ONLINE CLASS SERIES #1: LOVE ON ZOOM

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Dalawang buwan na akong nililigawan ni Miguel. My parents agreed to that. Ang sabi lang nila, basta hindi ako sasaktan ni Miguel.

Miguel and I always have time for each other. We always do video calls, even walang tasks. Sometimes we just talk to each other randomly. Minsan naman, nag mo-movie night kami. Minsan rin, pumupunta siya dito sa bahay. Para bumusita.

So this is how it feels. To be courted. I never experienced this before. Although I have had tons of crushes before. But this feeling flutters my heart. Especially, the way how Miguel courted me, it really melts my heart. It makes me so soft. 

Ngayon, na sa breakout room ako. We have a group meeting. Pero, hindi ko ka-group si Miguel. But it's okay. 

"Kailan mo sasagutin si Miguel?" Vince asked. 

"I don't know." I said. Hindi ko rin alam kung kailan ko siya sasagutin. Gusto ko talaga kapag sinagot ko siya, harap-harapan. 

"Ang sabihin mo kasi, hindi mo siya gusto!" Anna said. Isa siya sa kinaiinisan ko sa mga classmates ko. She's such a flirt. Lahat nilalandi niya. There's this one time when Danika has a suitor. Nilandi niya iyon! Inagaw pa. Malandi talaga. 

"What? I'm just looking for a perfect time!" Sabi ko. 

"Rebound ka lang naman ni Miguel! Remember? He courted me before! Pero hindi ko siya sinagot. Pero ngayon? If he'll court me? I'll accept him! Agad-agad! Kasi mahal niya ako at mahal ko siya!  Hindi ko na siya papa-hirapan! Hindi gaya mo!"  

"What the hell is your problem? Hindi ko pinapahirapan si Miguel! I'm just looking for a perfect time! Yes. He courted you. But that was before. Ako na ngayon. Mahal ka niya?" I smiled and shook my head on the camera. "No, he doesn't love you. He loves me." I smiled again.

Nakita ko kung paano nag-bago ang ekspresyon niya. I am confident that Miguel loves me. Hindi pa man niya sinasabi, but I can feel it. 

"Tama na nga 'yan! Let's focus! So hatiin na natin ang mga tasks." Vince said.

"Ako na lang sa powerpoint." Anna said.

"Ako na mag-rereport." Vince said.

"Ako din." 

"Bida-bida. Nagpapa-impress ka lang kay Miguel." Anna spat.

"Could you please stop, Anna?! I'm not going to report to impress Miguel! I'm doing it for my grades!" 

"Shut up!" Vince said. "Pwede ba? Let's just do our tasks."

I nodded. I did some research for my report tomorrow. I just want to leave this breakout room. I am so pissed with the presence of Anna. 

After that quick group meeting, I left the breakout room. Hindi ko na talaga kaya.

I messaged Miguel that we'll have a Zoom meeting. Ako na rin ang nag-set up. I just wanted some help in my Practical Research! Hindi ko na alam kung tama pa ba ang ginagawa ko.

"Hello." Miguel said with a smile.

"Why do you look so pissed off huh?" He asked. 

Hindi ako nagsasalita. Is it really obvious? Duh. I am really pissed because of Anna! The one who you courted before! Hindi ko masabi-sabi 'yon. Baka isipin pa niya na nag-seselos ako sa haliparot na 'yon.

I shook my head. "Nothing. Just sleepy." I lied.

"Okay, let's start. Saan ka nahihirapan?" He asked. He shared his screen, lumabas naman doon ang module na sinend kanina.

"Doon sa APA na 'yun." 

He started teaching. Nakuha ko naman kung paano. Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan kung paano malalaman kung ano ang pinagkaiba. Ewan ko. Gulong gulo na ako. 

We talked for awhile after that teaching sessions. He talked about his group mates. Ang sabi niya, mabait naman. Sana lahat diba, mababait? Walang epal. Psh.

"Good night na?" He asked. Nakita niya kasi akong humikab. 

I nodded. "Goodnight." 

"Goodnight, sleep well. " He said while smiling. "Smile ka na po." 

He's damn cute the way he said "po." Ano na ba nangyayari sakin?

"There you go." He saw me smile. 

Just like that, it's already Friday. Buti na lang mabilis ang araw. Hindi ko na talaga alam ang gagawin ko. Limang subject na yata naka-group si Anna. She's just spreading rumors on my classmates! Sinabi niya na I'm just a rebound. Well, in fact, hindi ako naniniwala sa kanya. I have trust in Miguel.

I was in the middle of answering my modules when I heard a knock on my door. "Mom? Bakit po?"

"You have a visitor, anak." Mom smiled.

Nag-madali akong mag-ayos. Pwedeng si Miguel. Pero bakit hindi na lang pinapunta ni Mom dito? 

Nang makababa ako, nagulat ako kung sino ang nakita ko. The guy is tall, holding a bouquet of flowers. He is wearing a simple white t-shirt and shorts. Also, he is wearing a cap and a mask.

"A-alonzo?" I asked. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Just visiting. Bawal?" 

"Bawal. Without my permission bawal." Sabi ko, habang naka-halukipkip.

"Sungit mo." He chuckled. "Actually pumunta ako dito para ibigay sayo 'to." He handed me the flowers. 

"For what?"

"Wala lang." 

"Para kang timang." I said, laughing. "But thank you." 

"No worries." He smiled. "Uhm Ma'am I'll go ahead na po." He said to my Mom.

"Hatid mo na, Den."

Hinatid ko siya hanggang labas ng gate. "Bye." Sabi niya. 

"Bye." 

"Can I hug you?" He asked shyly. 

"What?!" Pero laking gulat ko nang biglang may humili sa kamay ko. "M-M-Miguel?!"

"Layuan mo ang girlfriend ko, Alonzo." 

"Girlfriend, huh? Wala kang girlfriend!" Sigaw ni Alonzo, na nagtanggal na nang mask. 

"Syempre. Kasi inagaw mo lahat! Tangina. Pati ba naman si Yohann, huh? Aagawin mo rin? Putangina layuan mo siya." Pasigaw na sabi ni Miguel. Narinig ko ang mahinang pag-hikbi niya. "Putangina. I told you that I liked Yohann before! Bago pa mag pandemic! And now? You're hitting on her?! Aagawin mo nanaman? Fuck you."