What Are We

Chapter 17

"I think it's time to make a confession to you since, I, uhmm.. can't keep it anymore."

I was about to open my mouth to say a word but he shut my mouth by his index finger.

"I like you. Nung una palang kitang nakita sa campus, namukaan na kita but because of my situation that time, I didn't know who you really were until every day, no, every day I saw you, ay namumukaan na kita. And through your friend being close to us, I got to know you little by little.

Do you remember when I said the condition of me lending you a mechanical pencil? That I will lend you if you make a deal with me to be my friend?"

Tumango ako. Naalala ko.

"I did that because that was the only way to get to know you better because I wanted to know if you were my friend back then, when I was young. Not until our so called 'friend' makes ourselves dipper to get to know each other. And it came to the point where I remember everything and there was a clear explanation from me because you saw the bracelet you gave me when I was leaving.

Akala ko nga nung araw na 'yon ay magagalit ka saakin kasi alam ko naman na ikaw talaga si Koa na iniwan ko noon pero ako 'tong tanga na hindi masabi-sabi sayo. But no, I was wrong.  I feel sorry. For a couple of days we've bond with our friends, may nararamdaman na talaga ako. Na- na gu-gusto kita."

I still couldn't believe what I knew and waited for the continuation of what he had to say.

"Hin-hindi ko alam kung kailan ako magkakaroon ng lakas ng loob para masabi sayo. Actually I was afraid of your older brothers but I was more afraid when Kuya Dark said what you can answer when I ask something,

"What question?"

Ipinakita niya saakin ang tote bag. Nangunot bigla ang noo ko.

Anong kinalaman ng--

Nilabas niya ang laman ng tote bag at inilapag iyon sa buhangin. May kinuha siya sa bulsa at iyon ang nawawalang bote!

"Hindi mo na ako natanong tungkol sa tinitinda ko. Pero pagmamahal ko ang binebenta ko. Kusa ko na ring ibibigay ang bote na 'to, kawawa ka naman at baka umiyak ka."

Wala na akong sinabi at pinagmasdan ko nalang ang ginagawa niyang pag tatabi ng mga bote.

"This tweezers will be your guide to pull those papers out of the bottles. At kapag nakuha mo na ang mga papel na nasa loob. I'll tell you."

"O-okay," Naiilang kong sagot at sinimulan na ang pagtatanggal ng mga takip. Mabuti naman at hindi siya mahirap tanggalin.

Sinunod ko naman ang pagkuha ng papel sa loob.

Ipinatong ko lang ang nakukuha ko sa may ibabaw ng tote bag.

Hindi mahangin, goodness!

Inipon ko muna ang mga bote saka inilagay sa harapan ko ang mga papel.

"You're fast. 15 papers and 15 letters."

Letters?

"Yes, letters. Because my last order for you is to re-arrange those letters to make a question. Just 4 syllables. Start now,"

Wow, nice.

Sinunod ko ang sinabi niya.

Kahit halo-halo pa ang mga letra ay kita ko na kaagad ang Y-O-U?

Tapos ay sunod ang C-A-N

May natitira pang T, C, I, O, R , U.

Ano naman kayang word 'to?