My Boyfriend is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

41: Mira

Bakit kaya gano'n — kapag bigla mong naisip ang isang tao, sakto namang magpaparamdam din siya sa'yo?

That's what ran through my mind as I read the card attached to the bouquet of pink roses I unexpectedly received, which I later on learned was from no other than Chase.

To the beautiful lady who never fails to cross my mind. Hope to see you soon, Mira. — Chase

Siyempre ay sumagi rin sa isip ko na 'wag tanggapin ang mga bulaklak, kaya lang ay ayokong ma-offend si Chase. Sigurado namang friendly lang ang rason kung bakit naisipan niya akong sorpresahin. Kahit naman noong mga estudyante pa lang kami ay thoughtful na talaga ang kaibigan kong ito.

As I sat behind my office desk, admiring the flowers' beauty, I found myself recalling another memory I share with Chase.

****

"Happy Valentine's Day, Mira!"

Nilingon ko ang pinanggalingan ng boses at gaya ng inaasahan ay nakita ko si Chase. He was wearing his signature smile that won the hearts of many girls and girls-at-heart here at Pierceson University.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Chase,"  nakangiti ring bati ko sa kanya.

"Para sa'yo." Iniabot niya sa akin ang isang bouquet ng pink roses. Of course, he knew what my favorite color is.

"Sure ka bang para sa akin 'to?" pabiro kong tanong sa kanya habang tinatanggap ang mga bulaklak. "Baka naman ni-reject lang ito ng ibang babae, kaya sa akin mo ipinasa?"

"Grabe ka naman. Is that the kind of thing I'd do?" he asked, snickering. "Isa pa, sino naman ang magre-reject niyan? Ikaw lang naman ang babaeng pinopormahan ko."

"Sus. Halika na nga sa loob ng room at magsisimula na ang klase," I replied, curbing a smile.

Sometimes, I still couldn't understand what got into Chase Nixon Constantino that made him so intent to pursue me. I mean, why would one of the most admired guys in campus fall for me — a plain Jane who spends her free time reading nonfiction, of all things?

Our usual class schedule followed — Cost Accounting, followed by a thirty-minute break, then Production and Operations Management. It was halfway through POM when something crazy happened.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Arevalos." Napalingon ang buong klase sa may pintuan ng classroom nang magsalita ang isang lalaki na nakasuot ng pang-Journalism na uniform. May kasama siyang dalawa pang mga estudyante. "Sorry to interrupt, but we are members of the Valentine's Day Patrol."

Valentine's Day Patrol? Ano ito, high school?

Our professor nodded, as if she was already expecting something of this sort to happen. "And what do you need?"

"We are assigned to help out at the marriage booth. Nandito po kami para sunduin sina Chase Constantino at Mira Custodio."

Napanganga ako sa gulat habang ang mga kaklase ko naman ay nagsimulang mag-iritan. Mrs. Arevalos, meanwhile, chuckled.

"Go on, Mr. Constantino and Ms. Custodio. You are excused from the class," our professor told us, beaming.

I glanced at Chase, who looked like he just won the lottery. Pinandilatan ko siya at tinanong ng, "May kinalaman ka ba rito, ha?"

Nagkibit-balikat lang ang mokong sabay tawa. Wala na akong nagawa nang akayin kaming dalawa ng Valentine's Day Patrol palayo sa aming classroom.

****