.
Lumapit sya sa akin tapos bigla nya nalang hinablot yung hawak kong libro. Binasa nya yung title at agad na tumingin sa'kin. "Really? Cinderella? Know what Liam, if I didn't really know you, I'm going to think you're gay!" sabi nya. "I mean, you still believe in fairytale? You're the girlish guy I know in the entire planet."
Kinuha ko sa pagkakahawak nya yung libro ko at maayos na nilagay sa book shelf, kasama ng Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast at ibang pang fairytale. Hinarap ko si Jules.
"Stay out of my books you witch!"
Sabi ko sa kanya. She just shrug her shoulder and roll her eyes to me. "Whatever Prince Liam of kingdom WEIRDNESS! By the way, why haven't you prepared yet?" tanong nya.
Nag frown ako sa kanya. Saan ba dapat kami pupunta? Nahalata naman nya na hindi ko alam kung ano yung sinasabi nya. "We'll be looking for your girlfriend or should I say Damsel in distress or Princess!"
"Jules, I've already told you, blind dates isn't really my thing! I'm not going with you!" sabi ko naman sa kanya. Sya lang ang may gusto na magkagirlfriend ako. At kailanman hindi ako pumayag sa blind dates na siniset-up nya for me.
Tinignan nya ako ng masama. "What now? You're just going to wait here for a beautiful lady to climb up your wall, fall in love and live with her happily ever after?" Sabi nya sa pinaka sarcastic na tono.
"No, it's just that--" magpapaliwanag na sana ako nang magsalita nanaman sya. "No Liam! You're going with me. End of story!" sabi nya. Lumapit sya sa akin at inakbayan ako at nag umpisa na namang magsalita sa malumanay at comforting na tono.
"Look Liam, as your friend, I really want you to have the 'fairytale ending'. But you need to stop living in fairytaleland." sabi nya sabay hagod sa likod ko to comfort me. "You need to go out there. Make yourself available. That's the way things work. In no time you'll meet girl of your dream" Tapos ngumiti sya sakin.
Huminga ako ng malalim at tinignan ko sya. "Okay, but Jules, this is the first and only time, I'm doing this! If it doesn't work, I'm out!" sabi ko sa kanya. Nag shrug na nanaman sya, tapos tinuĺak nya na ako.
"Put on your best coat. Prince Charming."
Nakasimangot akong pumunta sa banyo para mag prepare para sa blind date ko.
~~~~~
Jules is the most Out going, Cool, Liberated, most Persuasive, sometimes Annoying person ever existed.
Nagkakilala kami nung 12yrs old kami parehas. Elementary days. Pinagpartner kami sa isang School Play. Sobra kong naenjoy yung play na yun. Kasi I'm the Prince. pero kabaliktaran naman si Jules. Halata sa kanya na ayaw nya yung ginagawa nya. Sya kasi yung gumanap na Princess.
We don't share the same interest obviously. But i think 'Opposite Attracts'. I mean, not in a romantic kind of way. But since then, we became very good friends. I don't know why, but I really enjoy her being around.
We've been friends for almost 5 years now. At ngayon pinipilit na nya akong magkagirlfriend.
~~~~~
Lumabas na ako ng banyo at agad ding napansin ni jules yung suot ko. Gulat yung expression ng mukha nya. Yung mata nya, halos
ma-detach na sa sobrang gulat nya.
"You're one of the cutest thing I know, but no offense, your fashion choices, is gross!" sabi nya. With matching simangot pa. Tinignan ko yung sarili ko. Ayos naman ako ah, White long sleves tucked in sa slacks and black shoes.
"What's wrong?" tanong ko naman. Tinuro nya ako. And she makes this circling fingers on me. "The whole thing is wrong. You're going to a casual date not on a royal ball or something" sagot naman nya.
"Wear! Something! GREAT!!" sigaw nya tapos hinawakan ako sa braso at iniharap sa salamin. Napasimangot naman ako. "You literally sound like a witch, sometimes." reklamo sa kanya.
"No Liam, I'm actually being your fairygod mother. I am literally saving your life right now. Who do you think will like you with that look?" sagot nya at nag umpisa na syang manghalungkat sa closet ko.
Another thing about us, being opposite. I have a very organized closet while hers was a big mess.
She comes to me with what she calls. Graphic Tee (t-shirt lang naman yun na may print), Pastel colored bermuda shorts (Seriously?! eh shorts lang na may kulay yun eh!) and plimsuls. (tsk! tsk! tsk! saan ba nakukuha ni jules yung mga 'terminologies' nya?!
Natatandaan ko, yung mga yun sya din ang bumili for me. Sinuot ko naman yung mga binigay nya.
"Look at you! Prince charming of Modern days. You should wear something like that more often" compliment nya. Ako naman yung nag shrug sa kanya. "Whatever, shall we go?"
"Yes," sagot nya tapos sabay na kami lumabas ng kwarto. Nagpaalam lang kami kay mom tapos tuluyan na kaming umalis ng bahay.
