I was smiling like an idiot. Kung kanina lamang ay nag-iiyak ako, ngayon naman ay napawi kaagad ang luha ko. Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko na tila wala akong injury na iniinda.
"Talaga?" I happily asked Alastair.
"Well.. your injury is partly.. my fault so I need to make it up.. to you.." bulong niya.
Nagdidiwang ang kalooban ko. Pero naisip ko bigla ang sinabi niya. Hindi ko na siya guguluhin pagkatapos ng favor na sinasabi niya. May partikular kayang dahilan kung bakit kailangan ko na siyang layuan? Hindi kaya allergic siya sa mga magagandang katulad ko?
"Hmmm.. how about you become my boyfriend?"
"No.." he said. "That's impossible.."
Sumimangot ako.
"But what if you did me the favor I want pero hindi pa rin kita tinigilan, what will you do?" I asked to test him.
"I can't see any reason why I have to answer that.." he replied. "Isa pa, are you the type to break a promise? If that so.. that's so cheap."
Sinimangutan ko siya. He's saying something mean. Gusto ko lang naman talaga na makasama siya. Pero wala naman akong ibang choice. Kapag kinulit ko siya, tiyak hindi rin naman niya ako papapansinin. Now that he's willing to do me a favor, I should grab the opportunity.
"Fine.. hindi naman ito pangmatagalan.. then be my boyfriend for a month.." I said.
"No. I don't like it. Ask another favor," he said. Napatungo ako. Wala ba talaga siyang balak pagbigyan ako sa kagustuhan ko?
"Pero iyon lang ang gusto ko. I just want to be with you even just for a short period of time. Pumayag ka na please? Hindi na naman kita guguluhin pagkatapos nito," I pouted my lips. Sana lang umubra sa kanya ang mga pagpapacute ko.
"I can't do it for a month.." he said.
"Then, how about twenty nine days? Let's break up at 11:59pm before mag thirty days!" I happily suggested pero kaagad niya akong sinamaan ng tingin.
"Fine, how about one week? Sabi ng nurse, gagaling na ang sprain ko after a week.. so pwede na siguro ang isang linggo to compensate my injury?"
Hindi na siya umimik. He just shrugged as if napipilitan sa sinabi ko. He's so cute. May konsensiya rin naman pala siya kahit papaano.
"Then when should we start?" he asked.
"Hmmm.." I said while thinking. "Let's start next week. Kailangan ko munang magpaganda for you.." I excitedly said.
"Okay.." he said at akmang aalis na pero pinigilan ko kaagad siya.
"Teka lang, Alastair mahal ko!" nakangiti kong tugon.
Gosh, excited na akong maging boyfriend siya kahit isang linggo lang. This is what you call, isang linggong pag-ibig. Mygad. Why am I excited e panandalian lang naman ito?
"What?" walang reaksyon siyang lumingon sa akin.
"Pwede mag-advance ng kiss?" I giggled. "I want to kiss you because you won the game. I want to give you a reward."
He gave me a 'why the fuck would I want that look". Talaga naman itong mahal ko, napakamahiyain.
"No." sagot niya bago tumalikod. He's really scary when he make that face. He's so timid but when he make that kind of expression, he's so terrifying.
Wala akong ibang nagawa kung hindi ang panoorin siya paglabas. Mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko pagkatapos ng ilang sandali. He could have ignored me, but why did he do that? Afterall, hindi ko naman sinisi sa kanya ang injury ko. Maybe he's interested to me? Or is he just guilty because of my injury?
I guess it is the latter. Alam ko namang imposible niya akong magustuhan. Gumawa na rin siya ng kondisyon na kailangan ko lang siya layuan pagkatapos ng isang linggo. That really made me curious.
"Saan ka nagpunta?" Emily said while waiting for me on the service. Alas kuwatro na kasi ng hapon at iyon ang schedule ng pag-alis namin.
"Kinuha ko lang ang gamit ko sa room. Andyan na ba silang lahat?" I asked her.
"Oo, nakasakay na. Ikaw na lang ang hinihintay," Emily said. Tumango ako. Gusto ko ng ikwento kay Emily ang napag-usapan namin ni Alastair but I know this is not the right time to talk about this. We lost the game and I know this is not the time to celebrate.
"Ano ba yan, paimportante talaga!" Celestine said in an annoying tone.
Hindi ko na pinansin ang pasaring dahil maayos ang mood ko. Iyon naman talaga ang gusto ko. Gusto ko lang makasama si Alastair kahit sandali... even if he doesn't like me. Alam ko naman na hindi talaga siya iyong tipo ng lalaking mabilis makuha. I underestimated him.
Unlike sa mga binabasa kong mga nobela, na nakukuha mo ang lalaking gusto sa mga pagpapacute, it's really different for him.
It's like he was raised to be cold and intimidating. He's very mysterious and secretive, too. Kakaunti lang ang nalalaman ko sa kanya. And even when I'm investigating about him, he's living on a high-end subdivision. Is he rich? Is he from an influential family?
"Here..." inabot sa akin ni Emily ang tubig at saka tumabi sa akin sa bus. Umaandar na ang sasakyan at tahimik na ang lahat. Wala naman talagang gaganahan magsalita. We are all tired and we even lost the game.
"Thanks, Emily.." I smiled at her.
"Something happened?" she asked. She probably saw my mood. Kilalang-kilala na talaga ako ni Emily. That's why I am so thankful I'm her friend. She's a bit dense, but she's really thoughtful and kind.
"Hmm... I don't know if I should tell it to you now.."
Emily also has a crush on Alastair. Baka magalit siya sa akin kapag nalaman niyang magiging nobyo ko si Alastair ng isang linggo.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't feel like it.."
Tumango-tango ako.
Kaibigan ko na si Emily pagtuntong ng highschool. Dahil kaibigan ng parents ni Emily ang Papa ko, she used to come to our house a lot. Her mother is sick and she has to receive continuous treatment. Meanwhile, her father's a carpenter kaya naman hindi kayang tustusan nito ang pampagamot ng Mama ni Emily.
Tinulungan ni Papa sila Emily na makareceive ng sponsor kaya hindi na sila namomorblema sa pambayad sa gamot ng nanay niya. Isa pa, Emily got a scholarship that's why she can attend the same university. Nagpasya siya ng Chemistry din ang kunin kaya magkaklase kami sa lahat ng subjects.
"I want takoyaki, Em. Daan tayo sa school?" I asked her. She frowned immediately. Ang pangit talaga ng kaibigang ito kapag nakasimangot. Daig pa ang nalugi e.
"Huh? Na naman? Di ka ba nauumay sa takoyaki? Parang araw-araw ka ng kumakain nun? Mamaya tubuan ka na ng pusit sa mukha.." she teased. Sinimangutan ko lang siya.
"Baliw ka talaga.." I laughefd. "Pero Emily.. I just wonder do you still like Alastair?" I asked her. She just smiled at me and nodded.
"Of course I do.. But I like you more than him. You're my best friend afterall.."
"Wala akong pera, Emily. Huwag mo akong bolahin. Wala kang maloloko dito," natatawa kong tugon. She laughed but she lower her voice not to disturb the other members.
"Baliw, totoo nga. I have a crush on Alastair but it's not intense. Isa pa, I know you're the jealous type. Baka mamaya, hilahin mo ang buhok ko.." she replied.
I giggled and hugged her. Maybe, I'll tell her later. Afterall, siya lang naman ang nakakaintindi sa pag-uugali ko.
"So you mean, magiging boyfriend mo si Alastair for a week?" tanong niya habang kumakain kami ng takoyaki sa may japanese stall sa labas ng school. Hindi na ako nakapagpigil kaya ikinuwento ko na sa kanya ang nangyari.
"Hmmm.." I nodded. "Pero after noon, kailangan ko na siyang layuan."
"Don't you find Alastair weird?" she asked.
Napalingon ako sa kanya. Sometimes, I really can't understand her logic. Why is she suspicious of my boyfriend now?
"Huh?" hindi ko na naituloy ang pagkain sa nakaambang takoyaki dahil sa sinabi niya. "What's weird? Iyong sobrang kagwapuhan niya?"
"He's hot, alright. Pero you know, Alastair might be so terrifying. Imagine, isinalya ka niya then afterwards, he approached saying he'll do a favor for you. Sadyang nakakapagtaka lang. He's not the type to do that."
Naikuwento ko rin kasi sa kanya ang pagsalya sa akin ni Alastair kaya naiintindihan ko kung bakit ganito siyang mag-isip.
"Baka nakonsensiya lang siya ganoon. Hindi naman siguro masamang tao si Alastair. Sadyang malayo lang ang loob niya sa mga babae.."
"Pero what if you happened to know Alastair's personality, will you still be able to like him?" hamon niya. "Come on, nainlove ka kay Alastair kasi gwapo siya. But what would happen if he's a psychopath?"
I snorted and laugh. "Pfft, pyschopath you say?" Natatawa kong tugon.
She's right. Alastair is very mysterious but after I exchanged a few conversations with him, I know he's far from being a psychopath. I just thought.. there's more to that and I really can't wait to discover it all.
"Papa, may boyfriend na ako!" masaya kong sabi sa ama pagkauwi ko ng bahay. Naabutan ko si Papa na naglalagay ng pagkain sa mesa.
"Totoo ba? Sino naman ang maswerteng lalaki anak?" she said while leaning to me for a hug greeting.
"Pero sa susunod na linggo ko pa siya magiging boyfriend." dagdag ko.
Kumunot ang noo ng ama ko, mukhang naguguluhan sa sinabi ko.
"Iha, I'm about to ask how the tournament went. Pero sinalubong mo ako at sasabihin mong magkakaroon ka ng nobyo pero sa isang linggo pa. Hindi ba nababagok ang ulo mo?"
"Well.. natalo po kami sa game pero at least may boyfriend ako.." I happily said. My father sighed.
"Sit down at kumain muna tayo. Pag-usapan natin 'yan," he said.
Humila ako ng isang upuan at saka umupo. Maraming nakahain sa mesa. My father likes to cook lots of foods lalo na kapag galing ako ng quizbees or competitions. Today is my first ever sport competition so that's the reason why he cooked a lot. May nakahaing takoyaki, sushi at saka ramen. I smiled. He really knows I love japanese cuisine.
Nang magsimula kaming kumain ay saka siya nagpasimula.
"So who's that boyfriend? The strawberry shortcake guy?" He asked. Kaagad akong tumango.
"But it's only for a week, Pa. Maghihiwalay din kami kaagad pagkatapos ng isang linggo." Naubo siya sa sinabi ko. Kaagad siyang uminom ng tubig dahil sa pagkabigla.
"Anak, ano bang nangyayari sa'yo? Bakit papasok ka sa relasyon tapos isang linggo ang itatagal?"
"Kasi nga Pa, nagkaroon ng aksidente. See this injury.." ipinakita ko ang kamay ko. Nanlaki ang mata ni Papa sa nakita.
"But don't worry, it's just a sprain. So Papa, naaksidente ako and he's partly negligent. Edi lumapit siya sa akin tapos sabi niya he'll do me a favor so quits na kami. That way, I'll be compensated for my injury.."
My father let out a heavy sigh. Ibinaba niya ang kubyertos at saka ako tinitigan ng mariin.
"Huwag mong sabihin sa akin na niyaya mo siyang maging boyfriend mo?"
My eyes twinkled at saka masayang tumango kay Papa.
My father closed his eyes as if he's enduring something.
"Iha, hindi mo dapat ginagawa iyon. Huwag mong sasabihin iyon sa lalaki," mahinahong tugon ni Papa na tila nagpipigil.
"Hindi naman po siya pumayag e. Pinilit ko lang talaga. So we came to an agreement na after a week, titigilan ko na ang pangungulit sa kanya," I replied.
"Hindi ko alam na umabot ka sa ganitong punto, anak. Ganito ka ba kauhaw magkanobyo?" he said as if he's losing hope.
"Papa naman.. I like that guy so much. At saka isang linggo lang naman. Pagbigyan mo na ako, please? At isa pa, sabi mo po diba? Kapag may pagkakataon, igrab mo na ang opportunity?"
"That doesn't apply to this situation, Persia.." mukhang nawawalan ng pag-asa niyang tugon. "But because I trust you, I won't meddle with your choices. Just... stop being so clingy to the guy. That's so not you.."
"Hindi ako magiging clingy, promise.." I said while smiling at my father who's close to glaring at me. I laughed in my mind.
That night, I texted Alastair but I never received any reply from him. As expected of him. Napakasungit naman talaga ng mahal ko!
Pinadalhan ko siya ng maraming sweet messages pagkatapos noon. He must be really annoyed right now. Tumunog ang cellphone ko makalipas ang tatlumpung minuto. Napangiti naman ako nang makitang kong nagreply na siya.
From : Boyfriend 💕
Stop flooding me multiple messages. One message is enough.
Kinilig ako bigla sa reply niya. Ayiiieee, itong mahal ko talaga! Gusto rin naman, pakipot pa e!
Ako:
Hindi kaya ng isang message lang. Paano ba 'yan, nag-uumapaw pagmamahal ko sa'yo, Alastair babybabe. What should we call each other? Should I call you my husband? And I'm your wife? 👉👈
In an instant, he replied.
Siya:
No. Why would I be your husband? I don't even like you.
Pfft. Bakit ganito? Kahit napakasuplado niya, mas lalo ko siyang minamahal?
Ako:
I know. I am not telling you to like me. Just let me love you. Hahaha. I love you, Nero Alastair Hidalgo. Marry me soon, okay? I'll wait for you. 😘
Hindi na siya nagreply pero wala pa ring pagsidlan ang saya ko. I celebrated that night. I dolled myself para maganda ako kapag nagkita kami ni Alastair. Should I wear a dress? Should I wear make up? I'm so excited!
My phone beeped again at the middle of the night. It was him. He's still awake at this hour? Hindi ba siya makatulog kakaisip sa akin?
Siya:
We can't do dates outside.
What?! Bakit mukhang nababasa niya ang naiisip ko? Ibig sabihin hindi kami pwedeng lumabas? Para saan pa ang relasyon namin kung hindi kami magd-date?!
Ako:
Then, how are we going to spend our one week relationship? :(
Siya:
At my house.
Namula ako sa nabasa. Oh my God. He's inviting me to his house? Hindi ba masyado pang maaga? Hihi. I can't even. Oh my God. Papa Jesus, please enlighten me.
Ako:
Grabe ka, babelove. Sa house mo agad? Hindi ba masyado ka namang nagmamadali? >////<
Siya:
What rushing are you talking about? I am rushing to break up with you.
Kyaaaaaah! Grabe kahit na ang lamig ng reply niya, kinikilig pa rin ako! How can this cold guy do this me?
Ako:
Alright, then. I love you! 🧡 Goodnight, mahal ko! Huwag ka ng magpuyat kakaisip sa akin ha? Hmmm? Masyado akong maganda ngayon! Kiss mo ako sa panaginip haaa? Mwaaah! 😍
I laughed while sending the last message for him. He must be annoyed at what I send but I just do this because I have the chance. Mabilis lang ang isang linggo kaya lulubusin ko na. Of course, I'll do my promise not to bother him. But I just want to show my affection to him. That I'm serious and sincere about him.
Pagkatapos noon, wala na akong mahihiling pa. I just hope I can recover from him. Malala ang pagkakagusto ko sa kanya but I know it will take time. Susulitin ko na ang pagkakataon na makakasama ko siya so I'm going all out this time.
Masaya akong nakatulog ng gabing iyon. Thinking about my first day together with my one-week boyfriend. Thank you so much, God Father. I'll make sure to enjoy this opportunity.