"Sapphire!" dinig kong tawag ni Mama.
Kasalukuyan akong nasa balkonahe. Ito ang paborito kong parte ng aming tahanan. Hindi kami mayaman, tama lang, pero malaki ang bahay na ito na mula pa raw sa mga magulang ni Mama. Hilig kong tanawin ang buwan. Bata pa lang ako, namulat ako sa ganda ng buwan. Kapag nagkukuwento si Mama, nasa rooftop kami tuwing gabi at nakatanaw sa kalangitan.
Siguro nandyan na ang kaibigan ni Mama. May mga bisita siyang darating. Sabi niya, kaibigan niya ito noong nag-aaral pa sila.
"Opo! Bababa na po ako!" sigaw ko mula sa taas.
I wear a black half sleeve dress just to look fine in front of them.
"Yes! I miss you Elizabeth"
Pumasok ako sa dining. Hindi pa nila ako napapansin. Isang mag-asawa ang natanaw kong nakaupo sa harap ni Mama at Papa. Kahit mukhang matanda na, di maipagkakailang gwapo at maganda ito. Sa tabi nila ay isang binata na sa tingin ko ay kaedaran ko lamang o matanda ng ilang taon.
I go to Mama and Papa to kiss them on their cheeks. Three pair of eyes look at me.
"Oh my! Is this Sapphire? What a lovely girl. Natatandaan ko pa noong mga bata pa sila ni Zane. They look cute together. But look at them now, they grew gorgeous apart," the beautiful lady exclaimed.
"Baby, this is your Tita Juliana and Tito Brent. Then, Zane, their son. Don't you remember? You too are childhood friends," ani Mama.
Actually, hindi ko maalala ang binatang nasa harapan ko.
Zane. Zane. Shane?
"Shane?" patanong ko pang sagot.
Tinitigan ko siya. Nakita ko ang seryoso niyang mukha. Hanggang sa unti-unti siyang ngumiti.
"Hey Sapph," nakangiti niyang bati.
Alam ko na kung bakit di ko siya nakilala. He changed, a lot. Bata pa kami noon, maybe 7 or 8? And palangiti siya noon. Huli kaming magkita noong ten years old kami. Ngayon, nag matured talaga siya. 8 years had passed, so I already expected changes. But, I really didn't expect that he will be this handsome.
"You remember honey?" si Papa
Naupo muna ako bago sumagot.
"Opo, naalala ko na."
"Great! Let's eat first," Tita Juliana said.
We started eating. I look at Zane. Maraming nagbago. Bata pa kami noon pero alam ko na kakaiba siya sa lahat. There's something in him that makes me feel comfortable. I'm so fond of him, noon. Di ko alam ngayon. Walang taon na ang nagdaan, I'm already eighteen.
Natapos ang dinner na puro usapan nila Mama ang maririnig. I stay silent like him. Tumayo si Tita and Tito, gayundin si Mama at Papa.
"We'll go upstairs to talk about serious matters. You two, stay here okay? And talk to each other," Papa muttered.
I only look at them as they go upstairs.
I suddenly feel awkward. I don't know. I look at my plate the whole time.
"What's so interesting in your plate?"
"Huh?" I look shock. Can't believe he'll talk to me.
"Kanina pa ako nakatingin sayo pero di mo ako tinitingnan. I'm thinking if there's a movie in there because the whole time, you're only looking at it," he said while smirking at me.
Ganyan na siya dati pa, lagi niya akong inaasar. Alam niyang mahiyain ako kaya dinadaan niya sa biro. That's also the reason why I became comfortable with him. Now, he's making the atmosphere light again, for me.
"You've changed," ani ko sa maliit na tinig.
"I'm not"
"You are," giit ko pa.
"How did you say so?" he arrogantly look at me.
"Masyado kang seryoso. Parang lagi kang naghahanap ng away. It's like, there's a sign in your forehead saying 'stay away from me'. Reason why I can't look at you." dire-diretso kong saad
Tumahimik siya at tinitigan ako. Then, he laughed, so hard. And I'm just staring at him. May sinabi ba akong mali? Totoo naman yun eh.
"Sapph" di niya matuloy sinasabi niya kasi tumatawa pa rin siya.
"You never really change huh? You're still adorable. My innocent Sapphire." natatawa pa rin niyang sabi.
Nag-iinit ang pisngi ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Bakit may 'my'? Kanya ba ako?
"Siraulo ka ba?" naiirita na ako. Tinatawanan niya lang ako.
"Sorry. Anyway, I didn't change, really, maybe you thought because I matured. But I didn't change. Come on, Sapph. I'm still your Shane."
"Really?" me hoping it's true.
I don't want him to change. I want him to be the Zane I know from the very start. Walong taon man ang lumipas, hindi naman siya nawala sa isip ko. Paano ko makakalimutan ang unang taong nagparamdam sa akin na kahit maraming akong hindi alam, hindi naman masama yun.
Lumaki akong nag-iisa. Homeschool ako noong bata ako. Ngayong high school lang naman ako nakapasok sa totoong eskuwelahan. I don't know why. Di naman kami super yaman, pero iniingatan ako ng mga magulang ko ng sobra. I didn't question it, though. Maybe that's how they show their love for me.
"Oh yes! Now, come here my innocent Saph! I will always be your Shane," he extended his arms for me.
My doubts are gone in that simple gesture from him.
I excitedly run to him and hug him. Smile is now plastered in my face.
"Don't do that again okay? Never doubt me again. Do you get me?"
Now, he's serious again while looking at me.
"Yes, I'm sorry," now I'm guilty for doubting him.
"Apology accepted," he smile at me and tighten his hug on me.
This is my safe haven. In his arms.
BINABASA MO ANG
I Am Me When I'm With You (COMPLETED)
RomanceSapphire Andrea Mendez is smart, kind, beautiful, and innocent. She grew up inside the four corners of their house. She was not allowed to go out unless she have someone with her. She was homeschooled. She just experience to go out and associate her...
