“Manang Imee!” Bongbong excitedly screamed when he saw his sister, Imee Marcos, when he went home with the books he borrowed on the public library. He dropped the paper bag and ran towards his sister, giving her a tight welcoming hug.

“Ading, it’s been a long time! How have you been?! Ang laki mo na, ang guwapo mo rin!” Imee replied as he hugged Bongbong back.

“Kailan ka pa po dumating? Hindi man lang po kayo nagsabi sa ’min nila Tatang at Inang, mabibigla ’yong dalawa kapag nakita kayo!” tawa naman ni Bongbong. Kumalas na rin siya sa pagkakayakap.

“Marami akong pasalubong sa inyo, lalo ka na! Binili ko lahat ng mga librong ni-request mo sa ’kin.” Kinurot-kurot ni Imee ang pisngi ng nakababata niyang kapatid.

Walong taon nang nurse si Imee sa Europa at tumutulong sa kaniyang pamilya upang pag-aralin si Bongbong. The two has always been good and close siblings and by the time Imee was leaving to study at Manila, Bongbong couldn’t stop crying over for her sister.

“Salamat po, Manang Imee, but I just borrowed some chick literature books from the public library. So maybe sooner or later ko na lang po siguro babasahin, pero thank you po talaga!” kinikilig na saad ni Bongbong. He unboxed those books that are for him, some books are historical fictions, teen fictions, and chick literature—three of his favorite genres.

“Ah, anong oras nga pala uuwi sila Inang at Tatang, I want to see them right away!” Imee excitedly exclaimed. Napakamot naman sa ulo si Bongbong.

“It’s currently five in the afternoon so anytime they would be here, there’s a lot of work on the strawberry farm lately.” Napatango naman si Imee.

“Well, let’s just wait for them here.” Ngiti niya at umupo sa sofa. Inilagay naman ni Bongbong ang mga maletang dala ng kaniyang ate sa isang sulok at itinakbo niya na rin sa kuwarto niya ang paper bag na may lamang mga libro at ang ibinibigay sa kaniya ni Imee.

“Manang Imee, I’m gonna cook po. What do you want for dinner?” alok ni Bongbong nang lumabas siya sa kuwarto niyang nakabihis na ng pangbahay.

“Ah, the usual, Ading. Do you have it here pa?” Imee requested and asked at the same time, napahagikgik naman si Bongbong.

“Of course naman po, Manang Imee. The pinakbet with saluyot, kabatiti, and utong! Kukuha lang po ako sa garden.” Ngiti niya at kaagad kumaripas ng takbo patungo sa kanilang maliit na gulayan sa bakuran.

He then plucked two pieces of each vegetable he needed. The kabatiti—ridged gourd, utong—string bean, and saluyot—Jute leaves. Then grabbed some eggplants, amorgosos, lady fingers, a squash, tomatoes, and garlic from the garden also.

He grabbed some ingredients in the kitchen like bagoong, oil, pork belly, and alamang. Then, he cleaned the vegetables from the garden and grabbed some utensils for cooking, hesauted the ingredients then boiled it and added bagoong.

Suddenly, napadpad si Imee sa kusina at naamoy ang niluluto ni Bongbong, lumapit siya rito nang nakangiti at masaya niyang tinignan ang kaniyang kapatid.

“Parang kailan lang, ang liit mo pa. Ngayon heto ka na’t nagbibinata, hay... oras nga naman. Itatanong ko lang sa ’yo, me’ron ka na bang ano... gayyem?” Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Bongbong nang sabihin iyon ng kaniyang ate, kaagad siyang nasamid.

“Oh, okay ka lang, Ading?” Imee asked worriedly.

“What kind of question is that, Manang Imee? I-I don’t have one yet.” Utal niyang saad.

“Hmm, so what’s with that... you know, expression?” kinikilig na tanong ni Imee. Napatawa na lamang si Bongbong at nagpatuloy siya sa pagluluto.

“I-I’m just... nabigla lang po ako.” Tawa niya, Imee then smirked and patted his head.

“Oh come on, you could have... liked someone, you know?” Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Bongbong at umiling siya.

“No, none apparently.” He replied.

“Bongbong, sinasabi ko sa ’yong ’wag mong iniiwang nakabukas ’yong pinto—” hindi na naituloy ni Imelda ang sasabihin niya nang makita ang dalawa sa kusina.

She dropped a basket consisting of newly-harvested strawberries and immediately ran towards her daughters, Imee, in excitement. Tears now flowing down her cheek, Imelda hugged Imee tight.

“Imee, ubbing ko! Hindi ka man lang nagsabi, nasundo ka sana namin!” she exclaimed while holding her daughter’s cheek.

“Lakay! Lakay! Lakay!” she called Ferdinand who’s currently resting in the sala.

“Baket, bakit may mga maleta sa sala—” Tawag niya kay Imelda pero nang makarating siya sa kusina ay nanlaki ang mga mata ni Ferdinand ang makita niya ang kaniyang anak.

“Imee! Kailan ka pa dumating! Hindi ka man lang nagsabi, nasundo ka sana namin!” he also exclaimed in joy.

“Oh come on, tatlong beses ko nang narinig ’yan, Tatang eh. Una kay Ading, then kay Inang, then sa inyo. Gusto ko po kasing i-surprise kayo. Alam niyo na...” They all hugged each other and had their dinner cooked by Bongbong.

***

“Mr. Marcos, you’re not doing your task properly in the group. Everyone else is doing their part, so better do yours while there’s still some time.” Mula sa corridor ng school ay narinig ni Leni ang pag-uusap nila Professor Miriam at Bongbong, dahan-dahan siyang sumilip dahil sa kiyuryusidad.

“So-sorry po, I wasn’t even informed that I have a part activity today.” Tugon ni Bongbong sa propesor, nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Leni nang naalala niya ang ipinabor na kaniya ni Pia.

Hindi niya na-add si Bongbong sa group chat.

“Fine, the scoreboard is inside the equipment storage. Bring it to the gymnasium right away, there’s gonna be a volleyball game between the elementaries later.” Kaagad tumango si Bongbong at tumakbo na nga patungo sa lugar na sinabi ni Professor Miriam.

“Damn, I messed up!” Kaagad tumakbo si Leni patungo sa direksiyon ni Bongbong at nang makarating siya sa equipment storage ay namataan niya ang binatang handa nang buhatin ang malaking score board palabas.

Holding her bear stuffed toy and squishing it hardly because of nervousness, she entered the room with courage to talk to Bongbong. Medyo nahihirapan itong igalaw ang malaking score board dahil ayaw gumulong ng mga gulong nito. Leni attempted to utter some words but none of them came out of her mouth, until...

“F-Ferdinand...” Leni called Bongbong by his normal name. Bigla namang napatingin si Bongbong sa direksiyon ni Leni—shocked of what he heard. Dahil sa reaksiyon ni Bongbong ay nagulat rin si Leni.

“Y-you scared me.” Bongbong gasped, nanlaki ang mga mata niya namang malamang si Leni pala ang kaniyang kaharap. Suddenly, he felt that his heart is racing.

“I’m sorry, nakalimutan kitang i-add sa group chat.” Leni apologized and got to her point.

“Ano? May group chat kayo... sa Messenger?” tanong naman ni Bongbong.

“O-oo, ipinabor sa ’king i-add ka raw, pero ’di kita na-add friend sa Facebook kaya ’di rin kita na-add sa GC.” Guilty of her negligence, Leni resorted on explaining.

“Ah, kaya pala wala akong nabalitaan.” Napayuko si Bongbong.

“Can I get your Facebook account?” Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Bongbong nang marinig iyon, he gasped once again.

“Para na-add kita sa GC.” Tuloy ni Leni.

“Sorry but... I don’t have one, gagawa pa lang siguro ako pagdating ko mamaya sa bahay.” As for an introvert and bookworm, social media isn’t really Bongbong’s thing.

“Ah... then... I’ll write my account and add-friend me.” Kaagad na kumuha si Leni ng papel at ballpen saka niya isinulat ang pangalan ng kaniyang Facebook account. Ibinigay niya rin ito kay Bongbong kalaunan.

“Got it.” Ngiti ni Bongbong at ibinulsa niya ang papel.

“Tutulungan na kita.” Leni offered making Bongbong startled.

“Ah, ’wag na kaya ko na ’to.” Bongbong insisted.

“I feel bad for what I did though. Please, let me help.” Leni pursued.

“Pero may club activities ka pa—” hindi niya na naituloy ang sasabihin nang biglang tumugon si Leni.

“Wala kaming practice ngayon sa track and field club, so I have some free time.” Ngiti naman ni Leni, wala na ngang nagawa si Bongbong kung hindi ang magpatulong na nga lang dahil hindi rin talaga magpapaawat su Leni.

Habang hinahatak nila palabas ang scoreboard ay napansin ni Leni na may alikabok sa likod ni Bongbong. Not feeling as nervous as earlier because of her successful attempt to talk to him, she now has the confidence to speak.

“Ah, you got dust on your back.” She smiled.

“Ah, really? Maybe it’s because it’s dusty inside the equipment storage.” Tawa niya, saglit pa ay naglabas ng panyo si Leni at inalok siya nito.

“Let me wipe it for you.” Alok nito, Bongbong was then stunned because of what he heard.

“P-please...” He let Leni. He felt her hands wiping his back with the handkerchief, he tried to take a deep breath and he felt that his face is heating up—he found himself blushing all of the sudden.

“Ayan, malinis na.” Ngiti ni Leni, dahil sa hiya ay tango lamang ang naitugon ni Bongbong, sabay nilang ihinatid ang scoreboard sa gymnasium.

Dumating na nga ang uwian at bago sila maghiwalay ay nag-usap pa silang dalawa, muli ay humingi ng paumanhin si Leni sa kaniyang nagawa, it’s just fine for Bongbong. They both left the school in different direction, and finally, Bongbong reached his house.

He then used the internet to browse on his Facebook, add-friending Leni. Nang mapansin ni Leni na nag-friend request si Bongbong ay kaagad niya naman itong in-accept at in-add sa kanilang group chat.

Then, Leni decided to message Bongbong, she wanted to end that feeling creating a boundary between them everytime she sees him. Leni wanted to talk to him, she wanted to know more about him.

“Hello.” She chatted him in private.

“Hi.” Bongbong replied. Napangiti si Leni at muling nag-type ng isasagot.

“I just wanted to apologize again for what I did, surely it’s all because of my negligence.”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.”

“I look forward to see you and work with in the task group.”

“Me too.” When Leni tapped the send button, her eyes widened as she noticed her sister, Lourdes, looking at her phone from behind.

“Ate!” she exclaimed.

“Aruy! Hmm, sino ’yon? Ikaw ha, landi mo!” tawa nito. Leni pouted and she rolled her eyes.

“Wala, kasama ko lang ’yon sa task group. Ang issue mo, Ate.” Reklamo niya.

“Nagkakaila ka pa. Kakain na tayo, kanina ka pa tinatawag nila Mama at Papa. Busying-busy ka naman sa ka-chat mo. Halika na.” Lourdes teased her and laughed before getting out of the room.

Meanwhile at Bongbong’s, he couldn’t stop punching his lamp’s rope handle midair. He could feel his heart racing as he punch the rope handle. He breaths deeply with his face blushing.

He couldn’t stop thinking about her.

It makes him feel an unknown feeling, a feeling of mixed joy and excitement.

It gives him butterflies.

Bongbong once read, Dazai Osamu once said that the feeling of joy is perhaps like a speck of gold, glimmering faintly at the bottom of a river of grief.

~Surprising Excitement.