The Art of Giving (Goddesses Series #3)

10th Gift

Chapter 10 ~ Mr. Collins
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Edward's P.O.V.

My name is Edward Collins, I'm an Australian and born in Perth, Australia. I'm white pero marunong ako mag tagalog, natuto ako mag tagalog dahil sa lolo ko na filipino, my grandpa married lola who is an australian, and had my mom. So I'm 1/4% filipino, marunong din mag tagalog si mama and lola, natuto sila kay lolo dahil yun ang ginagamit na language kapag kina-kausap si lolo, though nag e-english si lolo pag kausap na si papa. My dad owns a hospital in Australia, kaya nga nag babalak akong maging doctor, kasi doctor din si dad, and si mama naman meron siyang flower shop. Nakilala ko si David nung bata palang ako, since David's dad also owns a hospital back in US, alam kong mas maganda ang education system sa Australia or sa US, pero you might be wondering bakit gusto kong mag stay sa Pilipinas? Is because what lolo used to tell us stories about the Philippines, na fascinated ako sa mga kuwento ni lolo noon. Ayaw ako paalisin ni mama, but I insisted her na aalis ako to study, besides kasama ko naman si David, nothing will go wrong. Nung nasa Pilipinas na kami, pumunta kami sa mga magagandang lugar nito, katulad ng Boracay, Palawan, Cebu, at iba pa, kasama ko si David sa mga adventures namin, tama si lolo, ang ganda nga dito. Katapos ng tour namin sa iba't ibang lugar, nag stay kami sa Manila for only two weeks kasi aalis din kami, pupuntahan namin ang Pampanga, dahil doon kami mag aaral for college, sabi daw maganda ang UP, DLSU or Ateneo. Kaso nakapag enroll na kami sa AUF, sayang naman diba, plus wala naman sa sikat ng university or kagandahan ng university ang hinahanap namin ni David, kundi ang education system, and maayos naman yung sa AUF, and strict nga e, kasi balita namin na bawal ka daw bumagsak, kasi automatic out ka daw pag bumagsak ka, hindi kasi nag ta-take ng summer class ang AUF, and super strict siya sa medicine, since iyun talaga ang mga main courses sa AUF. It was a bit challenging, but let see.

Nasa school na kami and tinignan ang bulletin board, ang daming students na tumi-tingin sa bulletin board, buti nalang matangkad kami ni David, nakita na namin ang pangalan namin kaya naman aalis na kami ng biglang.. "excuse me." may maliit na babae na kumausap sa amin ni David, she was really cute, may tatlong matatangkad na babae sa likod niya, maybe matangkad sila tignan dahil maliit siya.. she ask for our help, kaya naman tinulungan na namin siya hanapin ang classroom niya, sayang nga e, kasi hindi kami same course, I wonder if makikita ko pa siya? I didn't even ask her number or her name, isa sa mga kaibigan niya kaklase ko. "I'm Edward." sabi ko sakaniya, tumingin siya sa akin at ngumiti, "Gabby." sabi niya sa akin, pumunta na kami sa classroom at nakinig na sa teacher. Lunch na and nakita ko si Gabby na may kasamang dalawang babae, tumingin ako sa gilid kung bakit wala yung maliit na babae na kasama nila.. Naki-upo kami and nag introduce naman sila, narinig kong may sinabi si Hannah about sa gasul though hindi ko alam sino pinag-sasabi nila ng biglang may sumulpot sa likot ni Hannah, yun yung babae na hinahanap ko! Nag introduce siya sa amin at ngumiti sa amin dalawa, ngumiti naman ako pabalik sa kaniya, so pangalan niya pala Lina.. That's a very pretty name.

It has been 2 months and pa-onti-onti lumalaki ang group of friends namin ni David, going here was really fun, lalo na napaka sayang kasama ng mga kaibigan ko dito, since kaklase ko si Gabby, siya talaga ang naging ka-close ko sa lahat ng girls na kaibigan namin, nag kwe-kwentuhan kami tungkol sa studies, life and some other stuff, she knows na gusto ko si Lina, and it was really kind of her to support me, kasi friend niya si Lina, but sometimes when I look at Gabby she seems sad, did something happen? Maybe something personal happen, I wanted to ask, but it looks like I shouldn't. 1 month later I ask Gabby to set me up for Lina para makapag confess na ako sa kaniya, Gabby was shock at first sa sinabi ko, but she agreed to it, kaya naman sa sobrang saya ko yinakap ko siya, but she didn't hug me back, I let go and napansin na napapa-luha siya, what happen? Did I squeeze her too tight? I was about to apologise baka nasaktan ko siya sa pag yakap ko sakaniya, kaso umalis na siya agad. What happen? I text Gabby saying na mag co-confess ako sa favorite place to eat ni Lina, which is yung Cinnabon since Lina love to eat Cinnamon Rolls. and I also apologise to her for hugging her too tight kaya napa-luha siya, pero sabi naman niya sa text message na may pumasok sa mata niya kaya siya napapa-luha and tumakbo siya sa Dunny (Australian word for public toilets) "WOW! Libre mo ito sa akin? YAY! Thanks Ed!" sabi niya sa akin, I smiled at her, while she begin to eat, I was really shaking, pag ako kasi nag ka-crush, my feelings for them usually goes away, walang tumatagal sa 1 week or 2 weeks. I also started liking Iana kaso she only lasted for a week, but when it comes to Lina, nag stay for 3 months, kaya naisip ko na.. this it it.. I have to confess to this girl. I confessed to Lina while she was eating, I look at her expression, she wasn't shock nor did she laugh, she just look at me blankly. She stops eating and put the splayd (Australian word for utensils) aside and look down then look at me, some how.. I don't like this atmosphere. She said something to me, but most of her words choked me.

2 years later, 3rd year na kami and what Lina told me when I confess to her made sense, maybe she's right about me na hindi ko masiyado binibigyan pansin yung taong para sa akin. Even now.. I still remember what Lina told me... "Ed, I'm sorry, kaso hanggang kaibigan ka lang, even if sabihin mo pa na ligawan mo ako or bigyan kita ng chance para makita ko kung gaano ka kabait na lalake, I've already seen that Ed, but you're not just for me, hanggang friend lang ang nakikita ko sayo and wala ng iba pa. I'm really sorry.. I can't bring back the same feelings you have for me. Those feelings of yours.. it shouldn't be me.. it was supposed to be her." I look at her confused, who's her? "who is.. her?" I ask, trying to hold my tears. "Gabby." sabi niya sa akin. "she liked you since day 1, she never had eyes for other guys except you, I know she's just a friend to you, and I actually wished it was more than that." yun ang mga salita ni Lina sa akin bago siya umalis. Nandito ako sa mga benches thinking about Gabby these past few years.. she cried dahil nasaktan siya. Mostly sa mga babae naiinis sila or magagalit sila sa kaibigan nila kapag yung gusto nilang lalake ay gusto yung kaibigan nila imbes na sila. But Gabby was different, she's weird but she didn'tpush Lina away dahil alam niya na gusto ko siya, and how come hindi ko man nahalata na gusto niya ako? How can a person be so generous like Gabby? Nakita ko si Gabby na nag lalakad sa hallway na may dala-dalang libro, I smiled at her, biglang humangin ng malakas at nahulog ang mga dahon sa taas ng puno, and for some reason.. Gabby is glowing in my vision, she wasn't sparkling, she was just glowing when green leaves fall as she walks with a smile. Nakita ko siya na papunta siya grass at humiga ng saglit doon, tumayo na ako sa upuan ko at pinuntahan siya. "AYJUSKOMARIMAR!!" gulat niyang sabi sa akin, napatawa naman ako sa reaction niya, I didn't know she can also be this cute. We talk for a while and ask if pwede siya makipag hang out sa akin, good thing she agreed.

May event sa school and I was getting ready when my phone started to ring, I check who was calling and me and saw Lina on my screen. "hello?" tanong ko kay Lina, "may partner ka?" Lina ask, "no, why?" sabi ko na nag tataka, why is she asking me that? "good. Get to Francine's house pronto." sabi niya sa akin, what is going on? "what for?" tanong ko sakaniya at paalis na ako ng bahay. "just get in here!" sabi niya sa akin and she ended the call, I still can't believe I used to like her, Lina is kind, sweet and cheerful, but she's only like that when it comes to her friends, but she's really a different person when she's not with her friends, parang may switch siya sa pagiging mabait at pagiging mataray. I came to Francine's house and I even beep the car to know na nandito na ako, may pitong babae na lumabas, pero isa lang yung kumi-kinang sa mata ko. Is that... Gabby..? I was shock at first, pero pinilit kong kumilos baka mahalata kasi ako. Nung nasa party na kami napansin ko na wala si Gabby sa tabi ko at may tatlong babae na lumapit sa akin at nag tanong if may partner ako, "sorry, I already have a partner." sabi ko at umalis, hina-hanap ko si Gabby ng makita ko siya sa kabilang table na malapit sa mga pagkain, I didn't even notice I was already smiling by looking at her hesitating to eat, since she really eats a lot. "pare, ang sexy nun oh!" "tara kausapin natin?" "tara." rinig kong sabi ng dalawang lalake, nasira tuloy yung mood ko, kaya naman agad kong pinuntahan si Gabby at inakbay siya.

Sinundo ko na si Gabby pauwi at umuwi na din ako, but I can't stop thinking about her, she was damn gorgeous, ten times prettier than any models you see on magazines. I look at my phone and saw the picture taken me and my classmates, of course nandoon si Gabby, zinoom ko ito kay Gabby, and can't stop getting fascinated by her beauty, she's boyish when it comes to clothing but she really looks so pretty when she dress herself in green clothes, it's like she's a living goddess, her beauty is like what you see in painting. I can't sleep since hindi ko matigil sa pag titig sa mukha ni Gabby. I just smiled and napansin na oras na, kaya naman pinatay ko na ang phone ko at natulog na ako, I wonder if I can see her tomorrow.

To be continued...