Faith's Point of View
6 pm.
Nagpaalam ako kay Stay na may date kami ni Samuel nga'yon. Ihahatid n'ya na lang raw ako since gabi na naman.
"Stay, huwag na kaya? I'll text Samuel to fetch me here."
Na s'yang pagtunog ng doorbell. Dumungaw ako sa bintana at nakita si Samuel na naghihintay kasama ang sports car n'ya.
First time lang namin pupunta sa malayo kaya ngayon ko lang rin nakita ang sports car n'ya. As usual, he's wearing his black hoodie and jeans.
He's really cute there!
"Psh, speaking of," Stay said while reading books.
"Speaking of the cutie!" ngiting sabi ko at lumabas ng bahay. I waved at Samuel.
I wear my yellow dress with black sling bag. Sinamahan ko rin ng black heels habang nakaipit ang buhok. And for almost three months, nagalaw ko na ulit ang makeup na binili ni Stay.
Bago pa ako tuluyang makapunta sa gate ay tinawag ako ni Stay. He has a serious look while on the door.
"If you want help, just open your bag."
Napatawa ako. Ang peppermint spray ang tinutukoy n'ya. I'm curious where did he bought those sprays, he's not giving his trust to Samuel ah.
"Yeah, thank you," I said and was ready to go when I heard his voice again.
"Faith."
I sighed and looked back. "Ano na naman?"
"Ang pangit mo kapag nagpapaganda ka."
Automatic na pinanliitan ko s'ya ng mata. I showed my middle finger to him and walked away. "Hi!" I greeted Samuel who looked amazed at me.
Bahagya akong natawa. Mga bata talaga, masyadong inlababo kapag may ginagawang transformation iyong mga babae.
He silently chuckled. "Why the fuck I'm blushing? Let's go," aniya at inalalayan ako papasok ng kotse.
"So, how's your studies?" I asked as he went to his seat.
"It's fine. I can't believe it was so hard."
Ngumiti ako. Samuel is a hard-working person, kahit na busy s'ya dahil sa sobrang nakaka stress ang law, nagawa n'ya pa ring mag dinner kami. Kesyo weekend naman daw bukas.
"Bakit ba pinili mong mag law?" tanong ko ulit.
He glanced at me. "It's my ex's dream for us. We promised to graduate as a lawyer before."
Aww. That's sweet. Pero sa kabilang banda, nakaramdam ako ng pag angat ng balahibo. I'm afraid too, Samuel is dating me. Paano kung multuhin ako ni Selin?
Agh. No.
"You really--"
"Mainit."
Hindi pa ako tapos mag salita ay hinubad n'ya na ang hoodie. Ang suot n'ya ay isang light blue polo. Sobrang cute! He don't have a muscle but his body is fine and-- yeah, all I can say is he's cute.
A boyfriend material.
He started to drive for around 20 minutes. Bumaba kami sa isang fancy resto kung saan napapalibutan ng small bulbs ang mga halaman. Kaunti lang ang kumakain at mukhang elegante ang bawat table.
We ordered steak, cannelloni, kare-kare at halo halo. Sobrang ganda ng pagkaka design at mukhang nakakatakam ang bawat pagkain. Iyong halo halo? Hindi tinipid ang ingredients.
Hindi katulad nung nabibili ko noong Biology Student pa ako. Sobrang liit lang nung leche flan tapos special na ang tawag? Grabe naman!
"This is so good!" masayang sabi ko habang amoy na amoy ang bawat order.
"I'm glad you liked it," he said as we started to eat.
Bigla kong naisip ang tungkol sa Foundation Day ng De Somilla. Iniisip ko kung may ambag din ba ang mga Law Students, since mahilig naman s'yang sumayaw.
"Sasali ka sa event?" tanong ko.
He glanced at me. "I don't know."
"May dance contest siguro 'di ba?" I badly want to see him dance again. Hindi ko ma-imagine na naging back up dancer s'ya ng (G)I-dle.
He nodded. "Yeah, but I'm not so interested."
I frowned. "Bakit? It's time to showcase your talent! Sali ka na."
Minsan iniisip ko bakit hindi na lang s'ya mag iba ng course? Iyong Bachelor's of Arts? Maybe he will excel more. But we can't change people's mind, I know he really love Selin.
He slightly chuckled. "Ayoko, baka biglang maging artista."
Napatigil ako sa paghihiwa ng steak. "Why? Bata ka pa naman ah."
"I want to be a lawyer, Faith."
I ate the last part of steak. "Ikaw bahala... Baka matulad ka sa'kin," I said in a low tone.
Pero narinig yata iyon ni Samuel. He stopped eating his halo halo and leaned on me. "Why? What happened?"
"H-ha?"
"I said what happened? Anong magagaya ako sa'yo?" He continuously asked.
"I mean, iyong magkakamali ng course at uulit uli."
"No, that won't happen." And he continued to eat.
While sipping the melted part of halo halo, I suddenly realized that this must be the right time. The right time to say who I really am.
With a heavy sigh, I started to speak.
"Samuel..."
He glanced at me, enough to understand what will I'm gonna say.
"Samuel, I'm already 20 years old."
He dropped the glass ice cream cup. And almost spitted the ice cream that made me worry.
I stood up finding the glass cup on the floor. "H-hey are you okay?"
Tumayo rin s'ya kasabay nang pagalalay sa'min ng waiter. Niligpit n'ya ang nabasag na glass cup. I released a deep sigh. Phew, I didn't expect it.
Bumalik na ako sa kinauupuan at uminom ng tubig. Pati yata puso ko nahulog na rin sa gulat.
"Iyong sinabi ko..."
"Hmm... Y-you're 20 years old?" He chuckled. "T-three--"
I smiled. "Yeah, three years gap."
"So, that's why you're matured..."
Napatungo ako. Ewan ko ba, pero I felt disappointment from what he have done.
"I almost thought you're just 16 because of your face." He forced to get back the normal atmosphere between us.
"And my Brother..." I said.
Am I going to say this?
"Hmm?"
No.
"Nothing."
"What? You bring it up, Faith. C'mon tell me."
I smiled a bit. "He texted me," I lied. Kinapa ko ang phone sa sling bag at kunwari ay may binabasa. "I must get home now, he said."
"R-really? But it's too early."
Kahit itanggi n'ya pa, alam kong nabigla s'ya sa inamin ko kanina. I know that thought will bring him awake until tomorrow.
Inubos ko ang tubig at saka umalis kasama si Samuel. Past 7 when we arrived at home, and the lights is still on. I sighed before looking at Samuel.
I managed to smile. "That was great." But his eyes were full of worry. "Thank you," I said and get out from his car.
Bago pa ako pumasok ng gate ay lumingon ako sa kanya at kumaway. He waved back and mouthed, "Good night".
"Good night!"
I waved until my eyes can't reach him from afar.
Pumasok ako ng bahay at ibinaba ang sling bag. Tumabi ako kay Stay, I rested my head on the sofa and hugged the pillow.
"How's the date?" tanong ni Stay habang nanonood ng TV.
Napabuntong hininga na lang ako sa itinanong n'ya. It's not good, Stay. It's something... Disappointing.
"Gaano na nga ba kami katagal nagde-date Stay?"
"One month," diretso n'yang sagot.
I nodded while my eyes are still closed. "In one month, we should get the know each other right?"
"Yeah, why?"
Gusto kong umiyak. "I revealed my real age..."
Tinakpan ko ang mga mata ko at huminga ng malalim. Ano ba yan, Faith. Ang tanda tanda mo na pero wala ka pa ring pinagkatandaan. Samuel is too good, but I didn't expect what he have done earlier.
"He almost spitted, naihulog n'ya pa nga 'yung baso."
Naramdaman kong lumingon s'ya sa'kin kaya umayos ako ng upo at tinignan s'ya.
"What the fuck is that man," he coldly said.
I pouted. "He's a fucking man."
"Yeah, fuck him."
Inirapan ko s'ya at bumusangot. Niyakap ko ang unan habang nanonood ng TV. "You know what, I really thought he would be fine after I said that."
"Psh."
"I know he's bothered. Pero para makalusot, sinabihan n'ya na lang ako na hindi n'ya nahalatang 20 na ako dahil baby-faced pa."
"That's why I hate him from the very first time, Faith."
I glanced at him. "Am I not that attractive? Bakit kapag sinasabi kong matanda na 'ko, bigla nila akong aayawan?"
Maybe Samuel is confused now if he'll date me or not.
What would I expect. Noong sinabi ko nga sa mga kaklase kong 20 na ako, si Lara lang ang tumanggap sa'kin. And the rest are like Samuel.
"You're attractive enough, Faith. It's too obvious. Seriously, in this world, not everyone will like you. But trust me, there will be people who'll love you from who you are."
Iyon na yata ang pinaka mahabang sinabi ni Stay sa buong buhay na kasama ko s'ya. At iyon ang pinaka tumagos sa'king line na mula sa bestfriend ko.
I noticed Stay touching his chest.
"Hey, you okay?" Sinapo ko ang noo at leeg n'ya para tignan kung may lagnat ba s'ya o wala. "Saan masakit?" sabi ko habang nagaalalang nakatingin sa kan'ya.
Hinawakan n'ya ang kamay ko at inilipat yon sa dibdib n'ya. Napalunok ako habang nagtatama ang mga mata namin.
"Dito."
"W-what?"
Ilang sandali pa lang ay inihiga n'ya na ako sa sofa.