"Can it be that it was all so simple then?Or has time re-written every line? If we had the chance to do it all again, tell me, would we? Could we?" - Barbra Streisand
Akala ko 'all is well, that ends well' ika nga ni Shakespeare. But I was very wrong. Hindi sumurender ang lolo.
Kinabukasan, may isang teddy bear, smaller sa gift niya sa akin nung graduation ko. With it a note, "let's have a merienda-cena with our baby, please!"
How can I say no? Pero siyempre, may pasakalye muna ako. I emailed him. "Fine by me pero huwag ka nang makisali kay Nuelle sa father-daughter illusion. Very awkward kasi. Also, hindi necessary ang regalo. Hindi ko birthday at malayo pang Christmas."
He only answered with '🤔🤔🤔'. Weird pero napangiti ako. Is he starting to fall for me again, with amnesia and all? Parang nasa cloud nine na naman ako. Very light ang feeling ko.
Sumunod na email niya sa akin: "Reservation is at 4pm. Will pick you up at 3 para hindi traffic.😻😻😻"
"I no longer have a choice. You got me☺️☺️☺️" I emailed back.
Hindi ko alam. He's a serious person but his reply: "😁😁😁"
Hindi ko na sinagot baka humaba pang emoji replies niya. But, I love them, siyempre kasi galing sa kanya. At my age, masyado pa rin akong overwhelmingly elated, nagiging teen at heart na naman ako.
At heto ako ngayon, dreading the time. Parang biglang bumagal ang takbo ng orasan. Inip na inip na ako. Bakit ganon?
Dumating ang 3pm. Deadma muna ako kaya kunwari may binabasa ako. "Ready?" Ang bungad ni Wilber nasa pintuan pa lang siya, napangisi siya kasi nakita niyang may ginagawa pa ako.
Pag lapit niya sa table ko, sinarado niyang binabasa ko, "Stop pretending. I know kanina ka pa naghihintay sa akin. Let's go! Baka matraffic tayo." Buking pala ang style ko. Hays! Mukhang open book na ako sa kanya.
Sinundo muna namin si Nuelle na kanina pa din naghihintay. "Where are you taking us this time, dad?"
"It's my surprise, but I guarantee you, you'll both love it," ang pagyayabang niyang sagot kay Nuelle.
True to his word, dinala niya kami sa isa sa pinaka-famous na hotel na nagkecater sa pinakamasarap na merienda cena pero ubod din ng mahal. Ang mokong masyadong nagpapa-impress. Mind you, impressed kami lalo na nang makita namin ang mga pagkain sa buffet tables. Tingin pa lang nakakabusog na. Na-miss ko ito noong nasa ibang bansa ako.
Umupo kami sa pwestong may touch of privacy pero very accessible sa food para hindi mahirap ang pagtayo kung kukuha kami ng mapili naming food.
Hindi naman napahiya ang mokong at talaga namang nag-eenjoy kami. Ang konsentrasyon ko ay nasa pagkain at kung anong mga kinakain ni Nuelle.
Biglang bumulong si Wilber, "We're good, aren't we?"
Tumingin lang ako sa kanya at ngumiti.
"Do we have a problem?" Persistent.
"Bakit mo naman iniisip na may problema tayo?"
"You're awfully quiet. Nakakabahala."
"Dad, it's bad to whisper when there's another person present. Isn't it, mom?" Napatingin din sa akin si Wilber.
"Yes, sweetheart," nakangisi kong sagot. "Atty. Laureano won't do it anymore." Challenging ang tingin ko sa kanya. Subukan mong kumontra sa harap ng bata.
Hindi naman siya kumontra pero ang mga tingin niya ay nagsasabing, "I'll get you for that."
Maya maya lang, nagpapaalam si Nuelle. "Mom, I need to pee."
"Alright, I'll take you to the restroom." Tumayo ako agad kasi ayokong maiwan ng mag isa with Wilber.
"Mom, I can take care of myself," sagot ni Nuelle tapos sabay tingin kay Wilber. Ano ito? May kuntsabahan? "The restroom is just across."
"No, sweetheart. You're still young to be on your own lalo na unfamiliar pa sa iyo itong place na ito. "Come on!" Nagmadali akong hinawakan ang kamay niya at karay-karay ko na siya papuntang restroom. Hinabol na lang kami ng tingin ni Wilber.
Pagdating ng 6pm, end na din ng merienda cena. Nagyaya pa si Wilber sa park. Pero humindi na ako. "I'm sorry. May pasok pa tayo pare-pareho tomorrow. Plus, may mga emails pa akong kailangan sagutin. But thank you, sir! Nag-enjoy kami, right Nuelle? Aren't you going to say something to Atty. Laureano?"
"Thank you, daddy. Mommy's right. We enjoyed the food."
"You're welcome, baby." At sa akin, "At least, let me take you home. Traffic baka mas gabihin kayo."
"No need sir, I already arranged our ride. Nasa tapat na ng hotel nag-aantay." Lusot.
Nang nasa elevator kami, bumulong na naman si Wilber. This time far from earshot ni Nuelle. "Hindi ako basta-basta naggigive up. Am sure, alam mo yan."
Nginitian ko lang siya. "Be thankful, andito si Nuelle." Bulong niya uli.
"Ows, is that a threat, Atty. Laureano?"
"It's not a threat but a promise that you'll pay for giving me a cold shoulder." Oops, mukhang seryoso. Threat or promise, siyempre I will look forward to it, if he only knew, every which way nasa advantage pa din ako.
Nagbabasa ako ng email, nang makita ko ang message ni Wilber: "Best day of my life. Hope you're both alright!"
"Yes, we're fine. Nuelle is already asleep. Just finishing my emails then, I'm also off to bed. Thank you again and good night."
Akala ko doon magtatapos, nag-email na naman: "Can't wait to see you tomorrow!😊😊😊"
Flattered man ako, hindi ko na sinagot kasi hahaba pa.
But still, natanggap ko pa din ito:"😍😍😍"
YOU ARE READING
I Love You, My Handsome Prof!
Romance"I Love You, My Handsome Prof" is the second series in My "I Love You Series" collections. And it will be my first time to write in the first person and in Taglish. It is a simple story of love that started in the campus and off. Boy meets girl. Boy...
