With Her (Tag-Lish Version)

Fifth

I STIFFENED. For a moment, taking the words in was really slow and it made me tongue tied.

He loved me. He was serious. Napakurap-kurap ako at napalunok ng sariling laway sabay napatingin sa malayo.

Just shut up, already. I'm done with you. Kumunot ang noo ko ng bumalik ang isip ko sa realidad.

"Tama na nga 'yung reminiscing haha. It's cringey, man!" I complained.

"But really. I believe we could have pulled it off," he said confidently and faced me. "Paano kung-- kung subukan natin ulit ngayon? Papayagan mo na ba akong manligaw this time?" He looked directly into my eyes, his eyes shows glints of hope. He was hopeful and it trailed my thoughts off.

Anong pinagsasabi nito ngayon? Is he for real? "Hoy! Pinagsasabi mo? Okay ka lang?" I tried to joke and laugh. "Seryoso, liligawan mo ako ngayon eh wala pa ngang isang oras tayo nagkita ulit? 'Wag mo nga akong pinaglololoko." Dismissively, I waved my hands pretending his offer was a joke.

"Hindi ako nagbibiro," he spoke calmly that I can think of him being sincere. Bakit ba siya ganito ngayon? Ang galing talaga niyang umarte na parang magpapauto na naman ako. Pangungumbinsi ko pa sa sarili. "Why would I even joke about this matter when I am already this old?" He added that shut me up for a long time.

"Well.. Because you're you and your pranks are your skills and treasure?" Nasabi ko na lang at nagsimulang hindi na mapakali sa pwesto. Gusto ko ng umuwi.

"Hindi. Not this time. Seryoso ako. Why don't we do it right this time? I'm asking for another chance," napatingin ako sa kanya dahil akma itong lalapit, unsafe distance.

Bakit ka ba ganito ngayon? Ganon na ba ako kadali para paglaruan mo na naman?

"Shut it." I just said while looking away.

"I won't. So? Just another chance to prove na seryoso ako, na hindi na ako isip-bata gaya ng dati? Na hinding-hindi na kita susukuan?" Pangungumbinsi nito na siyang ikinalikot ng mata ko, I'm losing my focus. I can't think straight! Dahil na naman sa kanya.

He can't even do it. Do they really need to ask first before they court? Why not just court a girl until they see you're worth the risks?

Napasinghap ako ng biglang nagvibrate ang phone ko sa bulsa. It's an incoming call. Good heavens! You're my savior, kung sino ka man. Mabilis ko itong kinuha sa bulsa at tumalikod sa kausap.

"Nasaan ka na?" Tanong ng sa kabilang linya.
"Hmm? Nandito na ako sa loob." Sagot ko naman rito pabalik not minding na may nakikinig sa likuran. I hope he'd just go away already. "Pero wala pa yung mga batchmates ko."

"Sinong kasama mo niyan?" Napatigil ako sandali sa tanong at napapihit paharap sa katabi. He's just staring at the morning sky. Hindi pa rin unaalis. "Wala. Ako pa lang mag-isa rito. Maaga pa naman. Mamaya pa siguro sila." 

"Okay. Hintayin mo ako. Papasok na rin ako d'yan," and ended the call.

"Sorry I had to take that call." I apologetically smiled at him. I realized it was rude of me to just turn my back from him earlier.

"It's okay. Hindi naman ako importante. Hindi pa nasa priority list, unless maging tayo," pangongonsensya nito na may kasamang pasimpleng banat kaya natawa ako.

"Cheesy," pinasok ko ulit sa bulsa ang phone ko at pinatong ang mga kamay sa handrails.

"Really?" Napakamot ito sa batok at natawa na lang din. "If it's for you, I wouldn't mind at all." He grinned. "So, may kasama ka ngayon?"

"Mm yep. May binili lang doon sa labasan. Nauna lang akong pumasok," sagot ko rito.

"Alumnus din?" Tanong pa niya. Buti naman at nakalimutan na niya yung usapan bago ang tawag. Or he chose to not bring it up again?

"Yeah, alumnus din dito."

"Sino? Who's with you?" He curiously asked.

"I'm with her." Another's voice answered his question and we both looked at the person who arrived. "Sabi ko na dito kita makikita," pagbaling nito ng tingin sa akin.

"Oh. Ikaw?" The guy beside me seemed surprised. "Siya ang kasama mo ngayon?" He asked me with a little confusion written in his face.

"Yes. I am with her today." I nodded as the person who arrived told the guy beside me. "Is there a problem with that? Junior?" Paninimula nitong mang-asar na nagpa-irap sa'kin at nagpatawa.

"Why-why are you with her?" Now, he seemed really confused and seem to not expect this to happen.

Just like the old days.

No. This is not like the old days.

This is different.

I am not the same girl as who I was before.

"Anong mali sa pagsama sa girlfriend ko?" The person who just arrived asked back while laughing thinking that the other person's question was a joke, emphasizing the words girlfriend ko. Ang territorial haha. Sinubukan kong warningan ito na wag ng ituloy ang hindi magandang tono ng pananalita niya but he was not even looking at me right now. Hindi napuputol ang matalim niyang tingin sa lalaking nasa tabi ko.

"G-girlfriend?" With his eyes confused and surprised, his mind probably not expecting the turn of events, he looked at me questioningly. I have nothing to say and nothing to explain to him, so, I just nodded my head as a sign of conformation to his question.

Yes. May boyfriend ako ngayon and I'm lucky to have him in my life. I might have panicked earlier but I would never dare or even think about hurting my boyfriend just for a moment's passing wind. Or was it a storm that came back?

"Oh. Girlfriend ko nga pala siya. Nakalimutan kong iinform ka. Tsaka hindi ba ako welcome para umattend ng Homecoming? Dito rin naman ako nag-graduate. Just earlier than you tho."

They're actually friends. More like, they have the same circle of friends. But my boyfriend is always private. He likes to keep it quiet and have a low profile. Kaya dalawa lang sa kaibigan niya ang kilala ako. I mean kilala bilang girlfriend niya. And I don't argue with that kasi pareho lang kami ng trip. Stay low-profiled but it does not mean that we are not proud of each other. We are and I will always be.

"Pero akala ko.. Wait.. Niligawan mo siya? Kailan pa?" It was a question meant not for me.

"Right after graduation niya ng high school? Bantay-salakay lang haha. Not in an evil way, syempre," returning his gaze to me. "She's worth the wait," making me smile. My boyfriend lend his hand, saying we should go. Inabot ko naman ito at sumama sa kanyang umalis para pumunta sa ibang lugar pagkatapos magpaalam.

Iniwan ang mga nakaraan sa tambayan at umabante kasama ang taong hindi ako binitawan mahirap man ang mga pinagdaanan. Remembering how persistent he was, how he wouldn't go away kahit na pinagtutulakan ko siya sa iba kasi ayoko pa, kasi natakot na ako dahil sa nangyari. What if sukuan niya rin ako right before the day na marealize kong nahuhulog na ako sa kanya? What if hindi naman din talaga siya seryoso? But he stayed and proved me wrong. He stayed and never made me doubt his intentions.

He held my hand tightly and kissed my temple saying, "I was and am so thankful that he let you off his grip before," pabulong nitong pag-amin kasabay ng mahinang pagtawa.

"Hindi na natin kailangan ng posas ngayon?" Patawa ko ring sinabi ng maalala ko ulit ang nangyari dati.

Natawa na rin siya na tila naalala rin ito. "Right. No more handcuffs. Pero hindi rin naman natin kailangan 'yon dati pa." He laughed softly.

"Thank you for waiting for me," mahinang sabi ko rito.

He just smiled and said, I love you.

For he who waited for me, stayed when my past did not, now, I am with him and will be with him only.

Until the ending's end.

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Next: Epilogue