My Anonymous Online Boyfriend ✔️

Epilogue

Clyde's Point of View

The first day I saw Melissa was the day I began admiring her. I was in 8th grade while she was in 7th grade. She was a freshman student and I was a sophomore. I was a journalist and she was a journalist as well. I first saw her at the library, when we were having our training for our journalist contest. Pagkapasok niya ng library, hindi na natanggal ang titig ko sa kaniya. Sinimulan ko siyang pagmasdan nang patago dahil ayaw kong akalain niyang may gusto ako sa kaniya.

At first she was very shy and mute, she was carefully listening to our school paper adviser Mrs. Mercado while I was busy staring at her. Inutusan siyang magpakilala ni Mrs. Mercado dahil siya ang pinakabagong member ng club namin. That was the time she stood up from her seat and started introducing herself. Pinagmasdan ko ang tindig niya at kung paano niya ibuka ang bibig niya—halatang mahiyain at mahinhin.

After she introduced herself, she sat down on her seat again and quietly does her work. That day, I remembered her name, she is Melissa. Melissa Keistyn G. Zevallos. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa isip ko at tinandaan ko ang pangalan niya—pati ang mukha niya. Basta ang alam ko lang ay namamangha ako sa kaniya. Ilang minuto ang lumipas at nilapitan siya ng isa naming member, the girl started being friends with Melissa, and that was the first time I saw Melissa smile. She looks like an angel.

Simula no'n, sinabi ko na sa sarili ko na kikilalanin ko pa siya at susubukan kong kausapin siya. As I arrived at home, I decided to use my old diary and use it as my journal. Nagsimula akong maghanap ng mga recyclable materials na pwede kong ipang-design sa notebook at marami naman akong nakita. Gupit dito, gupit doon, dikit dito, dikit doon. Punong-puno ng kalat ang kuwarto ko nang matapos ako. But I was happy, because I was able to turn the old diary into a new and useful journal. And guess what, I did that for Melissa.

Agad akong umupo sa kama ko at nagsimulang magsulat sa journal. Isinulat ko roon ang petsa para matandaan ko kung kailan ko unang nakita si Melissa.

September 11, 2013. The first day I saw someone who became my main interest just now. Her name is Melissa Keistyn, and she's pretty cute. I like the way she speaks, smiles and her shyness too.

The other day, we had our second day training. I decided to speak to her to know more about her personality, attitude, or any interesting about her. I was ready, I was about to approach her, but my feet wouldn't let me—they weren't moving. Parang may nagpatigil sa akin at bigla na lang akong kinabahan, kaya umatras na lang ako. Ayaw ko rin naman kasing mapahiya at magmukhang tanga sa harapan ni Melissa. Kaya hindi ko itinuloy, at hindi na ako nakalapit sa kaniya hanggang sa maging grade 9 na ako.

When I was in 9th grade, napunta ako sa star section. I met my new and official friends in my junior high school in that section. Sila Nick iyon, kahit na hindi ako athlete, at hindi ko hilig ang sports—naging magkasundo kami. Naging parte ako ng grupo nila. Mababait naman silang lahat, pero ang naging malapit sa akin ay si Nick. He said that it doesn't matter to him if I am a nerd and not an athletic person, what matters to him is my attitude—the way I treat them.

We supported each other. Support ko siya lagi sa paglalaro niya ng basketball at ako naman ay sinusuportahan niya sa mga contest na sinasalahin ko sa school tulad ng quiz bee, journalism, essay writing, slogan making, at iba pa. Minsan talo, madalas panalo. Pansin ko rin na maraming nagkakagusto kay Nick dahil na rin sa itsura niya at sa galing niyang maglaro ng basketball. Tilian ang mga estudyanteng babae kapag naglalaro si Nick sa gym. Madalas namang manalo ang team nila.

I also remember that me and Nick's topic were always about girls. Ewan ko ba sa lalaking iyon kung bakit mahilig sa chicks. Take note, grade 9 pa lang kami no'n, pero parang college na siya kung umasta. Palaging iyon ang topic namin hanggang sa mapunta sa taong nagugustuhan namin. He asked me if I like someone, if I am admiring someone, and instead of telling the truth, I lied. I did lie, I didn't want anyone to know about Melissa because it would only be an issue. Lalo na kay Nick. So, I chose to leave it as a private matter—sa akin lang muna at ako na muna ang nakakaalam.