Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin

Chapter Three: Close

"FRED!" Nhila screamed. It was a relief for Sarah. Quite. "Ano bang ginagawa ni Ge?"

She lose her grip to her 'big sister' at took a deep breath.

"Ate Nhila," Fred said in a low calm voice. "Eh tinatawagan nya kasi si Be---"

She peeked out. "Hi Fred!"

Fred was surprised. "Baby girl!" He immediately covered his mouth. Di nya dapat sinabi iyong callsign na 'yon. "I'm sorry."

She giggled and blushed, kahit medyo nagulat sya. "Di, okay lang. Kamusta?"

He nodded once. "I'm okay," while his cute smile remained on his face. He looked at her blooming aura, and her dress. "Ganda ng ayos ah! Looks familiar..."

She looked on her scarlet dress. She does not recognize when is the last time she wore that. She shook her head. "Can't remember."

Nhila and Fred laughed. She looked like a child with her innocent face.

"Fred," Nhila faced her alaga. "Galing mag-recall ah!"

"Ah! Alam ko na. Para maalala mo... Wait lang." Fred left them and proceeded to a tent infront of them, which Ate Nhila stated that it was theirs. Which means, papunta sya kay Ge? Their eyes followed where Fred was going, and saw a man who's looking behind them, holding his cellphone that's right beside his right ear. 

"Yan na ngayon si Ge," Nhila exclaimed.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Sarah at agad na nagtago ulit sa likod ni Ate Nhila. Oh my! No turning back na ito! Anong gagawin ko?Her mind was filled with questions, while she heard Nhila giggling. She peeked again at Ge, and stared at his outfit. Blue polo. Maong pants. Hmmm. Ah! I get it! Her internal ego said. Yung Jollibee commercial!She stared again on her dress and giggled with kilig. She stared back at Gerald and see him holding his phone again, who seemed to be making a call as Fred said na nauna na kay Ge na pumunta sa kanila. Tarantang-taranta si Gerald. Nalungkot si Sarah. Sino kaya yung tinatawagan nya? Di pwede si Kim, dahil sila na ni Xian. Kung si Kim yun, ba't parang atat na atat syang tawagan si Kim samantalang ang alam ko kakakita pa lang nila kahapon sa gimik? Talaga bang meron na syang iba? Sabi ni Fred, tinatawagan nya si Be~. Si Bella Padilla ba yun? Yung bagong nalilink sa kanya? She avoided her looks toward the boys. Oo na, selos ako. Kasalanan ko kasi eh.

"Ang alin?" tanong ni Nhila. Sarah just realized she said the last sentence aloud.

"Ah!" she reacted without facing her. "Wala yun." Well, her ego speaks to her again. I think I must face them? Baka if he gets closer I'll think of what to say to him, right? Nagbuntong-hininga sya, to reveal her confidence. she made her confidence-releaser ritual, pat her cheeks twice, and cheered up herself by encouraging herself. "Kaya mo yan, Sasa!" she whispered. Them she turned and...

The guy he saw few meters far from her was now few inches infront of her. She was shocked, thus keeping it to herself. So close. So, so close. So close, in fact, I can believe I'm touching his nose.

Gerald anderson smiled at her, while in eye-to-eye contact. "Well," he said with his usual 'malambing voice. "Hi baby girl."