"Aleeeeeex!" Inis kong sigaw nang bumungad sa salamin ang mukha kong napuno ng samu't saring guhit. She freaking drew some doodles on my face while I was asleep.
Mabilis akong bumaba at nadatnan siyang kumakain mag-isa. When she saw me, she hurried to finish her food. Muntik pa ngang mabulunan ang lintik.
Mabilis ko siyang inabutan ng isang baso ng tubig at habang hinampas-hampas niya ang di dib, pasimple akong pumwesto sa likuran niya't nilakasan ang paghampas.
"Lintik lang ang walang ganti!" Bulong ko habang nasa likuran niya.
As if she knew me too well, she drank the water in one gulp and broke free from my gasp.
"Suko na ako!" she shrieked as she tried to run away from me. Despite her pleas, I went after her. Nang maabutan siya'y agad kong tinanggalan ng takip ang marker at nagsimulang mag-drawing sa mukha niya. Sa huli ay napuno ng dumi ang kapwa mga mukha namin.
Sa paglipas ng mga araw, hindi ko namamalayan tuluyan na nga akong napapalapit sa kaniya.
Uknowingly, I began to see her as a lady. She became more than just a friend.
I never imagined I'd fall for a girl. Though I never liked anyone before, I knew I'm straight.
But then again, our heart knows no gender. It can never hinder a beating heart.
And so before I could even stop, I found myself falling for her so deep and hard I couldn't lift myself up anymore.
But I couldn't bring myself to tell her. I don't want to ruin whatever we have right now. Ayos na akong nakikita ko siya araw-araw. Ayos na akong kasama siya bawat oras.
If I could just but for now, everything's more than enough.
"Gab, may sasabihin ako," Alex started as we were on our way home. Araw-araw ay sabay king pumapasok at sabay ring umuuwi.
"Hmmm?" Untag ko sa kaniya habang sinisipa-sipa ang isang bottle cap na nakita ko. I stopped and turned to her when I noticed that she was in slower pace than mine. "May problema ka?" I looked directly in her eyes.
" Wala pala. Nevermind." Agad na kumunot ang noo ko nang nag-iwas siya ng tingin at mabilis na naglakad palayo.
"Wait!"
I oicked up my pace and tried to keep up with her. Because she was faster than me, I needed to reach for her hand to make her stop.
Alam kong may problema siya. These days, she's become somehow weird. Madalas siyang tahimik at walang kibo. Too different from her usual self.
I wonder if she ever noticed?
"Ano 'yong sasabihin mo?" I held her hand tighter as I ushered her on one of the benches along the way. "May sakit ka ba?" agad na tanong ko nang maramdaman ang panlalamig ng mga kamay niya.
"No," she swifly pulled her hand away from mine. "I mean, I'm feeling just fine."
"Okay." I answered back. I need not to force her. For sure, she'll tell me when she's ready. I stood up and started walking again when I heard her call me out.
"Gab."
For split second, I felt a tug on my chest at the mere mention of my name from her. Hindi ko maintindihan ang kabang sumalakay sa dibdib ko ng oras na 'yon.
I took a deep breath before facing her. Trying to paint my usual blank face, I searched for my voice and mustered my strength. Struggling to find the right words.
But all I could say was,
"I like you, Alex."
