Song: Ano Ba Meron Tayong Dalawa - Zack Tabudlo

Single

I woke up early the next day because my flight back to Manila will be a few hours from now. Kagabi ko pa naayos ang mga gamit ko kaya wala na akong poproblemahin pa.

I went downstairs and had breakfast with my family. After that, I prepared for my departure today.

Buong magdamag ay napansin ko rin ang kakaibang tingin ni Catalina sa akin. She just suddenly entered my room with a meaningful smile on her face. My forehead creased.

"What do you want?" I asked lazily.

She giggled and made herself comfortable on my bed. Pumangalumbaba siya at saka ako tiningnan.

"Did you say goodbye to him already?"

"To who?"

She rolled her eyes. "To your boyfriend!"

"What boyfriend? I don't—what are you even talking about, Catalina?"

"Oh! Don't even try to deny it. I know! I can feel it in my bones. Something is up with you and that guy Primo. Though it might not seem obvious with you, pero halatang-halata naman sa kanya. You should talk to him. Kung ayaw n'yong mabisto ni Mama."

Bumuka ang bibig ko. Halos masapo ko ang noo ko dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang ginawa ni Primo para mapaghalataan siya ni Catalina. At sa lahat ng tao pa talaga na unang makakaalam ay itong si Catalina pa!

She couldn't even keep her mouth shut!

It's not even a day yet since I told Primo that we'll talk about our relationship once I come back, pero eto at may nakakaalam na agad na may namamagitan sa amin.

"I'm not trying to hide it dahil wala naman dapat itago. Walang kami, Catalina."

"Oh please, Ate! Baka masaktan si Primo kung madidinig niya 'yang sinasabi mo. He'll think you're trying to deny him!"

"I am not. We're nothing."

"But you have feelings for him?"

Hindi agad ako nakasagot. The only thing I'm capable of denying is our relationship. Totoo naman kasing walang kami. But can I lie about my feelings for him?

"I—"

"You do! Oh my god!" Catalina squealed. I almost put my palm over her mouth because of how loud she is!

Hindi ko pa nga natatapos ang salita ko, nag-react na agad siya.

Her eyes remained widened. Alam kong hindi naman manhid 'tong kapatid ko para magulat pa. She may be noticing it a few times already so she decided to talk to me about it now.

But with the way she reacted, it seems like this is really a big surprise for her.

"Oh my gosh! Congrats, sis!" She went to me and hugged me. "Marunong naman pala tumibok 'yang puso mo for someone!"

I didn't know how to react. Oh, how I wish someone else caught us. Hirap pa naman dito kay Catalina sa oras na malaman niya, palagi na siyang mag-o-observe. She'll probably tease me about it, too!

Now I'll get a taste of her endless teasing.

"Well...in fairness, Primo's not that bad naman. He's nice and he seems intelligent, too! He's gwapo rin naman but kaonting paligo lang siguro dahil tuwing nakikita ko siya palagi siyang madumi maybe because he's been working hard! But he's decent." She pouted and got excited again after a second. "Omg! Bagay nga kayo! You're both workaholic! But will Mama approve of him knowing that she likes Ali for you?"

Catalina rolled her eyes at the mention of Ali's name.

"I told you, Cat. I don't like Ali that way. Sa 'yo na 'yun."

"Aba! Dapat lang!"

"That's why you need to start putting your life back together. Ali likes someone who's passionate. I'm sure you are..."

"Passionate? I don't even know what I'm good at." Catalina tsked and rolled her eyes again. "Anyway, baka naman may chance na magbago ang type niya kapag kinilala niya ako. Right now, he's been nothing but snobbish and mean to me."

"Maybe because you've been bothering him too much."

"If you're this bored, Ate, I'm sure you'll be bothering everyone you see as well."

"Unlike you, I respect their personal space."

"Whatever!" Her eyes glanced at my things. "You need help with that? What time is your flight?"

"In 3 hours."

Tumango siya at tinulungan akong ibaba ang gamit ko. While we were busy with my things, she keeps on telling me that I should say good bye to Primo.

Na dapat daw bago ako umalis ay makapagpaalam man lang ako para hindi siya malungkot. I don't think that's necessary knowing that I already told him that yesterday after we kissed.

Oh...right.

We kissed.

Damn.

That was my first time.

Primo is my first kiss. He's also the first person I confessed to.

How did he even managed to be all my firsts that easily? It is because he's charming? Or is it because he's an easy going person that everyone he's with just feels comfortable around him?

Kung ganoon, ilang babae na rin kaya na siya ang first kiss? Ilang beses na rin siya nakatanggap ng confession?

I shake my head because why am I even thinking about it? Ano naman? I'm sure those weren't a big deal for him.

He told me he likes me. He wanted me to give him a chance.

Ako ang gusto niya kaya bakit ko pa iniisip ang mga babaeng maaaring may gusto rin sa kanya?

I'm the one that he likes!

Sa sobrang lalim ng iniisip ko ay hindi ko napansin na siya na ang nasa harap ko. He was in front of our family's car. A ghost smile on his lips appeared when we locked eyes on each other. Habang ako naman ay balisa pa mula sa mga iniisip.

Should I tell him now that I'm fine with him being my boyfriend? Maybe he needs assurance. Baka pagbalik ko, mabalitaan ko may girlfriend na siya dahil lang 'di ko siya nabigyan ng assurance dahil lang hindi ako sigurado kung tama o totoo pa ba itong nangyayari?

Plus, I also need to think of ways on how to tell my parents about us. Madali lang naman sabihin siguro iyon kay Papa dahil magaan ang loob niya kay Primo. I'm sure he'll support us.

But Mama...

This is why I have to think about it first before making a decision. Before I make it official with him. Because honestly, I don't know what I'm doing. Maybe Jana can help me with this.

I heard Catalina cleared her throat.

"Sasama ka sa paghatid, Primo?"

"Oo, Catalina. Nilalagnat daw kasi si Manong Rey kaya walang makakapagmaneho sa kanya papuntang airport. Ako 'yong inutusan."

"Inutusan o nag-volunteer?"

I glared at Catalina. She's really not helping. Mabuti na lang at mabilis 'tong si Primo.

"Inutusan s'yempre. Ikaw talaga, Catalina, kahit kailan!" Matawa-tawa niyang sinabi at saka sumulyap muli sa akin.

Natigil lang siya sa pang-aasar sa akin nang humalo na sa amin sila Mama at Papa. Nakita kong tinanguan ni Papa si Primo matapos siyang batiin nito. Pero si Mama ay hindi man lang siya pinansin.

"Thank you for coming home to celebrate my birthday with me." Ani Papa habang nakayakap sa akin.

"Anything for you, Papa."

He kissed my forehead before he said goodbye. Sumunod naman si Mama na nakailang paalala muna bago ako pakawalan.

"Take care, hija. Make sure to message us when you land."

"I will, Mama. Thank you."

Nagawi naman muli ang tingin ko sa kapatid ko. She waved her fingers.

"Bye, sis. Enjoy Manila or better yet...come back here immediately. I'm sure mas mag-e-enjoy ka rito!" Makahulugan niyang sinabi.

Hindi ko siya magawang samaan ng tingin dahil nakatingin ang mga magulang ko sa amin.

"Okay, Cat. I'll make sure tell your friends you said hi if I ever bump into them."

"Sure."

Catalina's smirk didn't leave her face. Kung pupwede lang siguro siyang sumama rin para lang makita niya ang gagawin namin ni Primo habang nasa byahe ay gagawin niya.

But I'm sure...nothing will happen...

I tried to catch my breath after that intense make out session with Primo. After he parked the car at the airport, he asked me if I wanted to make out before I leave. I don't know what has gotten to me to agree.

Kaya heto kami ngayon at parehas hinahabol ang hininga. Pakiramdam ko mababaliw na ako. He kisses so good that I can't help but wonder how many girls he already kissed for him to be so good at this?

Ramdam kong nakatingin siya sa akin habang ako ay nakatingin lang sa harap. Wala namang interesadong bagay roon pero hindi ko magawang tumingin kay Primo ngayon.

"Sumosobra ka na." Sabi ko at saka lang siya tiningnan.

Primo looked surprised. "Nagpaalam naman ako ah?"

"I know! But I didn't know you'll be that aggressive."

He bit his lip. "Sorry. I got carried away. It'll probably take time before I see you again. I'm just trying to make every thing count so I won't miss you too much."

Oh...he was trying to maximize his time with me.

"It's...alright." I whispered. Primo chuckled.

Napaiwas ako ulit ng tingin pero mabilis niya ring hinawakan ang baba ko para tumingin ulit ako sa kanya.

"Ngayon ko lang hiniling na sana mayaman pa rin kami. I will probably sound selfish if I say this but...hindi ko hinihiling 'yon para mas mabilis kong mapapagaling si Mama. I know I can earn that money if I work hard which is what I'm already doing. Pero hinihiling ko 'yon dahil gusto kong pantayan kung anong mayroon ka. Baka sa ganoong paraan, mas mabilis tayong matatanggap ng magulang mo."

"Hey...I'm fine with whatever you can give me. Mayaman ka man o hindi, I accept you. And why are you already thinking so far ahead of our relationship? Hindi ba't sabi ko sa 'yo pag-uusapan natin 'yan pagbalik ko?"

"Paano ako makakasiguro na gusto mo pa rin ako pagbalik mo? Sigurado naman ako na maraming nagkakagusto rin sa 'yo sa Maynila. Advantage ko lang siguro ay nahalikan kita."

I rolled my eyes. So, parehas lang din pala kami ng iniisip? Here I am worried that he might like someone else just because I couldn't give him an assurance na kami na pagbalik ko.

And here he is thinking that I might find someone else just because "maraming gwapo at nagkakagusto sa akin sa Maynila".

I don't even go out to meet people kaya wala siyang dapat ikabahala. Pero paano ako? He's friendly with everyone! He can easily make friends and make them like him in a snap.

How can I be so sure that he still likes me when I come back?

I sighed. I reached for my bag and tried to look for a pen and a piece of paper. When I found one, I immediately wrote down my number.

"Here. Once you get a new phone, message me. I'll...wait for it."

Primo smiled and took the paper from my hand. "Nag-abala ka pa. Kabisado ko naman."

My forehead creased.

"I'm just kidding," he chuckled. Tumango siya. "I'll make sure to get a new one quickly."

I nod my head, too. I didn't want to pressure him to get a phone right away so he can message me. He can take his time. Pero...mukhang gustong-gusto niya na rin kaya ano pa bang magagawa ko?

It took us another minute before we finally say goodbye to each other. Tinulungan niya akong ibaba ang mga gamit ko sa sasakyan at hinatid niya rin ako patungo sa departure area.

I waved at him before I go inside. Primo smiled and waved back.

"Ingat, Theia! See you soon! Hihintayin kita."

Tanging tango lang ang naisagot ko sa sinabi niya. Every thing still feels weird for me but for some reason...I feel warm inside.

Ganito ba talaga ang nararamdaman kapag may gusto ka sa isang tao?

Napailing na lang ako at naglakad na papasok ng airport.

He probably didn't see the smile that crept into my face because I got occupied when the guard asked to show my ticket and passport.

I left Manila single. Now I'm going back still single but not quite.