KAYLE
The three of us are now in the rooftop.
Me. Cal. Logan.
It's been a day. At alam kong kailangan na nilang mag-usap. Ayokong dumating sa puntong masisira na talaga ang pagkakaibigan nila.
"Bro," panimula ni Cal.
Nakaupo lang ako sa tabi ng railing, nakatalikod sa kanila habang nakikinig sa pag-uusap nila.
"I know what your reason is," Logan said. "Wade told me."
Sinabi ko kasi kay Cielo. Malamang sinabi rin nun kay Wade.
"My apologies," sabi ni Cal.
Hindi ko sila nakikita pero alam kong magkaharap silang dalawa ngayon. Ayoko na sanang sumama pero alam kong kailangan, ako ang rason ng lahat ng ito.
"Sorry rin."
Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Logan.
I was expecting a fist fight, honestly.
Napalingon ako sa kanila at nakitang nag-fist bump ang dalawa.
"I know, right from the start, that me feelings were wrong," sabi ni Logan. "I should've told Kayle earlier, and now it's too late."
"I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't know."
"Nah," umiling siya. "Even if you knew, you'd still end up with Cal."
"Sorry bro," sabi ni Cal.
Logan chuckled. "It's okay. You're my friend, bro. Hindi kita dapat tinalo."
Cal nod. "Sup for a hug?" he laughed and spread his arms.
Logan laughed too and stole a hug.
"Eew," sabi ko.
Bigla naman pinatong ni Cal ang braso niya sa balikat ni Logan at binatukan ito.
"Ouch!"
Cal laughed which made me laugh too. Para lang silang mga bata.
Tiningnan naman ng seryoso ni Logan si Cal. "Just promise me bro, you won't let Kayle get hurt."
"I promise," Cal answered and smiled.
Tumingin si Logan kay Cal at nagsalita, "Because if you do, I won't have second thoughts on getting her away from you." He sounded serious, but he smiled as if he was only teasing Cal.
Cal smirked and playfully punched Logan's arm. "You won't, ever."
I sighed as I looked at them.
Buti na lang at maayos na sila.
***
The day went pretty well.
Nagkasama na rin kaming anim, pagkatapos ng ilang araw. Masyado na kaming naging busy.
As a treat, napagdesisyunan ng apat na kumain kami sa labas.
Pumunta kami sa isang restau at nag-dinner ng sabay.
Puro kwentuhan at tawanan, isama na ang asaran kina Wade at Cielo.
"What do we know, Ciel," panimula ko. "The first time we met Wade, puro nakaw-tingin ka lang. Look at the two of you now," sabi ko.
Namula naman siya.
"Sis naman."
I laughed and felt Cal's arms around me. "Eh totoo naman."
Wade chuckled. "I heard that story too."
Cal excused himself for a while to the restrooms.
"Tristan," tawag ko.
"Kaaayle! I miss youuu!" sigaw niya at nagpapadyak-padyak.
I laughed. "I missed you too. Kamusta? Ilang araw rin tayong hindi nagkita."
"Okay lang naman," sagot niya at biglang nag-ring ang phone niya. "One of my girls," naiinis niyang sabi. "Ang kulit," reklamo niya at nag-excuse saglit.
I laughed. "Okay nga."
Nakita ko naman lumapit sa akin si Logan.
"Kayle," tawag niya.
"Yes?" sagot ko.
"I know you're happy with Cal," sabi niya.
Agad ko siyang niyakap. "Thanks Logan, for everything," then I let go. "Sa mga payo mo, and for being there. Most specially for letting me and Cal be," sabi ko.
Marami na rin siyang ginawa para sa akin.
Am I too dumb to not notice he likes me?
Kahit nung nasa Baguio pa kami, gusto niya na ako. Hindi ko lang napapansin.
"I'm sorry Logan, you don't deserve to be hurt."
"It's how things go, Kayle, we don't always win them out," he said. "I'm happy I met you."
I smiled. "Me too."
"Friends?" he offered his hand.
I took it and answered. "Friends."
The night ended up well.
And I can't keep off my smile with the fact that our monthsary is just a day away.
On the way home, Cal's phone rang.
"Pakisagot nga doll," sabi niya habang busy sa paglingon sa mga sasakyan sa paligid.
"Okay," sagot ko at kinuha ito.
Unknown number.
"Hello? Good evening po," bati ko.
"Mr. Calibre Terrence Aragon?" tanong ng babae sa kabilang linya. Hindi ko matukoy kung kaninong boses 'to pero tingin ko nasa mid-30's na siya.
"Uhm, yes. This is his girl. Ano pong kailangan nila?"
"Oh okay, sorry to interrupt ma'am."
"It's okay."
"We just want to inform him that he's in," masayang sabi nito.
"In?" kumunot ang noo ko.
"Yes, sa publishing company po namin. Kinuha na po siya. We'll just contact him for more details."
Cal mouthed, "I'll explain later."
I nod and smiled, "Okay po, thank you." Then I hung up.
"Ano 'yon?" baling ko kay Cal.
"A publishing company," he smiled. "I wanted to be a writer there, it's a popular company. Kaya nagpasa ako ng poetry ko, is it okay?"
I immediately smiled. "Of course. But tell me before taking risks next time okay?"
He smiled back. "Yes. Thanks doll."
I sighed and smiled as we pass the sidewalk. I'm happy for him, he's slowly reaching his dreams, just like me.
***
The following day...
"Happy 1st Monthsary, doll," I read as my eyes widened on the lettering on my wall painted with sky blue.
Balloons float over my ceiling, may mga petals din sa sahig.
Slowly, I got off my bed.
Nakahawak ang dalawang kamay ko sa bibig ko, ang ganda ng ginawa ni Cal.
And slowly, Your Song by Mayday Parade played.
My room's door opened, revealing Cal, smiling at me with a bouquet of blue roses in hand. He handed it to me with three boxes of chocolates, "para I love you", as he said.
"Do you like it?"
"I do love it," sagot ko at niyakap siya ng mahigpit. "Thank you Cal."
"Happy monthsary, bestfriend," he said.
"Happy monthsary, boyfriend," I replied.
Everything felt like magic, and we slowly danced. Kahit naka-pajamas lang ako non, hindi ko na pinansin, ang mahala ay itong pangyayaring 'to sa buhay namin ni Cal na kailan pa man ay hindi ko makakalimutan.
"Get dressed, we're going somewhere," sabi niya.
"Where?" excited kong tanong.
"We'll visit Jaycee," he smiled. "Mind celebrating this day with them?"
I jumped up and down, masyadong akong hyper ngayong araw at natawa na lang si Cal.
"Sure, I'd love to!"
I quickly fixed myself and we drove to the orphanage.
Kinausap na pala ni Cal sina sister kaya gumawa sila ng isang party, para sa amin at para sa mga bata.
"Ate! Kuya!" nakita kong tumatakbo si Jaycee papalapit sa amin.
"Jaycee!" masaya kong tawag.
Agad naman niya kaming niyakap. "Masaya po ako at bumalik kayo."
"Oo naman, nag-promise si ate 'di ba?" sabi ko.
Ngumiti naman siya at hinila kami papunta sa mga batang naglaro at niyaya kaming sumama.
And we did.
Seeing them smile is priceless.
I'm really happy I met them.
Naglaro kami kasama sila, kami rin ang kumuha ng mga pagkain nila. I thought of this day's happiness as making the kids happy, rather than celebrating our monthsary.
"I love you," Cal whispered.
But of course, masaya rin ako na kasama ko si Cal. Isang buwan na kami.
"It's already a month. Let's make it a year," I winked.
"Why not?" he smirked.
So there, the day ended and he told me...
"Hindi pa tapos."
We're driving home when took a curve.
"Saan tayo puppunta?"
We drive on a high way, tanging mga puno na lang, gumagabi na rin.
He pulled over the side, opened the car's door and led me outside.
Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at naglakad kami sa isang daan papunta sa mga puno na hindi ko alam na mayroon pala.
He brushed the bushes to the side, and we reached an enchanting place.
"I found this place when I felt alone during those days," he said, pertaining to the days when he had an amnesia.
I held my breath for a moment. It's so beautiful.
We are over-looking the city. And the place is full of fireflies and small light bulbs of blue and white. There is a circular platform in the middle, where a table set for two is on top. The place is decorated with blue balloons and white setting of table sheets and curtains.
Bigla akong naluha.
"Ang ganda."
"Tara," hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at naglakad na kami papunta sa gitna.
We ate dinner together, and he didn't take his eyes off me all this time.
I know I felt this a lot of time with him, but I can't help but blush.
"Thank you so much, Cal. This is the best day."
He smiled. "Anything for my princess."
After dinner, he made me turn around, so I did.
Then I felt him locked me a necklace.
I looked at it.
A silver necklace with a heart pendant that has a gem inside, that spells my name and wires of perfectly arranged metal are criss-crossed around it. It's sparkling.
Bigla akong naiyak at niyakap siya. "Salamat Cal. Salamat, I don't know what else to say."
He smiled and hugged me tighter.
"I haven't done much yet for a precious girl like you. We'll make it 'til anniversary, I promise."
I rested my head on his chest as we slowly swayed.
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