After I finished sorting out my personal college papers to my work papers I stretched out my arms. 4 weeks from now, dapat ay asikasuhin ko na ang college application ko. I need to ask for a two days leave para hindi ako maburned out sa mga gawain.
Kinuha ko sa loob ng bag ang pouch ko saka dumeretsyo sa powder room. 30 minutes na lang ay out ko na mukhang pabalik na rin si Alejo mula sa meeting nito. Siguradong pagod rin siya dahil sa dami ng trinabaho niya ngayon. Paniguradong kapag ikinasal kami ay dapat bago pa man ito makauwi sa akin ay nakapag handa na ako ng kakainin niya. I grew up without a mother I barely see my dad to eat at house dahil na rin siguro isa rin sya sa uhaw sa pagmamahal ng asawa. That is when I promised myself na kung magkakaroon ng asawa ay hindi ko ito hahayaang maiwan mag isa.
I smiled with that thought of me having a simple married life with Alejo. What am I even thinking?
Sinampal ko ng mahina ang pisngi ko.
"I don't like them the same way I like you." that hit me! He really likes me? Pero bakit hindi pa rin ako nito tinatanong kung anong sagot ko sa panliligaw niya?
Ipinilig ko ang ulo para iwasan ang mag isip ng kung ano. Kung ano man ang posisyon namin sa isa't isa - I will take a risk. I don't know what to do this is the first time I let a guy to court me and he's not just a guy! He's a man– with pride and profession.
Naabutan ko ang bulto ng katawan ni Alejo na nakatalikod mula sa pintuan paharap sa lamesa ko at inuusisa ang nasa lamesa ko. "Hey." pukaw ko sa pansin niya
"I love your paintings." He then looked at me.
Iyon pala ang pinagkakaabalahan nito– he was looking at my piece. Nagdala kasi ako ng maliit na pad dito sa opisina para kung walang gagawin ay mag pipinta na lamang ako ng maliliit na version ng mga gawa ko na itinatabi ko sa studio.
"I wonder what your studio looks like." He smiled at me ibinalik niya ng maayos ang pad ko sa lamesa bago inayos ang suit niya at hinarap ako
"Uhm— That's what they say. Ano bang itsura?" Ginaya ko ang pagtatanong sa akin madalas ng mga kakilala
"You keep them hidden?" He asked with curiosity
"Yes, I hid them."
"But they are phenomenon, you have skills, also–seriously I wish I could ask you to paint me."
Napatingin ako sa binata this is the first time someone asked me to paint them! I mean, other people, they are pretty interested to my piece but never asked me to use them as my muse.
"Anyway, let's go I have already reserved our table tonight." He said
"I'll just get my things mauna kana sa parking–" hindi na niya ako pinatapos at nagsalita
"Mauna? No, sabay tayong pupunta sa parking."
"Baka may makakita sa atin." I told him hindi ko maitago ang kaba sa boses ko
"And? What's the big deal? Obviously nieves, they have eyes they can see us."
Bumuga ako ng hangin. "Hindi iyon ang ibig kong sabihin. Pag nakita nila tayo pwedeng kumalat yan, pag kumalat pwedeng pagdulutan ng rumors and mas grabe pa baka malaman ng mga reposters at ilagay sa balita, I just can't put you into so much stressors Alejo, kilala ka at respetado.. some people? they are waiting for you to misstep."
He chuckled to what I just said. Did he find this funny? "Oh baby, I won't be stressing over some rumors."
"Why?" I asked him frustratedly
"Because we are dating, that's not just some rumors. I asked you out remember?"
"Yes, and I didn't give you an answer. Now leave, mauna kana don sa parking and wait till I get there Alejandro."
Umubo ito ay inayos ang necktie niya then he nodded at me. "Alright, Building A that's where I parked my car." then he leave
Inayos ko ang iilang gamit ko bago umalis at isara ang pinto ay chineck ko pa muna kung may naiwan ba ako sa lamesa ng wala ay naglakad na ako paalis. Ng makababa ay agad kong hinanap kung saan ito nakapark I saw him standing outside his car waiting for me patiently, pero halata sa mukha nito ang pagkabusangot.
"Hi." I greeted him
Pero hindi ito sumagot at nakabusangot pa rin akong pinagbuksan ng pintuan.
Nang tabihan ako nito ay hindi rin ito kumibo at nagmaneho na, did I said something? Bakit mukhang hindi na ito maipinta ngayon? Hanggang sa restaurant at nakahain na ang pagkain ay hindi pa rin ito kumikibo.
"Alejandro." That's when he finally looks at me.
"May problema ba tayo?" I asked him
Hindi ito sumagot kaya nagpatuloy ako sa pagsasalita. " Hindi naman sa ganon yun eh, hindi ako nagbigay ng sagot kasi kinakabahan ako okay? I mean, you're not the first guy who asked me out pero you're the first man– at sayo rin ako unang kinabahan. Hindi ko alam yung pwedeng isagot nakakatakot na baka magkamali ako because I was thinking maybe you're bluffing! Why me? Right? pero you told me that– you asked me because you really like me. That's when I told myself to take risk—" hindi ako nito pinatapos at nagsalita
"Okay manliligaw na ako, we're not keeping this."
"What? Hindi pa ako pumapayag!"
"You just said, that's when I told myself to take a risk."
Ginaya pa niya kung pano ako magsalita bago ito ngumiti at tinignan ako sa mata. My goodness I can't believe this!
"Actually, I want to keep this as a secret– for now."
"May I know why?" he asked me
"Ayokong masira ang image mo Alejo, I know for sure other people-"
"What? Waiting for me commit a mistake? You're an exception Nieves, hindi ka naman pagkakamali who said I was mistakenly in love with you? Kung pagkakamali ka man then I would gladly take the risk too." deretsyahang saad nito
I gasped softly. He looked at me with his most non-vicious look. I think he's sincere to whatever he is feeling. At ako naman sa sarili ko, ay hindi ko gusto ang pakiramdam. Para bang hindi ako makaahon sa sayang nararamdaman. Na parang may kung anong kapalit na ligaya ang lahat ng mga sinasambit niya, na parang kayang higitan miski ang katumbas ng diamanté.
He been very vocal and here I am amused to his words of wisdom. Hindi na ako magtataka kung sa sobrang pagkahulog ko ay hindi ko na matansya kung papano pa makatatakas sakaniya.
"After natin kumain I'll bring you to my artwork studio."
BINABASA MO ANG
As Pure As The Driven Snow
RomanceNieves and Alejo never found themselves surrendering to what love and pain might provide them. Soon, pathways provide different route, both got lost, but at the end, what happened to their journey is just too conventional and inexpressible that led...
