Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 16

The next day, he bombarded me with lots of messages, asking me if I would be available the next days. I was surprised with his sudden change, but I didn't mind.

What made him change his mind? I thought he didn't want to date someone younger than him? I couldn't fully appreciate his efforts, but he made my heart soft, once again.

"Kamusta ang klase mo?" tanong niya nang magkita kami.

It was a Friday night. He asked me out for some street foods. Wala rin naman akong gagawing importante kinabukasan, kaya um-oo ako. And I also... wanted to see him.

"Ayos naman," I answered. "Bukod sa maraming ginagawa, ang hirap din ng mga topic."

Hirap na hirap ako sa integral, but it really thrilled me to the point na hindi ako hihinto hangga't hindi ko nakukuha ang sagot. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam kapag nakukuha ko ang lesson. It's another level of achievement.

"Kung gusto mo, turuan na lang kita?" he asked and wiggled his brows.

I wrinkled my nose because he made me feel butterflies in my stomach. He's really cute and he knows how to flutter my heart.

Sa panahon ngayon, hindi na sapat ang puro landi lang. Dapat maging practical na rin. Date someone who can help you grow and excel in acads and in life.

"Hindi ka ba busy?" tanong ko.

Thrice a week kaming nagkikita after ng work niya. Isang sakay lang naman ang bahay nila mula sa amin, pero syempre nakakapagod pa rin lalo na kapag galing siya sa trabaho.

"Hindi naman. Bakit?"

"Lagi ka kasing pumupunta rito, eh. Alam ba ng lola mo na gumagala ang baby boy niya?" panunukso ko.

Hindi ko makakalimutang lola's boy siya. He said it to me more than ten times.

"Alam ni lola, syempre. Matanong 'yon, eh," sabi niya habang tinutusok ang kwek-kwek.

"May I ask you something?"

"Sure!"

"Sabi mo kasi you don't want to date—"

"Because I see potential in us. Maybe it's too early to say this, pero nakikita kita sa future ko. I tried to escape from the thoughts of you, but I couldn't. Nag-aaral ka pa. Ayaw kong ma-distract ka. Siguro iniisip mong sobrang indecisive ako, but the moment—"

"Stop!"

He laughed at me. Nag-iinit ang mukha ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

"But anyway, thank you for asking. Kapag may nagawa akong hindi mo gusto, sabihin mo. Communication makes things clearer, you know."

I nodded and smiled. Napaka-mature niya mag-isip. Bigla tuloy akong na-excite sa mga susunod pa naming pag-uusapan.

Nakaupo kami sa gilid ng kalsada. Sobrang kaunti na lang ng tao sa labas. Buti na lang laging bukas sa gabi ang tindahan ng mga tusok-tusok sa tapat ng simbahan.

He looked so out of place with his white long sleeve polo and black slacks. Mas lalo lang tuloy nadepina ang agwat ng edad namin.

"I would like to invite you for lunch," he said after a long silence.

"Ayaw," tanggi ko.

Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng parents niya sa akin—na estudyante pa lang ako at hindi pa dapat lumandi? Mukha ring istrikto ang lola niya kaya natatakot ako. Old-fashioned pa naman ang mga matatanda.

"Bakit naman?" kunot-noong tanong niya.

"Nakakahiya sa parents at lola mo."

"Kilala ka nila."