Better Than Imagined (AA #1)

12

Three weeks na since nagsimulang manligaw ulit si Ivo. It was like college all over again. Hatid-sundo niya ako. Nagde-date din kami madalas. Weirdly, magkasundo sila ni Gelo kaya kasama ko sya every time na nagba-bonding kami.

One time, the three of us went to Luneta Park. Napagkamalan kaming pamilya.

Right now, I'm here at restaurant in MOA with Ivo.

"Hindi ko alam kung paano nakakaya ni Theo na maging magkaibigan lang kayo. I mean, if I were him, I'd lose my mind," Ivo mentioned.

"Alam mo 'yon, nasa harap mo na pero hindi mo pa rin makuha. It's very frustrating," dagdag niya pa.

"Just shut up, Ivo. Theo and I are friends. Saka maybe it's his own way to move on," sabi ko.

As I've mentioned before, I sort of know how Theo feels. And it's not like I'm leading him on. Alam niyang hindi ko kayang suklian yung nararamdaman niya, and he respects that.

"Naisip ko lang naman. And I guess, even if he wanted to stay away from you, hindi niya pa rin magawa because of Gelo. That kid really loves you."

"And I love him, too," I smiled.

"Do you still wanna get married at 25?"

I nodded. When I graduated, I thought it's not possible anymore but that doesn't mean that I don't want it.

"Then, sagutin mo na ako so I can marry you right away," he joked.

"Wow. Paano kaya kung bastedin na lang kita?" tinaasan ko sya ng kilay.

"Grabe ka naman. You're hurting me," he acted like he's so hurt. He even faked his tears.

"Ang pangit mo!"

"We both know na cute ako sa paningin mo," pagyayabang niya.

Kailan pa naging mahangin si Ivo? Ito ba ang epekto ng states sa kanya?

"Kumain ka na nga lang diyan."

"Okay, ma'am."

We both resumed eating until we're full. After eating, we decided to go to the bay para maglakad-lakad.

We walked while holding hands. Ivo was smiling widely like he just hit a million jackpot in some gameshow.

"Picture tayo," yaya niya.

"Sige."

Nakisuyo kami sa isang college student na picturan kami sa may bay pati na rin do'n sa may heart. Natatawa nga ako kasi pulang-pula si ate nung lapitan sya ni Ivo. Tapos napasimangot sya nung nakita ako. Akala niya siguro interested si Ivo sa kanya.

She kept on looking at Ivo while she took our photos. I caught her a lot of times. Nung isang beses na nahuli nya akong nakatingin sa kanya, nag-iwas sya ng tingin at umirap. Nako po, obvious masyadong may crush sya kay Ivo!

"Ivo, crush ka niya," bulong ko.

"So?"

"Picturan ko kayo!" sabi ko.

"Why?" he's very confused now.

"Ate, ikaw naman dito. Give me your phone. I'll take your pictures as a thank you," sabi ko.

Agad namang binigay sa'kin ni ate ang phone niya. Sabi na nga ba!

Nakasimangot si Ivo sa una nilang picture. Ang layo niya rin!

"Ivo! Please, smile," I requested.

"But–"

"Okay, don't smile. Then, basted ka na!"