Coldest War (War Series #2)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Fight

My first boyfriend was Martin Liao and I gave him the first yes I have ever given a guy. It happened during one of our break times when he randomly gave me a bouquet and sang a famous love song while playing his guitar. Halos lahat ng estudyanteng nakakita ng pangyayaring 'yon, namangha at hindi mapigilang manuod.

"Talaga?" Masayang tanong ni Martin nang sagutin ko s'ya, kumikislap ang mga mata sa tuwa at hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti rin dahil inisip kong sobrang cute n'ya no'ng tingnan.

With his glimmering Asian eyes and crimson cheeks, he asked me if I am really agreeing to be his girlfriend. Martin usually looks intimidating because of his eyes and because he was our senior, I've always viewed him as someone mature. But at that moment, he looked really vulnerable and cute to me. 

And I liked it. Despite the attention we are getting, I didn't mind any of it.

"Ayaw mo ba?" I kidded and laughed.

Umiling kaagad si Martin at agad na inabot ang kamay ko para hawakan. I watched his hand as he held mine. His hand was slightly rough, maybe because he played sports, yet it looks well-taken care of still. 

"Thank you, Rinnah."

Every since that day, boys would use this strategy to confess to their crushes. Parati nang may mga nagtatanong publicly--ang iba, sa school grounds pa 'yon ginagawa at mayro'n pang mga lobo at maliit na tarpaulin. Dumami rin sa mga lalaki ang nagsimulang mag-aral ng gitara.

Thinking back at that time, now that I've grown into a woman, did I feel butterflies in my stomach when Martin and I became official? I don't know. . .maybe? I was too young to understand what I felt for him. Kapag inaalala ko ang mga panahong 'yon, hindi ko masabing minahal ko si Martin Liao.

Maybe I adored him. It wasn't as deep as love. I liked him but I didn't love him. Bata ako no'n kaya wala pa akong alam sa kung ano ang pagmamahal.

But the thing about being a teenager, at some point, we thought that we're already mature. I was 11 back then and I thought that I could pass as a grown-up just because I finally got rid of my dolls and toys. Just because I started to prefer famous Hollywood girls over my Barbie dolls. Just because I stopped watching cartoons and I've started getting fond of watching foreign series--especially the most famous musical ones. 

I can remember how boys my age think that they're so badass. It makes me laugh when I reminisce those memories. And when I start to recall how I acted too confident too, it makes me cringe. How could I think that I was mature when I clearly wasn't?

Kaya siguro no'ng mga bata pa kami, I've always thought that I was way older than Hiel. He was a little brother in my eyes. Someone who needs my guidance.

"Ate Rin!" Masayang kaway sa akin ni Brylee nang makita ulit ako sa hallway nila, hinihintay si Hiel dahil ipapaalam ko na hindi ulit ako makakapunta sa kanila mamaya kahit na bibisita ro'n si Mommy. 

Inaya ulit kasi ako ni Martin na kumain sa labas kasama ang mga kaibigan namin. I thought I need to go because---of course, my boyfriend will be there.

Brylee, in her pigtails and wide smile, ran to where I was and greeted me enthusiastically. Nang makalapit s'ya, no'n n'ya nakita si Martin Liao na katabi ko.

"Rinnah," tawag ni Martin sa atensyon ko kaya inangat ko ang tingin sa kan'ya, "hihintayin na lang kita ro'n," sabay turo n'ya sa kung saan at nakita kong may ilan s'yang kaibigan na nakatingin sa gawi namin. 

Tiningnan ko ang mga kaibigang lalaki ni Martin at ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kan'ya. 

"Okay," I smiled at him. "Pupuntahan na lang kita ro'n, okay?"