She already fell asleep. I want her to be on my side forever. This morning, I need to accompany her back home. Her brother will not be able to come here.

She looks so cute while sleeping. I couldn’t help but stare at her.

“Yuhan,” she said in a low voice.

“Hmm? I’m here.”

“I love you.”

I smiled and pull her closer to me. “I love you more.” I kissed her forehead.

He hugged me back. I guess she’s half awake.

___

Nagising ako and bumungad sa akin ang napakagwapong mukha. I smiled. Tulog pa siya?

His eyes suddenly open. “You’re awake. Good morning, Ida.”

“Good morning too.”

“Come closer. Magkayakap tayo kagabi bakit ngayon hindi na?”

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at lumapit ako sa kaniya. Niyakap naman niya ako agad. “I don’t want to let you go.”

“Ginawa mo nga noon e.”

“It’s not gonna happen again.”

“I hope so. Masakit siya, Yuhan. I’ve been missing you so much.”

“Me too. Don’t worry. This time, it will never happen again. I’ll do my best not to. Just please, don’t let go of me too.”

“I will.” Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakayakap sa kaniya.

He sniffs me. “You smell good.”

“Y-You t-too.”

“Ida.”

“Hmm?”

He guided my head to look up to him. He looked in my eyes then... then lowered his gaze on my lips. “C-Can I kiss you?” he asked as he turned his gaze back on my eyes. I nodded.

I noticed him smile and slowly leans towards me. “It would be better if you open your mouth a bit,” he said as he touched my chin. I opened my mouth a bit and then I suddenly felt his lips touching mine. We’re kissing! I’m not even sure if I am responding to his kiss correctly.

___

I wanted to kiss her. I want to have a taste of her reddish lips.

“Ida,” I called her.

“Hmm?”

I guided her head so she could look up to me. I’m seeing an angelic face.

I looked into her eyes then on her lips. “C-Can I kiss you?” I asked as I turned my gaze into her eyes. It’s fine with me if she will not agree this time. To my surprise, she nodded. I slowly lean my head towards her. “It would be better if you open your mouth a bit,” I said as I placed my thumb on her chin. She did what I said and it was a sign for me to finally kiss her. My lips are already attached to hers. Her lips are so soft. She is responding to my kiss really well!

I stopped kissing her lips and I kissed her cheeks next. It turned red. I smirked. I kissed her forehead afterwards.

We stayed silent for a while.

A few minutes later...

“Han/Ida,” both of us speak. We chuckled.

“You go first, my lady.”

“Umm... T-That kiss... it was my first.”

I looked at her. She’s a bit shy.

“Wow. I’m lucky I was your first.”

Her face suddenly turned gloomy. “While me? I’m not your first! It’s unfair!”

I chuckled. “Don’t feel bad about it. Even though you are not the first, I’ll make sure you’ll be my last. For your information too, Mrs. Alvarez, you’re the first lady who entered my room other than my family of course.”

“M-Mrs. Alvarez?”

I smiled at her. “You will definitely become one.”

“Kyah!”

“Let’s get up already and prepare your things. Ihahatid pa kita sa inyo.”

“Eh?”

“You heard it right.”

“Okay. I can fix my things on my own.”

“Okay then. Baba muna ako.”

“Sige.”

___

Lumabas na si Yuhan sa kwarto niya. Wah! I can’t believe I already had my first kiss and it was with him!

Nagsimula na akong mag-ayos ng mga gamit ko and I can’t stop thinking about what just happened! Aish! It seems like I want more. But hugging him already is enough for me.

After an hour...

“Gusto mo ba na bumiyahe na tayo or gusto mong maglibot muna?”

“Biyahe na tayo. May next time pa naman. I need to process my enrollment.”

“Where do you plan to study?”

“Sa state university na. It’s closer to my friends.”

“Are you sure?”

“Honestly, hindi e.”

Mayamaya pa ay may bumusina and tumapat sa amin ang sasakyan ni Hance.

“Get inside!” sabi niya.

Sumunod naman kami ni Yuhan.

“Anong meron?” tanong ko.

“Let’s travel to Benguet.”

“Akala ko may lakad ka ngayon kaya hindi ka na namin sinabihan para ihatid si Ida.”

“It was cancelled. Pasalamat kayo.”

“Okay. Thanks! Does this mean na libre?”

“Bayaran ni Yuhan gasolina.”

“Fine. Tsk.”

Napadungaw ako sa bintana.

“So, Ida, about awhile ago... bakit hindi ka sigurado?”

“It’s not my dream school. My family is also suggesting na sa private ako. Pili lang daw ako sa dalawa.”

“Then choose your dream school.”

“If I do that, I might not have enough time to hang out with my friends.”

“They will understand you. Nagseselos nga ako e kasi malayo ako sa iyo tapos sila malapit lang.”

“Talaga?”

“Oo nga.”

“But will it be worth it? Mag-isa lang ako sa school if ever. Wala akong kakilala na doon mag-aaral.”

“You’ll be fine, Ida.”

I took a deep sigh. “This is hard.”

“Just choose the school you think that will really help you. Which do you think offers the best of Psychology?”

“They’re all a great university naman. Sa isa, trisem kasi. Sa isa, bago palang ang course sa kanila. It was just established recently. Sa isa naman, matagal nang na-establish.”

“Huwag ka sa trisem, pinsan.”

“I agree with Hance. Huwag ka rin sa sinabi mong bagong established ang course sa kanila. Baka maging subject of experiment lang kayo. Kapag may hindi na-meet ang college na requirement, more likely, they will ask you to shift course if you want to stay in the school or rather look for another university.”

Napaisip ako sa sinabi nila lalo na ang kay Yuhan. So, it feels like I will end up at my dream school.

“You have a point. Then I guess, it’s already settled.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m officially enrolled. Naka-pag-enroll na kasi ako sa binigay nilang schedule noon. So, ang balak ko lang sana ay mag-withdraw in case magbago isip ko.”

“That’s great then. Good luck on your studies.”

“Thank you. Ikaw din. Nakapag-enroll na kayo?”

“Bukas,” maikling tugon ni Yuhan.

I smiled and dumungaw ulit sa bintana.

“Ida, mayamaya’y pagtawag sa akin ni Yuhan.”

Lumingon ako sa kaniya. “Hmm?”

Hinila niya ako palapit sa kaniya and niyakap.

“Hoy! Huwag kayong gagawa ng milagro ah.”

“Yakap lang naman,” tugon ni Yuhan sa sinabi ni Hance.

“Mamimiss kita,” sabi ni Yuhan.

“Me too.”

Tumikhim si Hance. “Pwede ba dumaan tayo sa isang kainan? Gutom ako e.”

“Hindi ka nag-breakfast?” tanong ko.

“Hindi.”

* * *

“Kayong dalawa, hindi kayo kakain?”

“Kumain na kami ng almusal,” tugon ko.

“Drinks?”

“Fries and sprite na lang,” sabi ko.

“Same,” ani naman ni Yuhan.

“Ako na mag-order. Pera?” sabi ni Hance sabay lahad ng kamay niya.

Mabilis naman na naglabas si Yuhan ng pera mula sa wallet niya.

“Oh, 500.”

Ngumiti naman si Hance. “Akin na sukli ah.”

“No.”

“Yes. Hanap na kayo pwesto.”

Hindi na lang nagsalita pa si Yuhan.

“Doon tayo oh sa gilid!” sabi ko at hinila si Yuhan papunta roon.

Nakarating na kami sa pwesto. Malapit sa bintana.

“Han,” pagtawag ko kay Yuhan.

“Yes?” nakangiting tugon niya.

“Will you come visit me at home?”

“Sure, I will.”

“Are you going to inform me?”

“Maybe.”

“Eh?”

“Just wait for me anytime.”

“Hmp. Okay.”

He reached out for my hand and held it. “You know na magkalayo tayo and pareho na tayong college. We will both have our busy schedule. But if given a chance to visit you, I will come.”

I smiled at him. “Okay po. Will you chat with me ba everyday?”

He sighed. “I can’t assure you that. I will update you as soon as I can. Just please take care of yourself, okay?”

I nodded.

Mayamaya ay may tumikhim. Nang tinignan namin ay si Hance.

“Buti naman dito kayo pumwesto. Akala ko mahihirapan pa akong hanapin kayo.”

Umupo na si Hance sa kabilang side ng pinagpwestuhan namin.

“How long are we going to wait for our food?” tanong ko.

“I don’t know,” sabi ni Hance.

“Ida,” pagtawag sa akin ni Yuhan.

“Sabi nila marami ka raw makikilala ‘pag college. Can you ignore the guys na magpapansin sa‘yo?”

I chuckled. “Ikaw lang naman gugustuhin ko e.”

“Gugustuhin lang?”

“Mamahalin din.”

“You two, get a room! Mamaya mag-kiss pa kayo sa harapan ko. Kadiri!”

“Kadiri mo mukha mo, bro. Kayo nga ng girlfriend mo nag-kiss sa harapan namin noon ni Liam.”

Natawa si Hance. “So what? Malay ko bang nandoon na kayo.”

“Ewan ko sa‘yo. I can kiss Ida here right in front of you at kahit pa may makakitang iba.”

“Whatever, man! Ayan na parating na order natin.”

“Good morning ma’am and sirs. Here’s your order. Enjoy your meal!” sabi ng waitress at inilapag na ang mga in-order namin.

“Kumain na kayo. Huwag ang labi ng isa’t isa ang lasapin n’yo. Maawa kayo sa akin. Hindi kami ayos ng girlfriend ko.”

“The what?” Natawa si Yuhan. “Anong kalokohan na naman ang ginawa mo?”

“I just pranked her.”

“How?” tanong ko sabay subo sa isang french fries.

“Sabi niya kasi noong isang araw na mag-video call kami. Ang ginawa ko, I call her with another girl’s name. Ayon, pinatay ang video call. Hindi na ako nirereplyan hanggang ngayon.”

“Deserve!” sabi ni Yuhan.

Tumingin ako sa kaniya. “Kapag ikaw, Han, ginawa mo ‘yan... magkalimutan na lang tayo!”

“Oy, ‘wag naman gano’n.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Kumain na nga kayo. Patapos na ako oh, tapos kayo hindi pa.”

“Patapos ka na? Ang bilis mo namang kumain!”

“Patay gutom kasi ‘yan, sila nga ni Liam umuubos lagi pagkain sa bahay namin.”

“Wow ha, Yuhan. Sinabi pa talaga.”

Tumawa lang si Yuhan.

After 30 minutes ay nasa sasakyan na kami.

“Pwede ba dalawin muna natin girlfriend ko sa lugar nila? Madadaanan din naman natin.”

“Sure,” sabay naming sabi ni Yuhan.

Nakatulog ako sa biyahe and saktong malapit na raw kami sa kinaroroonan ng girlfriend ni Hance.

Bigla niyang hininto ang sasakyan dahilan para kamuntikan kaming mauntog.

Tumingin kami sa harap and may nakita kaming babaeng may kayakap at kahalikan. May hawak din siyang bulaklak.

Natahimik si Hance hanggang sa mayamaya ay narinig namin ang paghikbi niya.

“Cheer up, bro,” sabi ni Yuhan at tinapik ang balikat ni Hance.

That’s her girlfriend? Oh, well, magiging ex na.

“What do you want to do now?” tanong ko.

“Alis na tayo.”

“No. Not yet,” sabi ko at lumabas sa sasakyan.

Lumapit ako sa dalawa na hindi pa tapos maghalikan.

Tumikhim ako. Nagulat sila at napatingin sa akin.

“Sino ka?”

“Ako lang naman ang pinsan ng lalaking niloloko mo. You unloyal ugly lady!”

“How dare you say that to my girlfriend?" galit na sabi nito.

“Wow! Kayo na pala habang sila pa ng pinsan ko. Kadiri!”

“H-Hance,” gulat na sabi ng babae.

Lumingon ako sa likuran ko at nakita ko sina Yuhan at Hance.

“I see you are enjoying it too much. May iba ka na tapos nagagawa mo pang magtampo sa akin. Buti na lang at naisipan kong puntahan ka at naabutan ko ang ginagawa n’yo kanina. Sana sinabi mo na lang agad. Kaya naman kitang palayain. I love you for the last time. Bye.”

I sighed.

“Tara na, pinsan. Don’t waste your time here.”

Hinawakan ni Yuhan ang kamay ko at naglakad na kami pabalik sa sasakyan.

Pagkabalik sa sasakyan ay pinaandar na agad ito ni Hance.

“Bro, dahan-dahan sa pagpapatakbo. Ayaw pa namin mamatay!” sabi ni Yuhan.

“Chill, you’re not gonna die. Gusto ko lang mabilisang umalis dito.”

Lunch time na and huminto kami sa isang restaurant.

“Order all you want. I’ll pay,” sabi ni Hance.

“Ganito ba ‘pag broken kaibigan mo? Nanlilibre?” pabulong na tanong ko kay Yuhan.

“Maybe? That girl was her first.”

“Halah. Trauma.”

“Yeah. You know what, the same scenario happened to me on one of my exes.”

“Oh. That’s traumatizing.”

“You two, tama na bulungan. I can hear you. Mag-order na nga lang kayo.”

“Okay. Carbonara, carrot cake, french fries, pizza, fried chicken rice, halo-halo, apple juice,” sabi ko.

“Ma’am, we don’t have carrot cake for now.”

“Okay. Huwag na idagdag.”

“Kayo po sir wearing white shirt.”

“Same with what my girlfriend ordered,” tugon ni Yuhan.

“Okay. We will serve your order right away!”

Umalis na ang waitress.

“Uubusin n’yo ‘yon?”

“Yeah?” patanong na tugon ko saka tumawa.

“Panigurado ay ubos mga lulutuin mo, Yuhan.”

“Let’s see.”