Found You

108

Intindihin mo naman ako. That's what I said. All along he's the one who always understand me. He always considered my feelings. Lagi na lang siya. Kailanman, hindi ko narinig sa kaniya na intindihin ko naman siya. He never demands. It is unfair on his part. And it was too late when I realized everything, maybe because my school works are piled up in that day, I was so stressed and it got worst when Aquiver said if I want to meet his mother, he untimely told that.

I don't know what time Aki's going to finish his class, but here I am, waiting for him patiently to say sorry. It was another traffic day in Katipunan bukod sa usok ay mainit pa. Tanaw ko lang ang looban nang makita ko si Aquiver, mag-isa at may hawak-hawak na mga libro. He's wearing his glasses again and ID.

I don't know what time Aki's going to finish his class, but here I am, waiting for him patiently to say sorry.Khaleesi. May sinasabi ito at halatang nangungulit, but then Aquiver purposely ignored her. Dapat na ba akong ma threaten dahil dito pala nag-aaral ang babaeng 'yon? But never mind. If Aki's loyal to me he won't give a damn to other girls. Si Khaleesi dapat ang matakot sa akin dahil 'yong lalaking inaangkin niya, kaya kong mapasakin ng hindi kinakailangang mang-insulto ng ibang tao.

 Aki continued to walk ngunit  pagkakataranta kong makita niya I hid myself. Parang ayaw ko nang tumuloy pa dahil baka hindi niya naman ako pansinin. It's not my nature to coax boys, but I will do this for him. Nakalabas na ito maya-maya pa'y may humintong kotse sa kanyang harapan, maybe he booked a ride. Good thing there's a taxi naman kaya mabilis ding nasundan.

I thought at first he was going to my condo because we had reached Rizal Park. But I was wrong. He's going to a library! While holding the cookies I baked for him, I sashayed my way.

Palinga-linga ang kanyang ulo, naghahanap ng pwesto habang ako ay nakasunod lang. When he finally found a spot, he immediately took out his belongings and opened the books. I suddenly felt embarassment and did not want to bother him anymore. Bigla itong nag-angat ng tingin, mabuti na lang at mabilis akong nakapagtago sa isang shelf.

"Abi, you will say sorry, okay? Makapal naman ang mukha mo sa kanya kaya bakit ka pa mahihiya?" I talk to myself. Kinagat ako ang aking labi at kuko. Tanaw ko si Aki sa likod ng shelf and my eyes widen when he's going near me! Due to panic I run.

I'm sure that he doesn't see me! I've been hiding on a shelf. I moved to the other side kaya nga lang noong pagharap ko, nagulat ako nang siya ang bumungad. My eyes broaden as well as my lips. His eyes move from my forehead to my lips. Matagal ang titig niya roon bago nagsimula.

"Yes, baby, what can I do for you?"

My face heat up because of our distance. His hand rested on my head. He can straightly look at me in the eyes while I'm not. Kahit na ilang beses na kaming nagkakasama hindi pa rin nagbabago ang nararamdam ko tuwing nandyan siya.

"Sorry," I said cutely and was about to hand him the cookies when someone interrupted us.

"Hoy ano 'yan? Mag MOMOL kayo? Bawal 'yan, ah! Doon kayo sa tago, huwag kayong mang-ingit!" nagkatinginan kami ni Aquiver at siya na ang lumayo.

"Sana all," the man whispered while we're leaving.

Aki secretly opened and ate the cookies. Naglabas din ako ng iilang babasahin para maiwasang guluhin siya. We didn't talk. I'm just glancing at him from time to time.  Aquiver seems so passionate when it comes to studying. Kapag ganito siya feeling ko tuloy hindi ito yung hinaharot ko. Kumukunot ang kanyang noo kapag nagbabasa at minsan pa'y kinakagat ang pang-ibabang labi. 

I leaned my arms on the table and dropped my head on them. He's now taking down notes and highlighting them. Ang gwapo na nga niya tapos lalo pang gumagwapo dahil sa pag-aaral. Buti na lang talaga hinanap ko 'to! Kung hindi ba ako nagpumilit nandito kaya kami ngayon? If I didn't take the risk with will I be happy? Probably not. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan 'to kaya siguro lulubusin ko ng maging masaya. After all, liking him is the last thing I'll regret. I am so whipped by him.

"Bakit?" he looks clueless.

"Wala, na realized ko lang kung gaano kita kagusto," I replied to him. Aki fixed his glasses and gulped.

"When will you like me ba?" I pouted. "Maybe I can find someone else-" hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ng bigla niyang inilapit ang mukha sa akin.

"You will not find another man."

I was just joking on the last one I said but he didn't get it. Seryoso nga pala ang isang ito. Ramdam ko ang kanyang braso sa aking likod, kinukulong ako sa aking inuupuan.

"Kung hindi kita kinulit nang kinulit, mapapansin mo kaya ako? And sorry for the last time. It shocked me. You suddenly mentioned it out of the blue 'yon and I was also stressed because of school. We even don't have a label... so I can't understand..." hindi ko na maituloy ang sasabihin.

"Do you like me so much?" instead he asked.

Silly! From the start my feelings are so clear to you. Ikaw lang naman 'tong hindi ko mabasa. Kung manghihingi ba ako ng gusto kong label kaya mong ibigay?

"Why, Aki? Are you ready to make this on another-" my words are interrupted when a woman come near us. Nakikilala si Aki at bumati.

"You were saying?"

Umiling ako at ngumiti.

"Mama knows about us," aniya.

Bigla akong kinabahan. "S-Sinabi mo? Is she angry? Nagalit ba sa'yo? Anong sabi?"

He chuckled and shooked his head. "Don't worry, she's not. Among my family, Mama's the first one to know about us and she wanted to meet you too."

My heart melted on the last one he said. Tanggap niya ako?

"Know what, Aki? Mommy knows too... I think it's because of their mother's instinct. I thought that she will lashed out, but I was wrong. Aquiver, my mother is supporting us..."

It's really good when someone is accepting your relationship even if the two of you is against the world.

"Hope that your mother would accept me. I can't wait to call her Mommy," he joked. I laughed and launched a playful punch on his arm.

"Mama ka riyan! E 'di mo nga ako jinojowa." Umirap ako.

Tumingin muna ito sa paligid bago lumapit at ngumisi ng nakakaloko. "Kasi aasawahin kita."