Drawn (Completed)

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We already knew each other. We were in the same class since Elementary. But we never really got the chance to be close. Suplada kasi ako, as you said. Ang sabi mo, nai-intimidate kang lumapit sa akin because I look scary and unapproachable. Lagi kuno akong nakakunot-noo at kung tumingin ay parang papatay.

Hindi naman talaga ako ganoon eh. I always scowl because I have a poor eyesight and I was just trying to see. Matigas kasi ang ulo ko noon. I don't want to wear eyeglasses kasi hassle. Ayaw ko rin mag-contact lens because I was scared it will stick to my eyeballs forever.

Hindi ako palakausap ng ibang tao. Medyo mahiyain kasi ako and I'm not really that friendly. Kung sino iyong nakakasama ko sa araw-araw ay gusto kong sila lang rin ang kausapin ko. I always had a hard time adjusting to new people. Kaya siguro ako nasasabihang suplada kasi bihira lang humaba ang pakikipag-usap ko sa ibang tao and I usually find any excuses to stop the conversation.

But those are all in the past. Noong mag-college ako ay natuto na akong makipag-usap sa mga tao. Dumami ang friends ko. Naging palatawa at palangiti rin ako. People started liking me. And maybe that's the reason why I started to change what I used to be.

I started wearing contact lens. It was uncomfortable at first but I got used to it as time passed by.

For the five years that I was finishing my degree ay hindi kita naalala. Naging busy kasi ako. Also, magkaiba tayo ng Universities na pinuntahan. I studied in Cebu while you stayed in Davao.

Bakit ko alam? Inalam ko because I had a crush on you before. It started when you won in a poster making contest sa School when we were in 4th year high school. Ikaw nga ang unang naging legit crush ko, the other crushes were celebrities.

Simpleng crush lang naman ang meron ako sa 'yo noon. I didn't get to the level na susundan kita kung saan ka man mag-aaral. Studies first rin kasi ako kasi malaki ang expectations ng mga tao sa akin. Kaya hindi rin kita naalala o inalala for the past years. I didn't even think about seeing you again or what.

I came back to Davao after passing the Board Exam. Nangangailangan ng accountant ang firm noon kaya nag-apply ako. Luckily, I was hired. In the two years that I was there at the firm, I never really thought about seeing you again. It never crossed my mind.

Kaya ganoon na lang ang gulat ko when my boss introduced you as one of the new recruits for the firm. Tinitigan pa nga kita to make sure if it was really you. And it was really you.

Habang isa-isang pinakilala ni Engr. Paul ang mga bago ay isa-isa rin kayong nag-ikot upang makipag-kamay sa mga nandito na. Nang matapat ka sa akin ay tinitigan mo ako't kumunot ang noo mo.

"Sandali. Kilala kita," you said. Nagtagal pa nga nang ilang segundo ang titig mo sa akin. Gusto ko na ngang tumakbo palayo noon kasi hindi man lang ako nakapaghanda para sa muling pagkikita natin.

Come on, say my name already! I kept chanting it inside my head. Imposible namang nakalimutan mo na ako, diba? O posible ba?

"Tama!" Biglang sabi mo. "Iya!" You exclaimed my name.

At last, you remembered! It was my nickname, but I'm glad you remembered.

"Alliyah Almonte," you murmured while looking at me.

I tried suppressing my smile but I thought I shouldn't be greedy of giving you a smile, so I gave you one.

The moment you saw me smile, your smile disappeared. "Hala, marunong ka nang ngumiti," you said out of nowhere. Napatingin pa nga ang ilan sa atin.

"Magkakilala kayo?" Engr. Paul asked.

"Classmates kami since Elementary, Engineer," sagot ko naman. Bumaling muli ako sa 'yo saka ko napansing nakatingin ka pa rin sa akin. "Welcome to the firm, Josh," I said, smiling.