Chapter 8: Officially His

Years earlier

"...Here are the winners of today's Quiz Bee overall finals. Desirae Lopez and Ace Domingo from National Science High School. Wow! What a great team. And I remember, Desirae here won the singing contest as well. Am I right?"

"Yes po."

"Wait, are you guys in a relationship or what?"

"We're friends."

(Crowd cheers)

"Right, aside from the trophy and certificates, you two will be given cash prizes personally and a certain amount of donations for your school. Do you guys have something to say?"

"Uhm, thank you po sa cash prize hopefully makasali kami ulit next year."

"Thank you!"

Ace and I have been friends since kindergarten. Magkatapat lang ang bahay namin. Magka-edad lang kami kaya sabay kami nag-aral. Pareho din kaming competitive and magkaklase na eversince. Di man kami pareho ng kasarian, pinapayagan pa rin kami ng mga parents namin na mag-sleepover o hangout sa bawat bedroom namin. Siyempre binabantayan na nila kami nang magbinata't magdalaga kami. Kaibigan rin namin si Bea. Katabi lang ng bahay nila Ace ang bahay nila Bea. Simula nung Senior high kami, naging magkarelasyon sila. Nung una tingin ko, makakasira yun sa friendship naming tatlo pero sino ba naman ako para hadlangan ang pag-iibigan nilang dalawa.

"I'll choose the blue one. Because blue is the warmest color." - I said this blandly

"Okay, gentlemen, go ahead and reveal yourselves."

After the reveal, it turns out that I've chosen Amir again. It's not that I don't want to be with him. I'm just confused and it's awkward.

"Just my luck." Amir mumbled

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing? Why are you making a fuss?"

"How dare you! You! I'm not sure, prick! Asshole! It's not that I want to choose you all the time! Does it look like I really have a choice when I cannot see any of your faces? Di mo pa ba gets hanggang ngayon kung bakit siya tinawag na dinner fate ceremony?!"

"I actually wanted to try to joke or something. I didn't mean to offend you. Please don't misunderstand."

"JOKE?! Really? Wow, a joke at a time like this? I don't think I have the time for that! I'm about to be engaged and be married soon. I was abandoned by my family and my best friend is giving me mixed signals. Also apparently, the whole nation knows!"

There's like a solid 2 minute silence while I'm still standing and breathing heavily. I'm finding it difficult to breathe, so I decided to sit down. I immediately thought of breaking the silence myself, since I am the one who started it. But I was so embarrassed.

"Oh no, sorry. Sorry everyone I---"

Di ko alam kung anong gagawin ko at sasabihin kaya nagdecide na lang ako na umalis. Tumakbo ako papunta ng tulay. Good thing open na ito at ayun, napaiyak ako ng sobra. Tila ba sumabog ako. Di ko mapigilan ang paghagulgol ko. Parang nilabas ko na ang dapat kong ilabas. Tagal ko na rin di nakaiyak ng ganito. Hangga't maaari kasi as a human being we try to appear strong and happy in any situation. Pero it's okay and it's totally normal lang naman talaga to express emotions. Kasabay ng luha ay ang pagtulo din ng sipon ko, nakakadiri. Wala akong dalang panyo or tissue. Di ko naman inexpect na mapapaiyak ako eh. Di ko din inasahan na magrereact ako ng ganun.

"Here."

May nag-abot sa akin ng panyo. Nakatungo pa rin ako habang sinisinok at pahinang sumisinghot. I gave up and kinuha ko rin yung panyo kasi diring diri na ako sa sipon ko. Nahihiya pa ako nung una na lumingon kung sino man yung sumunod at nag-abot sa akin ng panyo. Nung tumahan na ako, di ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Iiwas sana ako't aalis pero sinalubong ako ni Amir. Siya pala ang sumunod sa akin at nag-abot ng panyo.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to---"

"You don't have to say sorry. All of this is my fault. I'm the reason of all these since the beginning. Come here---"

"What?" I thought he's going to hug me pero isusuot niya pala sa aking yung coat niya. "Di ako nilalamig."

"I insist."

"Well, thanks anyway. Ang sweet mo naman. So...bati na tayo, I guess?"

"Bakit? di naman tayo nag-away ah."

"Hindi ba?"

"Forget about Desirae, it was silly. Aminin mo, both of us was---"

"Yeah yeah whatever. Let's forget about it. I-appreciate na natin yung view gaya ng the usual na ginagawa natin kasi palagi naman ikaw yung napipili ko sa dinner fate ceremony."

"Bakit, ayaw mo ba na ako nakakasama dito? Or nagsasawa ka na ba sa akin?"

"Di naman sa ganun. Parang may daya kasi eh. Siguro dinadaya mo para ikaw lagi mapili."

(We laughed together and seem to enjoy each other's company.)

"Nga pala, I have something to give you."

"Ano yun?"

Amir reached his pocket. Ayaw ko mag-expect na singsing yun at magpo-propose siya sa akin pero parang ganun na nga. I was so excited and thrilled na napatalikod ako.

"Look at me. I know this isn't much, but I've been meaning to give you this."

"Two rings? Are you trying to propose?"

"No. Not yet. Well, I'm going to."

"Eh ano pala?"

"Just. I don't know what to say or how to do this. Think of it this way: this means that it must be finally acknowledged that you're mine."

"Yours?"

"Yes! You're officially mine. There were other things, but I only managed to save these rings."

"Wow. I don't know what to say. Well, your hand is warm. I think this is a hand I could hold forever. " I turned to look at him after saying that. I smiled and smiled more as I saw him smiling back at me. I know what the next part will be after it. And I know you do too...

After that kiss, I freaked out. Nahiya ako bigla. I'm speechless. May sasabihin pa ata sana si Amir pero tumalikod ako't napatakbo palayo ng tulay. Nagulat ako nang masalubong ko sina Ace at Aiden. Pati ang kambal. Sumunod din si Bea. Napatigil ako't nablangko. Di ko alam kung anong gagawin ko.

"Oh bakit nandito kayo lahat? Halina't magsalu-salo. Sayang naman yung mga inihanda naming pagkain para sa inyo." - Don Adelio

"Let's go guys! Hayaan niyo na munang magbati yung dalawa...Sunod kayo ha!"

Hindi ko alam kung what time or kung anong nasaksihan nila pero sana naman wala silang nakita. Dumoble yung hiya ko. Parang wala na ako mukhang mahihirap neto...Maya-maya pa'y sumunod sa akin si Amir at hinawakan niya ang aking kamay.

"Tara! Kumain muna tayo tapos balik tayo dito. Let's do this properly and officially."

"How?"

"Ako ang bahala. Magtiwala ka lang sa akin."

***