Last night was really unexceptional. Talagang hulog na hulog na'ko kay Juan. Naalala ko yung sinabi niya sa'kin kagabi, My priority right now is you baby. To take care of you just like what I promised to your Dad. That I'll give you everything within me and make sure you're named after every word I speak. Hay nako. My heart.
It's been almost two years since I felt this feeling. Yung gigising ka sa umaga with butterflies swirling inside your stomach. Yung sobrang ganda lang ng araw mo ngayon. Hindi ma-iexplain.
"Ang aga ng may manliligaw ah." Ngising bungad sakin ng Ate ko when I walked in the dining area to join them for breakfast.
Pabiro akong umirap sa kanya at lumapit kila Mama at Papa para halikan sila sa pisngi. After that, sumali na'ko sa hapag, taking a seat beside Mom.
"Susunduin ka ba ni Juan?" Tanong ni Daddy sakin after I prayed and did the sign of the cross.
"Yes Dad." I answered while giving him a soft smile.
"Mabuti. I-uuwi ka rin ba niya?" he asks again at tumango naman ulit ako. "Opo."
Juan told me last night that he'll fetch me today going to school that's why maaga ako ngayon. I can't wait to see him too.
"Akala ko talaga kagabi na yung pag-uusap niyo ni Juan ay hindi maganda" Salita ni Mama kay Daddy while they eat their food.
I saw Dad laughs at sumimangot ako sa kanya. Lalong-lalo na kaya ako. I cried after Juan told me na it was all just a joke. Kasi, I really thought na hindi pinayagan ni Dad si Juan because of their expressions towards me. I was thinking last night na and then what? What will happen paghindi nanligaw si Juan saken? Ano nang mangyayari? Ano na?
"Ang gagaling niyong actors! Naniwala talaga ako sa inyo Pa, lalo na po ikaw." I told him while putting a rice on my plate and ulam din.
"Gusto ko na ngang tumawa sa itsura mo kagabi 'Nak. Anlapit mo ng umiyak do'n" Asar ni Daddy sakin na natatawa pa rin.
"Kayo naman kasi e. May pa prank-prank pa kayo." I pout. "but, what did you and Juan talked pala Pa?"
"Madami. Kinuwento kita kung ano kang bata ka, yung pinagdaanan mo at ano matatanggap niya pagpina-iyak ka niyan."
"Sinabi mo ba kay Juan Dad yung tungkol kay ano..." Ate butt in at umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya. Pumunta naman ang mata ko kay Dad, anticipating for his answer.
"Yung tungkol kay Sequera?" tanong ni Papa kay Ate at tumango naman si Ate. "Yup."
"Oo, kinuwento ko kay Juan yon. Nagulat nga yung bata na yon kasi hindi niya daw alam. Tapos, sabi niya, kilala niya raw si Sequera.."
"What? You didn't tell Juan?" Mulat na tanong ni Ate sakin at nagulat din ako when Dad mentioned na kilala pala ni Juan si Joshua. What?
"Ha? He knows Joshua?" Surpresa kong tanong kay Papa and he looked at me with creased forehead.
"Hindi mo alam?"
"Hindi. He never mentions na kilala niya po si Joshua." I say na nakakunot din yung noo ko.
"Pa'no niya naman mababanggit sa'yo yon e hindi mo nga rin binanggit sa kanya yung tungkol sa inyo ni Joshua. You should've told him." Sambit ni Ate sakin.
"E, he didn't ask din naman tapos I completely forgot na rin about Joshua. Matagal na yon. It's in the past now." I huff while rolling my eyes.
The real name of my Katipunan friend, Bubble, is Joshua de Sequera. He studies at Benilde, 3rd year and he's an athlete too. Only though, he plays Volleyball sa NCAA. I call him my Katipunan friend is because madalas siya nasa Katipunan instead of Taft, most of his friends daw kasi are from Katipunan.
Actually, I don't consider him as my friend na after what happened. He is now just a person na kilala ko na lang kasi sino bang gusto makipagkaibigan and just act like nothing happened between the both of you? Wala diba? I still deserve an explanation on why he left though. But then, I think, wala talaga e. Kahit closure, wala.
Hindi ko na rin hinihintay yan. I've waited long enough. And I guess, sakto na yon. Wala rin akong hinanakit sa kanya or grudges against him. My parents taught me na pagbinato ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng tinapay. Huwag kang maghiganti and just remember, everything happens for a reason.
Tanggap ko na rin na I'm not really worth of his explanation. And it's okay. I'm okay. Basta, kung masaya siya sa ginawa niya, edi I'm happy for him too. It's not my loss because I know I deserve better. And I'm pretty sure it's Juan.
After we had our breakfast, my parents went to their work and sumama si Ate sa kanila and that left me here, waiting for Juan. It's still 7:40 am, and Juan will arrive pa at 8.
I took the time to fix myself and when I was looking myself on the mirror, I realized that I haven't exercise or mag-gym since the past 2 weeks. Lagi na lang akong kain ng kain and feel ko na rin na I'm bloated now and that I gained weight.
I think I'm gonna go gym mamaya. I'll ask Erica later na lang to come with me because I've been missing her so much. Hindi na kami masyado nagkikita at nag-uusap but that's not new to us. Sanay na kami. We could go for a week without seeing or talking to each other pero our friendship will still remains. Same pa rin yung pakikitungo namin sa isa't isa and that's what I love about our friendship. Walang nagbabago. Still, one call away with each other.
My phone started ringing and pagtingin ko sa screen, Juan's calling in which I immediately answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey Eva, I'm here na.."
"Okay sige. Just wait in your car na lang. I'll be outside in a minute"
"Okay.. see you"
I looked at myself one more time in our full-length body mirror before I hang my sling bag unto my shoulder and picked up my duffle bag sa couch which has my PE attire and shoes.
Lumabas na'ko ng bahay, going outside of our gate at nakita ko ang sasakyan ni Juan nakapark na sa labas.
I walk towards and opened the door of the front seat.
"Goodmorning baby.." Juan greeted me and I got surprised when he was holding out a red Tulip flower with a small card attached to it and his other hand also was taking a video. I guess.
"Aww" I sheepishly smiled at him as my heart melted. I climbed inside and went near him to give him a hug and a light kiss on his cheek. "Good morning too"
Tinanggap ko yung single-Tulip flower from him and opened the card para basahin kung ano yung nakasulat sa loob.
Hi baby, I'm so happy and thankful to God for having you in my life. I hope you'll have a nice day today. *insert a flying kiss emoji* Haha..
-your juan and only Gerardo.
"You're so sweet..." I aww-ed at him again while giving him a cheeky smile. "Valentine's Day ba ngayon?" I laugh.
"No but when I'm with you, everyday feels like a Valentine's Day." he says before giving me a wink.
I rolled my eyes and kunware hindi ako kinilig. Hindi talaga. Hay nako. Juan and his words will always leave me smiling like an idiot...
"By the way, did you know na Tulip is my favorite flower?" I asked with a tone na parang nag t-trivia ako sa kanya.
"Yeah. Your Dad told me about it." Ngisi niyang sagot and I just mentally shook my head na lang at the thought, hay nako, si Daddy talaga. Ano pa kaya pinagsasabi ni Dad sa kanya? E, favorite flower ko nga sinabi nya kay Juan, ano pa kaya yung iba?
Juan's car rev to life at papunta na kami ngayon ng UP Diliman. We were just talking about what will happen to our day today at balak ko sanang yayain siyang maggym but then I really want to see and be with Erica. I've got many chikas to tell her and so is she. And maybe, some other time na lang na I'll invite Juan.
"Babe, let's eat after your class ah. I'll fetch you." Said Juan and bumusangot ako sa kanya as my arms folded. "Lagi na lang tayo kain ng kain ah. Pinapataba mo na'ko."
Kakasabi ko lang na mag g-gym ako mamaya tapos now, kakain naman uli kami.
Tumawa si Juan. "Hindi ka naman tumataba ah. I don't think you gained weight."
"Ang taba-taba ko na kaya! Ang laki-laki na ng cheeks and tummy ko" Giit ko sa kanya and squishes my own cheeks because ang taba na talaga as in.
"Feel mo lang yan. But you didn't talaga. Pero, we could go gym naman. I can be your gym buddy"
"....or pwede rin forever buddy" pahabol pa niya habang pinagtaas-baba niya yung kilay niya as he glanced at me then his eyes back to the road.
This guy talaga.... Pero, I said 'no' pa rin. I'll focus talaga muna on my body right now especially next week na yung Red Carpet. I want to feel comfortable and good sa dress na pipiliin at isusuot ko and for sure, hindi naman ako makakapaggym starting next week kasi it's our finals week. It's going to be one hell week and I don't have time for that.
After Erica and I's classes, which ended at 5, we met up and dumeretso na sa gym kagad na just around QC lang. And I was glad nang pumayag siyang samahan ako. (Told you she's one call away). Kaya the moment, na nagkasama kami, kinuwento ko kagad sa kanya nung nangyari kahapon and nanliligaw si Juan sakin.
"So, nagkiss na kayo?" Erica asked while smiling wickedly at me when we're on our way sa gym locker area so I could put my unnecessary things.
"Gaga, of course not.." Irap ko and stopped in my designated locker.
"Aba...malay ko ba. Kami nga ni Jason e nung hindi pa kami, we kissed already."
Napailing na lamang ako kay Erica and eto talagang babaeng 'to, ang landi! Malaking implywensiya talaga at buti hindi pa ako nahahawa sa kanya. Hay.
After I put my things and locked it after, nagsimula na kaming maglakad papasok sa gym area and there were only a few people inside kasi maaga pa. It's still 6 and usually mga 7 or 8 yung mga taong pumupunta dito.
Erica and I did our own thing and I started off by using treadmill habang siya naman ay nasa dumbells doing squats at the same time.
Tumatakbo lang ako sa treadmill for just half an hour without stopping and after that, I did the planks for my abdominal core and side cores for a total of 15 minutes. After doing planks, nagdumbells na'ko kasabay ng squat, which were followed by curl ups, push ups, bicycle crunches and reverse crunches. And with that, nagtreadmill naman uli ako for the last time for another 30 minutes na naman.
"Done na'ko" Erica said as she came near me habang pinupunasan niya ang pawis niya with her towel.
Tinigil ko na rin ang pagt-treadmill and that I am done too.
"Dito ka na ba maliligo?" she asked at umiling ako, "Nope. Sa bahay na'ko maliligo. Magch-change lang ako ng top. Ikaw?"
"Same."
Pumunta na kami sa locker area to get our extra clothes, and pumasok na sa gym bathroom para magbihis. I took off my sports bra and pinalitan iyon ng 'natural' bra and put on a loose v-neck shirt. Hindi na'ko nagbihis ng shorts at lumabas na rin kami.
My phone beeps and nagtext si Juan.
Text Message Notification
Juan GDL - babe, i'm on my way • 2s
"Naks naman... maypababe-babe na" Erica teased as I caught her looking on my phone and I immediately flipped my phone.
"Stop" Tawa ko saka umirap. Lakas talaga mang-asar!
"Sus... anyways, susunduin ka ni Juan?"
"Oo. Papunta na siya"
"Iba talaga.."
Lumabas na kami sa bathroom and head down to the lobby with our things. Si Erica ay nagpaalam na habang ako naman ay naiwan dito sa lobby. I busied myself with my phone waiting for Juan and suddenly, I realized na hindi ko pala naisuli yung airpods ni Erica.
So, I get up from my seat and nagbabasakaling maabutan ko siya so I could return her airpods but then bigla na lang ako napatigil when a group of guys entered and one of which is yung lalakeng pinag-usapan lang namin ng pamilya ko kaninang umaga.
Yes. Si Joshua de Sequera.
—
That is Joshua de Sequera.