Hatsukoi

Chapter 24:

The school trip. This is the event that most of the students of the Epiphany Christian Academy is waiting for since the end of the intramurals and the midterms examination last September. Days after the track meet, October came in just a nick of time.

The school trip is one of the Epiphany’s trademark events in all of the schools in Benguet, it is a two-day trip in wether place they go. This year, the school committee decided that the students are going to a place in the north part of Luzon. A little bit farther from Benguet but surely is a remarkable and beautiful one.

Dala-dala ni Bongbong ang kaniyang one-sided bag na siyang naglalaman ng mga damit, panloob, salawal, at iba pang gagamitin niya para sa dalawang araw na school trip. Pumasok na siya sa loob ng kanilang paaralan kung saan nila hinihintay ang mga sasakyan nilang bus para makapunta sa Pangasinan.

Pagpasok niya sa main hallway kung saan naghihintay ang kapuwa niya mga estudyante ay saglit pa niyang nakita si Leni na may dala ring ilang bagahe para sa trip, nanlaki ang mga mata ni Bongbong nang mapansin niyang napatingin sa kaniya si Leni. When Leni looked at him also, she gasped and she looked away—blushing.

Napahinga na lamang nang malalim si Bongbong dahil sa nangyari, hindi niya na tinignan pa si Leni at naglakad na lamang palayo. He’s thinking about what happened that night in the San Jose Parish Church, when he said those words to Leni. Kinuyom niya ang kaniyang kamay at umupo na lamang sa isang sulok habang nakayuko.

***

“You wanted to go out with me, is that what you mean?” Leni asked to confirm if what’s in her mind is what Bongbong means, napahinga nang malalim si Bongbong at tumango siya habang seryoso pa rin ang muka.

“Yes, Leni. I like you, would you?” he asked again. Bongbong got the courage to sacrifice what he had for his feelings, it’s now or never for him.

“That huh, well... I don’t really know.” Napaiwas nang tingin si Leni sa kaniya, hindi nito alam ang gagawin dahil sobrang kinakabahan na siya sa kanilang situwasyon.

“I-is that so?” Bongbong asked again, Leni simply nodded and she answered.

“Did even think of courting me?” si Leni naman ang nagtanong. Napaiwas na rin ng tingin si Bongbong at dito ay napangiti siya, he simply shook his head and answered.

“I don’t believe in courtship, it’s a waste of time. If I love the person, I’ll tell her right away. But for you, I’ll make an exemption. Just love me now, and I will court you forever.” He stated, napanganga si Leni sa sinabi ni Bongbong ngunit hindi niya ito ipinahalata sa pamamagitan ng pag-iwas niya ng tingin dito.

Bongbong’s words came from his father, Ferdinand, when he told him what he would do or what he would believe in terms of love. He mentioned about courtship, but his father refused and said those words—the exact words Ferdinand said to Imelda when he offered her to marry him.

“Give me some time to answer. I’ll inform you once I decided to accept.” Habang nakangiti ay tumango na lamang si Bongbong at tumayo na sa kanilang kinauupuan.

“Well then, feel free to think about it anytime.” Ngiti ni Bongbong, tumayo na rin si Leni at kapwa sila naglakad pauwi sa kanilang mga tahanan nang parang wala man lang nangyari.

Pero mula noong araw na iyon, hindi na gaanong nakipag-usap si Leni kay Bongbong.

***