ARTHUR'S POV
Continuation....
"Naaalala mo ba nung narinig mo kami ni Mina sa faculty...
---------------------------------------*SHORT FLASHBACK*---------------------------------------------
10 years ago sa Math Faculty
"Well let's just say that I'm overthinking.....but I'm just curious about something....
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Do you...... like her?"
"...of course I like her, I care about her...as a sister" I lied. Para tumahimik na siya nagpasya akong umalis pero pinigilan niya ko.
May pinakita sa cellphone niya, "So anong ibig sabihin nito?"
Nagulat ako kasi itong picture nato ay kuha nung nasa playground kami at umiiyak siya. May isang picture na hawak ko ang mukha na nakatingin kay Sam. Saan niya nakuha to?
Pilit kung kinuha ang cellphone pero inilayo niya agad, "Paano mo nakuha to?"
Lumakad siya sa harap papunta sa likod ko at bumulong, "Akala ko ba matalino ka?...Manhid ka ba talaga o sadyang hindi mo lang alam....gusto kita..gustong-gusto kita at dahil doon sinundan ko ang bawat galaw mo kung san ka pumupunta at (lumayo ng kaunti)...akalain mong nakunan ko to?" pinakita ang phone.
Walang hiya. Stalker ba siya?Kababaing tao.
Nanggigil, "Ano bang kailangan mo?" inis kung sabi
Tumawa na parang kinikilig, "Ehm...ikaw lang naman ang kailangan ko eh...tsaka layuan mo na yung batang yun..... sagabal siya sa mga plano ko" lumapit na parang inaakit.
Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya, "Gagawin ko yan sa isang kondisyon...wag mo lang idamay si Sam" sabi ko na nagmamakaawa.
Tumingin sa kamay na hawak ko sa kanya at kinuha para ilagay sa mukha niya, "Dapat lang...kung hindi baka makita mo tong picture nato sa buong bulletin board ng school nato" at tumawa ng malakas na parang baliw.
-------------------------------------------*END OF FLASHBACK*-----------------------------------------
--------------------------------------- *BACK TO THE PRESENT*----------------------------------------
"....Nung time na yun hindi ko inaasan na tatanongin niya ko ng ganun. Nakikita kasi niyang nagiging malapit na tayong dalawa. May rules and regulations kaming dapat sundin at kung sino mang lalabag doon ay may karampatang parusa....Kung ako lang kayang kung matanggalan ng lisensya pero ....ang hindi ko kaya.....ay kung anong magiging epekto nun sayo...ikaw lang naman ang inaalala ko...."
I look at her and tears fall down from her eyes.
"Kaya ang naisip ko para hindi ka na niya guluhin ay pakisamahan siya.....so I played her cards to keep you protected.....even if it hurts you"
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After a few minutes, she speaks,
"Pero bakit ngayon ka lang nagpakita?Bakit ngayon mo lang sinasabi sa'kin to?"
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"Kasi...
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Kasi .....natakot akong sabihin sayo ito noon....Imagine I'm your teacher and your my student ano na lang ang sasabihin ng ibang tao sa atin especially sayo....babae ka pa naman nasayo lahat ng panghuhusga.....I don't want you to suffer that at a young age....coz I know you've suffered a lot... so at first pinigilan ko ang nararamdaman ko sayo kasi alam kong hindi yun tama kaya...I started to avoid you to the point na you'll get mad at me and forget your feelings towards me"
She continues to listen to my explanation.
"Pero alam mo ba... kahit anong tago nitong nararamdaman ko para sayo bigla nababalewala..
Nung nalulungkot ka gusto kitang yakapin...
Nung masaya ka gusto ko andoon ako sa tabi mo...
Nung nasasaktan ka gusto kong damayan ka...
I burst in to tears, "...But I can't...I just can't"
"Kaya kung akala mo ikaw lang ang nasasaktan?....nasasaktan din ako. Doble pa"
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She finally utters, "I hate you".That's it. that's the signal.
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I walked towards her smiling, suddenly grab her neck and pressed her lips to mine. Finally, the lips, that I wanted to kiss so bad has found its right place. It was a longing kiss for both of us after all these years. I am just so glad she did not push me away instead she let me manage to pull me closer to hers.
I let go of the kiss first and said, "I love you, too" then she smiled back and wrapped her hands around my waist.
I look deep into her brown eyes saying,
"I love you
After all this time
I still love you
It's always been you,
It was you yesterday (kiss on the forehead)
It was you today (kiss on the right cheek)
It will be you tomorrow and for the rest of my life (kiss on the nose)
It will be you. I love you (kiss on the lips)"
*Booom*
The colorful fireworks were shattered in the sky to celebrate our love.
AFTER A FEW MINUTES.
"Nga pala may ibibigay ako sa'yo" I handed a piece of paper to her
Nang buksan niya ito ay nanlaki ang mata niya, "Bakit na sayo toh?"kaya pala hindi ko mahanap to noon" at hinampas ako.
I gave her the note she wrote when she was in high school about "FLAMES".
She flamed our names together but the result was different so..
Still hugging her, "Ehmm nahulog mo yan nung nabungo mo ako sa hallway dati....
(Himas-batok)May mali jan sa ginawa mo"
Look confused, "Huh?"
I explained thoroughly, " Actually, ang real name ko ay Arthur with an 'o' so dapat 'Arthuro' then she laugh after hearing it.
I know my name sounds weird kaya palagi kung sinusulat na Arthur eh
She opened the last part which I corrected and the result is..)
Samantha Corpuz – 10 Married
Arthuro Perez – 10 Married
Total is 20 – Sweet
"So ibig sabihin both of our names are 'Married' and the result is 'Sweet'. So I guess my it says after we get 'married' we are 'sweet'" Then we both laugh.
"Ang corny mo" sabay hampas sa balikat.
Tumawa ako, "Ganun nga siguro pag inlove".
AFTER FEW MINUTES...
I placed my hands to her cheeks, looking at her...It's been a while but still looks beautiful.
"Bakit?" nagtatakang tanong niya kung bakit ko siya tinitignan ang mukha niya.
"Nothing(smile brightly)...this is the face I pictured you to be.....simply beautiful" then she laughed again.
Ako na ata ang pinakamaswerteng lalaki sa buong mundo ngayon. Ayon ko na siyang pakawalan pa kaya..
I kneel down and show her the ring,
"So Samantha Corpuz, I want you to marry me. That's an order"
Although she seemed to be surprised but manage to say, "Yes, sir!" and place the ring on her finger.
Yey! She said Yes!
I don't how to express myself. I just couldn't contain my joy so I lifted her high because of happiness.
She speaks, "But wait....what should I call you...Sir?Kuya?....."
I sweetly smile, "My Love.Love"
"Yes sir....ay love pala"
hahahaha