The Inverse

Simula

AGNES'S POV

"Agnes? Hi. Do you remember me?"

"Yes. Oo naman! Pat right? Yung friend ni Nicole?"sabi ko sa kanya.

Of all people, I can't believe that I'm now standing in front of her. Nag-aabang kasi ako sa lobby nung office where I've applied for an internship. Ito kasing company na to yung recommended ng school so I tried and fortunately they accepted my application.

"Yes. How are you?"tanong niya. I smiled.

"Eto. Internship and then recitals na lang then hopefully graduation na. Ikaw? Do you work here?"

"Uh... yeah... I guess you can say that."sabi niya.

"Why do you sound uncertain?"

"Well, I do really work here but, my dad kind of owns the company."

"Ah. I see. I get it. Nice."sagot ko. She just smiled shyly. There was a short silence between us and I waited for her to say something.

"I don't know if you remember but I actually played for you during your recital."sabi ko sa kanya just to break the ice.

"Yes oo naman. I did not forget. Kaya nga nung nakita kita, I recognized you right away."sabi niya.

She then took me around and even introduced me to the rest of the team. She gave me some pointers and inorient din niya ako with some policies and some processes. After nun, we went out for lunch.

"Agnes."

"Yeah?"

"I have a confession to make."sabi niya.

"Ano yun? Is this the part where you tell me na gusto mo ako?" She blushed.

"But what if I do?"tanong niya. Ako naman ata ang namula sa sinabi niya.

Okay di ako prepared maaaa. Yung kilig ko parang hindi ko na maitago.

"Well then that's nice kasi gusto din naman kita." Bigla siyang nasamid at napainom ng tubig. Hindi ko napigilang matawa. Ang cute talaga niya.

I've known Pat from a few years ago. We met during one of the days when Nicole finally decided to introduce us to each other. Since then I would always see Pat but we never talked. Like we would bump into each other sa grocery, sa fast food, sa mall, at kung saan-saan. Since then I've always had my eyes on her pero I never got the courage to talk to her. Until one time, na kailangan niya ng musician for her recital. I didn't want to volunteer but Nicole somehow volunteered me to do it. Since then I had a chance to meet her and syempre when I learned that she plays the piano, dun na ako unti-unting nagkagusto sa kanya. But it was just a happy crush and I never dwelled on too much about it.

"But seriously, what's your confession?"

"I've actually known you from way before."sabi niya.

"What do you mean? You mean four years ago? I remember."sabi ko sa kanya.

"No, even before that." I stopped. I don't remember meeting her prior that introduction from Nicole.

"Kelan?"

"High school pa. There was this national band competition held in Baguio. Part ako ng organizing committee and you were part of.."

"..Stirfried Bicycles."dagdag ko. That was ages ago. Nagsisimula palang akong tumugtog nun. How come I don't remember Pat?

"Yeah. So ayun. I would not have recognized you, but the event ended late and naiwan ako ng van going back to the hotel. I'm not sure if you even remember, pero you offered to take me to the hotel since it was just a few meters away from your house."

I remember it now. Si Sungha Jung. I smiled. How come I didn't recognize her. I remember that we exchanged names but I ended up forgetting anyway. Ayaw niya sanang sumama sa 'kin nun, but mapilit akong tao and I didn't want her to travel alone. She was wearing this jacket and nakita ko na lamig na lamig pa rin siya. I don't know what has taken over me, pero I offered to take her back to her hotel. We even went around Baguio for a couple of days at sinamahan niya ako sa sunflower farm sa Benguet. That was six years ago. No wonder she looked familiar.

Kaya naman pala nung pinakilala siya sa 'kin ni Nicole, it felt like I've known her for years. Like she's a missing piece to a puzzle I never even knew existed. Funny how life surprises you.

"I remember it now."sabi ko sa kanya. She smiled.

"Strange enough, karamihan ng nangyari during that day, halos wala na akong maalala. But for some reason, I didn't forget you. Well, except pangalan mo cause I was so bad at names. Kaya nagulat ako when we met again sa school. How wonderfully small the world is 'no?"

"Grabe no, I can't believe you still remember me." I smiled.

"After all this time?" I added.

She nodded.

"After all this time."