One Step at a Time

Introduction

Shey’s POV: 

Ayan na! Ayan na, dadaan na siya! Pumwesto ako. Wala lang, kunwari casual na casual lang akong nakaupo with my friends. Pero mata ko, sa kanya lang sumusunod eh.

“Ayan na naman tong si Shey, nakatingin na naman diyan sa crush niya.”

“Eto na, eto na. Hindi na po titingin,” I said, pero kahit sila alam nila na titingin at titingin din ako.

“Sows. Sige na, lusawin mo na,” bawi ni Cess.

Syempre, tinignan ko nga.

But then nawala yung konting kilig na nararamdaman ko every time nakikita ko siya. Halfway there, he stopped walking. He was grinning at someone. At–Kirlia? Sa b*tch na yon na pinangalan sa isang pokemon!? ERR. Why!?

Laglag panga ako nang maghug sila at ikiss siya sa cheeks ni Kirlia.

Wtf?

Are they going out?

My crush since I was in prep school, grade school, at hanggang ngayong 3rd year ako?

Hell no.

I looked away.

“Shey, is that what I think it is?” Kyriel asked me.

“E-ewan…”

Starting Line

Shey’s POV:

Why does he have to be attracted to biyatches?

Sorry kung ganyan talaga yang nature ng tongue ko. Like I said, ganyan talaga.

It’s been a month, they’re still going out. My prince charming and that pokemon! Arrgh, right? Kaklase ko si Zander. Yep. Yan yung crush ko. Pero it’s been one month and two weeks since class started, di ko pa rin siya nakakausap. I doubt he even knows me.

Pumasok na siya. As usual, mukha talaga siyang masaya.

Di ko alam kung bakit crush ko siya. After all, playboy siya eh. Kaya kung tatanungin mo ko bakit siya, I really don’t know. Basta kabud lang.

“Huy loks, ginawa mo assignment sa Mikrobyo?” tanong ni Kayle sa kanya. Natawa ako. Mikrobyo tawag ng tropa nila sa Microbiology. Asar silang lahat dun sa subject na yun eh.

“Hala! May assignment dun!?” sabi niya. Ta’s natawa siya. “Pakopya.”

“Wala nga rin ako eh.”

“Anong oras ba?” tanong niya.

“Ewan. Di ko man memorize sched natin, ni hindi ko nga kinopya eh.”

Haha. One and a half month na, nakaraos siya ng walang schedule? Grabihan ah.

“Langkwents ka naman,” sabi ni Zander. Ta’s tumingin siya around the room. Suddenly, his gaze fell on me. My heart skipped a beat. Lalo na nang magsmile siya. Matutunaw na ko. WAAA. “Shey!”

I flinched. He called me by my name? WTF?

“It’s Shey, right?” sabi niya.

I nodded.

“Anong oras Microbio natin?”

“A-after lunch,” nauutal kong sagot. “First period ng afternoon…”

He smiled. “Salamat. Ayos! Chill muna ako. Hehe.”

OMG. He just talked to me! And he knew my name! Feel ko ang init-init ng nararamdaman ko. HAAA. Kunwari unaffected mode. Pero… SHUCKS!

-

Lunch time na. Nakaupo ako sa Math Park. Kasama ko sina Cess, Kyriel, at si Nea. Syempre nagpapakasaya ako habang kinakain yung lunch ko, lalo na kasi sa kabilang shed, nakaupo yung tropa ni Zander. Dito kasi sa Math Park, may limang sheds. Yung tables and chairs, gawa sa semento ta’s open air lang, and then may yero for the roof.

Sinusulyap-sulyapan ko si Zander.

He knows me, for crying out loud.

Pwede na ko mamatay. Okay, ako nang OA.

“Psst, tignan mo na habang di siya nakatingin,” bulong ni Cess.

Agad tingin ako.

WENGKZ.

Traydor na babae. NAKATINGIN SIYA EH! Nagmeet eyes namin, and I knew na nagspread na naman yung warmth all over my face. He nodded and gave me a smile. Tinaas pa niya yung kutsara niya and mouthed, Kain ka na.

I bit back my smile and nodded. Tinaas ko kutsara ko and began eating. HAAAA.

“Uuuy,” sabi pa ni Cess. I glared at her.

“Heh. Traydor ka.”

Natawa siya habang kumakain.

Sumulyap ulit ako, only this time, I felt a little disappointed kasi hindi siya nakatingin.

Solid. I could really feel the butterflies in my belly. Konting gesture lang niyan yun. if this keeps up, I’d probably die of heart attack.

“Wuy! Di ko pa rin nagagawa yung assignment sa Mikrobyo! Amina na yung sa’yo, Ced! Kopyahin ko!” Biglang napatayo si Zander.

“Huy! Di ko pa rin nagagawa!”

“In short wala pang nakagawa sa’tin?” tanong ni Zander. Napakamot siya sa ulo.

“Wala. Anong expect mo?” sabi ni Kayle.

Napatingin sila sa shed namin.

“Psst!”

Napatingin kaming lahat na babae. Si Zander.

“Pakopya nung assignment!” sabi niya.

Siniko ako ni Cess. “A-ah, eh…” I said. “Sige, sige. Umm, kunin ko lang notebook ko.”

“Wag na. Kain ka na lang, kami na kukuha. Sa bag mo?” tanong niya.

I nodded. “Y-yung Green Apple na notebook…”

He smiled. “Got it. Ano, eh… peram na rin ng ballpen. Nawala ko yung sa kin.”

Tumango ulit ako. “Sa pencil case.”

He stood up and ran off to the room.

Haizt. Help me. I’m melting.

Ganito ba talaga? Of all days, ba’t ngayon lang ata kami nag-usap ng talaga?

Zander’s POV: 

Ito yung bag niya, right? Ito nga ba? Yeeep. This is her seat. Ito na nga siguro. I opened it. Whoa. Haha. Ang ayos ayos. Yung bag ko ang gulo. Grabe. Tapos sa baba ng lahat ng books and notebooks ng bag ko, puro papel papel. Ang layo sa pagkakaayos ng bag niya. Kaya nga agad kong nakita yung green apple na sinabi niya eh.

Kinuha ko na.

I immediately saw her pencil case, pero—is this an inhaler? Tinitigan ko. Inhaler nga. Binalik ko na.

Ta’s yung pencil case niya. Binuksan ko. Lahat ng ballpens niya, may takip. Matinong tignan lahat. Mga ballpen ko, pinupulot-pulot ko lang pag Friday, kasi cleaner ako. Kumuha ako ng isang black. Tapos kinuha ko rin yung notebook ko.

Bumalik akong Math Park. Bago pumunta dun sa shed namin, pinuntahan ko muna sina Shey. Nginitian ko siya. “Salamat ah.”

She smiled. Yung tipong shy pa. “Y-you’re welcome.”

“I owe you. Kung may magagawa ako, tell me.”

Pumunta na ko sa shed namin.

“Pakopya!” sabi ni Kayle.

“Ito talaga no. Nauna ako. Ako muna,” sabi ko. Selfish talaga ako pagdating sa mga to. Joke lang. Medyo lang maman eh. Haha.

Kumopya na ko.

Gandang sulat naman o. Ang layo sa kalkal manok ko. Kelan ko kaya maaayos buhay ko? Never? Baka.

“Huy. Ba’t may ganito dito?” sabi ni Cedric.

“May ano?” tanong ko.

Hinila niya yung nakaipit sa notebook. “Sabi ko na nga ba ito yun eh.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Ah, wala, wala. Bilis mo na! Sulat ka na! Ambagal mo eh!”

“Teka, ginagandahan ko sulat ko,” pakwela ko.

Humalakhak sila.

Mga kolokoy na to talaga o.

-

Nakaupo na siya sa upuan niya, kaya nilapitan ko na lang.

“Ito o. Salamat,” sabi ko sa kay Shey. I handed the notebook and ballpen to her.

“Wala yon,” she replied, taking them from me. She bit her lower lip, something I think she does when she’s shy.

“Sige,” sabi niya. “Sabi mo eh.”

Bumalik ako sa seat ko.

Sakto pumasok si Ma’am Terror. Kaya nga ayaw namin yung Microbiology eh. Mikrobyo. Parang tong teacher naming si Ma’am Gurang. Ganyan talaga, madami kaming tawag kay Ma’am Panchito. Yan. Name niya talaga yan, kaso parang trip lang din eh. Tapos yung mukha niya… hmmm, kahawig na kahawig ni Aling Dionisia? Hakhak.

“Class, sit down, all of you!”

Haay. Here goes another boring hour.

-

Shey’s POV:

Salamat naman dismissal na! Wew.

Inayos ko na gamit ko. Paglabas ko ng classroom with Cess, Kyriel and Nea, naghihintay lang dun si Cedric. Himalang hindi niya kasama sina Zander.

“Pwedeng makausap si Shey?” he asked.

Nagtinginan kaming tatlo.

“Excuse me guys,” I told them and then went off with Cedric.

Pumunta kami sa bandang library. Bihira lang kasi mga tao dito.

Itong si Cedric, kaklase ko rin simula pa nung first year. Ewan ko lang kung may lasting impression ba ko sa kanya or what, though.

“So… let’s get down to business.”

Kumunot noo ko. Then he raised a familiar paper.

Sh3t! “A-akin yan!”

He smirked. “I know.”

“Balik mo!” I said.

It was Zander’s message to me nung first year. Dun sa “Comments Page” nung Scrapbook nung first year. Ginupit ko yung message ni Zander. Pano niya to nakuha? Umm… HALA! Nakaipit dun sa Microbiology notebook ko.

“Oo, oo. Ibabalik ko.”

“W-wag mong sasabihin sa kanya…”

He grinned. “Hindi ko. Pero… bibigyan nga lang kita ng one week.”

“One week?” I asked.

“Yep. One week para magustuhan ka ni Zander.”

WHAT THE F?

“Ha?”

“Get this. One week, dapat magustuhan ka ni Zander. Pwedeng by the end of the week, liligawan ka niya… or better yet, pwede ring maging kayo na.”

“K-kung hindi nangyari…?” I asked him.

“Malalaman ng buong campus ang tungkol sa crush mo sa kanya.”

Watda–!?

“NO!”

“YES.” He grinned mischievously.

HALA. “Bakit mo naman gustong mangyari yun?” tanong ko.

He looked almost sad when he answered, “Basta.”

Pero… why would he be sad?

“So, anong say mo? It’s either you accept my challenge, or ngayon pa lang, sasabihin ko na ang tungkol sa crush mo sa kanya.”

I gulped. “Ummm, kung hindi ako mag-a-agree ngayon-”

“Malalaman ng buong campus by tomorrow. At least kung mag-a-agree ka, next week pa.”

Hala. Naku po. And I know Cedric. Kung sinabi niyang mangyayari, talagang mangyayari.

“O-o sige…” I agreed.

Bumungisngis siya. “Awright!”

MY GAWSH. Pano na?

Arrgh.

First Step

Shey’s POV:

Binalikan ko na sina Cess, Kyriel at Nea.

“O, ba’t parang nalugi ka?” tanong ni Nea.

“Eh kasi parang nalugi ako,” sagot ko naman.

“Ayy. ‘No ba ‘to? Ano, nagconfess sa’yo?”

“Hindi ‘no,” saway ko. “Tara na.”

Kaso habang naglalakad ako, napatigil ako. I saw Zander. I bit my lip. One week. I might as well start now, right?

“Umm, guys. Sasabihin ko na. Ganito yan.” And I explained to them. I told them what Cedric asked me to do. Hindi ko nga lang minention yung expression niya kaninang tinanong ko kung bakit.

“Talaga!? Hala ka!” sabi ni Cess.

“Ano na?” I said.

“Then go! Make the most of your one week!” Nea told me. “Dali na!” she pushed me.

Napakamot ako. “Yhh, ehh… di ko alam gagawin ko eh.”

“M-malalaman mo rin! Basta lapitan mo na!”

Naku po. Napakamot ulit ako but then just gave in and went near him.

“Um, h-hi.” Hindi ko ‘to kaya, aalis na ko. “Bye na pala,” I said. Tatalikod na sana ako.

“Whoa, hey!” He held my arm.

The moment he touched me, parang uminit na buong katawan ko. Namumula nga ata ako eh.

“Anong ‘hi’ tapos ‘bye’?” sabi niya.

Napakamot ulit ako. “Umm, w-wala. Uhhh…”

“Uhhh…?” tanong niya.

I shook my head. “W-wala! Wala, wala! Sige na… Bye na nga eh…” I said. Nakows pows. Ang weak ko naman!

“Teka, teka. Di ba may utang ako sa’yo?”

U-utang? “M-meron ba?”

“Yung assignment kanina. I told you I owe you. How ’bout sabayan kitang umuwi? Libre ko nang pamasahe.”

OH MY.

Sabayan umuwi? WAAAA. O-oo ba ko? Ahh… “K-kahit wag na.”

“Anong kahit wag na? Ayos lang, ‘no. Kesa naman sa si Ma’am Gurang yung harapin ko.” He winked.

I bit my lower lip. Then napakamot ako. “S-sige.”

YIHEE.

Wheeeeee. I’m in my own world of happiness.

“Uuwi ka na ba?” he asked me.

“H-hihintayin na kita kung meron ka pang ibang ginagawa…” I muttered.

“Wala naman. Haha.”

“P-pero teka. P-pano si Kirlia?” I asked.

He grinned. “Anong pano yun?”

“Baka kako magselos siya.” Hina naman ata niya. Or baka insensitive lang siya.

“Ahhh. We broke up yesterday. Hehe.” Sinabit na niya yung backpack niya sa right shoulder niya. “Amina bag mo.”

“H-hindi, wag na. Ako na lang…”

Tinitigan niya ko. “Sure ka?”

I nodded. “Sanay naman ako eh.”

“Suit yourself! Tara na?”

Nginitian ko siya.

 

Zander’s POV:

She can be really cute sometimes.

Haha. Bakit parang nahihiya siya? Naglalakad na ko. Pero weird enough, bakit naman dito siya sa likod ko naglalakad? She’s like, two steps behind me or something. “Mabilis ba ko maglakad?” I asked.

“Ah! Hinde! Hinde no.”

“Ah, so nagpapakabagal ka lang?” I accused her.

“Umm, medyo?”

Natawa ako. It’s really surprising how honest someone can be. “ ‘Medyo’ babagalan ko rin.” Binagalan ko nga. Ayun. Side by side kami.

“H-hindi ko man alam na you know my name…” sabi niya.

“Huh? Di ba prep pa lang schoolmates na tayo? Nung grade four lang yata tayo hindi magkaklase eh,” sabi ko.

“Grade five,” she corrected me.

“Grade five,” I echoed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

She looked down. Ahaha. What memory.

“Tara, McDo tayo.”

“H-huh!?” Violent reaction.

Wew. “McDo. Treat ko. Anong klaseng bayad yung pamasahe, right? Treat na kitang food, tutal magkasama na rin tayo,” I said.

“You really don’t have to.”

“I insist,” pilit ko. Ano nga ba naman ang P 7.00 na pamasahe compared to the wrath of Ma’am Gurang, right?

“B-bahala ka.”

-

“Cheeseburger, fries, float, sundae.” Pinatong ko sa harap niya lahat yun.

“H-hala! Sabi ko fries na lang eh…” she murmured.

“Anong fries ka diyan. Ako naman nagbayad, wag mong tipirin sarili mo.”

“Andami naman nito…”

“Pareho lang tayo o. Burger, fries, float, sundae. Pareho din tayong tao. Kung anong mauubos ko, dib a mauubos mo rin?” I grinned at her.

Napakamot siya sa ulo niya. What with her habits. Biting her lower lip, scratching her head. Haha.

Shey’s POV:

Kain mode.

“Balita ko Cedric dragged you away earlier. Talked about anything special?”

Code red. Code red. “N-no. Hindi naman. N-nag… ah… nagpathank you lang din siya dun sa assignment.” Wew.

“Ah… I see. Mabait naman pala yung unggoy na yon.”

Natawa ako. “Unggoy?”

“Ah, wala. Yun lang talaga gusto kong itawag sa kanya. Shhh.”

I giggled. “All right. Shhh,” I mimicked him.

He chuckled and then ate his burger again. “So, may napansin ako. Ba’t parang ngayon lang ata talaga tayo nag-usap after all these years?”

Kasi I couldn’t find the strength to talk to you. “I guess the moment never really came up till now.”

“Tumpak, I think?” he said. “Yan nga siguro yung reason.”

Isa pang reason? Kasi nakasalalay ang secret ko.

At ang happiness ko.

“Kanina nga pala, buti nilapitan mo ko?” tanong niya.

“K-kanina?” Ahhh. Nung sinabi ko hi-bye. “Ummm, y-yun nga. Magpapasabay sana ako pauwi. Na… natakot ako dun sa pinanood ko eh. You said I could come to you if I needed something and… well…” LIES. Ayan tuloy. Nabaluktot na dila ko. Ano na katuloy…? Hala.

“Ganon? Okay then. One week na kitang ihahatid-sundo.” He made a simple grin.

Ako naman laglag panga. “H-ha?”

“Malay mo after one week lilipas din yang trauma mo from the movie, right? So… hatid sundo na kita. Commute nga lang.”

“You don’t have to.” I feel so guilty about lying.

He bit his cheeseburger. “It’s for me, being a new friend.”

I smiled reluctantly. “S-sige…”

Unconsciously, he’s actually helping me out.

“Okay…”

He’s not like the playboys on all those stories. Yung mga mayabang na mahilig mambara at mahilig inisin yung girl? He’s a playboy, all right. Pero he’s not obnoxious and arrogant. He’s like the boy-next-door type. Hindi yung mga playboy na often ganon ang connotation.

“I think it’s my first time eating out with a girl na hindi ko girlfriend,” he said. “It’s actually fun! Hehehe. Walang demanding. Walang choosy. Walang mga ganon.”

I forced a smile. Wengz. Pano to?

I think he prefers me as a “girl friend” not girlfriend.

Tsk, tsk. This won’t do. I gotta do something fast.

Especially if I plan to be liked by him.

-

Zander’s POV:

“Bayad po,” sabi ko. “Dalawa po. Estudyante.”

Medyo makulimlim na rin. Napasarap yung kwentuhan namin sa McDo eh. It turns out she really likes music a lot.

“So…” I began. “Marunong kang maggitara, magviolin, magpiano, magkanta, at magcompose?”

She nodded. “Yup, and right now, I’m taking cello lessons.”

Whoa. “Haha. ‘To naman. Baka maging virtuoso ko sa future tapos di mo na kami pansin-pansinin?”

Natawa siya. “Impossible, you know.”

Hahaha. “Right. You’ll be there tomorrow, di ba?”

“Th-there?”

“Birthday ni Kayle. Blowout daw siya. Buong klase.”

“Saan?”

“Sa Yellow Cab.”

Whoa. Buong klase, tapos Yellow Cab pa ah? Mayaman. Kahit medyo mayaman din kami, hindi ata ako ganon kagastos.

“So… punta ka?” tanong ko ulit.

“H-he really didn’t invite me…”

“Whole class nga daw eh. And he also told me earlier to invite those persons he didn’t have the chance to talk to.”

She thought about it for a while, then finally. “Okay.”

I really don’t know why, but I just felt… happy. Oops. I think happy is an overstatement. Relieved? Pwede na siguro yun.

“After class hours ba yon?” tanong niya.

“Yeeeeep.” I yawned. “Inaantok akooooo.”

She laughed softly.

“Ano?” I asked.

“N-nothing.”

“Anong nothing ka diyan. Really, what?”

She averted her gaze.

“Hey, what is it?”

Pansin ko parang ang kulit ko ah.

“Well… I-I just think you’re actually cool.”

Pinigilan ko yung smile ko. “Ahh… Thanks?” I said.

Tumango siya and then looked out the window. Nung di na siya nakatingin, napabungisngis ako dahil sa sinabi niya.

Weird, huh?

Shey’s POV:

“Malapit na. You really don’t have to get off,” I told Zander. “Umm, para po.”

Tumigil na yung jeep. Pero bumaba pa rin siya. Inunahan pa nga niya ko eh. Sumunod na lang ako, syempre.

Walang ibang bumaba except us. Pagkababa namin, humarurot na paalis yung jeep. Grabe. Ang usok ng tambutso. Napaubo tuloy ako.

“H-hey, okay ka lang?”

My eyes watered. Nagwheeze ako bigla. Hala. Asthma attack.

I continued to cough, and nawawalan na ko ng hininga.

Hindi ko na napansin na nakuha na pala niya yung inhaler ko. He handed it to me, and very slowly, I started to calm down as I used it.

When I caught my breath, he looked really worried. Pinahid ko yung mga luha ko.

“S-salamat.”

“It’s fine. Are you okay?”

I nodded. “A-ayos lang.”

“You sure?”

I nodded.

“So, I’ll see you tomorrow?” sabi niya.

I bit my lower lip sabay tango.

Haaay.

I watched him ride another jeep the opposite nang sinakyan namin.

Nung mawala na yung jeep from my vision, pumasok na ko ng bahay.

Kakayanin ko kaya ang week na ‘to?

Second Step

 

Shey’s POV:

“Get your books and open them on page 321,” Ma’am Gurang said as she entered the classroom. Hala. Pag hindi man lang siya nag good afternoon, that means bad mood siya. Pero dahil palagi naman siyang bad mood, I guess you could call it very, very, very, very bad mood.

My classmates came up with theories: Kung may good afternoon, best mood ever na yon, kahit na bad mood pa rin. Kung walang good afternoon, may regla siya. Kung wala nang good afternoon, tapos may surpsise quiz pa, nag-oovulate. Kung walang good afternoon, may surprise quiz, at may assignment pa para bukas, may regla na nga siya, nag-away sila ng asawa niya, at merong nang-asar sa kanya dahil sa itsura niya.

Sama nila no?

Then may paper sa harap ko na pinasa ni Nea. She’s my seatmate.

It was a list of people who were allowed to go to Yellow Cab. I smiled to myself and began writing my name, then—

“MISS SHEYEL PRANSESKA!”

Napastraight ako ng upo. Patay. Tinawag ako ni Ma’am Gurang. Naman o. Mali pa pronounciation. My name is Sheyelle Francesca, not whatever she called me.

“M-ma’am?” I asked.

“Read the second paragraph.”

Hala. Dahil dun sa list, hindi ko pa naopen sa page 321 yung book ko.

Mapapahiya ba ko? Then I racked my brain and AHA!

“But Ma’am, nobody has read the first paragraph yet. What’s the point of reading the second before the first one? Ni hindi ko pa po naopen yung book ko.”

She flushed, pero agad bawi. “And why haven’t you opened your book!?”

“You’ve only been inside for 30 seconds, Ma’am. Kinalkal ko pa lang po bag ko.” PALUSOT DOT COM.

Haha.

She flushed even more bago sinabing, “Very well.”

I sighed. “Will I read the first paragraph, then, Ma’am?”

“Go ahead.”

Binuksan ko na book ko and started reading.

Wew.

Zander’s POV:

Whoa. Sinakat lang ba niya si Ma’am Gurang?

Galing ah.

I watched her as she read the book and I smiled to myself. She’s a really nice girl. And I mean, really nice.

I’m glad I became friends with her. Biruin mo? She’s been my classmate every year, but we never talked. Sa projects lang ata kami nagkakaron ng interactions eh, pero even then, hindi kami nakakapag-usap. Hindi ako kinikibo eh. Akala ko nahihiya lang.

But when I talked to her that day, I guess she wasn’t really shy. Wala lang sigurong rason to actually talk to me.

I think she’s a really good friend. J

-

“WEW! Laki ah!”

Nasa Yellow Cab na kami. Ang daming sumama. Si Bogs lang ata hindi sumama eh. Si Bognot. Haha. Hindi gaanong outgoing yun eh.

Nakikipagdaldalan lang lahat.

Kasama ko yung tropa ko syempre. Sino pa ba?

Shey’s POV:

Haaizt. Ni hindi man lang ako tinitignan. Ako nang ambisyosa no. Pero… hindi talaga niya ko tinitignan eh.

Sayang. Akala ko may something kasi naman siya nag-invite sa akin dito. Hindi naman pala ako papansinin. Tinititigan ko na lang siya, hoping he would stare back. Hindi eh. Busy pa rin makipag-usap with Kayle, Cedric (URGH), Francis, and Shawn.

“Baka malusaw,” sabi ni Kyriel bigla.

“Eh naman eh…” sabi ko. “Andyan na rin siya, ba’t di ko pa tignan, right?” Sabay kindat ako.

“Tama!” Cess said. “Sige, tunawin mo na.”

SURE. Pasulyap-sulyap ako sa kanya all night long.

“Uy! Guys! Sinong pinakakonting kinain!?” tanong bigla ni Kayle.

Natahimik lahat. Then iniscan nila lahat ng plates. Sina Zander, Cedric, Francis and Shawn yung mga tumingin sa mga plato.

Oh no.

“ITO O! NI HINDI MAN NIYA MAUBOS-UBOS TONG ISANG SLICE!” biglang sigaw ni Cess.

“Hey!” sabi ko, sabay takip sa bibig niya, but too late.

Lumapit si Shawn.

“NAKALAHATI LANG NIYA YUNG ISANG SLICE! Grabihan ah, naka-apat na slices na ko, ikaw, ito palang,” dagdag pa niya.

“O, anong pagagawa natin sa kanya?” sabi naman ni Cedric.

“Kanta ka ng happy birthday sa harapan naming lahat habang sumasayaw ng Nobody,” sabi ni Kayle.

Laglag panga moment. WTF? NOBODY? As in Wonder Girls?

“Dali na o!” sabi ni Zander.

Naghiyawan buong klase.

I scratched my head, reluctantly standing up from my seat.

“Happy birthday to you…” SH3T! With matching Nobody dance! ERRRR. Kill me now!

Nung natapos ako, Masaya buong klase.

“Uy! Namumula siya o!” sabi bigla ni Zander. “Siguro may gusto ka sa birthday boy no!?” sabi niya.

“H-HA?” I said. Hell no! “N-no!”

“In deny pa!” sabi ni Shawn. “Available naman si Kayle o!”

I shook my head. “Hindi!” I said. “Really. Hindi si Kayle.”

“WEW! Sino!?” tanong ni Kayle non.

Napatingin ako kay Cedric.

“SECRET!” I yelled, hurriedly going back to my seat.

That was probably the most humiliating thing that has ever happened to me.

Naman o.

-

Everyone decided to libot-libot muna sa Freeway.

Nagdivide na into groups.

Hindi na sagot ni Kayle eh.

Syempre, kami nina Cess, Kyriel, and Nea ang magkasama.

“Hindi ka man lang niya pinansin the whole night,” sabi ni Nea.

“Ayos lang. Just because he invited me, it doesn’t really mean anything.” Naman o. Kahit ako parang naoffend sa sinabi ko. Haaay.

“Kasi naman, ikaw… tsk, tsk.”

“Sorry na nga eh,” I murmured. “Ba’t nga ba kasi siya pa?”

“Who knows?” sabi ni Cess. “For all I know, ganyan lang talaga ang mga crush-crush when in high school.”

I sighed. “Siguro nga.”

Naglibot-libot kami. Hindi lang minsan na may nakasalubong kaming ibang grupo. Pero nung nagyayaan na dun sa fountain sa labas, lumabas na kaming apat. Dun lang kami sa benches dun.

“Kapagod…” sabi ni Cess.

“Masakit na nga paa ko eh,” sabi naman ni Kyriel.

“Oo nga,” hirit pa ni Nea.

Haaay.

I could definitely say that tonight was a step backward.

“Uwi na tayo?” yaya ni Kyriel.

Awww. Wala akong kasabay. They’re all off to the opposite direction of our house.

“Sige…” sabi ko na lang. “Umm, mauna na kayo.” I  smiled. “Magpapahangin pa ko dito eh.”

“Ahh. Sure ka?” sabi ni Nea.

I nodded. “Sure na sure!”

Umalis na nga sila, pero not without more of their pangungulit.

Nung umalis na sila, stay put lang ako dun sa bench.

“Shey?”

“AY FOUNTAIN!” I shouted in shock.

I looked behind me and saw Zander’s group. Silang apat, present.

“O, san na sina Cess?” sabi ni Kayle.

“Nauna na sila,” sabi ko. “Opposite kasi yung direction ng houses nila sa house namin.”

“Oo nga pala! I agreed na sasamahan ko siya pauwi!” Nasapo ni Zander yung ulo niya.

“N-no! Really, it’s okay. Kaya ko naman umuwi mag-isa…”

“Wuy, lalake kaming lahat kausap mo. Expect mo hahayaan ka naming umuwing mag-isa, eh halos alas nueve na ng gabi?” sabi ni Cedric.

I gulped. It was his message: Pahatid ka na kasi.

“Ummm, merong something ngayon eh,” sabi ni Zander. “Kayle, you actually live in the same subdivision. Ikaw na lang mag-uwi sa kanya?” he said.

“Really!?” sabi ni Kayle. “Same subdivision? Cool! Sige, ako na mag-uuwi sa kanya.”

“N-no need, really…” sabi ko.

“It’s okay!” sabi ni Kayle, smiling. “Uwi ka nab a, or are you savoring the moment here outside?” tanong niya.

I swallowed. “Medyo nagpapahangin lang.”

“Maiwan na namin kayo,” sabi ni Zander. “Sige, dude. Bye, Shey.”

I nodded. I wished na madilim na masyado para makita nilang nagblush ako when he said my name.

“Bye,” sabi ni Kayle.

“I-ingat kayo,” sabi ko na lang.

Nung umalis na sila, umupo si Kayle sa tabi ko.

“SOOO, kelan mo balak sabihin kay Zander?” tanong ni Kayle bigla.

“H-ha?” I said.

“Na gusto mo siya, DUH,” he replied.

“Umm… n-never?” I answered.

“Wow. They weren’t kidding when they said you were awfully honest,” sabi ni Kayle.

“Ummm, I get that a lot,” sabi ko na lang.

“So… you really like my best friend?” sabi niya.

I nodded. “Since prep.”

“Honest nga, grabe.” He chuckled. Napahiya ako. “Wala kang balak sabihin sa kanya?” Kayle asked me.

I shook my head. “No need. Alam ko naman kung sino yung mga gusto niyang girls eh.”

“Right… mga pokemon?” sabi bigla ni Kayle.

Natawa ako. He’s referring to Kirlia. “Right.”

“Haha. Ganun lang talaga yon.”

“P-pano mo nalaman?” I asked him.

“It’s obvious. The way you react whenever he calls your name,” sabi niya. “Agad pula.”

Embarassed na talaga ako. Err.

“After all those years, ngayon mo lang siya nakausap. Why now, after everything else?” sabi niya.

I swallowed. “It’s Cedric,” I said.

He raised his eyes. “Anong si Cedric?”

I told him about the paper, Cedric, the deal.

Natawa siya.

“That’s bad,” sabi ni Kayle.

“You think it is?”

He nodded. “Very.”

“Napaka encouraging mo naman,” sabi ko. Sarcastic mode.

Natawa siya. “Talaga lang ah.”

“Don’t tell him yet,  please?”

He nodded. “My lips are sealed.”

Zander’s POV:

She definitely likes Kayle. I set them up.

“Ba’t mo siya pinamigay?” sabi ni Shawn. “It’s the first time hindi mo sinunggaban yung may potential. I mean, maganda naman boses niya, dude. At maganda rin siya, only plain.”

“Ha? Ah… I see her as a friend lang.”

“Why is that?” tanong ni Cedric.

“Umm, ewan?”

“Is it because she’s not your type?”

I shrugged. “Siguro. I don’t think she’s for the playboy type anyway.”

“You think she’s for the Kayle-type?” tanong pa rin ni Cedric.

“YEP. Yung down-to-earth type.”

Cedric shook his head, sighing.

“What?” I asked.

Tapos si Shawn, “Ang deep mo today, pare.”

Natawa ako. “Hindi man.”

-

Shey’s POV:

And that’s how today ended. Total failure.

ERR.

Really, it’s one step backward.

Kaasar.

Third Step

Shey’s POV:

“HEEEEY,” sabi ni Kyriel. “Anong meron today? Remember, he needs to fall in love with you.”

I sighed.

It’s lunch time. I’m still blank.

“Kahit siguro malaman na ng buong school. Wala naman akong magagawa eh. He’ll never like me.”

“Napaka POSITIVE mo naman,” biglang may sumulpot sa shed namin.

Si Shawn.

“H-ha?” I said.

“Cedric told me all about it,” sabi ni Shawn.

Nasa Math Park kami, sa usual shed namin. Tapos sina Zander, dun din sa kabila. Tumabi-tabi nga lang tong si Shawn samin.

“T-talaga?” I asked.

“YEEEEP.”

“Umm, si Zander lang hindi may alam?” sabi ni Cess.

“Oo.”

I told them already about Kayle and our talk on our way home already eh.

“Eh ano nang gagawin natin?” sabi ni Nea. “She’ll fail, at this rate.”

“Guys. It’s okay. Wala na kong pakielam,” I muttered.

“LIAR,” sabi ni Kyriel. “So… tayo na mag-isip para sa kanya.”

I groaned.

“Wag na ngaaaaaa.”

Pero they were already discussing about their plan. Hindi na ko nakasingit. The next thing I know, I’m forced to play along with them.

-

Dismissal na. Pauwi na syempre.

“Shey!”

That voice. Agad akong namula.

“Ako maghahatid sa’yo today,” sabi ni Zander.

I smiled. Buti naman hindi ko kelangan tanungin na ihatid niya ko. Part of the plan, kung hindi daw niya ako yayayain umuwi, ako magyaya.

“Ummm, o-okay.” No time para magpakipot pa.

Palabas na kami ng school. Usap-usap.

“I was thinking, to make it up to you, how about we go stop by sa Shakey’s?” sabi niya.

OYEA. Another hard thing to not do.

“Umm, sige.”

“Great!” sabi niya. “I want you to meet someone.”

HA? THAT wasn’t in the plan. “S-sino?”

“It’s a surprise.”

-

“Darating siya later on. Hahabol na lang daw,” sabi ni Zander.

“Okay…” I said.

Nandito na pagkain, so chibug mode ulit.

Kumakain na nga kami eh. Nag-uusap kami.

“So, what do you say about Kayle?” sabi niya bigla.

“He’s really nice.”

Okay. Eto na yung plan. Tignan ko daw reaction niya.

He raished his eyebrows. “So, gusto mo nga siya?”

“N-not in that sense…” I muttered.

“Oh,” he said. “Pero, did you enjoy your time with him?”

I nodded. “Yeah. We had some really helpful talks.”

“Helpful talks?” sabi niya. “You helped him out with something?”

I shook my head. “H-he helped me out.”

His eyes widened. “About what?” Then an easy smile crept on his face.

“About… about the person I like,” I answered.

“Uuuuy,” sabi niya. “Sino?”

URGH. Why do you have to be so clueless? “It’s our secret.”

“Ohhh… naman o. I was friends with you first, tapos nauna pa niyang nalaman?” sabi niya, he was grinning.

I smiled. “Aba, ganyan talaga.”

“Awww…”

Haaaay.

He’s definitely not jealous at all. AT ALL.

Epic fail.

Another step backward, I guess.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

He answered it. “Hello? O, yeah. Andito na kami… Huh? Oh… O sige…. Sige… Sure. Bye.”

He hung up.

“Hindi daw siya makakarating. Maybe tomorrow daw? Free ka pa rin ba tomorrow?” he asked me.

Andun pa rin yung easy smile niya, which made it harder for me to smile back.

“Oo,” sagot ko.

“Alam mo ba? Masaya palang magkaroon ng girl na friend,” he said.

“Why?” tanong ko. My voice broke, pero tinry niyang hindi pansinin.

I suppressed a sigh. Hanggang friend lang talaga eh. I’ve long given up about the idea of him liking me back.

“It just feels… much better,” he said. “Really.”

“Umm… why nga?” sabi ko.

“Hindi ko alam. It’s nice for a change, you know.” He drank his iced tea.

Kumain na lang ulit ako.

Pero… siguro pwede na rin yung friends kami.

At least for a week, kasi surely, once he finds out na may gusto ako sa kanya all along, lalayo at lalayo din siya.

“Hey! Di ba may seminar lahat ng teachers tomorrow?” sabi niya.

“OH! Oo, wala nga palang klase…” sabi ko.

Another day I won’t see him.

Certainly, hindi niya ko kelangang ihatid pauwi. No reason to talk to each other.

“So, want to hang out? You know. Friendly date?”

I was surprised. I actually blushed.

“Hey, you’re blushing!” sabi niya, laughing.

“N-naman o!” sabi ko. ALANGANG HINDE!

“You see. O dib a? Blushing tomato red!” sabi niya. “NBSB ka?”

I nodded. “Obvious naman siguro, no.”

He laughed at me. “Cute mo naman! First time asked out on a date?”

“H-hindi no! I have some suitors, too. Hindi ko lang pinapansin.” Kasi hindi ka nila malamangan.

“So you turn them all down?” I asked.

I nodded meekly. “Y-yeah…” Dahil sa’yo.

“Haha. So, ako, ite-turn down mo? Pero I guess this doesn’t count, since it’s all purely platonic and all…”

Purely platonic. Purely as friends only.

Yeah. It probably doesn’t count.

“Sige, first date ko, ikaw na,” sabi ko.

Sana nga lang it was how I’ve always wished it was.

Zander’s POV:

Really cute. Haha. She’s blushing and all.

Nakakatawa rin pala.

-

Pagkahatid ko sa kanya (we talked about Ma’am Gurang all the way to their house), umuwi na ko straight.

“O, Nak. Where have you been?” sabi ni Mama.

I kissed her cheek. Mas matangkad na ko kay Mama ngayon. Haha. “I hung out with a friend.”

“Si Kayle?”

“Nope.”

“Si Cedric?”

“Nope.”

“Si Shawn?”

“Nope.”

“Si Francis?”

“Nope.”

“Sino?” tanong ni Mama.

Ba’t din a lang kasi yan yung tinanong niya simula kanina.

“I think you’ll like her.”

She froze. “Her?” She raised her eyebrows.

I grinned. “Yep.”

“Not another girlfriend?” sabi ni Mama. Haha. Grabihan naman kasi. 3^rd year pa lang ako, andami ko nang naka-MU. Iba pa yung niligawan ko talaga.

“Nope,” sabi ko.

“And you’re only friends? Or only for now?” tanong pa rin ni Ma.

I chuckled. “Imposibleng maging kami, Ma. Haha. It’s nice to have a friend like her eh. Lahat ata ng babaeng nakakausap ko, gusto nilang magustuhan ko eh. She’s different. Walang feelings for me, walang hidden agenda. Just… she’s just her.”

“Mmm… o sige. Kain ka na.”

“I already ate. Night, Ma.”

“Night, then.”

-

Shey’s POV:

Oh sh!t. I have a date tomorrow. With my crush since prep.

PANIC.

Right now, I really can’t tell if it’s a step forward, or a step backward.

Fourth Step

Zander’s POV:

Nasa Freeway na ko.

I think I’m a little bit early. Haha. Five minutes before the meeting time pa lang eh. Napag-usapan naming magkita sa harap ng National Bookstore.

Pero just when I thought I was early, hindi pala. She’s already there eh.

“Hey,” sabi ko. “Sorry I’m late.” I still felt obliged to say that.

“Hindi no! Napaaga lang ako.”

Whoa.

Laglag panga ako when I took her image in.

She’s wearing something… nice. Jumper-dress na black (maiksi lang yung skirt), black leggings, white na panloob, and nice, flat, strappy sandals. Simpleng clip lang nilagay niya sa hair niya, but enough to make her look cute.

“What can you say for my first date?” sabi niya, turning around.

I grinned and gave her two thumbs up. “If I was your boyfriend, baka hindi na kita pakawalan. Hahaha.”

She blushed.

Ang dalas niyang mamula.

Sabagay, NBSB, so probably, talking about boys and dates would really make her feel shy.

“Pasok tayong National,” she said, pointing at National Bookstore. “Bibili akong novel.”

“Sure,” sabi ko.

Pumasok na kami.

“Bookworm ka rin?” I asked her.

“O-oo eh. Sige na, ako nang boring.”

“Anong boring ka diyan? Hindi no. So you call me boring too?”

“Bookworm ka!?” sabi niya.

“Kung makatanong ka naman diyan, parang di marunong magbasa yung tao,” I said, grinning at her.

“Hindi naman. I was just surprised, that’s all…”

“Huh. Siguro nga,” I said. “Unexpected?”

She nodded. “Sobra.”

Habang namimili siya, namimili na rin ako. Ano kayang maganda? Hmmmm…

I scanned the books.

“Arrrgh!” I heard her groan.

Secretly, I watched her.

“Isip ka nga, Shey! Ba’t di ako makapagdecide kung alin…?”

“Take them both,” singit ko.

“Ays. Wala akong pera no,” sabi niya.

Natawa ako. “Hmmm, gift ko sa’yo yung isa?” I suggested.

Her face brightened up. “T-talaga!?”

“YUP,” sagot ko.

“P-pero… it’s not even anyone’s birthday…” sabi naman niya.

Natawa ako. “Sure ka?” I asked her.

Napakunot noo niya.

“Anong date ngayon?” she asked me out of the blue.

“July 22,” I replied, smiling.

Her eyes widened. “OMG. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” sabi niya.

Whoa. She knows? “Thanks!”

I can’t believe that she remembers it.

“Umm… I forgot! My goodness, how could I forget!?” she scolded herself.

Natawa ako. “You forgot? I didn’t even know you knew it in the first place,” I said.

“Pero… pero… I’m so stupid.”

Kinuha ko mula sa kamay niya yung mga libro.

“You’re funny. I really appreciate it. You know, na alam mo birthday ko.”

“Sorry talaga if I forgot…” sabi niya.

“It’s cool,” I said. “Bayad na tayo?”

“Ba’t naman ikaw na may birthday, ikaw pa nagbabayad?” sabi niya.

“Cause that’s how I want it to be.”

“Fine…” she said, sounding defeated.

-

After buying the books, we went out of National Bookstore.

“Saan mo gustong kumain?” I asked her.

“Hmmm… Paotsin,” sabi niya.

“Paotsin? Ayaw mo sa restaurant?”

“I’m craving for some Hainanese Rice eh.”

Bumungisngis ako. See how I told you she’s so unlike every other girl? Lahat ata ng girls demandind eh. Siya, simpleng 48 pesos lang, pwede na sa kanya.

“Pero sigurado kang hindi mo to ginagawa dahil lang ako yung nagbabayad? After all, this is your first date. Friendly nga lang. You might want to eat some place more special.”

“Bahala kang mag-isip kung ayaw mong Paotsin,” sabi niya.

“I like it there, I’m just aking, sure ka?”

She nodded, smiling. “A hundred percent.”

We went to the food court, found a table, and I ordered. She insisted to be the one to order, pero syempre, lalake pa rin ako. Alangang hayaan yung babae.

Nagflashback bigla yung napag-usapan namin ni Kayle kagabi.

 

 

“Dude, hindi mo talaga popormahan si Shey?” sabi niya.

“Ha? Why would I? I’m not really her type, and she’s not really mine.”

“Naman o,” he said over the phone. “It’s not really about types and those stuff, right? Andun lang naman yun sa kung anong nararamdaman mo. Honestly nga, hoy. Magsalita ka.”

“Honestly?” I asked.

“Yes. Honestly. Do you have feelings for her?”

I considered the thought for a while, then found it ridiculous for me to do so, so I said, “Wala.”

“HA!?”

“I don’t have those feelings for her. Our relationship’s purely platonic.”

“Ohh… so bakit siya?”

“Anong bakit siya?” I asked.

“Bakit siya yung tinanong mo on a date for your birthday?”

Napatigil ako. “Honestly pa rin?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

“I—Ewan ko rin eh.”

“Then I say, you should think about what you said, about feelings for her.”

 

Pero after then, wala talaga eh.

Friends lang talaga yung nasa utak ko.

“Shark’s fin,” I said, placing hers in front of her.

“Great!” sabi niya.

Ang baba ng kaligayahan ah.

“So, anong gusto mong gift?” she suddenly asked me.

“Ako?” I chuckled. “Nothing, really.”

“Anong wala ka diyan, surely, there’s something.”

I sighed. “What if I tell you na gusto ko ng PS3? Anong gagawin mo?”

She raised her eyebrows. “Sure ka?” she asked me.

“Sure na sure,” I said, grinning.

Nilabas niya phone niya. “I’ll make a call and place an order… Excuse me…”

WHAT!? “Hey! I was kidding!”

“Oh.” She put her phone back.

“You know…” I said. “Masyadong mahal yun.”

“Haha! Naniwala ka naman,” sabi niya.

I smiled. “Naniwala nga ako.” Tsss. Pahiya ako run, I think.

“So, either way… anong gusto mo?” she queried.

I sighed. “Hmmm… meron akong gusto right now, pero hindi ko pa makukuha ‘yon, and you definitely can’t give it to me.”

“Ha?” sabi niya. “A-ano yun?”

“Hm… corny eh. Baka pagtawanan mo ko.”

She shook her head. “Pwamis, hindi.”

“Okay…” sabi ko. “I wish someday in the future… I’d find something true.”

She was taken aback.

She looked… touched?

Shey’s POV:

“That… that’s so deep,” I told him.

“Sabi ko na corny eh,” I said.

“Hindi man! Promise… it’s really… touching.”

He grinned. “I never told anyone that.”

“Why?”

“I’m sure, if it was anyone else, tatawanan lang ako.”

“Then that’s their stupidity,” sabi niya. “I find that really deep… I hope you find something true then.” Unlike me.

I’m not something true.

I’m a big fake.

“It’s nice, to have a girl as a friend. Kung sa lalake ko sinabi yun, I’d be so embarrassed. It’s different when you tell a girl… a girl is sensible. Sensitive. Just like you. I’m so glad we became friends.”

“Me too.” But not for the same reason you’re glad that we are.

I’m glad because it’s the closest we could ever get.

You’re glad because it’s the closest we could ever get, and it’s enough for you.

“Sino nga ba ulit yung gusto mo?” he asked me.

Sino pa ba? “Somebody,” I said.

“Sino yun?” sabi niya.

I grinned, forced, pero hindi ko pinahalata. “Secret nga, dib a?”

He rolled his eyes. “Naman to o. I just told you one of my deepest thoughts, tapos ikaw, simpleng crush lang… tsk, tsk.”

Sorry.

Ganyan talaga.

-

Zander’s POV:

 

Quantum. Haha. Naglaro kami.

“WEW! JACKPOT!!!” sigaw niya nung pumasok yung bola sa jackpot, which never happened to me ever!

Ang saya niya, sa sobrang saya niya, nagsisitalon siya and she hugged me.

Hahaha.

She broke off, immediately tensing. Blushing, even.

Natawa ako.

“’To naman o. Friendly hug lang, ganyan na nga ang reaction mo.”

“Eh, hindi naman ako sanay eh…”

Tinawanan ko na lang siya as she pouted.

Cute, really.

“Sooo…” sabi niya. “Anong magagawa natin sa tickets na to?” she asked me, looking at the tickets na hanggang ngayon lumalabas pa.

“Marami,” I replied. “Daming prizes dun o. Laro pa tayong konti, tapos kunin natin yung pinakamagandang stuffed toy!”

“Sure!” sabi niya.

Ang cheerful niya, no?

Talaga lang.

At least di na siya ganun kashy.

I suddenly ruffled her hair. “Cute mo naman!” I said and walked off to another game machine. “Wuy, tara, dito tayo!”

“A-ah! S-sige, sige!”

-

“HAAAAAAAAY. Kapagod. Parang nung isang araw lang, narito tayo sa Freeway no?” I said.

I nodded. “Oo nga.”

“So…”

“So…?” I asked her.

“Di ba imimeet natin yung gusto kong mameet ko today?”

Whoa. Naaalala pa niya.

“For dinner na lang siguro.”

“D-dinner?” she asked me. “Hanggang dinner tayong magkasama?”

“M-may plans ka ba?”

She bit her lower lip.

“Oh…” I said. “Meron nga?”

She nodded. “Sorry! There’s… there’s just this thing eh.”

“Thing? What thing?” I asked.

“N-nothing really important,” she replied. “Pero… I can’t cancel it.”

“Ummm… okay,” sabi ko, disappointed. Obvious siguro yung disappointment, kasi she looked really apologetic.

“Kasalanan ko naman na nag-imply akong all day kang pwede,” I said, trying to grin. “Right?”

“Pero… I feel really bad, I mean-“

“It’s fine, really…” I said. “So… kelangan mo nang umuwi?”

She nodded, yet again biting her lower lip.

Hinatid ko na siya pauwi. Take note: Commute pa rin kami, no.

When we arrived at her house, she said, “So… thanks sa time. Happy birthday.”

He nodded. “Thank you rin.”

“So… umm, bye na.”

“Bye.”

Papasok na siya ng gate when I said, “See you tomorrow at school!” Sabay bungisngis.

She looked back, smiling. “Yeah!”

And she went in.

-

I went back to Freeway. I’m supposed to meet Audrey here.

I was about to introduce Audrey to Shey. Sayang hindi pwede.

“Hey!” I said upon seeing her.

She smiled. “Oh. Happy birthday,” she said.

I nodded. “Right.”

“Saan yung sinasabi mong friend…?”

I shook my head. “Well, she had something to do.”

“Aww. Sayang naman,” Audrey said.

Inakbayan ko siya. “Sayang nga. You would have liked her if you met her. I’m sure you guys would be good friends. I miss you.” I kissed her forehead.

“Namiss din kita.”

With curly hair, pinkish white complexion, she really looks like a mannequin doll. Ganun siya kaganda. Haha.

“Change of plans?” Audrey said.

I nodded. “Do you have something in mind?”

She smiled. “YEP.”

“Fine then, take the lead.”

-

Shey’s POV:

 

“Good luck,” Ma said.

I smiled. “Salamat, Ma.”

“O sige, maiwan na muna kita.”

I nodded. “Sure.”

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.

Kaya ko to. This will be easy.

Easy.

Or so I think.

I hope.

Arrrgh. Ba’t kasi hindi ako ganun kaconfident eh.

I held my violin. Kaya ko naman siguro to. It’s not my first time doing a music recital, pero first time ‘to using the violin.

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.

“Shey, you’re up in five minutes.”

I smiled. “I’ll get ready.”

I’m wearing a white, flowing evening gown. My hair is up on a messy, scrunched-up sort of twist, and curled. CURLED. Haha.

As it has always been on my recitals.

I stood up, violin in my left hand, the bow in my right.

I looked at the mirror.

Surely, this is a different me I’m looking at.

Zander’s POV:

 

She came. The star of the night came out already. Already on the stage.

A white gown. Curled hair.

From where we sat, I can’t really see her face, but I’m sure she’s pretty.

“Who is she?” I asked Audrey.

“Oh, that’s Cheska,” she answered. “I forgot her last name. I’ve always been on her piano recitals.”

“Is she good?” I asked.

“Yes, and very pretty.”

“Hmmm,” I said.

She started to play.

And honestly, though I’m not a big fan of classical music, I was actually drawn to each note.

She played two pieces.

“Whoa,” I said, and joined the audience’s silent clapping.

“I told you she’s good,” sabi ni Audrey. “I’ve talked to her once. She’s really humble, you know.”

“Really…” I just said.

“Paano mo naman nakausap?” I asked her.

“Nilapitan ko, DUH.”

She was really good.

Cheska.

I’ll remember that name.

“Dalhin mo ulit ako pag may recital siya,” I said.

Audrey smiled. “Sure! Type mo? Ikaw ah, kasama mo na ko, tumitingin ka pa sa kung saan-saan.”

“W-what? Tsss. Hindi no. I’m just… curious.”

She nodded. “Right.”

 

Fifth Step

 

Shey’s POV:

Friday na.

Obviously, he still doesn’t like me that way. I give up already. ERR.

“So, what happened with the date?” Cess asked me.

“Nothing,” I replied. “Nothing much.”

I meant my answer, really.

Wala naman talagang nangyari, right? Well, other than friendly things and all. Not to mention, may katabi akong malaking stuffed toy kagabi habang natutulog ako. Ang cute nga nung bear na yun eh, pero friends lang talaga yung intention niya, ano pa nga bang magagawa ko?

Pwede na ko dun.

Ni hindi ko man nga pinangarap na magiging friends kami. Let alone na bibigyan niya ko ng bear.

Sad to say, pero next week, wala na rin yan.

Friday na today, Saturday bukas, pano kami magkikita? Tapos pagdating ng Sunday, wala na rin.

Haaaaizt.

“Musta nga pala recital kahapon?” tanong ni Nea.

“Ayos lang,” I said. “Medyo kinabahan nga lang ako, pero it was worth it.”

Zander’s POV:

 

I entered the classroom. Daldalan pa rin lahat. Syempre, ganyan talaga. Kung walang nagdadaldalan dito, then mali pinasok kong classroom.

“Hey! Bumalik na pala si Aud?” tanong ni Shawn.

I grinned. “Oo nga eh,” sabi ko.

“Nagdate na kayo?” tanong naman ni Kayle.

I nodded, nakabungisngis. “YEEP.”

“Saan naman?”

“Well… we went to this recital… and then ate dinner out.”

“Wow pare, bigat. Musta birthday mo?” sabi ni Cedric.

“Ayus lang,” I replied. “Masaya!”

“Masaya?” tanong naman ni Francis. “Di ba you spent it with Shey?”

I nodded. “Yep. First date nga niya eh.”

“WEEEH!? Nagdate kayo!?”

I nodded. “May surprising ba dun?” I asked. “Ahhhh. Friendly date lang naman.”

“Oh,” sabi ni Cedric. “Akala ko naman ano na.”

“Ang kulit niyo. Sabi ko naman, friends kami, right?”

“Sabi mo eh,” sabi na lang ni Francis. “I wonder, though.”

“Whatever guys,” sabi ko na lang. “Ang wide kasi ng mga imagination niyo.”

“Hindi ka ba nobore dun sa recital?”

I looked at Cedric, who was looking at me like he knew me.

“Weird, pero hindi eh. I actually liked her—I MEAN, THE RECITAL… not her… y-yung recital… a-ahahaha… haha… ha…” Napakamot ako. Nadulas ako dun ah.

“So… type mo yung tumugtog?” Francis asked me.

“Yung recital nga!” I insisted.

“Hindi siguro, ano bang name?” Cedric asked, unconvinced.

“Oo nga. Anong name?” Si Shawn naman.

I groaned. “Cheska.”

“Cheska?” Kumunot noo ni Cedric. “So… you like her?”

“Ewan. Hindi ko man nakita ng malapitan yung itsura niya eh,” sabi ko naman. “Medyo malayo-layo kasi kami. I can tell she was beautiful, pero hindi ko talaga nakita eh.”

“H-hindi?” tanong ulit ni Cedric.

I just shook my head.

Ced gave me a pat. “Pare, kung ako sa’yo, alamin mo kung sino.”

“Bakit? Baka naman matanda pa sa atin yun.”

“I-I’ve heard of her,” sabi niya. “She’s a teenager.”

“Oh…” I said. Ayos ah. “K-kaso… si Audrey eh…”

“Sows,” sabi naman ni Kayle. “Para yun lang.”

-

Shey’s POV:

 

Lunch time na. Lamon dito, lamon doon. Ako nang masaya, no?

“You gave up?” tanong ni Kyriel. “You shouldn’t…” sabi niya.

I shook my head. “Actually, I should. Di ba nga? Wala naman akong pag-asa, siya na nga nagsabi eh…”

“Sinabi niyang wala kang pag-asa?” asked Cess.

“Hindi naman. Sabi lang niya… masaya daw, for a change, na may kasama siyang babaeng walang feelings for him. Talk about something like OUCH, huh?

“SHEY!”

Napalingon ako. Kasi naman, tinawag ako, dib a? Alangang wag pansinin.

Si Cedric.

“Ano?” I asked.

“You had a recital last night, right?” tanong ni Cedric.

Napakunot noo ko. “H-how did you know?”

“Sheyelle Francesca… Cheska… odiba, genius talaga ako,” sabi niya. Ang saya-saya nga niya eh.

“Pano mo nga nalaman?”

“Secret,” he said. “Sa akin na lang yun.” Tapos nagsmile siyang super wide.

Weird.

Umalis na siya.

“Anong meron dun sa recital?” tanong ni Cess.

I shrugged. “How should I know?”

Resume eating na lang kami.

Kaso, nung patapos na kami, biglang lumapit si Zander. Napasinghap ako. My gawsh. Gwapo talaga eh. AAAARRGHHHH.

“H-hi,” I said, smiling na parang nahihiya.

“Hi. Umm, dib a hindi tayo natuloy kahapon? Labas ulit tayo. I really want you to meet that person eh.”

I nodded. “Umm, o sige,” I said.

He grinned. “Sure ka ah? Baka naman I’ve taken up way too much of your time this week.”

“A-ayos lang.”

“Okie-dokie then. Mamaya ah!” sabi niya, sabay kindat at tumakbo paalis, papunta dun sa mga nagbabasketball.

The girls looked at me.

“What?” I asked.

“Sinong gusto niyang mameet mo?” tanong ni Kyriel.

“No idea,” I answered.

“Baka naman… girlfriend niya,” sabi ni Nea.

I froze. “H-ha?”

They nodded. “Baka nga girlfriend niya…”

Kinagat ko labi ko. “Oh… h-haha! B-baka nga!” sabi ko na lang.

-

Dismissal.

Naghihintay ako sa Math Park. Umuwi na sina Cess eh. Tapos hinihintay ko na lang si Zander.

“Shey?”

Napatingala ako. It’s not Zander. Si Francis eh. First time kong kinausap tong taong to.

“Hm?”

“Hinihintay mo pa si Zander?”

I nodded. “Yes. Why?”

“Wala lang. Samahan na muna kita,” sabi niya, sabay upo sa tabi ko. “Ba’t naman parang napapadalas pagyayaya niya sa’yo sa labas?”

“Hindi ko rin alam eh. He just wants me to meet someone…”

“Ahh, si Audrey?”

I froze. “A-audrey?”

He nodded. “Yep. Teka, maiba nga ako. Ikaw si Cheska Fontanilla, right?”

Napatango ako. Grabe ah, ba’t parang kumalat yun? “Pano mo nalaman?”

“Heey, no hidden agenda. I just like music, that’s all,” he answered.

“You like music?” tanong ko. “Have you been on my recitals?”

“Each and every one of your recitals, except yung kagabi. I never thought it was you until I overheard Cedric talking to you and your friends earlier.”

“Oh,” sabi ko. “Salamat,” I said. “You know, for going to my recitals and all.”

He smiled. “I enjoy being there. Listening to you. Haha. Hala ka.”

“Bakit naman?”

“Parang magkakacrush ako sa’yo niyan eh.”

Nanlaki mata ko, tapos agad akong nagblush. Naku po, anong nakain nito?

“Chill. Crush pa lang, no. Like what you have with Zander, right?”

I winced. “Well, word gets to anybody now.”

He grinned. “Oo nga eh.”

“Don’t worry, next week, magiging everyone na talaga. As in buong campus.”

“You’re talking about what Cedric told you, right?”

I nodded. “Right,” I said. “Alam mo na rin?”

He nodded. “Lahat sa tropa alam, except si Zander.”

“Ganun pala…” sabi ko. Napakamot ako.

“Sorry I missed your recital yesterday. Inform me kung meron next time.”

I nodded. “I will. Hehe. Pag di ka pumunta, ipapakidnap kita.”

He chuckled. “Opo, pupunta na po.”

 

Zander’s POV:

Weird. Magkasama yung dalawang yun. Nagtatawanan pa.

Sisiksik pa ba ko?

Haay. Kelangan eh, ano pa bang magagawa ko? Lumapit na ko.

Tawanan pa rin sila.

“Buti naman! Haha. Sigurado kang magaling talaga si Cheska ah? Baka naman sinasabi mo lang yan,” sabi niya.

“Cheska?” singit ko.

Napatingin silang dalawa sa akin.

“Ahh, oo. Cheska. Yung pinanood mo kahapon?” sabi ni Francis.

“PINANOOD MO?” sabi ni Shey.

I nodded. “Yep.”

Napayuko siya.

“With Audrey,” I said. “Nag-enjoy nga ako.”

“W-with Audrey…?” she repeated.

I nodded and smiled. “O, tara na?”

Tumayo na siya, taking her bags. “S-sure.”

-

Nandito na sa Freeway. Wheee.

“So, kilala mo rin yung Cheska’ng yun?” tanong ko sa kanya.

She giggled. “Yup.”

“Ohh,” sabi ko. “Have you been on her recitals?”

Shey’s POV:

What the hell? Hindi pa niya napansin?

“Each and every one of them,” I replied, kasi totoo naman. Andun ako sa lahat ng recitals ni Cheska, kasi ako nga si Cheska, right?

“Wow. Avid fan. Maybe you’ve met Audrey?”

Audrey. Ayan na naman. Girlfriend nga niya imimeet namin.

“Zander?”

Napatingin kami.

WHOA. SHE IS AUDREY!? I talked to her before… on one of my recitals!

HALA.

“O, Audrey!” Inakbayan siya ni Zander.

OMG.

“Aud, I want you to meet Shey,” sabi ni Zander. “Shey, si Audrey.”

I forced myself to smile. Tae ang sakit. “H-hi.”

Kumunot noo ni Audrey. Naku po.

“Shey?” sabi niya. “She looks familiar…” Then her eyes widened.

I carefully shook my head.

“Familiar?” sabi ni Zander.

“A-ah, no. Hindi naman pala… She looks like someone I know…”

I sighed. Pero definitely, I know she knows I’m Cheska.

Hindi naman kasi talaga secret yung mga recitals ko. Ewan ko, ayoko lang na maraming nakakaalam.

“So, dinner tayo?” sabi ni Audrey. She took my hand. “I’m so glad I finally met you!”

I smiled back. “Ako rin.”

Now I have all the reasons for me to let go of Zander.

He has a girlfriend.

She’s beautiful.

I’m nobody.

-

We’re in Flavor of China. Restaurant yan.

Sarap nga dito eh. Kanina ko pa pinipilit magsmile. Tumatango-tango. Smiles.

Haay. Mahirap nga lang talaga.

“Ummm, Shey. CR tayo…” pagyayaya ni Audrey.

I nodded. “S-sige.”

We stood up and left Zander alone while he’s eating. Sinundan pa nga niya kami ng tingin eh.

Pagdating sa CR.

“OH MY GOSH YOU’RE CHESKA!” sabi ni Audrey, looking so eager and excited and happy and all.

I scratched the back of my head. “G-guess I am…”

“I’m so glad! Grabe! I can’t believe I’ll meet you in person!”

“Di ba nag-usap na tayo noon?” I asked her.

“My gosh, you remember that time!?”

I nodded and smiled. “I do.”

“Ang bilis naman ni Zander…” sabi ni Audrey.

“H-ha?”

“Ah, kasi he watched your recital last night with me. He was so amazed, tapos ngayon, kasama ka na nga niya!” she squealed out.

I thought she’d be masungit. Hindi pala. Exact opposite. She’s so friendly nga eh.

“H-he doesn’t know,” I said.

Napakunot noo niya. “Doesn’t know?”

“Na ako yung pinanood niya.”

“Oh…” sabi niya. “Then, he has no idea at all?”

I shook my head. “Umm, kung pwede… p-please wag mong sabihin sa kanya…?”

“Bakit?”

“I just think it’s not important,” I said.

“O-o sige. Sabi mo eh… Tara na!”

She looked so happy.

Pwede na to. Maganda na, mabait pa.

Magaling pumili tong si Zander.

“Mauna ka na,” I said.

“Umm… s-sure,” sabi niya.

Before I knew it, iniiyak ko na lang sarili ko sa CR.

Definitely, today is another step backward.

No, scratch that.

Today is a hundred steps back, and I can never retrace those again. Nahuli na ko. Wala na kong magagawa.

-

Naunang umalis si Audrey.

Ewan bakit.

Dapat nga siya yung ihatid ni Zander eh, hindi ako.

Nasa fountain kami.

Grabe. Every day na talaga akong pumupunta dito.

“She’s really great,” sabi ni Zander.

I nodded. “She is.”

“Uwi na tayo?” yaya niya.

“Umm, Zander, pwede wag mo na muna akong ihatid ngayon?” I asked.

“Bakit?”

I sighed.

“Kasi hindi ko na kaya. Every time na lang, nasasaktan ako. I’ve been fooling you all this time. You wanted to have someone who is sensible. Sensitive. A girl who could be your friend. Well I can’t be that girl. I can’t be the girl who can stay by your side. I can’t be the girl you introduce your girlfriend to. I can’t be her. Hindi ko kaya. Masyadong masakit. I can’t be your friend anymore.”

“H-ha?”

“S-sabi mo… sabi mo it’s great to have a girl around. Yung mapagsasabihan mo ng bagay bagay. You said masaya kang kasama ako kasi you don’t have to think about my feelings and all. You said purely platonic lang talaga friendship natin. Well, for me, hindi eh.”

He froze, looking at me.

“Zander, I’ve been crushing on you since prep. It’s been that long. That long, Zander. Kaya hindi kita makausap. Kaya palagi akong nagbablush. I’ve been selfish, Zander. I let you believe na wala akong feelings para sa’yo. Pero… truth be told… I like you.”

He thought about it for a while.

Suminghot ako sabay pahid sa mga luha ko. Through the tears, I forced out a smile. “Then, I guess that’s my reason. Wag mo na kong ihatid…”

I turned back. Pagtalikod na pagtalikod ko, more tears sprung. I was sobbing as I took some steps away.

“S-shey… I—I’m sorry. Your feelings… I… I can’t think of you as anything more than a friend.”

Hearing him actually sa this… hindi ko na nakayanan. Talagang bumagsak na lahat ng luha ko.

I knew that. I knew na hanggang friend lang ako.

Pero hearing it directly from him was still hurtful.

Painful than ever.

I ran away.

And I’m never going back there.

I’m never going to retrace those steps back to Zander.

Last Step

Shey’s POV:

I spent the rest of the weekend crying my heart out sa bahay.

Nung Monday, definitely, alam na ng buong school, but it didn’t matter anymore, kasi alam na rin ni Zander, right?

“Best… failed?” sabi ni Cess.

I nodded. “Failed.” I smiled. “Di bale na lang. Simpleng crush lang eh.”

Then napadaan si Kirlia and her group.

“Oh, look. It’s the wannabe,” sabi niya bigla.

Tumayo si Kyriel. “Oh look, it’s the pokemon.”

Kirlia glared at Ky.

“Hindi ka naman kasi inaano ng best friend ko, tapos ginugulo mo siya?” sabi ni Kyriel. “Back off.”

Kirlia scoffed and went off. Nabara eh.

“Nice,” I said.

“Ano bang nangyari?” tanong ni Nea.

“I… I  told him about my feelings nung Friday…” I said.

“Ohh.”

“He rejected me.” I sniffled a sob. Pero pinigilan kong umiyak. No use na. “I accept it already.”

I guess getting rejected is a part of high school. And high school is a part of growing up.

Crushing on someone, getting hurt. I just have to accept that things are just like that.

I learned many things these past few days. Nung Monday, I learned that you always have a chance at everything. You get to shoot that ball every time. Depende na lang yun sa’yo kung makikita mo yung bolang yun, or kung kukunin mo nga yung bola. And my choice was to try, so I took that ball.

Nung Tuesday, I learned na pagishoo-shoot mo na yung bola pag sa basketball, kelangan bumwelo muna. Pero hindi ako agad bumwelo.

Nung Wednesday, nakakuha na ko ng bwelo, only it was a little too late.

Nung Thursday, nalaman ko na may tamang paghawak pala ng bola. Kung hindi mo hinawakan ng maayos, you’ll definitely get a bad shot. Akala ko hinawakan ko ng maayos. Hindi pala.

Nung Friday, I shot the ball—and missed.

It was the hardest thing that happened. Pero maybe I just have to accept just that. Nothing would have changed kung hindi ko tinry ishoot yung bola.

I’d still be crushing on Zander. I’d still be looking at him.

Now, maybe kahit na mahirap, things might just change.

All this, I realized within a week.

And maybe, if I didn’t take that shot, I wouldn’t have learned that much.

It may be hard, disappointing, pero taking the chance was definitely better than letting it just pass by.

-

Grabihan. Ang daming echosera na nakatingin sa akin. Definitely, alam nila kung sino ako.

“Yung ambisyosa na may gusto kay Zander.”

Ouch no? Haha.

I just have to deal with it.

May lumapit bigla sa akin. “Si Zander… t-totoo bang crush mo siya?” the guy asked me.

“Ha?” I asked.

“Baka kasi rumors lang…”

“Ahhh. No, they’re true.”

“Oh,” sabi nung guy. “I see.”

“Bakit?” I asked.

“Ah, w-wala, wala…”

Umalis na.

“Naku Sis, crush ka nun,” bulong ni Nea.

Natawa ako. “Yeah right.” Pero if ever… then I guess hindi lang ako ang nasasaktan dahil sa high school. There are others out there.

Zander’s POV:

All those times, I never knew she had feelings for me.

I never knew na nasasaktan ko siya.

Now the whole campus knows.

“Zander.”

Napatingala ako, seeing Cedric and the guys.

“What happened?” tanong ni Kayle.

“She… well… she confessed,” I said. “Nung Friday.”

They all looked stunned.

“Oh sh!t,” sabi ni Cedric. “Kung nagconfess siya, eh di sana hindi ko na dapat ikinalat.”

“Ha?” I asked.

He told me about their deal, and I was surprised.

“This—this was your fault?”

“Bro, sorry. I just thought you might like her…” sabi ni Cedric. “Honestly, we all did. Kasi… unlike all those other girls who approach you and flirt with you and, well, kahit yung mga girls na nakita ka palang crush ka na nga, iba siya. She liked you since prep, pare. I’m sure that wasn’t just a short-term crush tulad nung iba diyan.”

“Pero, you didn’t have to do this,” I said, angry. “Eh di sana hindi siya nasaktan.”

“Dude, sa tingin mo ba all those years hindi siya nasaktan, seeing you with your past girlfriends? Either way, masasaktan din siya,” sabi ni Francis.

“Pero… wala naman akong magagawa, right?” I asked them.

They shook their heads. “Ewan pare,” sabi ni Cedric. “Kung ganon, hahayaan mo na lang siya?”

I sighed.

“She was a great friend. And I can’t see her more than that.”

Shey’s POV:

I guess in the end, I learned my lesson. It took me one step at a time.

Finish Line

Zander’s POV:

After that week, we never talked to each other again. Kakatapos lang ng periodic tests. It’s August already,

She avoided me. I couldn’t talk to her.

Ganun na lang. Sometimes, I really feel bad about it. Since then, nagbuhay pari ako. Walang girlfriends. Honestly, hindi ko alam bakit wala na kong nililigawan.

“Zander,” someone called me.

I looked up and saw Audrey.

“Just got out of bed?” I asked her.

She yawned. “Yeah. I overslept eh.”

Audrey. Audrey’s my little sister. Actually, she’s my half-sister. Sa mother’s side ko. I guess I never told Shey that. I think she thought Audrey was my girlfriend.

I already told her about what happened with Shey. She looked shocked, really.

Maya-maya, I received a call.

Si Francis.

“Yo?” I answered the phone.

“Hey!” sabi niya. “Gusto mo bang sumama sa akin mamayang gabi?”

“Saan?” I asked him.

“Cheska’s recital.”

Cheska? “Nah. I’ll pass…”

“Sige na o,” sabi niya. “I got good seats. Sa first line mismo.”

“Ba, why?” I asked.

“I’m tight with Cheska,” sabi niya. “She’s a really GREAT FRIEND,” sabi niya.

“She is?” I asked. “A-are you…”

“No, no. We’re not in that relationship. I CAN’T SEE HER MORE THAN A FRIEND eh.”

WEIRD. Ba’t niya ineemphasize tong mga bagay-bagay?

“So, punta ka?”

“Okay. Pupunta na,” I said. Then, something made me say, “Pakilala mo ko sa kanya ah.”

“Sure pare. Siguraduhin mong popormahan mo.”

Then I said, “Why not?”

Tutal, nung day na napanood ko siya, I was easily attracted to her, right? So I guess it should be fine.

-

Nagblack na lahat ng lights.

“Please welcome, Miss Cheska Fontanilla.”

Fontanilla… Fontanilla… FONTANILLA. It’s familiar… so familiar…

Spotlight on the girl wearing a cocktail dress na kulay white. Like the first time I saw her. She faced the audience, and BAM.

It’s her.

Sheyelle Francesca Fontanilla.

I froze.

“Do I still have to introduce her?” Francis asked me.

“Francis… y-you knew?” I asked him.

He grinned. “Syempre. I remember you saying type mo si Cheska. Here she is. You said popormahan mo siya, right?”

And I was drawn to her music all over again.

Then I realized something.

The reason why I don’t have a girlfriend, why I never had one since that one week, was because I couldn’t move on to another phase. I was stuck on the run.

Why?

Because of Shey.

Hindi ako makapag-isip since then.

Because of her.

The pieces she played ended, and when all the lights came back, she spotted us, spotted ME and her smile faltered. Medyo nawala yung smile niya.

But I smiled at her.

She bit her lower lip and smiled back, then her eyes fleeted away from my gaze and looked out, at the rest of her audience.

At the moment she bit her lip and smiled, my heart skipped a beat.

Now I know.

-

“Shey… or Cheska,” sabi ko. I approached her.

Lots of other people were congratulating her. She excused herself for a while. Nilapitan niya ko.

“Z-zander…” she said. “It’s… it’s been a while.”

I nodded. “Oo nga. And… I never thought I’d meet you here, of all places.”

Yumuko siya.

“Umm, Shey… about what happened…” I began.

“Zander, I’m okay. Really. I told myself, baka hindi lang talaga fated. So… I keep believing, or at least I’m forcing myself to, that I’m okay.”

“Well I’m not,” sabi ko. “I’m not okay. Ever since the day I rejected you, I haven’t been okay. My mind was a mess, and it only cleared up tonight, when I saw you.”

She looked down again.

“Umm, Cheska, Director Diaz wants to talk to you…”

“I’ll be right there,” sabi niya, then looked back at me.

“Shey… I’ll see you, right? Tomorrow? I mean, we’ll talk, right?”

“E-ewan ko eh…”

“Tomorrow, don’t ignore me, okay?” I said. “Don’t avoid me.”

Yumuko siya.

“I’ve hurt you, alam ko yun. I’m sorry about that. Pero…”

“All right,” sabi niya. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She smiled. She stood on tiptoes and planted a kiss on my cheek.

She left me standing there.

I touched the spot where her lips brushed my cheek.

Then I smiled to myself.

This time, it’s my turn.

She took many steps away from me. I don’t expect her to take those steps back to me. This time, it’s my turn to walk that distance.

Shey’s POV:

 

I learned another lesson as I walked away from him.

I might have missed the shot.

Pero hindi ibig sabihin non na hindi babalik ang bola.

I shot, I might have  missed, but the ball bounced back. I had a choice to take it again, I hesitated. I didn’t take it, kasi nasaktan na ako. Pinabayaan ko yung bola dun.

Pero somebody else grabbed it.

Zander grabbed it.

And in the end, I guess I don’t have to retrace those steps back to him, like I said nung nireject niya ko.

I never expected this though, na siya naman yung lalapit.

It’s his turn to learn with each step he takes.

One step at a time.

-end

A/N: Si Zander po ang ALEZANDER na lilitaw sa Hope Forever Lasts. Haha. Sana nag-enjoy kayo sa pagbabasa.