Mahal Kita, Pero... [BoyxBoy]

CHAPTER THREE: Ang Pinakapaboritong Bagay Ni Percy Sa Buong Mundo

"Yes. Nagkaroon na."

"Nasa 'yo pa rin ba ang bagay na iyon?"

I stared at the notebook. As I opened the notebook, I observed that it really changed a lot since the last time I completed the story. The edges were already dented. The white color of the pages faded and the lines turned from blue to violet. The sketches weren't as visually appealing as it used to be, thought I would say, I improved my drawing skills a lot, if I were to base what I do now from this one.

It was just a plain story book with a weird plot. Dahil puro mga fairy tale ang binabasa sa akin ni Mama, ang mga tauhan sa aking kuwento ay mga fairy tale characters din, but with a twist. Hindi ang mga title character ang ginamit ko.

Take Cinderella as an example. Of course, Cinderella wasn't in my story book but only the fairy godmother. Maurice, instead of Belle was the character I picked from Beauty and the Beast. So did Flora, Fauna and Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty.

I really didn't know why. Perhaps, I just saw something in them that could have been found in my inner being. As I drew the pages, I realized why. All of them were creative characters.

Maybe that's just me. I am a creative person. I love to do things out of something. Hence, the storybook.

"I'm holding it right now."

"I see. Malaki ba 'yan?"

Hindi ko alam kung saan pupunta ang usapan namin pero nagiging awkward na talaga ito. "Ano ba ang tinutukoy mo?"

"Ang pinakapaborito mong bagay sa buong mundo."

"Uh, not really. Regular size lang." It was a common spiral notebook na nabibili sa mga school supplies store.

"Regular size lang?!" Napabulyaw ito.

Seriously? Were we talking of the same thing? "Ano ba ang iniisip mo?"

"Kasi ako, ang pinakapaborito kong bagay sa buong mundo, mahaba, matigas, malaki at talagang masarap hawakan. Bata pa lang ako, lagi ko nang kasama ito."

I got frozen on the spot I was standing at. I didn't intend to be green but this was how the conversation led me. Was he trying to provoke me on something that I wasn't really at it?

Napalunok na lang ako. "What are you talking about?"

"Ang pinakapaborito kong bagay sa buong mundo."

"Sigurado ka ba?" Naramdaman ko ang pagtagaktak ng malapot na pawis mula sa aking ulo pababa sa aking patilya, hanggang sa aking baba. Kumawala ang patak na iyon na para bang inabot ng isang daang taon bago ito mahulog sa sahig.

"Oo naman. Gamit na gamit nga ito sa akin, eh. Lalo na noong nagbinata na ako. Eleven, twelve years old. Lalo pa hanggang ngayon."

Sinubukan kong pagalawin ang mga paa ko ngunit parang napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko. I could not even raise a limb. I was stuck on that spot because of the extreme awkwardness I'm feeling right now.

"Ah, P-Percy? M-may gag-g-gagawin k-ka ppa ba? Maybe we should talk some other time." I was really feeling bad about it. Hindi ko naman gustong maging bastos sa kausap ko sa telepono pero hindi na nagiging maayos ang takbo ng usapan namin.

"Ano ka ba. Kung kailang nag-e-enjoy akong sabihin sa 'yo ang pinakapaboritong bagay ko sa buong mundo, bababaan mo ako ng telepono? Mamaya na. You know what, I'm holding it right now, too. Dapat ang grip mo dito, mahigpit na mahigpit. Matigas kasi ito."

Napapikit ako. Baka makatulong ang pagsara ko ng aking mga mata para makontrol ko ang isip ko sa mga masasamang bagay na kanina pa pumapasok dito.

"T-that's n-nice." I uttered, trying to keeping it cool.