For the following days, Sebastian became busy applying for scholarships. I already proposed about his scholarship to my parents and as I expected, they agreed. Some Non Governmental Organizations already messaged him for his scholarship and a lot of them accepted him.
"Do you think crocheting is a good business idea?" He suddenly asked one afternoon we hangout in his apartment.
"Well, in my own perspective, crochet is one of the most precious gift to give someone you love. Kasi crocheting takes time so it requires willingness and a lot of efforts. Plus, crochet is for a lifetime. Compared to a real flower, it will last forever." I explained. For me, crochet flowers are better than the real ones because of the effort. "However, it's pricey ah. So if you'll sell, don't sell it on a low price especially if it's a huge stuff."
"I know how to crochet." I looked at him. The side of my lips rose up. "I learned it due to my curiosity back when I'm not that busy yet." He shrugged.
"Wow, you're so talented naman pala." I nodded and leered. "Paano n'yan 'yan? You're in med school na. How are you going to manage your time? You'll be busier now." I asked.
He sighed. "I will manage my time, love. I need to double or even triple my time just to make for a living." My eyes softened.
"You don't need to go through it alone, you know. We're here for you. We are here to help you, Sebby." He just smiled and pinched my cheeks.
The next day, Jian and I went on his rented house. He will start selling breakfast now. As we arrived, maayos na ang lahat. Nakalabas na rin ang paninda. And in my surprise, a lot of people are buying na.
"Let's help him, Ji." I whispered to my brother who moved quickly.
Tumabi ako kay Sebastian. Inasikaso ko ang ilang mga bumibili at kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay karamihan sa kanila ay mga may anak na.
"Champorado po?" I asked to that one girl, she shook her head. "Oh, the spaghetti?" I said, feeling embarrassed.
Habang lumiliwanag ay mas dumarami pa ang customers n'ya. Hindi na namin alam kung sino-sino ang uunahin naming pagbentahan.
"Pasensya na po. Ubos na." Nahihiya ring ani Sebastian nang may bumibili pa pero wala ng laman ang mga kaserola. "Mamaya po, meryenda naman."
"Patok pala ang luto ng bff ko." Dramatikong ani Jian at napahawak pa sa dibdib. Nagtangka s'yang pabirong yayakap sana sa kaniya pero mabilis na umiwas si Sebastian.
"Bro, can you please stop? It's disgusting." May pandidiri sa tono n'ya.
Hindi ko alam kung tatawa ba ako sa kanila o ano kung kaya naman ipinasok ko na lang muna ang mga kaserola at ibang kagamitan.
Nakita ko na pinagtutulungan nila ni Jian na buhatin yung lamesang ginamit. Sebastian looks tired and wala pang tulog. I knew it. This kind of life is going to be hard for him. Tagaktak ang pawis n'ya sa noo at basa na rin ang likod n'ya.
"Ako nang bahala rito." Pagpipresenta kong hugasan ang mga pinaggamitan sa pagluluto at pagtitinda.
"No, it's fine, love. Just wait for me there." Aniya. Hinawakan ko ang braso n'ya at mariing umiling.
"Ako na. I can do this, Seb. You need to rest, too. It's not a big deal to me." I explained. He took a deep breath before nodding.
Agad kong inumpisahan ang paghuhugas. Mayroon naman akong gawing household chores kahit papaano. I want to help him in every possible way.
Nang matapos ako ay agad akong nagpahinga. Sebastian is already sleeping. Mukhang nakaligo na s'ya dahil iba na ang suot n'yang damit. Umalis na rin si Jian dahil may pupuntahan pa s'ya. Napatingin ako kay Sebastian. Mahimbing ang tulog n'ya at mukhang pagod na pagod.
Bigla akong nakaramdam ng pagkahabag sa kan'ya. Kung 'di naman dahil sa akin ay 'di n'ya mararanasan 'to. Kung sanang naging selfless ako at hindi s'ya tinanggap nang gabing 'yon e 'di sana s'ya nasa ganitong sitwasyon ngayon.
I sat on his side and gently stroked his hair. He moved and scooped my waist to hug me tightly. Humiga ako at niyakap din s'ya pabalik.
"Don't leave me, please." Mahinang bulong n'ya. I smiled.
"I will never do, love. Sleep tight." I whispered back.
Nang makatulog ulit s'ya ay saka ko kinuha ang pagkakataong makapaghanda ng tanghalian namin. May nakita akong drumsticks sa ref kaya iyon na lang ang niluto ko at iyon lang din ang alam kong lutuin.
Habang nagluluto ay 'di ko pa rin maiwasang isipin ang kalagayan ni Sebastian. He's on a very hard situation. He's a med student and he needs more time. How is he going to balance his attention? I trust him. I know he can do it but I still worry about him and his academics.
As soon as I finished preparing our lunch, I quickly ran on his room. I'm having a second thought about waking him up. He really seems so tired. I almost jumped out of surprise when he suddenly opened his eyes.
"You left me." Angil n'ya na para bang bata.
I laughed. "I cooked for our lunch." Hinila n'ya ulit ako pahiga kaya nakaramdam na naman agad ako ng antok.
"I'm sorry, you need to do that." I took a deep breath and wrapped my arms around him.
"It's okay, Seb. You don't need to be sorry all the time." I explained. "It's fine, okay?" I assured him.
"I should be the one doing that."
"Love, listen." I looked on his eyes. "I don't care who should be doing the things. As long as I can do it, I will help you. You don't need to do everything alone. I'm here with you... For you."
"Thank you, Stell. You don't know how much you mean to me. Babawi ako, not now, but I'll do someday." He leered and kissed my forehead.
Sabay kaming nagtanghalian at pagkatapos no'n ay tinulungan ko s'ya sa paghahanda ng ititinda n'yang merienda. His first day as a first time seller went good. A lot of people came to buy for his foods. However, it's tiring.
The days passed by and we're all in the school again. I had enough time to rest kaya wala naman na akong reklamo. First day pa lang kaya wala pang masyadong ginagawa pero halos pagpapakilala lang ang nangyari para sa mga new professors namin this sem.
"Excited mag-uwian? Palibhasa kasi ay may naghihintay sa'yo." Bahagya akong natawa nang ngumiwi si Jana. Inayos ko ang mga hibla ng buhok na humaharang sa mukha ko at isiniksik iyon sa likod ng tenga.
"Busy na si Seb ngayon. Last week pa s'ya nag-umpisang pumasok sa Med School." Paliwanag ko. "Pero ang sabi n'ya ay pagkatapos ng klase natin ay lalabas kami. Ayaw ko ng fancy dates." I shrugged. Napadaing ako nang bigla n'yang hilain ang buhok ko kung kaya napatingin ang iba naming block mates.
"Ang yabang." Pasiring na aniya at nakinig na ulit sa pagpapakilala ng Propesor namin.
Hindi na ako makapaghintay pa na matapos ang oras. Pakiramdam ko ay habang binabantayan ko ang oras ay mas lalo itong tumatagal. Halos patakbo akong umalis sa building namin nang sa wakas ay matapos na ang klase. Agad kong hinanap si Sebastian sa Sunken Garden at doon s'ya nakitang naka-upo.
"Love!" Mahabang tawag ko sa kan'ya at yumakap. Parehas na 'di maalis ang ngiti namin sa labi.
"How's your day?" He asked.
"Okay lang. Nakaka-inip kasi puro introduction 'yon lang." Ani ko sa naiinip na tono. "Pero nakaka-excite din kasi may mga new challenges. New subjects e." Tawa ko.
"You're gonna make it, love, Stell." Lalo akong ngumiti roon.
Magkahawak kamay kaming lumakad paalis. He's about to ride a jeep when I pulled his hands. His brows furrowed a little.
"Let's eat here." Sabi ko habang iginagala ang paningin sa paligid. "Sakto, maraming street food vendors today." I added.
"Love, it's not good for our health." Kagaya ng inaasahan ko ay tumutol s'ya.
"Seb, it's not bad to eat something unhealthy sometimes!" I explained but he heaved a sigh. I pouted. "Sige na, please. I badly want to experience a street food date." I pleaded.
"Stell..." He trailed off. "If you're thinking about the money---"
"It's not like that, Seb." My shoulders dropped. "It's just that I want to experience that thing. I've always been in a fancy dates and I hate it. I want a simple one." His eyes darted on me, it was as if he's deeply analyzing my words.
"Fine." He snarled. "But next time, we'll eat in a more stable place, okay?" I nodded.
Mabilis ko s'yang hinila sa nakita kong nagtitinda ng kwek kwek at siomai. Matagal na akong nag-c-crave nito pero wala akong oras para makabili dahil sa mga sariling gawain.
"Anong lasa? Masarap 'no?" Pagmamalaki ko sa kan'ya pero napa-ismid ako nang magkibit balikat s'ya.
"Well, it's okay. It's just that I want it better with vinegar." He commented. At least okay sa kaniya.
"Sige, mamaya marami pa tayong matitikman." Hagikgik ko.
I took out my phone to take a picture. Itinapat ko ang pagkaing siomai sa kan'ya at bahagyang binlur ang background to still focus the camera on my food. I then took a picture of his back before asking him to take a picture of us.
"How much is our foods po?" He asked to the vendor. Agad s'yang naglabas ng pera para magbayad. "Where are we going now?" Tanong n'ya.
Muling naglikot ang paningin ko para humanap ng bagong kakainat at halos magningning ang mga mata ko nang makakita ng ihawan.
"Doon!" Masayang turo ko sa nag-iihaw at walang pasabi s'yang hinila papunta roon. "Pabili po ng bituka ng manok." Agad na pagpili ko sa paboritong tinda nila. "What's yours, love?"
"Uhm, I'll have... this." Turo n'ya sa pork barbecue. Agad akong nag-order at umupo muna kami habang naghihintay.
"I have something for you." Mukhang nahihiyang aniya at nagkamot ng batok. Kumunot ang noo ko. "It's not as elegant or expensive as the ones that you received but I did my best for this."
"Kahit ano pa 'yan, Seb. Tatanggapin ko as long as it's from you." Sabi ko. Pinanood ko s'yang buksan ang backpack n'ya and my eyes formed a perfect circle when he took out a bouquet of crocheted flowers.
"U-uh... We're together for a month now. I wanted to give you something and I don't know what to give---" Tumayo ako para yakapin s'ya.
Sobrang gaan ng pakiramdam ko at parang may kung ano ang humahaplos sa 'king puso. "Thank you, love. It's the best." Hindi maalis ang paningin ko sa bouquet nang iabot n'ya 'yon sa 'kin.
It's composed of pink, red, white tulips, red roses, and two orchids. Napakarami nito kaya alam kong pinaghirapan n'ya talaga 'tong gawin.
"I'm sorry, I wish I gave you something better." Nahihiyang aniya. Nawala ang ngiti ko at hinawakan ang kamay n'ya.
"Love, you worked hard for this. It's very precious to me. I have never received a crochet bouquet and you're the one who created it. I'm more than happy." I beamed. Binitawan ko sa lamesa ang bouquet at may kinuha sa bag.
Tumayo ako para maisuot sa kan'ya ang chain necklace na regalo ko. It complements his navy blue polo shirt. I took a picture again. But this time, it's the bouquet.
"'Di ba you want to create a crochet business? P'wede kang mag-open ng Facebook page to boost your post." I suggested.
"I'm thinking about that too."
"Gawa ka. I will help you." Pagmamayabang ko.
Ilang minuto pa ang nakalipas at dumating na ang order naming mga inihaw. He was watching me the whole time as if he's curious on what I was eating.
"Are you really eating chicken intestines?" Naguguluhang tanong n'ya kaya tumango ako habang ngumunguya. "H-how... How can you..." 'Di n'ya magawang ituloy ang itinatanong n'ya dahil sa pagkagulat kaya naman ay lalo akong natawa.
Cheers to more months and years with you, my love.
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꒰⑅ᵕ༚ᵕ꒱˖♡
A/N | I'm so sorry for not updating for a week. I've been busy with my acads.