The wind was blowing strongly. I was standing in the middle of a garden while staring at the dandelion in my hand. I was about to blow its' seeds but then I stopped.
"Bakit ka tumigil?"
Napalingon ako sa likod ko. I smile.
"Do I have to?" Tanong ko
Lumapit siya sa akin at kinuha ang bulaklak sa mga kamay ko.
"If you blow all the seeds of a dandelion at once the person you love will love you back." Sabi niya
"Hoshino nangaasar ka na naman. Masama bang maniwala sa magic?"
Tiningnan niya ako at sabay niyakap.
"You don't need magic for me to love you. Kahit anong mangyari you'll always be the one I'll choose."
"Liar." I murmured but since he was so close to me he heard it.
Hinarap niya ako.
Tinitigan.
"How many time do I have to prove to you that I love you, para lang maniwala ka?"
"If Nuri's still-"
I stopped when he suddenly kissed me. When he stopped he leaned his forehead on mine while holding my cheeks.
"Amaris... I'll get mad."
Umiwas ako ng tingin pero iniharap niya uli ako.
"I've told you millions of times and I'll tell you, again. I love you. You're the one for me. Even if Nuri's still here I'll choose you. I'll choose you over and over again. I promise... Tsk! Can we stop this. This is really embarrassing." He said kaya natawa ako
"Amaris... Amaris... Amaris!"
Nagising ako dahil doon.
A dream.
Nah, it's more like the future rather than a dream.
Iginala ko ang mga mata ko. Nakatingin sa akin ang buong klase.
Tumingin ako sa katabi ko na gumising sa akin.
"Tawag ka ni Sir. Natutulog ka kasi." Bulong niya
Napatingin ako sa unahan. Napangiwi ako nang makita ko ang mukha no Sir Gregorio na nakasimangot habang hawak hawak ang libro.
"Miss Monteagudo. Answer this problem. Since natutulog ka lang sa klase ko I assume na alam mo na ito." Sabi niya
Patay! Argh! Kasi naman napuyat ako kakaisip ng gagawin ko.
Tiningnan ko ang blackboard kaya napangiti ako ng palihim. I am an accountant at ang pagtutuos ng sweldo ay parang paghinga lang sa akin.
I walked confidently para sagutan ang nasa balckboard. Madali ko naman itong nasagutan.
Nakatingin lang naman sa akin si Sir.
"Miss Monteagudo. Paano mo nagawa ang table at computation na iyan. Usually itinuturo iyan sa advance accounting ah. Business Math I lang ito."
Napatigil ako sa pagbalik sa upuan ko. Of course! How stupid of me! How can highschool student answer all of that.
"I... Uhmmm."
"Sir I think nag-advance study lang si Miss Monteagudo, right?"
Napalingon ako kay Hoshino.
"A-ahmm... Y-yeah." Sabi ko na lang at umupo na
Tumingin ako sa kaniya and mouthed thank you.
Pagkatapos non nag dissmiss na si Sir sa klase. Habang nag-aayos ako ng gamit nilapitam ako ni Hoshino.
"Who are you?" Tanong niya
"Huh?"
"Sir's right. Hindi pa naman natin iyon napag-aaralan."
"A-advance study? Duh." Sabi ko na lang at umiwas ng tingin
"Liar." He said
"Leave me alone. It's not like it concerns you." Sabi ko para hindi na siya mangulit at madulas pa ako.
"You-" pero hindi na niya naituloy ang sasabihin niya dahil may tumawag sa kaniya
"Hoshino! Practice!" Tawag ng kaklase naming si Jeiden.
Lumingon sa kaniya si Hoshino at ngumiti.
"Papunta na." Sabi niya bago ako sinulyapan uli at umalis na.
I saw how the crowd gathered around Hoshino. Well, I forgot that he's popular.
The Perfect Prince.
That's what they used to call him.
Kind. Always smiling. Intelligent and good at sports.
But I know him better.
He's far from perfect. And even so. I love him.
"Ahhhhh. Hoshino is in the middle of the crowd again."
Napalingon ako sa nagsalita.
The Campus's Princess. Nuri Ella Ortega. Hoshino's childhood friend.
That's right. This is where she and Aki will invite me para kumain bilang treat sa akin no'n but Hoshino will interupt us and invite us to watch him play.
Right now. I need to refuse and push Nuri to watch him play and cheer him.
"Nuri." Sabi ko
"Hi! I'm glad naalala mo ako." Sabi niya
"Oo naman. Isa pa, you are popular kaya madali kitang maalala."
"Oh by the way. Ipapakilala kita kay Aki. Yung nakatama ng bola sa iyo the other day." Sabi niya at hinila ako
There I saw a handsome guy atleast 180 cm.
I know him.
"Hi! I'm Akihito Allejandrez."
Right. Akihito Allejandrez. Hoshino's older brother.
Hindi kami ganoong ka close kasi hindi rin sila ganon ka close ni Hoshino pero nakakapag usap pa rin namn kami kahit papaano.
Inabot ko ang kamay niya na nakalahad.
"Amaris Monteagudo. Allejandrez?" Simpleng sabi ko
"Right! I'm Hoshino's older brother."
"Eh? Brother?!" Kunwaring gulat na sabi ko kaya natawa siya.
"Sorry talaga nung isang beses, ah." Sabi niya. "Narinig kong kinailangan mo pang ma clinic dahil doon."
"Okay lang. Hindi naman malala." Sabi ko
"Naku! Hindi pede yon! I-t-treat ka namin!" Sabi ni Nuri at umabistre sa braso ko.
"Aki!"
Natigilan kami nang may tumawag kay Akihito.
"O! Teammate ni Hoshino." Sabi ni Nuri
Weird. This never happened before.
"Hindi ka ba sasali sa amin? Kulang kasi yung kabilang team." Sabi nung isa
"Oo nga. Hindi ka na namin nakakalaro eh."
"Ah. Sorry." Sabi niya bago ako inakbayan. "May date kasi kami eh. Hahaha"
"Kahit manood na lang kayo ng practice."
Napalingon ako sa nagsalita. There was Hoshino with his Prince's smile.
"Hoshino!" Gulat na sabi ko
"Ano? What do you think?" Tanong niya uli
Pero bago pa kami makasagot lumapit si Nuri kay Hoshino at pinunasan ang pawis niya.
"Ako na lang ang manonood. May date sila eh." Sabi ni Nuri kaya naman tinukso sila nung mga teammates ni Hoshino.
Pagtingin ko kay Nuri kinindatan lang niya ako.
Haysss! Buti na lang si Nuri na ang nag-offer.
"Well, you heard her." Sabi ni Aki at inakay na ako paalis.
"Sayang naman. Gusto ko pa naman sanang makalaro si Aki." Narinig ko pang sabi nung isa
Lumingon ako uli sa kanila. Hoshino is glaring at us. No. He's glaring at Aki.
Nung makita niyang nakatingin ako para siyang nagulat at nag-iwas ng tingin.
"Well now? Anong gusto mong kainin?" Tanong ni Aki bago inalis ang pagkakaakbay sa akin.
"Mhhhhh. Sushi!" Sabi ko at tumigil muna bago lumingon kay nila Nuri at Hoshino.
"What's this? Do you like Hoshino?" tanong ni Aki
Napatingin ako sa kaniya. He really has innocent eyes.
"I like him for Nuri." Sabi ko
"Ang weird mo. Bakit mo naman gustong mapunta sa iba ang taong gusto mo?" Tanong niya
"You really know how to hit where it hurts, huh?" Sabi ko.
---
"So... What's your answer?" Pangungulit ni Aki habang nakain kami
"Alam mo ang kulit mo!" Sabi ko
I didn't know na masarap palang kausap ni Aki. Hindi ko kasi siya gaanong ka close noon dahil kay Hoshino ako naka focus, eh.
"Eh kayo ng kapatid mo. Bakit japanese ang pangalan niyo eh hindi naman kayo hapon?" Tanong ko para maiba ang subject
"Ah! 'yun ba? Grabe ang weird mo talaga! Pati ba naman 'yon pakikialamanan mo!"
"Sagutin mo na lang."
"Our father loves anime. Kaya ayun."
"Huh? Seriously?!"
"Seriously." Sabi niya kaya napahagalpak ako ng tawa
"Nang dahil lang do'n?"
"Oo nga."
"Wow! Grabe 'yung father niyo ah! Er... Para lang may mapag-usapan tayo. Do you have someone you like?"
Natigilan siya sa tanong ko at namula.
"Secret. Hindi mo nga sinagot ang tanong ko, eh" sabi niya
Awwww. Ang cute niyang mag-blush.
"So meron nga. Sino?"
Biglang may mga grupo ng mga lalaki ang lumapit sa amin.
"Naks! Aki! May girldriend ka naman di mo sinasabi!" Sabi nung isa
"Hahaha. She's not my girlfriend. Kaibigan ko lang siya at natamaan ko siya ng bola nung isang araw kaya bumawi ako." Sabi niya
Aki's really popular. Well understandable naman since friendly siya at masayahin. Punong puno siya bg postive vibes.
Napansin kong panay ang sulyap niya do'n sa isang lalaki sa likod na may hawak ng notebook at parang nagbabasa. If I remember it right that's Miguel. I know him for veing close to Aki back then.
OH NO! DON'T TELL ME-!
Nung umalis na ang mga lalaking 'yon. Nanlalaki ang mga mata kong hinarap si Aki.
"Si Miguel ba?!"
"Ha?"
"You like Miguel?!"
Tibakluban naman niya ang bibig ko.
"Shhhh." Sabi niya kaya napatango ako.
"Are you gay?" Diretsong tanong ko.
"You're too blunt."
"So ano nga?" pagpupumilit ko
"N-No!" Tanggi niya kaya tinaasan ko siya ng isang kilay
"It's not like that. I mean... I just don't care about gender as long as it's the person I like."
"Well... it's true. You don't fall in love with gender."
"I-Is it weird?" Tanong niya kaya umiling ako ng sunod-sunod at napangiti nama siya.
"Sure? I mean we're both guys and-"
"Aki, it doesn't matter what kind of love is that, right? It's still love. Unless what? Do you weigh one's love by categorizing it? Hindi ba kahit anong klaseng love 'yan the meaning is the same?" Sabi ko
Nagliwanag naman ang mukha niya bigla.
"Amaris."
"Mhhhh?"
"Hindi lang pala ang pangalan mo ang pang matanda. Pati pala emotional intelligence mo." He said that flatly and with that innocent face.
Kaya naman binatukan ko siya.
---
I love computations. Sa lahat ng subject para sa akin math is the easiest. I don't need to memorize a lot of things. Kailangan ko lang maging familiar sa mga basic formulas and i-de-derive ko na lang doon ang formulang kailangan. It's easy for me.
"Wow! Ang galling mo talaga mag-cmopute!" napalingon ako sa pumuri sa akin.
She's pretty like an angel.
"Hi! I'm Nuri Ella Ortega. Ako 'yung isa sa tumulong sa iyo nung matamaan ka ng bola ni Aki. He said I-t-treat ka niya kaya nandito ako para yayain ka sanang kumain. Don't worry si Aki magbabayad." Sabi niya
"Naku huwag na. Nakakhiya naman."
"Nonsense! Anong nakakahiya? Eh dapat nga si Aki ang mahiya sa'yo kasi siya ang naka-tama ng bola at hindi ka pa niya dinala sa clinic. Si Hoshino pa nagdala sa iyo doon." Sabi niya
I look at her. Tinatantiya kung okay lang ba talaga.
"You know… ang ganda mo sana kung mag-aayos ka." Sabi niya bigla
"H-ha? Naku hindi ahh. Ikaw nga ang maganda diyan ehh." Nahihiyang sabi ko
"Hey… don't say that. You are beautiful."
"Binobola mo lang ata ako para sumama sa iyo eh. Sige na nga tara na." natatawang sabi ko
"Hindi ahhh. Totoo iyon." Sabi niya at inaya na ako papuntang cafeteria.
---
"I'm Akihito Allejandrez. Sorry sa pagkakatama ng bola ahh. I heard na-clinic ka pa ng dahil doon." Apologetic na sabi niya
Woah. He's so angelic. He even looks innocent with his eyes.
"Okay lang, di naman Malala ehhh."
"As an apology… I will treat you-"
"Hey!"
Napalingon kaming tatlo ng marinig ang boses na iyon.
"Hoshino." Bulong ko
"May laro kami ng basketball. Wanna come, Aki?" sabi ni Hoshino
"Mhh… I-t-treat ko pa kasi si…" ibinitin niya ang sasabihin niya
"Ahh... Oh… I'm Amaris Monnteagudo."
"Amaris eh… so maybe next tme?"
"Naku hindi na. hindi naman kailanngan ehh." Sabi ko
"Bakit di na lang mag-take out kayo then sa gym niyo na lang kainin para naman mapanood niyo din ang laro namin." Sabi ni Hoshino
"That sounds good. Ano Amaris?" tanong ni Nuri
"S-sure. Sige." Sabi ko
---
Woah… Hoshino's so cool playing basketball. Though the crowds' cheer is so loud my world was so silent while watching him.
He's really good.
"Hoshino's so good, right?" tanong bigla ni Nuri
Tumango ako kaso…
*Thud*
Napahawak ako sa ulo ko.
"Sino 'yon?" gulat na sabi ko at napatingin sa likod. May isang babae lang naman ang nakatama sa ulo ko ng bag niya.
Tsss… ang ganda na ng pantasya ko kay Hoshino ehh.
"Oh no…" narinig kong sabi ng katabi kong si Nuri
"Why?"
"They lost." Sabi niya
"What?"
"Well… nasa kabilang team si Aki ehh. And Aki's always good at basketball even though he's on volleyball team." Sabi ni Nuri
Napatingin ako sa court. There he was, faking his smile.
"I'll go to Hoshino." Sabi ni Nuri at akmang aalis na sana kaso may tumawag sa kaniya.
"Tawag ka ni coach." Sabi nung isang babae. Probably one of Nuri's teammates.
"Argh! Why now?" inis na sabi niya. "Babalik ako."
Tinanguan ko siya. I looked at Hoshino and saw him leaving. Tumayo ako para sundan siya.
He went at the back building. Nakita ko siyang nakayuko sa may lababo doon habang nakabukas ang gripo. He's just doing nothing. Maybe he's letting his anger flow with the water.
Nagulat ako ng bigla siyang tumingin sa akin. Shiver runs down to my spine from his abvious fierce glare. He's really mad.
Instead of backing away I brace myself and took a step forward. Doon siya biglang parang natauhan.
"A-Amaris? What's wrong? What are you doing here?" tanong niya with his prince's smile on his lips.
"You know… It'll be better kung ilalabas mo iyan." Sabi ko
"W-what do you mean. Come on I want to be alone for a while kaya okay lang ba na iwan mo muna ako." Nakangiti pa ring sabi niya
"N-no. It'll be hard for you kung magiging ganyan ka. I'm just trying to help."
"Help? Come on. Wala lang ito. Please leave Amaris."
"Why are you like that? Aren't you being too fake?" lakas-loob na sabi ko.
His smile fades away.
"I kindly asked you to leave but you really got into my nerves this time. What do you mean being too fake?" he asked in his dangerous tone
"I-I mean you're always suppressing the real you, kaya baka nahihirapan kang-."
Nagulat ako ng bigla niyang sinuntok ang pader. He then smiled at me.
"I'm currently not in the mood right now. So, I will say this again. Will you please back away? I don't have time to deal with too much antics." He said while still smiling
"I just wanted to help-."
"You're so persistent!" he said then pulls me to him harshly but before I can say my protest I can feel his rough kisses on me. I was so dumbfounded that I was unable to move. My knees are getting weaker so he wrapped his arm around me and deepen the kiss.
This was my first kiss but this is not the type of kiss that I always dreamed of.
He lets me go after some time. I fell to my knees while catching my breath.
"Be thankful you are a girl. Iyan lang ang makukuha mo and oh… don't blame me. I warned you that I'm not in a good mood." He said then leave.
Before he leaves completely, my stupid self stops him.
"If you did that to me… then… m-maybe I have the rights to know what you are like th-that." Lakas-loob kong sabi
He stayed silent for some moment. He sighed and in a soft voice almost a whisper said…
"I always wanted to be someone who isn't me."
Then he left me there, hanging.