And Probably Not Forever

Beginning

Beginning:

Leandro Quel Fajardo

[A/N: Quel is read as 'Kel']

I perceive love differently. I mean, I love every girl I date and I take them seriously but not as serious to the point na iisipin kong she might be the girl I'm marrying. I am not a player but girls come and go. I've been chasing and dating girls for God knows how long and that is just how it worked for me.

But this girl I'm dating... I feel different with her. And this is the first time I've thought of marriage and I want my life to rotten 'til death with her. Just her.

"Congratulations, graduates of 2015!" Our school dean announced, and everybody screamed, jumped, threw their graduation caps in the air and some were in tears as we finished another chapter of our lives. 

"We are officially unemployed!" Sigaw ni Oliver, yung kaibigan ko, tumawa naman yung mga taong nakarinig ng joke niya. Napailing na lang ako. Then he faced me, patting me hard on my shoulders, "Lean! This is it! Puntahan mo na siya!"

As he said those words, I can't stop myself from smiling. Kinakabahan din ako at the same time. Inubo pa ako sa kaba ko. But I have planned this ever since I dated her. I gave Oliver a quick hug para lang magthank you at i-congratulate siya bago pa man ako umalis sa pwesto ko para hanapin si Allie.

Then I found her hugging her friends one by one. She was in a verge of tears, "Oh my God guys! Graduate na tayo!" She exclaimed at her friends.

Pauline, one of Allie's friends saw me and she pointed me. Sinundan naman ni Allie yung tinuturo ni Pau kaya nakita din ako ni Allie na nakatayo sa likuran niya. Kinantiyawan kami ng ibang kaibigan ni Allie and my girl went red. She really looks beautiful.

I hugged her, "Congratulations, Al!"

"Yes! Graduate na tayo! Congrats, Lean!" She said while she was hugging me. But when she's about to let go, mas lalo ko pa siyang niyakap ng mahigpit.

"W-what are you doing? Let me go!" Natatawa niyang sabi but I just shook my head. Pinatong ko yung baba ko sa ulo niya and I quickly planted a kiss on her head. Ang bango niya talaga. Allie stiffened. I know that I caught her off-guard.

"Allie, will you be my girlfriend?" I whispered. Then, inabot ko sa kaniya yung necklace na nawawala niya nung college year namin nung parehas kaming Juniors pa lang.

Nung nakita ni Allie yung necklace, tuluyan na siyang napaiyak. "Shit. Where did you find this?"

"Naiwan mo sa bahay ni mama nung sinama kita para magbakasayon doon. Akala ko din nawala mo na pero ayun, nahanap ko nung bumisita ako last month kay mama." Allie was still speechless. "Galit ka ba na ngayon ko lang binigay?"

Kinuha ni Allie sa kamay ko yung necklace. "Y-yes..." She whispered.

I was taken aback by her answer. Bigla akong kinabahan lalo. "Seryoso, Al? Fuck, sorry. Hindi ko alam... Gusto lang sana kita supresahin... Hindi ko alam na magaga---"

"Yes!" She told me once again. "Yes, I will be your girlfriend!" Niyakap na naman niya ako. This time, mas mahigpit pa kaysa sa noong una. "Tanga nito! Hindi ako magagalit sayo!" She laughed.

Then she held my hand, "Tara! Nandun si mama! I can't wait to tell her about this!"

"Hindi kaya ako karatihin ng mama mo?" I asked her playfully.

"Maybe. Kapag sasaktan mo ako, magtago ka na kasi ha-hunting-in ka ni mama!"

Napailing ako, "You really are something."