After an End | Academy Series #3

Chapter 16

"Good morning, Mom." Humalik si Noah sa pisngi ng Mommy niya. Mukhang maganda ang gising ng lalaking lasing kagabi.

"Good morning," bati niya rin sa dalawang kapatid. Bumeso siya kay Ate Nics at Ate Jaz suot ang isang malapad na ngiti.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay nila sa pagtataka. Noah is acting weird today.  Umupo si Noah sa tabi ko. Mapupunit na ang labi niya kakangiti.

They have no idea, I have.

I said yes to him last night. Nang tanungin niya ako kung puwede kaming sumubok sa pangalawang pagkakataon. I said yes like a puppet being dictated.

Sa totoo lang, matagal na akong nakakaramdam na may feelings siya sa akin. I just chose not to think that way para hindi ako magmukhang assuming, but deep inside I can feel it. Umaasta akong normal na lang sa akin ang mga pinapakita niya pero malaki ang epekto ng lahat sa akin. I know I feel the same. Even after a painful break-up, I fell inlove.

We were both young when we first got together. First relationship namin pareho. Simple lang noon, available kami kapag kailangan ng isa ang isa. The relationship feels like a friendship. It was an innocent love, an unadulterated experience. Puppy love, sabi nga nila.

Lumipas ang mga araw at nasanay kami sa isa't-isa hanggang sa magkasawaan. Lahat naman ng bagay pagsasawaan mo. Katulad ng law of diminishing marginal utility sa economics. All else are equal, as consumption increases, the desire decreases.

Habang tumatagal na kasama mo ang isang tao, bumaba ang pagkasabik mo sa kaniya. Eventually, it won't feel the same as how you feel the first time you're with that person. Again, satiation.

We get bored and sated in so many things, hobbies, favorite foods, drinks, stuff, songs, even people. We were still kids back then and we didn't know how love works. Kaya nang magsawa na kami sa isa't isa, life went on like nothing happened between us. Ang maganda, hindi kami galit sa isa't isa.

I realized how one-of-a-kind love was that. Napagtanto ko lang ito matapos kong maranasan pumasok sa iba pang relasyon. It didn't give me trauma like how my relationship with Luke ended. It didn't last long but it was worthwhile for a short time.

And sometimes, we miss the things we once lost. We miss the person we got sated with before. I'm not sure if I miss it, but I will regret it if I won't give it a try. Hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon may babalikan ka pa. We're lucky that we're given a chance . . .

To try it once again.

"The party must've been very fun that you're in a good mood today." Napansin ni Tita Kate ang bago kay Noah.

"Samm is my girlfriend, Mom," parang tanga niyang sabi. Nagusot ang mukha ko. Nagmamayabang ang loko.

"Yes? Like for two years now," nagugulumihanang sabi ni Ate Nics. "Ngayon mo lang ma-realize?"

Tumawa si Noah at tumingin sa akin. He took my hand under the table.  Hinawakan niya 'yon at inilagay sa ibabaw ng lamesa para ipakita sa lahat.

"She's so lucky to have me," he snorted. "But I'm luckier. Aren't I?" Humingi pa siya ng opinyon.

Kumakain kami nang payapa at matino, hindi hanggang sa bumaba siya at umaktomg parang lasing pa rin. Salisihan sa pagkunot ng noo si Tita at ang magkapatid.

"Have you gotten mad?" si Ate Nics.

"No. Samm is my girlfriend, I'm just saying."

"So?"

"I'm his boyfriend." Doon at doon lang umiikot ang context ng sinasabi ni Noah. Na girlfriend niya ako at boyfriend ko siya. Isa pa talaga, masasapok ko na 'to.