Chapter 24
From: Juancho
Prepared na lahat.
Takang-taka ako nang matanggap ang mensaheng iyon. Bukod sa apat na oras kaming hindi magkausap dahil nagpaalam siyang magre-review, wala akong naaalalang kailangan niyang paghandaan.
To: Juancho
Ang alin?
It was a few days after my defense. My body was still buzzing with happiness from all the positive comments I'd received. Hindi ko akalain na magiging matindi ang epekto ng salita ng mga tao sa akin. Hindi naman kasi talaga ako mahilig tumanggap ng mga papuri.
Pero sa mga nagdaang araw, napagtanto kong niloloko ko lang ang sarili ko. Masarap sa pakiramdam ang mapansin at makilala. Kaya nitong bigyan ka ng inspirasyon para mas lalo mong galingan.
And maybe I just said I didn't like compliments because I don't hear many good things about myself from others.
Sure, I received praise for my appearance, scent, and skin, but it didn't stick much in my head because I didn't give a hoot about how I looked.
But to be recognized for my skills and passion... it was profound; its meaning stood out from the surface-level compliments. It was an instant mood elevator, a confidence booster. Maalala ko lang ang narinig, kahit nasaan ako, hindi ko mapigilan ang mapangiti.
I was lost in quiet contemplation when my phone beeped. Napatigil tuloy ako.
From: Juancho
Hindi mo tanda?
Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Ano'ng aalalahanin ko? Alam niya namang mahina ako sa memorization tapos may pa-suspense pa siya.
To: Juancho
'Wag mong gawin sa'kin 'to, please. 200 mb lang ang utak ko.
Hindi ko na binitawan ang telepono. Hinintay ko lang ang sagot niya.
From: Juancho
The human brain has 2.5 million gigabytes of storage space, Mirae.
"Amputa," bulong ko sa sarili bago nagtipa ng sagot sa kanya.
To: Juancho
Yabang mo. Sinabi ko bang tao ako?
From: Juancho
Silly. But in your 200 mb, how come our date didn't make the cut?
"Date?" I muttered, confused. "'Yong real date?! Seryoso ba siya ro'n?!"
From: Juancho
I was looking forward to it, and you don't remember?
Manonood ng movie, kakain sa isang restaurant, pupunta sa art gallery at magpho-photoshoot, magpapakain ng stray animals, at magca-camping sa gabi?! Mapagkakasya ba namin sa iisang araw 'yon?
Kumamot ako sa ulo ko. Hindi ako prepared!
To: Juancho
Tanda ko. Jinojoke lang kita. Handa na nga ang isusuot ko, eh. I love you.
To: Juancho
'Wag kang magtatampo. Saksakan ka pa naman ng arteng hayop ka.
From: Juancho
Really? What are you wearing? A dress?
Napatulala ako sa screen. Una, date. Tapos ngayon, dress?! Saan galing 'yon?! Sweatpants lang, T-shirt na malaki, at ang luma kong Chuck Taylor!
From: Juancho
Oh, and I love you, too. I'm excited to spend the whole day with you.
I grunted as I erased my planned reply of "Anong dress ang pinagsasabi mong impakto ka?" because I realized how sweet he was even in text messages.
YOU ARE READING
Words Written in Water (Loser #3)
RomanceTHE LOSERS' CLUB SERIES 3 In need of juicy news for her online publication, the struggling journalism student, Millicent Rae Velasco, was forced to interview the intimidating student council president of their university, Juancho Alas Montero. But...
