I got a new routine from my daily life. At yung routine na yun, included na si Ethon.
Hindi pa din siya pumapalya sa paghatid at sundo sakin. Plus, gabi-gabi pa siyang tumatawag hanggang sa makatulog na 'ko. It feels like a dream come true, pero dahil feeling ko nga na nagbago na 'ko, hindi na ako makuntento dun kahit sobra-sobra na yung nangyayari sa naimagine ko. I'm becoming demanding.
Ilang linggo na rin kasi kaming ganoon lang, pero walang progress yung dating status ko. Zero pa din! Hindi lang pala ako nagiging demanding. Nagiging impatient na din, which I do not like. Dahil sa lahat ng meron ako, yung mahabang pasensya ko ang pinaka-proud na meron ako, tapos mawawala pa? No! It can't be!
“Uy,” Troy pulled my hair lightly, stopping my inner battle with myself, “Problema mo?” he asked when he saw my contorted face.
Ngumuso ako at hindi na nagdalawang isip pa na sabihin yung gumugulo sa isipan ko. Maybe he can do something about it. He can solve anything anyway.
“I'm getting impatient and demanding. Hindi naman ako ganito dati, di 'ba?” sabi ko.
Tinitigan niya ako nang matagal bago nagsalita, “How?” nagtatakang tanong niya.
I cupped my face as I propped my elbows on my desk, “Hindi pa kasi kami nagdi-date ni Ethon. I'm getting impatient for that, and I badly want to demand a date with him!” I whined.
Hindi agad nagrespond si Troy sa sinabi ko. Probably shocked at my sudden desire. Kahit ako, never kong naimagine na magkakaganito ako. Siguro ganito talaga kapag in love tapos narereciprocate yung love. But I wasn't sure about the last part though. Tss. Assuming na din yata ako!
“There's nothing wrong to ask him first for a date. But on the other thought, its better to wait. It's more memorable and ego-booster,” he said, emphasizing the last word.
I pouted, then I nodded, easily convinced.
Troy always knew the right thing. I knew it. Kaya nga proud akong best friend ko siya. Not because of the bragging rights, pero siya kasi ang adviser ko kapag naguguluhan ako sa isang bagay or hindi makapagdesisyon, parang ngayon. And he never fails me.
I was busy then enumerating good traits of him when he suddenly added, “Let's date”
Gulat akong napabaling sa kanya. At bumungad sakin yung infamous smirk nila. Suddenly, parang huminto yung pintig ng puso ko habang nagtititigan kami.
“A practice for your official date with Ethon,” patuloy niya nang hindi ako agad nakaimik.
I blinked several times. At nung nagsink-in na finally yung sinabi niya, hindi ko na napigilan pa ang abot tengang ngiti ko. Sure, it sounds weird. Sino ba naman ang nagpapractice para sa date? Pero para sakin, walang weird doon dahil si Troy naman ang kasama ko at alam kong magiging perfect ang date namin ni Ethon after the practice.
Naexcite tuloy ako bigla.
Enthusiastically at walang pag-aalinlangan, I nodded vigorously which made Troy chuckled. He then ruffled my hair. Magrereklamo na sana ako, pero inayos niya din naman kaya hindi na ko umimik pa.
“Clear whatever your schedule tomorrow. Sakin lang dapat ang buong araw mo bukas,” he stated.
Nilagay ko yung kamay ko sa tapat ng noo ko na parang sundalo habang ngiting-ngiti, “Yes, Sir!” I replied.
He didn't say about the details anymore though. Ang sabi niya lang, maaga akong gumising dahil maaga niya kong susunduin.
I informed Ethon last night na magiging busy ako today kaya hindi ko masasagot ang tawag niya, if ever na tatawag siya. He asked why, at sinabi ko naman na may gagawin kami ni Troy. Glad that he didn't probe anymore, kasi, ayokong magsinungaling dahil hindi ko naman pwedeng sabihin na 'magpapractice kaming magdate para perfeft yung first official date natin once niyaya mo 'ko’. Ano na lang iisipin niya nun?!
I yawned as I went downstairs. Hindi ko alam kung gaano kaaga ang plano ni Troy na sunduin ako kaya gumising na 'ko nang alas singko. Siguro naman walang nagdedate ng ganito kaaga no? But then I heard my doorbell rings. My eyes almost popped out from the socket upon hearing it. Kakagising ko lang at hindi pa ako nakakaligo! Though, I haven't seen who it was. I'm pretty sure its Troy dahil siya lang naman ang inaasahan ko ngayon.
“Good morning,” he greeted, pagkabukas ko ng gate.
Sinimangutan ko siya bago talikuran. Sumunod naman agad siya sakin at siya na rin ang nagsara ng gate at pinto ng bahay.
“Bakit sobrang aga mo?” tanong ko.
He shrugged and comfortably sat on the sofa. Ngiting-ngiti siya na parang natutuwang naabutan akong ganito na magulo ang buhok at amoy kama p, kahit hindi na bago sa kanya, dahil nakikita naman niya kong bagong gising kapag sa kanila ako natutulog. Actually, he had seen worse than my look now.
I shook my head.
“Take your time. We're not in a hurry,” sabi niya.
“Dapat lang! Ang aga aga pa kaya!” I retorted.
He chuckled, but didn't say anything anymore. Hindi ko din naman sinunod yung sinabi niyang 'take your time' dahil gutom na ako at naisip kong sabay na lang kaming magkakape sa labas.
Sobrang naexcite ako nung makita kong wala siyang kasamang driver. Buti naman at nataon na hindi siya tinamad ngayon na magdrive, dahil parang nakakahiya naman kay Kuya Joe kung malalaman niyang nagpapractice kaming magdate. At isa pa, practice date to kaya dapat lang na kaming dalawa lang. This should be our little secret.
“Where do you want to eat?” tanong niya.
I smiled and told him the name of the coffee shop. At dahil practice date ito, doon ko siya niyaya sa mamahaling coffee shop kung saan possible na magdate kami ni Ethon in the future. Hindi naman siya nagreklamo. Well, in fact, I didn't hear any complain from him when I ordered pricey food and coffee. Siguro expected na niya to. Though, I've never told him what my ideal date is, I think he already has an idea and he's prepared for it dahil kilalang kilala na niya ako.
As we happily finished our breakfast, Troy asked me then where to go next. At dahil gusto kong sulitin ang pagiging driver niya, I told him we should go to Tagaytay kahit na pwede namang sa malapit lang. Akala ko nga magrereklamo siya, but I was wrong. He just smiled and nodded at me pagkasabi ko ng place at hindi na nagdalawang isip na paandarin ang sasakyan.
The ride was not that long dahil maaga pa at wala pang masyadong sasakyan kaya hindi pa traffic. We went to palace in the sky pero lumipat kami sa picnic groove nang mabagot at doon na rin naglunch. Then, after resting a bit, pumunta naman kami sa zoo hanggang sa lumilim na para makapunta na sa sky ranch.
“This is what you're really aiming for, am I right?” tanong ni Troy nang makapasok na kami.
I smiled goofily at him as I clung on his arm. Hindi na ko sumagot pa at hinila na lang siya pupunta sa mga rides.
Simple lang naman akong tao, kaya simple lang din ang ideal date ko. Amusement park is my ideal venue at gusto ko pareho naming sasakyan lahat ng rides at ita-try lahat ng inooffer doon. Though magastos, hindi naman siguro ganun kamahal tulad ng gagastusin kung kakain sa mga first class restaurants. Memories matters for me the most!
“Oh my! Ang pangit ko dyan!” I almost screamed, pagkakita ko sa picture namin sa rollercoaster.
Troy laughed hard at kinuha pa talaga yung picture! “Remembrance,” he said. Kinurot ko siya sa braso at sinamaan ng tingin, pero tinawanan niya lang ulit ako at hindi ininda yung kurot ko. Then, he draped his arm on my shoulder and pulled me to one of the game booth. “Anong gusto mo sa mga yan?” tanong niya habang nakatingala sa mga malaking stuffed toys na nakasabit sa itaas ng booth.
Parang bulang nawala ang konting inis ko. Troy really knows how to tame me. My mood instantly changed as I looked at the big stuffed toys above with sparkling eyes.
Excitedly, tinuro ko yung white lion. Troy nodded confidently at parang sure na sure siyang makukuha yung lion nang magbayad siya at pumwesto agad sa mga target pagkaabot sa kanya ng pellet gun. I was not expecting anything though, dahil ayokong umaasa at madisappoint sa huli. But Troy proven me that he'd never disappoints me when he had hit all ten targets without a miss and gave me the white lion as his price while grinning triumphantly.
Yakap-yakap ko yung lion habang nakapila kami sa Ferris wheel. It will be our last ride and we intendedly made it our last stop just so we could watch the fireworks in good spot.
At dahil malamig sa Tagaytay, Troy bought us a couple jacket which I found cute. First time kong magsuot ng pangcouple at ang sarap pala sa feeling ng ganito. Now I know how it feels like to have the bragging right of having a boyfriend. Gets ko na ngayon yung mga taken.
I chuckled at the thought habang napapatingin ako kay Troy.
He was busy looking at our pictures on his phone when he felt my stares and met my gaze. “Bakit?” tanong niya.
Ngiting-ngiti ako habang umiiling kaya naman tinitigan niya ako nang matagal hanggang sa sagutin ko siya.
“Wala. Na-realize ko lang kung anong feeling ng may boyfriend,” I shrugged. His eyes stayed on me as he looked confused. My lips stretched more as I explained further dahil hindi ko din natiis, “Kulang nalang kasi magholding hands tayo para masabing magjowa talaga dahil sa couple jacket. Kaya feeling ko tuloy boyfriend kita which gave me an idea how does it feel like to have a boyfriend.”
Walang sabi-sabi, Troy suddenly held my hand and intertwined our fingers. At sakto naman na turn na naming sumakay, “Lubusin mo na,” he said then dragged me inside the booth.
Hindi ako agad nakapagreact sa sobrang gulat. Hila-hila niya ko hanggang sa magkatapat kaming naupo sa loob. At hindi na niya binitawan ang kamay ko kahit nakaupo na kami. Instead, kinuha niya sakin yung lion at pinaupo sa tabi niya saka hinawakan ang isa ko pang kamay na parang nagpe-pray over. Nga lang, imbis na nakayuko, titig na titig siya sakin.
Grabe ang kaba ko for the first time at hindi ko matake makipagtitigan sa kanya. Napayuko ako and just decided to stare at our entwined hands which I think wasn't a good idea dahil parang mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.
“You look nervous,” he commented.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. This is the second time we hold hands like this at hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit kumakabog ang dibdib ko. Siguro naninibago lang ako. Hindi naman kasi ako nakikipagholding hands. Shaking my weird feeling away, I flashed a smile as I opted to look at him.
Sakto naman na malapit na kami sa pinakatutok kaya mas nalibang pa ako sa pagtanaw sa ibaba. I was enjoying the view then, when all of a sudden my eyes caught the next booth that distracted me.
My eyes suddenly widened upon seeing a couple, kissing. Not just a smack but torrid kiss! I am an open minded person and seriously, hindi ako yung tipong naeeskandalo kapag nakakakita ng PDA. But I was caught off guard, dahil hindi ko inaasahan na makakakita ako ng ganun dito. It didn't occur to me na this place is actually perfect for that kind of kiss!
Biglang nagningning ang mga mata ko, while an idea flashed like a bulb light above my head. Mabilis kong binalingan si Troy at medyo nagulat pa ko nang madatnan ko siyang nakatitig pa rin sakin with unreadable expression. Binalewala ko iyon.
“Sabi mo, lubusin ko na di 'ba?” maingat na tanong ko.
His eyes narrowed on me, but nodded eventually.
My lips curved lopsidedly as I excitedly squeezed his hands, “Let's practice kissing, too!” I chortled.
I didn't expect him to be shocked. But his eyes widened and his lips parted slightly, “What?” he quickly asked as if he didn't hear me.
Pinisil ko ulit ang mga kamay niya saka inulit ang sinabi, “Let's practice kissing,” I said then pointed the booth where I saw the couple with a mischievous grin, “Like that!”
Suminghap si Troy bago tumingin ulit sakin nang hindi makapaniwala, whilst I was beaming at him expectantly. He stared at me intently na parang sinisiguro pa kung seryoso ba ako o hindi. Kaya naman mas lalo kong linakihan ang ngiti ko para mapakita sa kanyang walang bahid ng joke yun.
After a few while of studying me, he finally sighed, “Are you sure? But we have a problem..” he said while frowning.
“Ano?” tanong ko.
“I don't know how to kiss like that,” pag-amin niya.
I smirked at that.
Sa hindi malamang dahilan, I felt so happy that he doesn't know how to do french kiss, dahil ibig sabihin lang non, wala pa siyang nahahalikan ng ganon. So, it will be like hitting two birds in one stone. We're gonna teach each other.
“Then, consider this as your practice as well. Parang hitting two birds in one stone,” nangungumbisi ko.
“Why do you want to practice anyway?” he asked, looked hesitant about my favor.
“Dahil ayokong madisappoint si Ethon sa first real kiss namin,” mabilis na sagot ko.
Troy looked at me. His eyes glinted indicating that he's amused. Then, slowly, he nodded his head as if he's finally convinced at my reasoning.
He crouched down a bit para mailapit ang mukha sa akin. Wearing a smile, he ordered me to do the same, which I complied happily. Mabilis kong pinikit ang mga mata ko while our faces slowly nearing each other, inches by inches. I was holding my breath in anticipation until I stiffened as I felt his soft and warm lips touches mine.
Kasabay nang pagputok ng fireworks sa itaas, something explodes within me. And for a moment, I really felt my heart skipped a beat.