Say I Love You Too

Prologue

Prologue

"Are you nervous?" tanong sa akin ni Daddy.

Nakangiti akong umling. "No, dad." I simply answered. "I'm not feeling any nervousness at all. Even a bit."

Daddy gently patted my head. "That's my daughter." nakangiting sabi niya at nagthumbs up pa sa akin nang pumasok sa loob ng classroom namin.

"The parade's about to start." sabi ni Mommy na mas excited pa sa akin. "Hinahanap ka na ng adviser at ng mga classmate mo plus your escort."

I saw Dad rolled his eyes nang marinig ang word na 'escort' and I chuckled. "Sige po, 'Mmy. Una na po kayo ni Daddy." sabi ko at agad naman silang lumabas para bumaba sa grounds.

I faced the hand mirror that mom gave me para tignan ang sarili ko. I smiled and breathe heavily bago lumabas ng classroom.

"Ah!" daing ko ng may tumamang bola ng basketball sa akin habang naglalakad sa corridor at nakarinig ng mga tawanan ng mga lalaki.

Kinuha ko ang bola at tumingin sa kanila. Tatlo silang lalaking naka-jersey. Napatigil silang tatlo sa pagtawa nang mag-angat ako ng tingin.

"Can't you watch where you're going?" inis na sabi ko. "Hindi naman court ang corridor para dito kayo magdribble ng bola. Pumunta kayo sa gym kung gusto nyong maglaro. Nakakatama kayo ng tao eh."

"Sorry." ani ng nasa gitna. "We're sorry." ulit nito. "Hindi naman namin sinasadya eh."

I sighed. "Sana sa susunod mag-ingat nalang kayo para wala na kayong matamaan." sabi ko at i-chinestpass sa kanila ang bola na muntik pang hindi masalo ng lalaking nasa gitna at gulat na gulat pero agad ding ngumisi saka pinaglaruan ang bola sa kamay.

Lumapit ito sa akin. "Sorry ulit." aniya at naglahad ng kamay. "Joshua nga pala." pagpapakilala nito at tinignan ko ang kamay nyang naghihintay sa pagdampi ng kamay ko.

"Sirius." simpleng sabi ko ng second name ko at mabilis na naglakad papuntang grounds.

Agad akong sinalubong ni mommy't daddy. "What took you so long?" nag-aalalang tanong ni daddy.

Umiling ako at ngumiti. "I just composed myself dad." sagot ko at tumango ito.

Tumabi na ako sa escort ko sa harapan ng pila. Nagsimula na ang parade at inikot lang namin ang labas ng school. "Water, Lyrae?" alok sa akin ng escort ko habang naglalakad at umiling lang ako as an answer.

Nagkibit-balikat lang ito at pumasok na kaming muli sa school. Pumunta kaming bawat muse and escort ng different highschool classes sa backstage at isa-isang rumampa. Hindi rin nagtagal ay umabot kami sa Top 3 ng escort ko. Pero pwedeng matanggal ang isa namin. Pwedeng manalo ako or sya ang manalo. Pwede ring talo ako or sya ang talo. Pwede rin namang parehas kaming manalo o parehas kaming talo. It's not by partners, it's individual kumbaga.

"Miss Lyrae Sarmiento." tawag sa akin ng emcee and I step forward looking so confident and smiling while waiting for the judge's question.

"If you didnt win this contest, what would you do? What's your reaction?" tanong sa akin ng judges and I find it so dumb.

Ngumiti ako at inabot ang mic galing sa emcee. "Nothing." simpleng sagot ko at nagsimulang magbulungan ang mga mata. "If I run across the corridors like an idiot, if I cry a river, if I slap the winner's face off, if I argue with the judges, if I blame myself and many more ifs, will that change anything?" I continued my answer. "No, it wont." I stated. "You're just going to waste your energy in doing those things. Why just sit back and relax because the competition has now come to an end and do more important things than hiding yourself in a corner while crying?" I explained. "I guess you now know what I want to tell you and what's the message of my answer. That's all! Thank you." I smiled at bumalik sa pwesto ko while hearing those loud claps and howlings of the highschool student body.

"Thank you, Miss Lyrae Sarmiento." nakangiting sabi ng emcee. "And now, our last question. Joshua Sy." ani ng emcee at rinig na rinig ang tilian ng mga babae as I almost covered my ears. Nakakabingi. Sino ba 'to?

I looked at the Joshua Sy who's now taking a step forward at nanlaki ang mata ko.

He's Joshua in the basketball incident earlier at the corridor. Why didnt I recognize him earlier?

"I know this is impossible but.." panimula ng babaeng judge na mukhang nasa new generation lang din gamit ang isang malanding tono. "If a girl rejects you, what will you do?"

Is it really impossible for a girl to reject him? Bakit? Is he a perfect boyfriend material?

"I'll still pursue her." simpleng sagot nito at dumagundong muli ang buong grounds sa tilian ng mga babae. "I'm not the type of guy who easily falls for a girl and court her immediately." he continued. "When I fall for a girl, then I really find you amazing and all. That's why if I'm going to court a girl, I swear to myself that I will do anything just to have her. I will do anything until she accepts me." aniya. "Because that's how I love. That's how a Joshua Sy love. Thank you!" he smiled at bumalik sa pwesto nya.

At syempre, hindi nawawala ang nakakabinging tilian ng mga babae ng dahil sa sagot nya na mukhang nangangarap pa ng todo ang iba.

"And for our Mr. Intramurals 2014, let us give a around of applause for Mr. Joshua Sy!" pag-aannounced ng emcee at nagsitilian ulit ang mga babae.

Pumunta sa gitnang harap si Joshua at binigyan ng isang trophy with an envelope and certificate of participation. Nagpicture pa sila ng sports coordinator, principal at ng activity coordinator with the emcee and judges.

"And for our Miss Intramurals 2014.." and the drum rolls. "Give it up for, Miss Lyrae Sarmiento!" nagpalakpakan ang mga tao and I heard boy's howling na nakakairita. Why do they need to howl kung pwede namang pumalakpak nalang? Is it really necessary?

Lumapit na ako sa gitnang harapan and did the same procedures as what Joshua did. I saw my mom and dad smiling at me and it made me smile too.

Pinaglapit kami ni Joshua and I heard him whispered. "Congrats to us, Lyrae." aniya. "Sirius pala ah."

I rolled my eyes at inangat ang certificate of participation ko nang makita nya.

Certificate of Participation

Ms. and Mr. Intramurals 2014

  Lyrae Sirius T. Sarmiento

            I - St. Ignatius

"Ohh.." I heard him say. "Then Lyrae, it is." aniya at inakbayan ako as I saw my dad frown.