The Lollipop Project

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko ngayong nalaman ko na ang saloobin ni Markell. Tinanggap ko na noon na hanggang best friends nalang kami. Pero dahil sa inamin niya sa akin kahapon, hindi ko maiwasang isipin kung ano sana ang kinahinatnan ng pagkakaibigan namin kung sinabi niya ito sa akin ng mas maaga.

Tinago ko ang mga kamay ko sa loob ng denim jacket ko habang nakaupo sa madamong field ng university grounds. Makulimlim ang kalangitan at malakas rin ang ihip ng hangin kaya medyo nahirapan kami sa pag-set up ng booth kanina para sa annual fundraising festival.

Pinanindigan ng Gen L Society na gawing fundraiser ang "The Lollipop Project" ngayong taon. Bale ang gagawin namin ay magbebenta kami ng lollipops sa mga estudyante.

"Pero sino naman ang bibili ng lollipop?" Isang napakahalagang tanong ng isang ka-miyembro namin.

"Oo nga. At kung may bibili man, hindi rin ito sapat para ipamigay sa charity," sabat pa ng isa.

"Why don't we do it with a twist?" Suggestion ng muse (aka si Mia) sa grupo.

"Twist like what?" The president asked.

"We can do it like a matchmaking game. Maglalagay tayo ng specific word na naka-attach sa lollipops. And whoever matches with the words get to participate in the kissing booth."

Ang brainy talaga ng muse namin. Talagang naipasok pa niya ang kissing booth sa wholesome na project na ito.

"That way, more people will want to buy lollipops. Don't you agree?"

I don't.

"Koleen," a soft voice of a girl drew my attention back to where I was. Flora stood in front of me, wearing the same white shirt that I had on, only hers fitted her chest tight more than me. She flashed a thin smile, handing me a bottle of water. "Pwede bang tumabi sa'yo?"

Taking the bottle from her, I nodded and gestured her to take the seat next to me. "Salamat."

Flora kept the smile on her face as she crossed her long legs, sitting beside me on the grass. "Kumusta ka?"

I took a breath, looking far out. Busy ang lahat sa kanya-kanyang booths nila. Every year kasi ang fundraising event dito sa university. Naalala ko yung Semi-Naked Run ng fraternity nila Markell last year. This year, hindi ko alam kung ano ang pakulo ng Omega Phi.

"Sorry, Koleen. Sa nangyari sa dad mo..." Flora paused, catching my attention. Her hands sat on her lap as she gathered her thoughts.

I reached for her hand, making her turn to me. "Okay lang, Flora."

"I hope hindi rin awkward sa'yo..." her voice trailed off, avoiding my eyes. "Actually, alam ko naman na ikaw talaga ang gusto ni Kell."

"Bulag lang siya." I diverted the conversation, not wanting her to feel guilty for nothing. "Mas maganda at matalino ka kaya kaysa sa akin."

Flora fell silent for a moment before turning to me. "Koleen, hindi bulag si Kell. Masyado lang siyang duwag kaya hindi niya nasabi sa'yo."

I blinked at her, trying to process what she just said. Hindi ko na tuloy alam kung ano ang isasagot ko.

"Anyway, bibili ka ba ng lollipop?" Tanong niya.

I glanced at her, shaking my head. "Ayaw kong sumali sa kissing booth."

She let out a soft chuckle. "Bakit? Baka magselos si Kell? Paano kung siya ang maka-match mo?"

"Paano kung hindi?"

"Kung sino man ang maka-match mo, then baka siya talaga ang para sa'yo."

I waved her off. "Pass ako."

Flora pouted. "Kahit na para sa fundraiser?"

I let out a huge breath. "Kung bibili ka, bibili rin ako."

Flora smiled, taking something out from her pocket. "Here. Libre ko na sa'yo." Inabot niya sa akin ang pulang heart-shaped na lollipop.

Kinuha ko ito at binasa ang nakasulat na salita sa maliit na papel na nakadikit dito.

"King."

#

The night was young and so were we. But I was not having fun at all.

Inayos ni Brianna ang floral crown sa tuktok ng ulo ko. Nilagyan pa niya ito ng hair pins para hindi malaglag. Hinayaan ko nalang siya na gawin ang gusto niya kahit na ayaw ko naman talagang sumali sa kissing booth. Kung hindi lang talaga ako nahiya kay Flora kanina, hindi naman talaga ako sasali.

Tinignan ko si Brianna na busy sa pag-ayos ng floral crown sa ulo niya. Kulay dilaw ang ilaw na nakapalibot sa korona niya. Asul naman ang sa akin.

"Pink sana ang gusto ko," Alexis complained, checking herself out on her phone camera. "I don't look good with blue."

"You look fine, Lexi," Brianna cooed beside her as she straightened herself up.

"Nandito na ba ang lahat?" Lumitaw si Flora mula sa entrance ng tent kung saan naka-linya ang mga girls na bumili ng lollipop.

Halos hindi na ako makahinga sa sobrang sikip dito sa loob ng tent. Akala ko hindi magiging successful ang fundraiser na ito pero I guess, mabenta talaga ang kissing booth.

I just fell silent as I waited for Brianna to finish my head dress.

"Perfect," she spoke, raising her phone to my face and gesturing me to look at myself on her front camera.

May ilang pins na naka-ayos sa magkabilang sides ng buhok ko. Hindi ko masyadong gusto ang ayos nito dahil kita ang malawak kong noo, pero ayaw ko rin namang guluhin pa ang ginawa ni Bri.

"Okay girls, you only have one job tonight and that is to never let our emotions get the best of us," Flora warned, her voice echoing inside the tent-covered area. "Just one simple kiss, no groping, no tongue action, unless you're lucky enough to be paired with your boyfriend."

Giggles filled the room as the girls finally prepared to come out of the tent one by one for the kissing booth. Hindi pa namin alam kung sino ang ka-match namin. Pinagdarasal ko nalang na sana babae rin yung naka-match ko.

The girls in front of me slowly disappeared from the room as the kissing event started. Flora's voice could be heard loud and clear from the sound system set up, which was kindly sponsored by an alumni. Alam na alam naming lahat kung paano nangyari yung halikan sa labas sa tuwing nagsisigawan yung mga nanonood.

Before I knew it, it was my turn to step onto the stage. Pagtuntong ko sa stage, nakita ko ang mga manonood na nakataas ang mga cellphone nila para i-video ang mangyayari. Parang mas excited pa sila kaysa sa akin. Napatingin ako kay Flora na nakatingin sa cue card na hawak niya.

"King, your Queen is waiting. Come on out!" Masayang announcement ni Flora.

I waited with my hands relaxed on both sides as a guy in black shirt appeared from the other corner of the stage. His chocolate hair was sticking out in all corners, his thick brows highlighting his gray eyes under it. A thin smile crossed his face as he made his way towards the centre, meeting me in both shock and delight.

"Konstant," he mumbled.

I pressed my lips together, not really knowing how to go about this kiss.

Actually, ngayong nasa harap ko na ulit si Jalen, naalala ko nung huling beses kaming naghalikan sa kotse. Ang awkward lang dahil maraming taong nanonood ngayon sa amin.

Napakapit ako sa maliit na table sa gitna namin ni Jalen nang maramdaman ko ang mabilis na pagkumpol ng mga paru-paro sa bituka ko.

I never felt this much butterflies clumping my gut. No, they weren't butterflies. They were more like ants crawling under my skin, some deciding to just walk past through, but most were there to eat me alive.

Napapikit ako sa kaba. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin.

Tatayo lang ba ako? Hihintayin ko ba siya?

"When you're ready..." I heard him whisper near me.

Minulat ko ang mga mata ko at nakita ang labi niyang naghihintay sa akin. Napalunok ako bigla.

Nagawa na namin to ah. Bakit hanggang ngayon kinakabahan pa rin ako?

"Konstant, we don't have to do this if you don't want to," Jalen spoke again in a low voice.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa kukote ko pero nilapit ko ang mukha ko sa kanya at hinalikan ang pisngi niya. Nasagi pa ng eyeglasses ko ang ilong niya kaya namula ito kaunti.

"Sorry," mahina kong sambit sabay ayos ng salamin sa mata ko.

Nakatunganga lang si Jalen habang nakatingin sa akin na para bang lumulutang ang isip niya.

"Boo!" The crowd suddenly deafened my ears, pero hindi ko na ito pinansin pa.

Tatalikod na dapat ako nang biglang kinuha ni Jalen ang kamay ko. Napatingin ako sa kanya. "B-Bakit?"

Humakbang siya papalapit sa akin and without hesitation, he tilted his head and swooped in for a kiss.

His lips stayed on mine for a few seconds before he decided to move it on his own. Maybe it was because of the gush of cold air blowing under my nape, but the next thing I knew, I was moving my lips along with him.

I tasted the strawberry flavor from his mouth and I instantly knew it was from the lollipop. I was suddenly addicted to it.

"Okay, time's up!" Flora broke us off from that intense moment, my heart still fogging my mind.

When I looked up, Jalen kept his face straight, his eyes still glued on my lips.

And all I could think about in that moment was... "I want more of him."

🍭

A/N: Uhm... 👀

#thelollipopproject