To My Almost

B

Everyone laughed at me and found me so cute pa rin about my complain sa priest. They don't take it seriously, since I am a kid. Tss.

"Biiiiii..." Ate Mimi called my name, after her dance with her husband. Andito kami ngayon sa isang magarang hotel for the reception. And I noticed how happy she is.

Ganiyan ba talaga pagbago kang kasal?

"Ateeee." I said with excitement sabay yakap kay Ate Mimi.

"Ooh, my big girl. Are you doing good naman here so far?" She asked me while she still continues to hug me so tight. Like so tight talaga.

"Yes po, doing good naman." I shrugged. Trying so hard to hide my real feelings about staying here.

Ate Mimi just smiled at me and lumingon saglit to call her husband. Lumapit naman ito sa amin.

"Love, this is Bibiana. Remember 'yung mga stories ko about baby-sitting? Siya 'yung baby nun. Ngayon ang laki na niya." Masayang saysay ni ate. I love how she considers me not a kid anymore. Truly Ate Mimi knows me best. Well, si Mommy rin pala.

"Ahh yeah, siya yung bata na na-annoy kay Father Constantino kanina di ba?"

I pouted. Hmp.

"Oo love haha, ay wait.. andito nga pala si Father."

Hindi ko na namalayan nakalapit na 'yung priest sa amin. Iginiya naman ako ni Ate Mimi at 'yung Father na umupo sa malapit na naka-set na table.

This is awkward.

I wandered my eyes sa hall at hinanap ng mata ko ang aking mga magulang, but my parents are nowhere to be found.

Kainis!

"So, this is the kid? Hahahaha ang cute namang bata." Sabi sa akin ng priest and tapped my head.

Yumuko lamang ako. Hindi ako nahihiya. Annoy parin ako sa kaniya.

"Bi, share mo nga bakit ka na-annoy kay Father kanina?" Tanong ni Ate Mimi.

Should I tell them? Well, I'm an honest girl.

Nakita ko naman ang seryoso nilang titig sa akin, waiting for my answer.

And I straightened my back and acted like a fine lady.

"No offense po Father ha? But na-annoy po kasi ako kasi na-cut po 'yung pagtitig ko sa katabi mo pong boy kanina." Seryoso ko namang sagot.

And I found the three of them having a shocked reaction and then humagalpak naman ng tawa after.

Was that a joke?

I eyed them. Hindi naman 'yun joke ah!

Pagkatapos nilang kumalma sa pagtawa.

Yumuko naman si Father sa akin and put his thumb and index fingers on his chin. Like he was thinking about something..

"Gets ko na bata, crush mo si Lorenzo?"

Nabigla naman ako sa sabi sa akin ni Father. Ako? Crush 'yung Lorenzo? Was that his name? But, ako crush siya?

I think deeply habang nakatitig kay Father.

And after internalizing everything, my eyes furrowed.

I'm used to boys crushing me.

Hindi 'to pwede!

Sabi sa akin ng teacher dati, dapat boy ang una magkaka-crush, hindi ang girl!

Nang walang nakuhang sagot sa akin ang priest ay tumawa na lamang siya sa akin at umayos ng upo.

I looked at Ate Mimi and her husband and I just saw their mapanuyong eyes.

What?

I raised my left eyebrow.

"Father.." Lumingon ako sa may-ari ng boses.

At alam ko na kung saan galing ang teasing eyes nila ate.

Because the boy that I saw kanina sa church is here with us.

Talking kay Father.

The priest looked at me with a playful smile.

"Oh, Lorenzo bakit?" The priest asked the boy pero halata pa rin 'yung teasing eyes niya sa akin.

Ang kulit ni Father ha!

"Di pa bo tayo aalis? Malapit na po kasing mag-eight. May gagawin pa po akong assignment eh."

Hindi parin ako natitinag. I'm trying to maintain my composure.

"Ay oo nga pala." Tumayo naman si Father sabay sabi kina Ate Mimi na aalis na sila.

"Salamat sa imbitasyon Mr. and Mrs. Castillo." Sabi naman ni Lorenzo, 'yung boy.

"Walang anuman Lorenzo, ay wait.. ipapakilala ko muna sayo itong pinsan kong si Bibiana."

Likeee oh my gosh! Ate Mimi is making this awkward for me!

Agad ko namang hindi pinahalata ang aking pagkagulat.

"I'm Bibiana." I painted a fake smile.

The priest, Ate Mimi and her husband for sure are enjoying this moment.

Kainis!

"Lorenzo Ruiz." The boy just said it in a simple way.. pero bakit grabe ang kaba ko?

"Oh siya, Mimi and Aeron. Mauna na kami ni Enzo, salamat sa pag-imbita sa amin. Blessings sa inyong bagong kabanata." The Father said in a formal tone.

"Thank you rin po Father at napaunlakan mo kami ni Mimi." Ate Mimi's husband.

"Sus kayo pa, mga dalaga at binata pa lang kayo hanggang sa naging mag-jowa. Malakas na kayo sa akin!"

Kuya Aeron laughed and umakbay naman kay Ate Mimi and looked at her with full of love.

I want to have that kind of love.

After saying that in my mind, napalingon ako kay Lorenzo Ruiz.

Lorenzo Ruiz.

At sinalubong ang aking tingin ng isang simpleng ngiti.

Wala akong reaksyon.

Ang alam ko lang parang hindi ako makahinga at grabe ang aking kaba.

I'm really having a crush with this boy.

Ilang oras na ang lumipas nang umalis si Father Constantino at si Lorenzo.

Pero, heto parin ako tulala at hindi parin makapaniwala na crush ko 'yung boy na 'yun.

Ate Mimi was holding my hand when she handed me to my Mommy.

"Tita, si Bi pakibantayan at may crush na! Hahaha."

I noticed their shocked face.

"At sino naman ang lalaking ito at nakuha ang atensyon ng aming baby girl?" Sabi ni Daddy in a makulit way.

I rolled my eyes.

Mula nagkamulat ako, marami akong na o-observe at nalalaman about everything. Lalo na sa kind of relationship ng mga tao sa mundo.

Nakikita ko ito sa TV series.

Sa mall pag-nag-sha-shopping kami ni Mommy.

Sa restaurant pag-kumakain kami sa labas for a celebration.

Sa mga amusement parks.

Alam ko ang kaibahan ng magkaibigan, magka-ibigan, magkaka-pamilya at magkaka-barkada.

I'm just five, but I'm really observant and very certain sa mga bagay-bagay.

And me crushing Lorenzo Ruiz is what I'm very certain as of this moment.

"Lorenzo Ruiz." I mouthed.

"Huh? Ano 'yun baby?" Biglang sagot ni Daddy sa akin.

Natawa na lamang ako sa aking sarili.

I'm welcoming myself in this crazy little thing called crush!