It’s just like a lullaby, I can hear the sound of crickets from the distant bushes. The grass calmly moves as the gentle wind blows towards my body, I can feel him close to me. His warmth counters the cold breeze, with a fleeting harmony that resounds the feelings I have.

We are both smiling, lying down the dense and soft grass field covered with yellow flowers that we lie upon. I took a deep breath as I felt the moment. We held hands as we look up the night sky, feeling the heat of his palm and we gripped onto our fingers.

The moon shines brighter than it was before. It fills the whole field, illuminating its damp yellow light on the flowers that surrounds us. I could see them glow, reflecting its golden hue. As the stars twinkle above our eyes, I can think of a galaxy of thoughts. Seeing millions of them above the sky, it makes me count my remaining seconds.

I felt him move while I delved into my thoughts. Our heads meet, seeing each other mesmerized with the relaxing feeling. Our hair collided as it was blown by the calming wind. I smiled as I can feel his sincere look.

I can feel that he’s happy, I’d only saw him this happy at this moment. I can sense that he’s feeling the same kind of joy that I also feel right now. I can feel him close to me, I can feel him closing the gap in between us. Suddenly, my eyes widened as a saw a falling star. I pointed at it and uttered.

“Hey, look, it’s a shooting star!” I exclaimed as I pointed up the sky, smiling at him and excitedly feeling a sense of enthusiasm. Those stars I pointed suddenly became a shower of alluring meteors that adds up on the sky’s surreal vista.

Napangiti ako nang dahil sa mga nangyayari, nararamdaman ang galak at saya sa ’king loob habang tinitingnan ko siya. I never expected this to happen but just shortly it began. Hindi ko na kailangang magpaliwanag, matagal ko nang hinihiling at sinusumamo sa Diyos na mangyari ang bagay na ’to.

Matagal na ’kong nagtatago at tumatakbo sa takot na talikuran ako ng marami. Matagal na ’kong nalulungkot at matagal ko na ring ikinukulong ang sarili ko sa hawlang ginawa ng mga tao sa paligid ko.

Matagal na ’kong umaasang mapapawi ang lahat, umaasang sana’y may magbago, umaasang sana’y sumaya man lamang kahit sandali—at ngayon ay nangyayari na ang lahat ng hinihiling ko.

“It’s beautiful, I-I can’t believe what I’m witnessing. It’s so... amazing.” His husky voice echoed through my ears, just hearing him talk makes me fall for him more.

“Now, let’s make a wish together.” He uttered again, looking at me with hypnotizing eyes.

Bumaling ako sa kan’ya at pinagmasdan ang mga mata niyang nagniningning. Ngumiti ako para iparating sa kan’ya ang matamis kong pagsang-ayon. While keeping the smile, I wondered about some vague thoughts. Ano pa ba ang hihilingin ko ngayon?

“I wish that you can find true happiness, Gael. That happiness that doesn’t die and lives within you, that kind of happiness that doesn’t have any limits, that kind of happiness that doesn’t wither away.” I held his hand tightly as I come to my senses, tears suddenly flowed through my eyes.

“The happiness you surely desire, that kind of happiness that warms your heart. That kind of happiness that you’re still longing to.” Napangiti na lang ako, hindi ko alam pero no’ng sinabi niya ’yon ay basta na lang tumulo ang mga luha sa ’king mga mata.

May mahihiling pa ba ako kung ang sinasabi niya ay kasalukuyan nang nangyayari? May mahihiling pa kaya ako kung naririto na’t katabi ko ang pinakamamahal ko, I don’t know if I could desire anything else.

Ito na yata ang pinakamasayang naranasan ko, ito na yata ang kasiyahang sinasabi niya. The kind of happiness that that doesn’t die and lives within me, that kind of joy that makes me wish that time could stop for the two of us so that I can be with him in that same scenario forever.

“You’re that happiness I wished for.” I uttered with all my might. Nakita kong nanlaki ang mga mata niya at dahan-dahan siyang napatingin sa ’kin, his bright twinkling eyes met mine.

“And you’re the one I always wanted to be with.” He replied, making me tremble in happiness. My heart pounds faster and that I can hear every sound it makes, I feel like it could knock its way out of my chest.

The cold wind suddenly blew as the grass dances through the gentle touch of that cold breeze. I wanted to cover myself by ravishing my body by my hands. But suddenly, I felt Austin’s arms wrapped around my waist—he was hugging me from the back.

His warm body counters the cold that the night breeze is bringing, I never felt this cozy before. I can feel his gentle touch even though I’m already covered by my shaggy polo. Feeling the same warmth as we both felt each other’s presence.

“Kung matupad man ang mga hiling ko, siguro’y natupad na ’yon ngayon.” I giggled, implying into something I wanted to say along. Alam kong ito na ang pagkakataon para sabihin ang bagay na ’to.

Once again our eyes met when I turned to meet his face. I saw that innocent look once again, his smile from earlier didn’t fade away. That tender smile that I’m still longing to see, I want to see that smile forever but... I can’t. There’s no use of seeing it now if I had to go back.

“Hey, Gael. I’ve been thinking... I never even thought that our friendship will last until now. It’s just lately that I realized, we’ve been hanging out by just only the two of us.” He began uttering as he looks at me. After saying what he wants to say, he looked up the sky and smiled

“I really wanted to say this to you.” He muttered, seeing the giant ocean of stars and gazing at them deeper. He looked his eyes as the breeze suddenly blew.

Silence grew between the two of us. Still holding my hand, he opens his eyes and bent over to me, placing his head beside my ears. It looks like he wants to whisper something. Before he goes, he took a sigh and he looked at me with a smile. I did look into his eyes, plunged my gaze deeper into him as seconds go by.

I could only hear the sound of the crickets, noticing that fireflies are now arising from the flowers, carrying a certain glow. As I turn my gaze into the fireflies that glows around me and Austin, I broke the silence in our boundary.

“What’s that you wanted to say?” I then followed by asking him, giving him a pristine look, looking directly and delving into his mind.

His face then turned red and he couldn’t look at me in the eyes. Austin must be fluttered by what I did, but one thing is certain, he’s still got that warm smile even though he’s nervous. It’s finally happening and I too am almost out of focus.

“I think that I have a crush on you, even more than that, I guess. I have these feelings I once felt when I first saw you at Saint Anthony’s, I can’t explain what I felt but it was surely warming and full of joy.” He then looked at the stars, his eyes twinkled once again as he gazed.

“Parang itong mga bituin sa langit. Kapag nakikita ko sila, may nararamdaman akong hindi ko maipaliwanag. I once thought that it was only a liking in a friend’s perspective, pero nalaman kong hindi lang pala ’yon ang meaning ng nararamdaman ko.” He giggled, he then turned his sight to me.

Kung kanina’y hindi niya ako matingnan nang mata sa mata, ngayon ay direkta na siyang nakatingin sa ’kin. Para bang naharap niya na ako nang buong tapang. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang pakiramdam, kinakabahan ako habang nag-uumapaw sa saya. Hindi ko alam, pero ito na yata ang pakiramdam na ’yon. Ang pakiramdam na talaga namang noon pa’y nais ko nang maramdaman.

Ang nararamdaman ng isang tao kapag in love ito.

“You’re the first person that made me feel this way, I really like you... Gael.” I almost trembled and bursted out of bliss when I heard him said those words, I feel like I’m going to explode because of what he said. I kept my composure and I assured my thoughts and words.

“The same I felt to you, matagal ko nang inililihim sa iba at itinatanggi sa ’king sarili ang nararamdaman ko para sa ’yo. Pero ngayon, hindi ko na pakakawalan pa ang pagkakataon.” I smiled and I returned to him what he said to me. Hindi na ’ko nag-atubiling bihagin pa ang mga gusto kong sabihin kay Austin.

“I really like you, too. More than anything.” Again, tears flowed down my eyes, it’s dripping and flowing down my chin. I can’t control these emotions inside me nor I can’t react to anything.

I then came to my senses when I felt his lips on mine, the world stopped around us. As our lips met, there was only silence. Silence that grew into a wide range and outburst of felicity. We both let go of the kiss, and while hearing the sound of the crickets, I closed my eyes as I leaned on his chest, feeling his heartbeat.

I’m sure, that right now, we’re feeling the same. Ito lang naman ang nais kong marinig, ang matagal nang nais kong maranasan. Kaya napakasaya ko, kaya walang katumbas ang nadarama ko. Walang kapantay ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.

I then uttered before everything turns to black.

“Kung totoo lang ang lahat ng ito, alam kong walang katumbas ang kasiyahang madarama ko.”