Arra
I was in first grade when things started to change with Pong.
That summer, he stopped asking me to hang out for a good two weeks. At that time, all I knew was that he was headed to a vacation with the family and then he refused to see me when he got back.
"Kuya Pong!!!! Let's play!" I would call out.
"Go away, Arra!"
"Why???"
"Basta!"
"I want to bike around. Can Rocket go with me?"
Their yaya would be the one to bring Rocket out and we would bike around our lawn, with Rocket watching over me. It was then that I started hanging out with Pauline.
"Why doesn't Kuya Pong want to play with us, Pauline?"
She would often just shrug but one day she said, "Mommy says Kuya Paolo is big boy na."
"Huh? He's big naman talaga," I said, frowning because Pong had always been taller than most of his friends and he was way taller than me.
Pauline shrugs again. "I dunno! Basta Mommy says that. And he's in Mommy's daster."
Not understanding what it all meant, we shrugged and just continued playing.
Yup, it was the summer that Pong was officially a binata na!
And parang nahihiya na siya to hang out with us "babies". He would tease us when he saw us trying to sell juice or some other arts and crafts we made, saying "Pang-baby naman yan."
Or when I would call him over the walkie talkie, he would say, "Can't talk now, Arra. I have some big boy stuff to do."
I was hurt. I loved hanging out with Pauline but I also missed Kuya Pong.
One time, I was playing alone at our front yard when he and his friends passed by. One of his friends pulled a ribbon from my hair and laughed.
So I kicked him in the groin.
Mommy said I can do that only if someone comes close and I don't want them, too. That was definitely a time for it.
I was so mad that I was ready to punch Pong, too.
He looked torn.
I waited with bated breath as seconds ticked by, both sides waiting for what Pong would do.
Finally, he took the ribbon from his friend then stood beside me. "You shouldn't have done that. Don't make fun of her."
"So you're going to hang out with that girl???!"
Pong rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah. Bye guys."
From across the street, I saw Tita Zeny beam with pride. It was then I knew, Kuya Pong was now officially my first crush.
Of course I didn't know it then.
I just knew that everything was Pong this and Pong that and I'll see Kuya Pong and —- you get the picture.
But, although polite, Pong kept his distance. His interests were changing na din eh, Video games and movies and all that stuff, while I still like playing. To my delight, he would still join us sometimes and have Rocket play with us, too.
Speaking of, my phone rang and when I checked it was Pong. "What?"
"Wow. Sungit."
"What do you need?"
"A date."
My eyes widened. "Ano???"
He went on to explain that an officemate was throwing a party for him but all the other invitees were bringing someone. "Samahan mo naman ako."
"Kailan ka pa naging uncomfortable pumunta sa party mag-isa?"
I saw his events posted on social media. He was perfectly fine going solo. "Ngayon. Weird eh. Parang big deal dito sa Pinas na single ka. Sige na! They have a Starbucks cart for the event. Gusto mo yun di ba?"
I was silent for a bit.
"You can have all the frappuccinos you want and I won't judge you and your fake coffee."
I rolled my eyes. "Ugh. Fine. Kailan to?"
Fortunately, I was free and it was a casual affair so I agreed. "You owe me big time."
"How much?"
"Ten gold coins worth."
