"Can I invite you to school?"

On sunday morning, I found myself buying coffee with Amelie. Walking distance mula sa simbahan. Pampawala ng antok dahil ala una na ako nakatulog kagabi at nagising ng alas quatro para um-attend ng first mass kasama si Amelie.

"Oo naman. Pero para saan?" mahinahon niyang tanong.

"For graduation photo. Isasama sana kita. If that is okay with you, of course."

"Oo naman! Bakit hindi?" Namula ang kaniyang mukha.

"Thanks." I swiftly moved my hand towards hers and held it like I sometimes do.

Manliligaw pa naman ako. I know my boundaries. But sometimes, I like to hold hands. Kapag ayaw ni Amelie, bibitaw naman ako. But I always get to see her flustered face whenever we hold hands in public.

"You're done with everything in school?" she asked.

"Still have a couple of flying to do."

Nang pumasok kami sa simbahan ay sinalubong si Amelie ng dalawang madre. Agad akong bumitaw sa pagkakahawak sa kaniya. Amelie eyed me in confusion. Napahawak nalang ako sa batok. I cleared my throat and looked away.

Ayokong sirain ang imahe niya sa harap ng mga madre. She is known to be prim and proper. Who am I to stain her name? Manliligaw palang ako. I do think it's forbidden to touch her yet but my aggressiveness could never hold me back.

Gago kang talaga, Kithian.

"Magkasama pala kayo nitong manliligaw mo, Amelie," one of the sisters said.

"Opo, Sister. Sinasamahan ako palagi sa pagsisimba."

"Aba, mabuti iyan. Paghahanda na rin para kapag bumuo na kayo ng pamilya ay malapit ang mga puso ninyo sa Diyos."

I felt my lips arousing from sise to side. Tama, Sister. Bilang haligi at ilaw ng tahanan, isa sa mga obligasyon namin ang pagtibayin ang aming pananampalataya sa Panginoon.

Amelie was with me when the mass started. The lectors take turn in reading. According to her, by schedule sila dahil marami naman sila.

"Kit?"

I hummed, diverting my attention to her.

"Gusto ko ng mangga."

I eyed her ammusingly.

"Bakit, Amelie? Magiging tatay na ba ako?" biro ko.

"Siraulo. Gusto kong kumain ng mangga. O 'di kaya papaya na hindi masyadong hinog. Guava will do, too. Basta anything that I can put asin, toyo, and suka."

"Hmm. Okay."

Tumahimik na ulit ito. I kept remembering what she said until the mass ended. Nang lumapit si Amelie sa mga madre upang tumulong ay agad akong lumabas ng simbahan.

I strolled around the neighborhood hoping to see what she wants. Nakakita ako pero hindi mangga. Bayabas. And it's not good for her to eat manggo and papaya without breakfast. Baka sumama ang tiyan niya.

"Where have you been? Hinahanap kita kanina," salubong ni Amelie.

"I got you guava. Wala akong nakitang mangga o papaya. Hiningi ko lang din 'to, wala namang nagbebenta ng bayabas dito." I chuckled.

Amelie's eyes teared up.

"Thank you, Kithian."

"Of course. Anything for you. Are you done?"

She nodded. I guided her to my car. Iuuwi ko na agad at baka pagalitan. Alam na alam ng parents niya ang oras kung kailan matatapos ang misa.

I figured out that they're very strict when it comes to Amelie. Kolehiyala na ngunit may curfew pa rin. And I have no problem with that. I understand and I respect their values and discipline.

"Was that some kind if cravings?" I asked.

"Hm? Oo. Kapag dadating na ang period ko."

"You have that monthly? The menstruation thing?"

"My gosh, Kithian. Of course we have that monthly!" She laughed. "We shed skin too."

"What? You what?!"

"We shed skin." Namumula na ang kaniyang mukha kakatawa. "And that's the hardest part aside from period cramps."

"What are you some kind of reptile?!"

"Kithian!" Bumunghalit siya ng tawa. Hawak-hawak pa ang kaniyang tiyan.

Itinabi ko muna ang kotse at hinayaan siyang tumawa. Matagal bago iyon natapos. Maluha-luha pa ito nang matapos at tumingin sa 'kin.

"That was..." she sighed heavily. "Amazing."

I frowned.

"But is it true? You shed skin when you're... when you're on your that... you know..." I couldn't complete my sentence. I am trying to grasp for the right words to say.

"I already told you. Bakit ayaw mong maniwala?" tumawa siya ulit.

"Holy– you do that for real?"

Girls shed skin when they're on their periods?

Ano 'yan new skin unlocked?

What the heck is going on with girls?!

That is just pure unbelievable.

"You're joking." May pagdududa sa boses ko.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko habang tinitingnan siyang tumatawa. Mas lalo itong natawa sa sinabi ko.

"I'm not nga!"

"I refuse to believe such ridiculous claim. I need to see wether it's true or not before I could believe it."

"Alright, fine. I will let you see once I'm on it."

"Bet."

Pinaandar ko na ulit ang kotse at dumiretso sa kanila. She waved goodbye and I watched her enter their big house.

Hanggang pagdating ng bahay ay okupado ang isip ko sa sinabi ni Amelie.

"Mom, is it true that you shed when you're on your period? Is it like some menstrual cycle thing? I don't remember my teacher discussing about that when I was in eighth grade... or ninth. I don't know," litanya ko.

"Kithian!" she gasped. "You're old enough to know about that stuff."

"Mom, I know a few about menstruation, alright? It's just that, this news is new to me."

"Who told you that?"

"Amelie did."

Mom moved to get the tv's remote and closed the movie she's watching. I saw the recent movie she was watching and frowned. My mom really is fond of zombie movies. She's weird and I think that is why my dad loves her very much.

"Dear, girls don't shed. That's one discovery for you today."

"Though so," I murmured.

I was about to walk towards the stairs when mom spoke again.

"Also, Kithian honey, your condo's fully renovated. Your dad did and it's according to your liking. Ayaw mo kasi ng kulay purple." Her expression looked down.

"I don't hate purple, Mommy, but it's not my color. Sorry, Mom. Kapag nagkaapo ka ng babae sa 'kin, I will let you design her nursery," pampalubag loob ko.

Mom is fond of light colors such as purple, baby pink, and skyblue. Ayos lang sana sa akin kung sky blue ang kulay ng condo ko, but she made it purple.

"Alright. Fine."

"And don't be sad anymore, I told dad not to change my room in any way. It's still purple."

Mom's face brightened. She smiled and nodded. No wonder all my stuff when I was a kid were purple and sky blue.

Umakyat na ako sa itaas at nagpalit ng damit. Hindi ako nakakauwi sa condo dahil under construction nga iyon. Maybe one of these days I'll go visit. At baka dalhin ko rin si Amelie if she has free time.

I texted Amelie confirming the fact that I already knew girls don't shed when they're on their period.

Ako:
Lol. Girls don't shed, Amelie. My mom said it.

Amelie:
You asked your mom about it? Haha.

Ako:
Na-turned off ka na sa 'kin?

Next to the message was a sulking and sad emoticon.

Amelie:
Of course not! Ang cute kaya.

She then sent another message a couple of seconds after.

Amelie:
We'll eat lunch outside today. Tell your mom and dad I said hello. Thank you for today, Kithian.

Ako:
Take care, silly girl.

I stared at my phone for a second or so before laying on the bed. Inilagay ko ang aking braso sa bandang noo at pumikit.

I keep thinking about Amelie's happy face. At this point, I can inly though to myself that I am dearly in love with Amelie.