I MADE THE PLAYGIRL CRY (Editing)

Two. One of her toys

Di ako makatulog. It has been a crazy, crazy day. Lana sitting on my lap, holding Lana's hand, becoming Lana's boyfriend.

Napaka-bilis ng development! Ni hindi na ako nanligaw. Hanggang ngayon, di pa rin ako makapaniwala. Sigurado bang hindi nabagok ang ulo ko sa semento?

But... 41, huh? That means I have 40 other competition. Of course, I'm probably last place. I'm average, from an average family, who needs a few scholarship grants para lang makapasok sa university na yun.

Biglang tumunog ang phone ko. Kinuha ko agad yun. Si Lana yung tumatawag. Of course, dahil boyfriend na niya ako ay kinuha ko number niya.

Sinagot ko ang tawag.

"Yes?"I tried to sound cool, but no luck.

"Hi Ran!"

"Gabi na ah, di ka pa matutulog?" Tanong ko. It's already 10:00 pm on my watch.

"Maya-maya pa. Papaalala ko lang sayo ha, bukas hintayin mo ako sa tapat ng school ha? If you're late... Well, I think you know what will happen."

Napalunok ako. "O-of course!"

"Good. Dream about me, okay?"

Call ended.

Lana, hindi mo kinailangan i-remind pa sa akin yan. Panigurado akong mapapanaginipan kita. Ewan ko na lang kung anong klaseng panaginip.

**

10 minutes before our supposed meeting ay nandito na agad ako sa labas ng school. Pinagtitinginan nga ako ng ibang estudyante. Of course kalat na siguro sa buong campus na ako ang bagong boyfriend ni Lana.

"Anong ginagawa mo dyan?"

Napalingon ako at nakita si Presea. I can see her car driving away from the school.

"Hinihintay si Lana." Sabi ko, may pagmamayabang sa boses.

"Hmmm, so the rumors are true, huh?" Sabi ni Presea, her voice uninterested.

"Uy, wala bang congrats dyan? Nagka-girlfriend na bestfriend mo." Sabi ko, "May problema ba?"

Huminga ng malalim si Presea.

"Yun totoo? Marami." Sabi ni Presea, "I'll congratulate you if totoo yan. But the playgirl is only playing you. For her, boys are toys."

Wala akong maisagot sa kanya, dahil totoo naman ang sinabi niya.

"A piece of advice? Don't fall inlove with her. It'll only break you." Sabi ni Presea at naglakad na papasok ng school.

What's her problem? Alam ko naman ang pinasok ko. There's no way I'll dream of the playgirl loving me. There's just no way that will happen.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating na si Lana... Na may kasamang lalake.

"Hi Ran!" Bati sa akin si Lana sa paglapit.

"Lana, who's this?" Tanong nung lalakeng kasama niya. Woah, sa malapitan, parang artista ang dating ng kasama niyang lalake.

"He's Ran De Luna, my 41." Pagpapakilala sa akin ni Lana, "Ran, meet Tric Montefalco, number... 24?"

"It's actually 22, but it's okay, love." Nakangiting sabi ni Tric, extending his hand, "Nice to meet you, Ran De Luna. I hope we get along, as fellow Lana's toys."

Nahihiya akong nakipag-handshake sa kanya. Sana wag niya sana punasan agad kamay niya porke't isang dukha na tulad ko ang nakipag-kamay sa kanya.

"You can leave now, Tric. I'll have Ran walk me to my room." Sabi ni Lana.

"Sige. See you later, my Lana, and nice meeting you again, Ran."

Umalis na si Tric.

"Hoy, kanina ka pa tahimik dyan." Sabi ni Lana sa akin.

"Uh, wala to." Sabi ko.

"Bakit nga? Nagulat ka ba sa setup natin?" Tanong ni Lana.

"Honestly? A little." Sabi ko, looking down. What the hell am I expecting? I'm not her only one. I'm 41st, remember?

But still,  it stings a little. The fact that she has 40 other godly-looking boyfriends... My insecurities is reaching the freaking empire state building.

"Masanay ka na, since I have to be with each one of them." Sabi ni Lana, "Di pwedeng mag-focus ako sa isa. For me, pantay-pantay lang kayo."

Tumango na lang ako. I wanted to question why she needed to have so many boyfriends, but my mouth remained shut. I don't want to lose her this early in the relationship.

"Shall we go?" Tanong ni Lana.

Ngunit di pa rin ako makagalaw sa posisyon ko.

"What is it now?" Tanong ni Lana, nakapamaywang na.

"Are you sure na gusto mong ako ang maghatid sayo papunta sa classroom? I mean, you have other boyfriends na mas gwapo sa akin... I might ruin your reputation if they see us together."

Napahinga ng malalim si Lana.

"You're right. I have other boyfriends. But I want you."

Napatingin ako sa kanyang mata noong sinambit niya iyon. The determination on her eyes tells me it's the truth.

I can feel my face heating up. Kasing pula na siguro ng kamatis ang mukha ko ngayon.

Hinawakan ni Lana ang kamay ko, "I don't know what is it with you, but you've piqued my interest. And I don't want our relationship to be just a rumor. I want to make it official."

"If you're afraid of the crowd, just look at me. All you have to do is look at me."

Tumango ako. Just like this, she entranced me once again.

Pumasok na kami sa school. As expected, pinag-titinginan kami ni Lana. Pero di ako natakot. As long as I'm with her.

Nakarating na kami sa classroom niya. Clinical Psychology ang course niya.

"Sige Lana. See you tomorrow." Sambit ko at nagsimula nang maglakad palayo, ngunit pinigilan niya ako.

"Wait up, 41. Actually, may sakit si Number 33," Sabi Lana. Kitang-kita ko ang ginagawang pagsilip ng mga classmates niya sa amin.

Si 33? Ah, yung anak ng congressman.

"You're quite lucky, Ran." Sabi ni Lana ng may ngiti, "You can take me out on a date later."

Bago pa makapag-register sa isip ko ang sinabi niya ay pumasok na siya sa classroom.

Date. Later.

What the -

May date kami ni Lana mamaya?!