I tiptoed my way to the room of senior highschools. I'm a sophomore, yet visiting their building (not to mention the distance from junior highschool's building) has been my routine every lunch time.
Pagkalapit sa pinto ay agad kong nakita si Cali, my longtime crush. Nagkaklase sila at makikitang talagang seryoso siya sa pakikinig. He is sitting at the middle row, kaya medyo mahirap makita since nasa backdoor ako.
I brought a lunch for him. This is my first time approaching him and I am super-duper nervous. Ako pa naman ang gumawa at naghanda nitong pagkain.
The bell rings, indicating that it is already lunch time for seniors. I know I should go back to our classroom because for us, it is already time, but I need to approach Cali. Just once.
"Oh anong need mo mare---" Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nang makita si Cali sa harap ko. Ha?!
He's wearing black hoodie, black pants, black cap, and black shoes. Tss. Aesthetic boy. Nakasira lang sa image niya yung pink na lunch box na dala niya. Ano trip neto?
"Ahmm... I made you lunch--- I mean, it's already night so it should be dinner box, right? Why--- why is it so confusing? I should've searched that up. Tch. Nakakahiya..." I watch him as he talks to himself. Bruh. Seriously?
"I don't need that. Kumain na ako..." Sabi ko at pumasok sa bahay. Pinagsarhan ko siya ng pinto. I know it's rude, but I'm hurt. But maybe it's too much? Nah. We're quits.
Kinabukasan ay pinuntahan ako ni Cali sa room noong lunch time. He's alone, carrying a paper bag, waiting for our class to declare lunch. May klase siya diba? Tss. Not a model student.
Nagring na ang bell at sinadya kong magpahuli. But it didn't happen because all of my girl classmates ended up staying in our room too! Nandyan kasi si Cali.
Tumayo na lang ako at sa front door dumaan dahil nasa back door siya naghihintay. Binilisan ko ang lakad ko at naramdaman kong sinusundan niya rin ako. Sinadya ko na lang tumigil sa may secret garden at pakinggan kung ano mang sasabihin niya.
"Bat mo ba ako sinusundan?" I said as I saw him running and carrying the paper bag like it's a precious thing. May laman atang ginto.
"I made you lunch..." He said. It didn't gave me butterflies though. Bubuyog.
"I can buy my food. Sayo na yan..." Tumalikod na ako upang maglakad nang wala akong marinig na reaksyon sa kanya. Lumingon ako at nakitang maingat pa rin niyang hinahawakan ang paper bag. Ayan yung pagkain?
"I'm sorry. I don't know what to say after y-you cried..." Lumapit siya sa isang table, hindi kalayuan sa akin, at doon nilapag ang pagkain.
"I'm really sorry. Hope you like it..." He smiled and left me alone. Kinuha ko ang paper bag hindi para iuwi, binigay ko ito sa guard ng school namin. Tuwang-tuwa siya nang makitang sushi at malalasang pagkain ang binigay ko. Pero imbes na magutom, I feel nothing.
Natapos ang klase at hindi ko na nakita si Cali. But everyday, lagi siyang nag-aabang tuwing lunch time at binibigyan ako ng lunch, and everytime, ibinibigay ko iyon sa guard. That lasted for six years, and he is now graduating.
Aaminin kong masama ang loob ko sa kanya dahil hindi siya dumalo noong graduation namin sa senior high, pero ano nga bang karapatan ko? Ako yung nagpapahirap sa kanya.
It's just a normal day. Wala kaming klase sa first-year college pero may ipinapagawa sa amin sa group. Ngayon din ang graduation ng fourth-years. Hindi ako pumasok ng Hall dahil wala naman akong papalakpakan.
Pero yung paa ko kasi makulit eh. Pumwesto ako sa likod at kinabahan nang tawagin na ang pangalan ni Cali.
"Valedictorian of Business Administration, Del Mundo, Cali..." Nagpalakpakan ang lahat at umakyat na sa stage si Cali. Parang pagod na pagod siya pero hindi nila napapansin.
Kusa na lang pumalakpak nang mahina ang mga kamay ko. I'm so proud of him.
He looks gloomy when he poses for the camera picture. But when our eyes met, he suddenly smiled. Ngumiti ako at lumabas ng hall. I felt a hand grabbed me and I saw that it was Cali.
"Hale..." Parang iiyak na siya ngayon. Ako naman ang nataranta.
"H-hala! Bat ka umiiyak? N-nagugutom ka ba?" He suddenly hugged me and cried on my shoulder. I patted his back while laughing.
"Shhh. Tahan na..." Tumawa rin siya. It was the best feeling ever.
-
She looks beautiful. Wearing a white gown, walking down the aisle, and smiling at me... She looks perfect.
Maya-maya ay binigay na sa akin ang singsing. Sinuot ko ito sa daliri niya and it fits! I am looking at her the whole time.
"And now, I declare you as husband and wife!" Nagpalakpakan ang mga bisita at ang iba ay nagsigawan.
"You may now kiss the bride..." Without further ado, hinawi ko ang belo niya and held her face.
I kissed her. Oh sh--- I don't want to think green things while in a church. But her lips---
Tinitigan ko siya and she looks like an angel.
"I love you. I love you, Hale..."
