So.. third to the last chapter na. Wow. Kakastress.
Anyway, I'm very sorry kung ganito kaikli 'to. Short but sweet. And medyo mellow na since hindi ko rin kinaya ang kalandian nung Cortez sa 53. Pinaghahandaan ko na nang mabuti yung 55 kaya maikli 'to.
Bukas (June 21) ang birthday ni Andreau so ito na rin ang pabirthday ko hahaha
PASENSYA NA KUNG GANITO 'TO MGA BES. WALANG ANGST 'TO HA. Medyo bangag lang ako lately huhuhu and this isn't my best. Maybe ie-edit ko rin 'to someday huhuhu
Enjoy! :)
***
Chapter 54: The Right Partner
For the nth time today, I'm not in a fanfic.
If this were a normal day, my fangirl self would definitely be so giddy. Ilang beses ko na rin namang inasam na mangyari sa 'kin yung nakakakilig na scenes na nababasa ko sa books and fanfics. I'm kinda sucker for those scenes for my OTPs, so pwede bang mag-ilusyon na mangyari rin sa 'kin 'yon?
Hindi naman sa kulang ako sa kilig the past few weeks ha. Umapaw pa nga eh. I didn't ask that from him at all. Hello, nasa katinuan pa naman ako ano. At never kong nirequest na maranasan ang Flirty!Andreau. Nuh uh. Lagpas na sa daliri ko yung times na muntik na akong magcombust dahil sa mga pinaggagawa at pinagsasabi niya sa 'kin for the past three weeks. Seriously, I really have to talk to him about that. Kailangan niyang bawasan ang pagiging malandi or else hindi kakayanin nitong katinuan ko.
Gusto ko nang matapos 'to. I wanna go home. I wanna see him right now.
Is that too much to ask?
Apparently, the universe thought so. Yung inaasam kong fluffy scenes na mangyari sa 'kin? Kabaligtaran ang nangyari.
Kasi delayed ang flight namin.
Yep, I'm living inside a cliched fanfic hell.
Two hours delayed ang flight namin pabalik ng Manila. Two hours ang sinayang ko sa pagtunganga at pagpipigil ng inis. A tiny part inside me kinda expected this to happen.. pero nanalig ako na sa 'kin kakampi ang tadhana today at walang mangyayaring masama. Ibalato na sana sa 'kin 'tong araw na 'to, 'di ba? Ano ba naman yung magkaron ng himala at hindi madelay ang flight ng airline na 'to!?
Ugh. Nothing worth having comes easy talaga, ano?
(Kung nagawa kong kumalma, ibang usapan naman si Sir Edgar. Inaway niya yung airline representative nang wala siyang nakuhang sagot about sa definite time ng alis namin. Gagraduate rin kasi ang younger brother niya today at ayaw niyang mamiss 'yon. Same sentiment here, Sir.)
Anyway, Andreau didn't take the news well. Hindi man niya sinabi sa 'kin 'yon directly; naramdaman ko ang disappointment sa reply niyang It's okay, Zades. Two hours lang naman. May maabutan a pa naman siguro sa ceremony. Calm down, okay? Later :)
Akala niya madadaan niya ako sa emoji ha. Asa.
Thank goodness at mabilis lang lumipas ang two hours na paghihintay. Ibang klaseng kaba ang naramdaman ko nung, finally, nakasakay na kami sa eroplano. Plano ko talagang itulog na lang ang kaba at stress ko for the rest of the flight, but instead, natripan pa nitong utak ko na magthrowback ng mga kaganapan sa 'min ni Andreau for the past two years. Ayokong maging emotional sa ganitong oras, lalo na't si Sir Edgar ang katabi ko. Baka i-hot seat pa ako nito nang wala sa oras.
(Imagine my surprise noong bigla akong tinanong ni Sir Edgar kung tapos ba si Andreau sa pag-aasikaso ng university clearance niya. First time naming napag-usapan si Andreau no'n. Ang weird lang for me kasi he's always regarded me with professionalism and unlike my other professors, hindi siya masyadong nakikialam sa personal lives ng students niya. Nautal tuloy ako sa pagsagot sa kanya ugh.)
Kidding aside, ang drama at sobrang cheesy nito pero parang five years ago sa isang TV screen ko lang nakilala si Andreau Cortez, at himalang pinaiyak niya ako sa acting niya. No one makes Zade Pascual cry, so that says something.
Who would've thought I would fall in love with him five years later?
Who would've thought he would fall in love with me, too?
Aba, never kong inimagine na mangyayari yan.
But it did happen.
And I'm more than thankful for it.
A nudge on my shoulder made me realize I was already tearing up. Well, shit. Ayaw palang maging emotional ha? Ito na ba ang epekto ng kaba sa 'kin, nagiging iyakin ako?
"Hindi bagay sa 'yo ang umiiyak, Zade," narinig kong sabi ni Sir Edgar sa tabi. Pasimple ko siyang tinignan, at nagulat ako nang abutan niya ako ng isang pack ng tissue. I hesitated to receive it at first, but he practically shoved it to my hand a beat after. "Baka sabihin ni Andreau na pinahirapan ka namin nang bongga ah. Don't cry. You'll see him in two hours."
Two hours to go before the make or break time. Kakayanin ko kaya?
***
The drive to the campus was officially the longest one I've ever had in my life.
Kanina sa eroplano sobrang agitated na ako kasi ayaw kong malate, pero ngayong ilang minuto na lang ang agwat namin ni Andreau, parang gusto kong hilingin na sana, sana, bumagal ang oras.
Halos masuka na ako sa kakaisip sa gagawin ko kapag nakarating na ako sa campus. Triple shit, baka himatayin ako pag nakita ko siyang nakasablay. Grad pic pa nga lang napanganga na ako, what more kung sa personal pa, 'di ba? (Asa siya, 'di ko ginawang lockscreen yung picture niya. Kahit magmakaawa siya.. still a big NO.)
I was well aware na napansin ng professors ko ang biglang katahimikan ko, at sobrang thank you sa kanila at hindi na nila ako inasar pa. Lalo na si Sir Edgar, na hinihintay kong hiritan ako ng tissue jokes or anything. Buti na lang at nagkwentuhan lang sila about sa mga nakakatawang happenings ng trip namin.
Feel na feel ko ang pagtulala sa may bintana nang biglang magvibrate ang phone na nasa bulsa ko. I jumped a bit in surprise.
From: Kesh
Girl wru na. Malapit na matapos???
To Kesh:
OTW na! 20 mins tops i guess?
May maaabutan pa ba ako?
Paliparin na raw yang sasakyan niyo sabi ni Mars
Mukhang wala na?? Malapit na talaga 'tong matapos!
Seryoso ba? Kaunti na lang swear!
Naku basta makarating ka rito okay na!
He's really waiting for you, girl.
Maybe it was just my nerves talking, pero parang nakuha ko ang hinihiling ko at medyo bumagal nga ang oras nang makapasok kami sa University Avenue. All I could hear was the sound of my heart thumping wildly inside my chest.
From two years of subtle chasing and hidden (and stubborn, I might add) feelings, finally, we're down to minutes.
Wala nang thesis or out of town trips na gagambala.
At last, the right timing's finally on our side.
I only realized I was holding my breath when the car pulled over. Kulang na lang tumalon ako palabas ng van dahil sa sobrang excitement. O kaba. O nagkahalo-halo na. May mini-struggle nga lang bago ako makapunta sa goal ko since medyo malayo sa ceremony grounds ang pinagparkan ng van. No choice ako kundi tumakbo para lang makaabot sa recessional or whatever.
My goodness, this isn't a fanfic, universe!!
Once I got out of the van, pinuntahan ko si Sir Edgar na nakaupo sa may front seat. "Sir, kukunin ko na lang po later yung mga gamit ko. Okay lang po ba? I really nee--"
"Go ahead, Zade. Sila na bahala sa gamit mo," he replied with a rare smile. That weirded me out a bit. Bihira ang kasi siyang ngumiti. Oh well, at least he's in a good mood.
"Thank you po talaga, Sir! Thank you!" Pasalamat siya at nakaupo siya sa loob ng sasakyan, kundi nakatikim siya ng isang malaking bear hug mula sa 'kin. Sorry na, adrenaline rush.
Bago ako tumakbo papunta sa ceremony grounds, may pahabol na bilin sa 'kin ni Sir Edgar.
"Tell your boyfriend we said congratulations."
Tumalon naman ang puso ko do'n. Boyfriend, huh.
Depende pa rin yan kung mapapa-wow niya ako sa speech niya.
***
Like I've said before, Andreau Cortez is my favorite book. Siya yung libro na kabisado ko kahit pagbalig-baligtarin man ang orientation, i-rearrange man ang chapters o kahit i-translate pa sa ibang language. At the same time, siya rin yung libro na lagi akong ginugulat kasi every time na binabasa ko siya, may malalaman akong bago. Laging why haven't I noticed before? Moment kapag siya na ang usapan.
He's been writing that book by his lonesome for a long time now. I give him that, buhay naman niya kasi 'yon at taga-basa lang ako. Taga-comment.
But today, this particular Moment, this life changing moment, deserves a new chapter in his book.
Andreau's not going to write that chapter, or the future chapters, alone anymore.
Because finally, I'm here. And we're going to write it together.
Right Timing. Right Moment. Right Partner.
Goodness, we're like a Dream Team here. We're gonna make a bestseller together.
And our first chapter looked like this.
*
Actually, hindi ko na maalala ang minor details bago mangyari ang Moment namin ni Andreau. Ang naaalala ko na lang ay sobrang sakit ng legs ko sa pagtakbo (kasi hello, ang layo rin no'n), basang-basa ng pawis ang likod ko, at halos bumigay na ang lungs ko sa sobrang hingal. I know, that wasn't my glamorous moment. Sana man lang may time ako para makapag-ayos, ano!
Pinadali naman ng universe sa 'kin ang mga ganap kasi madali ko lang nahanap ang pwesto nina Ms. Marisse. Saktong recessional na ng graduates noong makarating ako, at sobrang gulo na sa grounds. Buti naisipan nina Kesh at Dan na magtatalon na parang mga sira ulo para makita ko kung saan silang banda. With aching legs, I slowly walked towards their place as I plucked my phone off my pocket. Itetext ko na sana si Andreau na dito na lang kami magkita sa pwesto nina Ms. Marisse. As in ita-type ko pa lang yung passcode ko nang mangyari na yung Moment.
Ni hindi man lang ako nakapagpunas ng pawis.
"Zades!" I heard a voice, a very distinct, deep voice called me from my side. Walang binatbat ang ilang dosenang Whatsapp voice messages sa totoong boses niya. That alone made my tired legs wobbly. Paano pa kaya kung lumingon ako sa kanya?
I turned my head slowly to my right, eyes looking at the ground. Hindi pa ako prepared na makita siya na nakasuot ng sablay at barong. Lord, masusurvive ko ba 'to? Inaatake na ata ako sa puso sa sobrang kaba.
My god naman, self. I love the man, faults and all, instead of an idea. I'm way past that. Bakit ba hindi ko na lang siya tignan nang diretso?
So I did that. My eyes darted to his face in an instant. The thing that surprised me was, my heart didn't skip a bit when I saw him, but I felt warm and happy when I saw his face.
Ang Mysterious Smile na naman ang bumungad sa 'kin, as if saying, Welcome home, Zades.
Pero nung tinignan ko na siya nang buo, as in from top to bottom, natuyo lalo ang lalamunan ko.
I felt like he attacked me by his presence. Hoy Francisco, life is not a photoshoot everyday!!
My goodness, I have no words. The photo he'd sent me didn't give any justice. Mas malala nga sa personal. Ito pala yung meaning ng life vs. art. Shit, kung anu-ano na ang naiisip ko rito. Wala na atang umaakyat na dugo sa utak ko.
And to top it all, he just stared at me with that warmth in his eyes, and that smile.
I almost became a puddle of goo.
"Wag ka ngang magmodel dito. Nakakahiya sa ibang tao," lang ang nasabi ko nung palakad siya papunta sa 'kin. Well, very eloquent of you, Zades. Sa dami ng pwede mong sabihin ayan pa talaga ang sinabi mo!? Ni hindi man lang Congratulations o Shit ang hot mo?? What's wrong with you!?
"Hi," he said, almost breathless, standing right in front of me. A shiver ran down my spine at the way he said my full name; it's like nothing I've ever heard before in my life. Parang kahapon lang nung hinampas ko siya ng backpack ko kasi nakalimutan niya ang pangalan ko. Tapos ngayon...
My heartbeat sped up as I breathe faster, tears filling my eyes. Ito na talaga 'yon. At last.
Andreau took two steps closer, and his hands slipped upward from my shoulders until he cradled my face.
"Scheherazade Pascual," he said, barely audible. Andreau let out a deep breath and then he smiled at me again, broader and clearer than maybe I've ever seen him smile. "I love you."
It wasn't the three words that shook me. Pinaramdam niya sa 'kin ang feelings niya kahit tatlong linggo kaming hindi nagkita. He's more of an action guy talaga so I don't blame him. Narealize ko lang 'yon noong naliwanagan na ako.
The thing that made my heart stop was the way he said it.
It sounded like he's been saying it for a long time. The weight he put on the words, the way it rolled out of his lips.. everything. I guess he's been saying that in his head for God knows how long.. and this was the very first time he said it out loud.
He wanted me to hear it first.
That's the top reason why I love him: he loves me too.
I wondered if he could feel my heart thrumming with how we're flushed together like this, but as I looked at him, his eyes sparkling as he kept gazing at me with this smile of his. It's not mysterious for me anymore, because I know he only smiles like that for me.
At that moment, I didn't care about anything at all.
His arms wrapped around my waist and hauled me upward and even closer to his chest. Puro lunok na lang ang nagawa ko do'n. "That said.." his eyes darted down my lips, as if he's tracing it with his stare. "I'm going to kiss you now."
He's not asking for permission. That voice was heavily masked with intent.. And who am I to deny him that?
I felt his touch grew firmer, one of his thumbs caressed my jaw and tilted my chin upward; then his lips were pressed against mine. I froze, unable to move, barely able to process the feel of his lips. He teased just a little bit, and that's all I needed to melt in this kiss.
It was a sweet kiss, a definitely great kiss. I was surprised; unlike our previous kisses, it didn't knock either one of us off our feet. If anything, it rooted us in place. It melded us together.
This was different because it was more. In this kiss we poured everything we haven't been saying, all those tiny moments between us had been building up to now. It was completely chaste and incredibly hot all at the same time. I felt it down to the tips of my toes.
With a final, soft brush of his lips along mine, Andreau pulled away. I opened my eyes, slowly removing the tight grip I had on his barong, and now I could see the certainty in his eyes, the hope, the love... and he meant it very much. Moments passed before finally, he rested his forehead against mine, and all I could hear was my heart in my ears and our panting.
I didn't hear him say my name the first time. I was busy staring at the shape of his lips and the way they moved than on the words he was saying. "I'm sorry what?"
"I said.. Isn't there something you want to say?"
"Uhhm.. congratulations?"
Andreau huffed and straightened, and for a second I thought he was mad, but the tiny smirk on his lips gave it away. "I just told you I love you. Don't you want to return the favor?"
Oh god. This.. ass. "Alam mo nakakairita ka talaga. Sinabi ko na 'yon before ayoko na ulitin."
"You still love me a lot?"
I laughed under my breath and threaded my fingers through his hair. "Yeah. I do."
"Yeah?" An idiork smile formed on his face.
"Mabaho ka! Fine, I love you. Happy?"
He grinned. "I know."
Before Andreau could lean in for another kiss (yes, it's a kiss now. I'm definitely sure), I noticed that everyone, I mean everyone was looking at us. Several people I didn't know were laughing amongst each other. Some may have noticed it was Andreau, and got their phones out to capture the Moment. Mas malala pa yung reaction nina Ms. Marisse nung napatingin ako sa kanila. Si Ms. Marisse.. Nakanganga. Si Kesh.. nagtakip ang mga mata. Si Mars ewan ko kung in shock na nakanganga at umiiyak. Si Dan nga lang ang may matinong reaction eh, todo smile sabay two thumbs up pa sa 'ming dalawa.
Oh my god. Nakakahiya.
Andreau must've noticed my discomfort so he gripped my arm lightly. "Everyone's watching us, huh?" Ni hindi na niya nilingon ang mga tao sa paligid namin.
"Yep."
"At least we gave them a hell of a show."
Kahit nanlalambot pa rin ako, sinuntok ko siya sa tiyan. "Sobrang baho mo nakakainis ka."
**********
If you caught the Star Wars reference, e 'di ikaw na.
Thank you for reading! Sana napasaya ka nito kahit paano. See you sa speech ni Andreau! :)