Saving Austin

Prologue

-Sophia Bailey-

Kiran Street, Ireal City
November 24, 2026
Wednesday 1:30 pm

Hinihingal akong napahinto sa tapat ng isang Clock shop. Napahawak ako sa tuhod mula sa pagod at kawalan ng hininga dahil sa pagmamadali, makarating lang ako rito sa Kiran Street. Makita ko lamang siya at makausap.

Pinunasan ko ang mga namuong pawis sa aking noo at biglang kinawayan si Austin na siyang papalapit na. Ginagawaran niya ako ng ngiting kasing-gaan ng balahibo ng ibon at kasintingkad naman ng araw sa kalangitan ang itsura niya, kagaya ng karaniwan niyang iginagawad sa akin.

"Austin! Hindi mo man lang ako nagawang sunduhin sa bahay!" padabog kong panimula sa boyfriend ko. Napakamot lang siya at nahihiyang tumawa.

"Sorry na, Sophy. May ipinagawa pa kasi sa akin si Kuya. Good morning. Should I get you something to drink then? As an exchange?" he apologized and decided to put his cap on my head to shade me.

"Ayos lang, bibili na lang tayong dalawa. So, nasaan 'yong ipakikilala mo?" tanong ko na nagmamanman pa sa paligid pero wala namang kasama si Austin.

Austin gave me a bright smile. He always showed me that happy and genuine look, he wanted me to feel how special am I to him. That's Austin, and I wanted to be like that to him too.

Itinuro ni Austin ang naitayong Café sa kabilang side ng street. "Sinabi niyang doon daw tayo magkikita-kita mamayang alas-onse. She's interested in you."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Bakit naman siya magiging insteresado sa akin?"

Austin chuckled and hooked his arm on my shoulder as we watched the dashing cars and people, crossing the road. "Because I introduced and described you to her before."

Ipinakilala ako, ha? Saan na naman ba niya nakilala ang tinutukoy niyang bago niyang kaibigan at babae pa?

"Don't worry, she's nice."

"Kaya mo kinaibigan? Ganoon ba siya kabait?" malamig kong tanong kay Austin. "You're good at making girl friends."

"You jealous, Sophy? I won't cheat on you. You're enough, you're too much for me. You're too much that I needed to expand the space of my heart just to fill the whole you in it."

Siniko ko na lang siya kaya napadaing itong tumatawa. "Tumigil ka sa mga pinagsasabi mo!"

"Pero totoo naman! I love you! I'm trying my best to do all the best things, just to make us be together in my whole life."

"You sure about that? Then why befriending another girl?"

Austin shrugged. "I befriended the girl and wanted you to meet her because I was so proud to introduce that you're a girl that's beyond befriending for me."

"Gusto kong makilala mo siya, patunayan natin kung gaano ka ka-worth it." He smiled at me proudly and I was too stunned, my eyes were sparkling so much out of this pleasure to own Austin. "At alam kong hindi na mahirap ipatunay 'yon sa kanya."

I just wanted to cry all my life for having the best boyfriend. Hindi lang siya sa salita, sa gawa, sa pakikiramdam kundi sa lahat.

"I'm so happy to have you," nasabi ko sa kanya.

"And I'm so happy that  you still want me in every situation. When you're mad and sad, Sophy."

Natawa na lang kami sa usapang nilikha namin lalo na't mas nagiging cheesy na kaming mag-usap. Ganito kami palagi, ganoon kami maglambingan. Nakokontento kami, tapat kami, loyal kami sa isa't isa. At wala na akong hahanapin kung hindi siya lang.