"I'm cool, really... you can do whatever you want. I won't mind." Angie told me then smiled at me sweetly. Agaran akong umiling.
I was fourth year high school when my Dad introduced me to Angie's family, she was just first year high school back then.
Pero hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman namin kung ano talagang plano ng Dad ko at parents niya para saaming dalawa. They want us to be each other's endgame, you know, at the right time ipagkakasal tapos pag-iisahin ang negosyo.
Since then, every weekend after school ay sa bahay nila Angie ako hinahatid ng aming driver to visit her and to know her more as what my Dad told me.
Angie is a fine girl, she's outgoing, and she's good to be with. Hindi kasi siya boring kasama at marami siyang kwento palagi.
Dahil alam ko namang gusto ng Dad ko na magkahulugan kami ng loob, hindi na ako tumingin pa sa ibang babae. I was so focused with Angie, I was so focused in knowing her more.
Now that she's 18, our parents want to announce our engagement. Tapos kapagkatapos ni Angie sa College ay magpapakasal na kami.
"I'm not here to tell you that I want to do something else, or whatever you are talking about Anj." I said.
I know for years of being together every weekend, I started to like her. I mean, she's not really unlikable. It may not be a romantic feeling but I know that what I am feeling for her is more than just friends.
Nag-set ako ngayon ng date namin hindi para sabihin sakanya na hindi ko gusto ang engagement naming dalawa, parang iyon kasi ang sinasabi niya at parang sinasabi niyang kahit engage kami ay pwede kong gawin ang kahit na anong gusto ko na para bang single ako which I am not planning to do because I respect her.
"Uh huh, then why are we here? Don't tell me na gusto mo talaga ang engagement?" Sinabi niya bago sumimsim sa kanyang juice.
"Gusto ko ang engagement." Pag-amin ko. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.
"Sure?"
"I'm sure, Anj. Sure."
She sighed.
"Gusto mo kasi sabi ng Daddy mo?" she asked, nakangiti na tila ba tama talaga ang sinasabi niya.
Yes, that's one of the reasons but also I like her too. I never had a girlfriend since I met her, my past puppy love relationships during my high school days weren't even counted as one.
"I like you, okay." natatawa kong sinabi.
"You like me... is that enough reason to marry someone?" nagtaas ulit siya ng kilay, hinahamon ako.
I bit my lower lip, she's really cute when she's this competitive. Kaya rin hindi ako nabobored kapag kasama siya dahil palagi kaming may little debate.
"So you don't want to marry me? You're the one who wants to do something else, kaya cool sayo kasi gagawin mo rin?" bintang ko sakanya. Tumawa ito, ngumiti rin tuloy ako.
"Not that I have a choice! Kahit sabihin kong ayaw ko ay ikakasal pa rin tayo after 5 years!" natatawa niyang sinabi.
"So ayaw mo nga?" umakto akong nasasaktan pero natawa rin agad dahil pinagtawanan niya lang ang ginawa ko.
"Gusto ko!" sigurado niyang pahayag.
"Then anong pinagsasabi mo diyan?"
"Gustong-gusto ko, okay! First boyfriend kaya kita, I mean hindi naman tayo pero wala nang umaligid saakin dahil ang alam ng lahat ay boyfriend kita." Lalong sumilay ang ngiti saakin. First boyfriend, huh.
