Faded Memories [Book I]

Nine

Hans Diary #9
First Love Never Dies

It's crazy how fast the time changes. I met Iris Sabrene Ferrer for the first time during enrollment for freshmen of our High School days. I still vividly remember the time I was admiring her from afar until I got the courage to confessed to her in our graduation day.

That was my most embarrassing moment and yet memorable of my High School days.

I won't be able to reach her if I didn't gather my courage at that time. And it was worth it confessing at her. It was worth it feeling embarrassed.

"Congratulations, Sabrene! I am so proud of you for being Summa Cum Laude." nakangiting sabi ko sakanya ng makita kong papalabas na siya ng gymnasium saka ko siya niyakap agad. "And congratulations for my girlfriend too for being Cum Laude. I am so happy for you." diretsong bulong niya sa akin na ikinagulat ko.

What?

Girlfriend?

Did I hear that right?

She called me her girlfriend?

Fuck!

Are we— for... real now?

Bumitaw ako sa pagkakayakap namin para makita ko siya. "What did you just say?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sakanya. I can feel my whole body shaking. I just can't believe it.

"Sinasagot na kita, Skylar Hans Thompson. Girlfriend na kita, sabi ko!" nakangiting sabi niya sa akin na halos ikinaiyak ko na.

Shit!

Shit! Shit. Shit!

Totoo nga.

Girlfriend ko na siya.

We became more closer in that four years of courting her, four years of knowing her better, four years of waiting for her and four years of loving her... finally— she's now my official girlfriend.

My Sabrene.

"Sab! Skylar! Picture." rinig kong sabi ni Jamaica sa amin, pareho kaming nakatoga ngayon ng akbayan ko at niyakap naman niya ako. "Isa pa!" sabi ulit ni Jamaica sa amin kaya napatingin ako sakanya ng halikan ko ang pisngi niya na ikinagulat niya.

"Oy! Oy! Ano yan? Bakit may ganap na ganyan? Sinagot mo na siya noh? Sab? Sabi ko sayo pahirapan mo muna yang mayaman mong manliligaw para matuto!" sabi sa amin ni Jamaica na ikinatawa na lang namin.

Sinabi namin nung pagkatapos ng debut ko kung ano ba talaga ang totoong meron sa amin ni Sabrene at tuwang tuwa pa ang dalawa na bagay raw kami pero ginagatungan nila si Sab na pahirapan daw ako.

It feels nice being real to her friends. Like I can finally show my love to her without pretentions.

"Inggit ka lang kasi! Magjowa ka rin ng girl kung gusto mo." biglang pagsulpot naman ni Rachelle at pumagitna sa amin. "Picture!!!" utos pa niya kay Jamaica at napapailing na lang ako sa asaran ng dalawa.

"Sali ako! Bakit kayo lang?" biglang sabi niya ng ibigay niya yung camera kung sino na lang ang nasa likod niya. "Ay pogi!" halos mapasigaw si Jamaica at mabilis pumunta sa tabi namin.

And just like that, we were laughing in all of our pictures. Wala ata kaming matinong picture dahil sa panlalandi ni Jamaica sa pogi raw na photographer namin.

Pagkatapos kong tumakas sa grand celebration na hinanda sa akin ni Mommy papunta kami ngayon sa Tagaytay kasama si Sabrene. This will be our first out of town with only just the two of us.

I tried opening the roof of my car so that she can feel the fresh air. Halos 5 am na kasi at nasa daan parin kami papasok ng Tagatay.

Kitang kita ko na ang pagsilip ng araw kaya mas lalo kong binilisan ng tumayo bigla si Sabrene habang nakataas ang kamay. I was about to slow down my speed but she tried shouting all of her frustrations and joy from this world.