Twisted Crafts

18th Craft

A Confession

Every Saturday, it became my usual routine to visit their shop to buy flowers for my grandmother's grave. Whenever I went there, lola Grace will welcome me with her warm smile and greetings.

"Inihanda ko na ang bulaklak para sa'yo, iha. Alam kong darating ka." bati n'ya na s'yang nakapagpangiti sa akin. I think her age ranges from 60-65 years old but despite that, she still looks beautiful for me. I am so sure that during her days, she has many suitors. No wonder kung bakit pinagkakaguluhan din dito sa village namin 'yong apo nya. Simeon probably got his looks from her.

"Lola, nand'yan po ba si Sim?" magalang na tanong ko.

"Nasa loob, iha. Gusto mo bang tawagin ko?" aniya na kaagad ko namang inilingan.

"H'wag na po. Babalik na lang po ako mamaya." sagot ko bago kinuha mula sa mga kamay n'ya ang palumpon ng mapupulang rosas.

Aside from visiting my grandmother's grave, the other reason why I'm always excited going to their shop is because of him. I started to like Simeon since the day I saw him. He was kind and very generous. Napatunayan ko 'yon ng minsang tinulungan n'ya ako sa pag aayos ng bisikleta. They moved here in our place last month pero wala pang isang linggo ay kilalang kilala na s'ya sa buong village namin.

He's finely handsome and hot too. I wonder if we will be on the same university next school year.

"Urica, did you saw Simeon earlier? Ang gwapo n'ya talaga." bulong sa akin ni Railey.

"Where did he go?" I curiously asked.

"Nagdeliver kasi s'ya ng tubig sa'min kanina. He's really a boyfriend material. Matulungin pa sa lola n'ya." dagdag n'ya pa. Because of what she said, my feelings for him grew deeper. He almost got everything. Another thing, we also have so much things in common. He's also very attached to his grandmother.

I suddenly felt sad. I've been longing for my grandmother's presence since the day she passed away.

"Good afternoon lola Grace. Kukuhanin ko na po sana ulit 'yong bulaklak." wika ko bago iniabot sa kanya 'yong bayad. I was stucked in my position seeing Simeon while he's fixing the flowers.

"Good afternoon, iha. Bakit ngayon ka lang? Akala ko hindi mo na kukuhanin" aniya. Halos mapunit naman 'yong labi ko dahil sa pagngiti.

"M-may ginawa po kasi ako kanina." nahihiyang sagot ko.

I almost jump because of too much happiness I am feeling right now. For countless times, I felt something racing in my chest the moment our eyes met.

"Simeon, mabuti pa at sabayan mo na sa paglalakad itong si Urica. Baka abutin kayo ng dilim sa daan." wika ni lola Grace. I was about to protest dahil nakakahiya ng tawagin n'ya ako.

"Let's walk together, Urica. Where will you go? Ihahatid na kita." wika n'ya habang sinasabayan ako ngayon sa paglalakad.

"H-hindi na. K-kaya ko naman." nahihiya kong sambit. I'm not being playing pa-heart-to-get. It's just that, this is the first time that we walked together. Normal na naman siguro na mahiya kapag katabi mo 'yong crush mo di'ba?

"I just notice that you're always buying red roses every Saturday. Where will you give it?" I secretly smiled upon hearing those words from him. I'm just happy right now knowing the fact that he's aware of my existence.

"T-this is for my grandmother. Paborito n'ya kasi 'yong bulaklak na 'to. I promised her before she passed away that I'll never forget giving her red roses." sagot ko. I don't want to assume but I saw him smiled when I answered those.

Days had passed, mas lalo ko s'yang nagustuhan. I don't care if I became a hopeless stalker. Based on my observation, she's not dating anyone. Mas nagiging madalas din yung pagvisit ko sa shop nila and everytime na magkausap kami, nagkakaroon ako ng pag asa. A little hope grew inside me that maybe what we felt towards each other are the same.

"Are you sure, Urica? You are planning to confess?" Railey asked. She's my only friend who knew how much I like Simeon a lot.

"What's wrong with confessions? Rejections are better than regrets, Railey. I bet he'll gave me a chance. Parang gusto n'ya din naman ako, e." sagot ko.

He's happy whenever he's with me. He also gave me an advice when I open up my problems to him. The way he treated me is far way different from the other. Was it an enough proof for him to like me?

"Iha, napadaan ka dito." bati ni lola Grace. It is not yet Saturday but I know she noticed that I've been visiting their shop 5 times a week. I'm sure na wala namang problema sa kanya 'yon. She's actually happy when I'm visiting. Nasabi n'ya din sa akin na naaalala n'ya yung anak n'yang babae na nakatira na ngayon sa Canada.

"I went here for Simeon, lola. Nand'yan po ba s'ya?" after I asked those, I saw him. Lumapit ito sa akin.

"C-can we talk? I have something to say." wika ko. I can't keep this feelings anymore. I'm always been straightforward eversince. I've known Simeon for two months and maybe it's the time to admit my feelings for him.

"Sim, I l-like you a lot." I confessed. Pansin ko naman ang gulat sa mga mata n'ya matapos kong sahihin 'yon.

"I think it was l-love at first sight. The moment I saw you, I have this unusual feelings. M-may chance naman ako di'ba?" I exclaimed before holding his hand.

"Urica, we can't." his answer made my world fell apart.

"B-bakit hindi pwede? D-do you like someone else?" umiiyak kong tanong. I almost lost my balance so he look for a bench and accompany me there.

"D-do you like someone else, Sim?" I repeated my question.

"I'm already 65 years old, Urica." he replied. Napailing naman ako dahil sa sagot n'ya. I'm in the middle of my confession here but he still have time to say such jokes.

"S-sim, just tell me if you like me. Lola Grace will be happy if she knew that we're dating." I explained but he just shook his head.

"I also have something to confess, Urica. I have this rare condition called Syndrome X. This disease stop me from aging. I may look young but I'm actually too old for you." sunod sunod na pumatak yung mga luha ko pagkatapos kong marinig 'yon mula sa kanya.

This can't be.

"Another thing, Grace is not my grandmother. She's actually my wife and we've been married for 40 years."