"Mahirap man paniwalaan pero gusto kita. I like you. Hindi ko alam kung paano nagsimula, basta gumising na lang ako isang araw na hinahanap-hanap na kita."
Ngumiti ako nang alanganin nang mapansing hindi pa rin siya nakagalaw sa kinatatayuan. She stood there frozen with widening eyes and mouth slightly opened in surprise.
"Nagulat ka ba?"
She nodded.
"Ako nga rin eh. I never thought that I am capable of liking someone. Lalo na sa isang babae. But it couldn't be stopped anymore, Alex."
'Yon lang at tumakbo na ako palayo. I didn't wait for her reply. Basta't nasabi ko na 'yong matagal ko nang gustong sabihin.
I clutched my chest when I reached home. Pabagsak akong nahiga sa kama at ipinikit ang mga mata.
Realizing how impulsive I was, I grabbed a pillow and buried my whole face on it. Hindi ko namalayan ang oras at nakatulog ako sa kaiisip kung tama ba ang naging desisyon kong sabihin na ito sa kaniya.
But then, I felt relieved.
Nagising ako sa isang marahang katok sa pintuan. Wala sa sariling isip kong binuksan ang pinto. But I was surprised when I felt something soft touched my cheeks.
"I like you too."
I was too shocked to even move a muscle. Bigla ay para akong tuluyang nagising at nahimasmasan.
"Anong sabi mo?" agad na tanong ko nang makabawi sa gulat.
"Gusto rin kita," she smiled sweetly before she pushed us into the room and before I knew it, she wrapped her arms around me as she planted a soft kiss on my cheeks.
For the first time in the long time, I felt like my heart would jump out of my chest anytime.
For the first time since papa died, I was scared.
I was scared for the both us for I know that anywhere in this world, there can't forever be an "us".
I hope our love grows bigger than their indifference toward us.
