Crossing the Lines

Chapter 3: Perfectly Imperfect

George.

I woke up with a striking headache. Probably dahil sa nangyari kahapon. Agad kong pinatay ang aking cellphone. Kairita naman tong tumatawag eh.

"Anak? Are you awake?" rinig ko ang boses ni mama habang kumakatok ito. 

"Yes po. I'll just take a bath." sagot ko. Nagmadali akong kunin ang aking tuwalya saka pumasok sa aking banyo.

"Okay. Don't take too long. Your boyfriend is here."

I began to shower when I realize something.

BOYFRIEND?! Bat siya andito?

Ito na ata ang pinakamabilis kong paligo sa buhay ko. Not that I am excited but hello? bat siya andito? Hindi dapat alam ni mama to eh.

Agad akong bumaba sa hagdan and rush to the kitchen. I saw him and my mom talking. Bahagya pang natawa si mama sa sinabi niya. sanaol close agad diba. 

"Anak, come here na!"

I sat on my chair, next to him who was eating na parang bahay niya na din to. Kapal no? Napailing-iling nalang ako. I started eating my cereals when I noticed na bakante ang upuan ni papa. Maybe he overslept? or still taking a bath?

"Nako georgina! When do you plan to introduce me to your boyfriend? Kung hindi niya sa akin sinabing running 5 years na kayo, I wouldnt know na may boyfriend ka! What happened to our rule?" sunod-sunod ang tanong nito, making me feel sick already. I glanced at Zav, who is looking at me while still munching on his cheesy pandesal.

"Ma, its a long story. Long distance naman yun. I actually don't actually consider us being in a relationship." I said na parang wala lang. Napa-aray nalang ako nang bigla niya akong kinurot.

"I didnt raise you like that! Pagpasensyahan mo na to iho." I just shrugged habang hinihimas yung parteng kinurot sa akin. Saka ko nalang siguro i-explain kay mama. 

Agad kong hinila si Zav palabas nang matapos kami kumain. Nagpa-alam pa ito nang may halong pagmamadali. 

"Don't show up here like that! Ano bang plano mo sa buhay?" He didnt spoke, instead he pulled me closer, making my heart jump. His face is just inches away from mine. I tried my best to look at him in the eye.

"The campus journalist will be here any minute. They will feature our fake love story in the school paper this year so..." amoy na amoy ko ang kanyang hininga. It smells like...

"Listerine Total Care Zero Mouthwash, cool mint" i absentmindedly said.

"W-what?" 

"Yung mouthwash mo." he pulled away quickly after realizing what I have said. I'm using the same mouth wash kaya alam ko! 

A mini van passes by so I quickly held his hand, kunwari papunta sa sasakyan niya. I knew that yun ang sasakyan ng mga campus journalist eh. I made sure to look at him with so much love in my eyes para naman effective. 

For my surprise, he pulled his hand away kaya napatingin ako sakanya, he held my hand properly. So ang gusto niya, siya nakahawak? 

We got into his car. He began driving and silence eloped us.

"My ex girlfriend is coming here." napatingin ako sakanya.

"And so?" he glanced at me.

"That was a high school puppy love. I just told you in case na may tanong." nagpatango-tango nalang ako. I decided not to speak since wala din akong masabi. Bigla kong naalal ayung kukunin kong charity posters na pinagawa namin. Its this day pala yon pwedeng i-claim. Napansin kong lumagpas na din kami.