How Do We Live?

Special Chapter: His Story

"Monique Angel Roque?! Kaya naman pala, eh! Anghel nga!" Then he showed his phone to everyone. Suddenly, they were all syncing in searching and actually stalking through her timeline. May mga pictures doon na pinapakita nila sa isa't isa as if they met their God in that screen. Napanguso naman ako ng makita ang reaksyon nila.

I never really had a crush. Kahit pa maraming nagco-confess sa akin, I never get the slightest interest to invest in such things. Hindi ko lang maramdaman ang nararamdaman ng iba tungkol sa tinatawag nilang pag-ibig. Fast pacing hearts, slow-mo, dangerous love??? Nope, I have no idea.

"Vico, tignan mo! Bigay ka naman ng comment mo diyan, puro bola na lang nasa isip mo, eh." I just raise my middle finger on him nang sabihin iyon ng isa sa mga ka-team mates ko. All of them laugh about the joke but little did they know that my attention was caught by the girl in the picture.

It was a candid shot of her laughing. Her fair skin is radiating as the sunlight touches it, ang ilangs trand ng buhok ay kumakalat sa kanyang mukha pero hindi noong naitago ang kislap sa mga mata niyang tumatawa. She was indeed beautiful and peaceful to look at. The kind of beauty that is far from hourglasses or curves and hot girl vibe but the kind that will give you tranquility once you look at her.

"Titig na titig na si Vico, tago ka na Trent! Kapag si Vico nagka-gusto dito! Taob ka matic!"  Agad silang nag kantyawan dahil sa biro... hindi nila alam, it was the total opposite of what I had done in the future.

Ever since I knew of her existence parang automatic na naakit ako sa presensya niya. I was literally attracted to her to the point of going to the same thing she does. I even attended some nursing fair just so I would be able to see her. Madalas niyang kasama ang dalawang kaibigan at siya ang pinakatahimik sa kanila. She's bright and very active in her studies gaya ng mga kaibigan niya and she looks very bubbly and friendly.

"Vico! May training tayo! Akyat na sa gym!" Sigaw ng isang ka team mate ko ng makita akong nasa atrium pa.

"Sunod ako." Mabilis ko lang na sagot sa kanya bago ihulog ang barya sa vending machine. Damn it! Lahat na yata ng inumin dito na subukan ko na kakahintay nang mga nakaraang araw, bakit ba di ko masaktuhan ang schedule niya! Christ! Pati ako nawe-weird-an na sa sarili ko dahil sa ginagawa ko. I'm even late on some of my practices dahil nag aantay ako sa kanya dito sa lobby.

"Uhm... ano... di ka pa nakakapili ng inumin." Para akong nanigas sa kinatatayuan ko ng marinig ko ang boses na iyon. It was very sweet and angelic na kahit hindi naman malaman ang sinabi niya ay pakiramdam ko ay hinihele ako. The shiver that it sent to my body makes my head haywire. Fuck! I feel like my heart is hyperventilating! Para iyong lalabas sa dibdib ko!

Naramdaman kong uminit ang likod ng tenga ko ng kalabitin niya na ako. I almost jump out when her fingertips touches my shoulder. The sudden fast-pace of my heartbeat makes me crazy in split seconds that I don't even know what to do!!!

"Excuse me... ano-" When I finally had the guts to look at her ang maliit na ngiti sa mga labi niya ang tumambab sa akin. The sudden struck of cuteness and how angelic her face can kill me instantly!

Pumindot na lamang ako ng kahit ano sa vending machine dahil sa tarantang nararamdaman. The shivers that I feel, the way my heart reacts to her and how nervous I am is very intoxicating. Kailangan ko ng makaalis! kailangan kong makalayo sa kanya! She can kill me by just merely existing! This is so dangerous!

Nang bumagsak ang inumin mula sa vending machine ay dali-dali ko iyong kinuha at mas mabilis pang tumakbo paalis sa kinatatayuan ko. On the way to the gym, I felt like I run 50 laps because of how my heart is pacing. Ni hindi ko kayang kontrolin ng tama ang hininga ko dahil sa bilis ng tibok ng puso ko! I cannot go near her again! Hindi ko naman alam na ganito pala ang magiging epekto niya kapag sobrang lapit niya sa akin! Damn it! I might turned into corpse instantly!