"Ayos ka lang?" Nag-aalalang tanong sakin ni Bree kinabukasan pagkatapos kong mag-walk out sa dinner kagabi.
Kagabi napag-isip isip ko kung gaano ko kagusto si Tom. I shouldn't have acted that way last night. Bakit? Kung sila na ba hindi na ko pwede umasa? Di pa naman sila magpapakasal ah? A lot of things could go wrong along the years. Hindi dapat ako panghinaan kaagad ng loob. I sighed heavily.
"Oo naman, a...ayos lang ako." I acted unfazed even if my own tongue betrayed me.
"Kilala kita Cett. You don't have to lie to me. What is it?" Sincere na tanong ni Bree.
"I think I really like your brother!" I said that fast and with conviction because I didn't want to sound like I don't mean it.
"Whaaat?!" Bakas sa mga mata niya ang pagkagulat. Hindi ko naman siya masisisi. Matagal na nung una kong inamin sa kanya na may gusto ako kay Tom and I may have said it like it was just nothing. Kaya siguro ganito nalang ang kaniyang reaksyon.
Kung dati ayaw na ayaw ko na malaman ni Tom ang tunay kong damdamin para sa kanya. Now, I want everyone to know. I don't want to lose my chance. I'm already sixteen at dalawang taon nalang mage-eighteen na ko.
"Wait lang. So you were serious dati sa sinabi mo tungkol kay kuya Tom?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Bree nang makabawi.
I nodded violently.
"Omg, seryoso ka nga!" Mangha niyang sigaw.
"I don't know Bree. Napagtanto ko kagabi na gusto ko pala talaga siya." Pag-amin ko.
One thing I realized growing up. I should never let opportunities like this pass up because it's better to fight and lose a war than to lose and not having to fight at all.
"I want my chance." Desperado kong pahayag.