A Written Love Story -- For the Hundredth Time

(2) The Most Common Type of First Encounter (★)

"SUS! Pasuspense-suspense ka pang nalalaman diyan. Arte mo, tol!" Napangiti ako. I took a sip in the glass again, samantalang ubos na pala ni Rob yung kanya.

“Hayaan mo na. Malalaman mo rin yan. Sa ngayon, sikreto muna."

"Opo, boss!"

Kinabukasan, nagsimula na ang isang bagong academic year. Second year college na ko. Sa totoo lang, puro aral lang ginawa ko nung freshman year ko. Alam mo yun, walang thrill. Walang masyadong gimik-gimik. In short, boring. Liban nalang sa pagsusulat ko. Kaya yung pagka-busy ko, dala na rin ng pagiging author. Pag may pumapasok na idea sa'kin, I always go home immediately so I could write it. Ganun na ang buhay ko. I was concentrated on my studies and on writing and improving myself. Pero sa isang hindi inaasahang pagkakataon…

Natagpuan ko na ang babae sa love story ko.

The University world was just so big, but we had a small world.

Nung papasok na ako sa isang classroom para sa isang minor subject (well, minor sa karamihan, pero ito ang major ko eh), may nakabangga ako. Her books dropped and messed on the floor. Well, the most common type of first encounter. But I never knew it will mean that much...

"Sorry, Miss. Di ko sinasadya…" I helped her fix her things. Then I saw the book, For the Hundredth Time. Siyempre, napangiti ako. "Wow. For the Hundredth time…"

But she just answered back with a shy-but-beautiful smile and an, "it's ok…"

Naniniwala ba kayo sa Love at First Sight?

Eh sa second sight? That's why I decided to approach her after class. "Uh. Hi. I'm Gerard. And you?"

"Nice meeting you, Gerard?" She replied, as if not sure if she heard the name right.

"Yup, Gerard."

"My name's Laurren. You can call me Ren, kung nahahabaan ka sa pangalan ko." Nagsimula kaming lumakad palabas ng classroom.

"No, it's not that long. Bagay nga sa'yo eh." Nagmumukha sigurong dinidiskartehan ko siya. Siguro, ganun, pero kayo na bahala humusga. Medyo napangiti siya nung sinabi ko yun. Medyo lang. Siguro, crush ako nito. Napatawa nalang yung isip ko. "So… friends?" Inalok ko.