Six Years Ago
After ko ma-realize na mahal ko nga siya biglang umatake ang pagiging awkward ko. Siyempre dahil si Ollie ang kasama ko, he tried to make me as comfortable as possible. He distracted me from my own thoughts and feelings by talking about his plans pagka-graduate, hindi pa daw niya alam kung anong gagawin niya but he doesn't want a regular job. He shared his own prom experience and asked about my plans.
"Hindi ko pa rin alam e." ani ko.
His brow furrows, "What do you mean? Wala ka pang plan for College?"
I shrug, "Honestly, wala pa e. I tried to talk to Mommy no'ng isang araw pero she said tsaka na namin pag-usapan."
Medyo napa-pout ako, "It's weird nga e. Parang may plan sila Mommy pero hindi pa kami sinasabihan ni Kuya. Feeling ko lang may mga hindi pa sila sinasabi sa amin."
I often overhear conversations nina Mommy and Daddy, 'yon nga the other day tungkol sa finances namin. The other week naman about Daddy's job. Wala naman akong gustong i-pursue na passion kaya I can wait until ready na sila Mommy to talk to us bago ako mag-plano.
Ngumiti lang si Ollie, "I think kasama sa responsibility ng parents ang pag-protect ng mga anak nila from grownup issues. I don't think they're trying to hide anything because they want to, usually our parents do that because they're trying to protect us and they want to handle things on their own."
I pout, "Siguro nga."
He nods, "You'll see. They'll tell you when the time's ready."
May biglang nagsalita from the stage, "Okay guys. Let's sit down na muna. Let's settle down so we can get back to the program."
We make our way back sa table namin, Ollie putting a gentle hand on my back.
I smile.
Pagkaupo namin nagsalita ulit ang Class President namin, "Alright guys. The votes are in. It's time to announce our King and Queen of the Prom."
Naghiyawan ang mga tao at pinigilan kong umirap and put on my fake smile para lang hindi naman nila sabihing ang bitter ko. I didn't vote on the King and Queen dahil I don't think my vote would make a difference. Matunog ang pangalan ni Steph for the Queen and our varsity captain as the King.
In-announce na ng Class President namin ang top three candidates for the boys: Chase – Varsity Captain, Tyler – Bestfriend ni Chase and Akihiro – the Filipino-Japanese transferee. I guess the lineup was typical. Expected.
The guys go up the stage.
It was a rule that only students na kasama sa batch this year ang pwedeng maging King or Queen, tama lang siguro kasi kung wala sigurong rule na gano'n baka si Ollie pa ang manalo.
Si Ollie no'ng Prom nila tumakas when the announcements were being made, ayaw niya umakyat sa stage. Si Kuya ang nanalong Prom King that year.
Our Class President announces the candidates for Prom Queen – Steph – the Queen B, Francheska – our running Valedictorian, and me.
Me?
Wait.
What?
Napalingon ako sa stage and our Class President is smiling at me. Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko kay Ollie, his eyes are soft but his lips are set.
Kahit saan ako tumingin, people are looking at me.
My palms start to sweat.
Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko, until Ollie leans in and whispers, "Do you want to do this?"
BINABASA MO ANG
Mimi Turns Pretty - SOON TO BE PUBLISHED ✅
Romance"Puberty - the stage in people's lives when they develop from a child into an adult because of changes in their body that make them able to have children." - Cambridge Dictionary Some people are blessed since birth, puberty doesn't even hit them - n...
