Marian's POV
Patrick and I had been in regular communication since our first date. Palagi niya akong tinatawagan, palagi niya akong kinukumusta, tinatanong kung maganda ba ang naging araw ko o kumain na ba ako. It was nice having someone checks up on you and send you thoughtful messages, someone who constantly makes sure you're okay.
Pero bakit ganito? Wala pa rin akong nararamdaman na special feelings para sa kanya. Akala ko madedevelope itong nararamdaman ko kapag palagi kaming nag-uusap, kapag lalo ko na siyang nakikilala. I like Patrick, he's a nice guy, but it was just that.
Siguro nga ako talaga ang may problema kaya hanggang ngayon hindi pa ako nagkakaboyfriend. I'd been in a lot of dates before, mga blind dates na sinet up ng mga kaibigan ko pero parang palagi akong may hinahanap. Palagi akong nakakakita ng mali o kulang sa mga lalaking nagdate sa akin. Si Patrick okay naman siya. Matinong lalaki, may maayos na trabaho, mabait (so far), maalalahanin, at may itsura naman. Despite all that, there was something lacking.
Maybe it was because I had never fallen in love before. Binabase ko lang ang dapat kong maramdaman sa mga nababasa ko sa libro at napapanood ko sa tv. Siguro hindi ganun sa totoong buhay, walang sparks, walang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso sa tuwing magkakatinginan kayo, walang slow-mo moment.
I only remembered feeling that way when I first saw Seth. Pero hello! That was out of fear. Akala ko naman kasi mamamatay na ako noon.
Just wanna say hi, hope you're having a good day. He texted me again. I was about to text him back when my phone was snatched from my hand. I looked up and saw Seth.
"Katext mo na naman 'tong Patrick na 'to." He said, his eyes on my phone screen.
"Ano ba? Akin na nga yan!" Inis na sabi ko. I reached for my phone in his hand but he Seth easily angled it away, not even lifting his eyes from it.
"I'm having a great day. Just took a huge dump." He snickered as he typed on my phone.
I took a shock breath in as I looked at him with wide eyes. "No... no, give that back to me!"
"Sent!" Natatawang sabi ni Seth.
I shook my head. "No you didn't!"
"Yes I did." He grinned.
"Oh my god!" I covered my face with my hand in embarrassment. "You idiot! You ruined my life!"
"That's a little exaggerated, don't you think so?" Natatawa pa rin sabi ng gago.
"I hate you!" Maluha-luhang sabi ko. "Ano na lang ang iisipin ni Patrick?"
"That you took a shit?" He raised a brow up.
"Hindi ka na nakakatawa." Galit na sabi ko at hinaklit pabalik sa akin ang phone ko. "Uuwi na ako."
"It was just a joke." He said. I turned away, ready to leave when I felt his hands on my waist. His touch sent bolts of electricity lightening up my spine. I involuntarily inhaled when he squeezed my waist with his hands. "Don't leave. I'm sorry..."
"Nakakainis ka na kasi." I muttered, faking annoyance even though I was feeling something else. Oh how does he know all my weaknesses?
He spun me so I could face him. "What? Do you think he'd stop liking because of that dumb text message? Kung ganon nga ang mangyari, then he doesn't deserve you. You're beautiful, Marian. And you're beyond that. You're real and you're crazy and you're beautiful. And if you lose him over that message, then it's his loss." I had never seen him this serious. I could feel the sincerity in his voice and his eyes. I felt like there were butterflies in my stomach.
Tumaas ang kamay niya sa mukha ko at marahang hinawakan ang pisngi ko. "Marian, I have something to tell you..."
Napakurap ako. "A-ano yun?"
"I'm really hungry. Can you get me something to eat?" He asked with his paawa voice. The atmosphere in the room returned to normal, forcing me back to reality.
I sighed, rolling my eyes at him. Akala ko naman kung ano na.
Seth's POV
I had nothing against that Patrick guy. I just wanted Marian to be careful with who she dates. I wanted to make sure he wasn't a psychopath, or a woman beater, or an emotional abuser. I honestly think Marian could do better than that. Marian was beautiful. She could get a guy as handsome as me and as fit as me. But no, she decided to go for the lanky, frail guy who I could knock down with one single blow.
Maybe she'd seen something in him that she hadn't seen in me— I mean in a lot of other men. Yeah, like the inner beauty sort of thing. I chuckled silently. Inner beauty, my ass. Get out of here!
"Ano nginingiti-ngiti mo d'yan?" Tanong ni Marian at ibinaba sa harap ko ang isang plato ng grilled cheese sandwich na ginawa niya.
I was pulled away from my thoughts and shook my head. "Ano bang nagustuhan mo sa Patrick na yun?"
She paused for awhile before answering. "Mabait siya, gentleman."
"Yun lang? Maraming lalaking mabait at gentleman." I said.
"Bakit? Inaya ba ako ng mga lalaking yun makipagdate, tinetext ba nila ako, kinakamusta ba nila ako?" She laughed.
"So you're lowering your standards just because you want to have a boyfriend?"
Marian frowned. "Hindi naman sa gano'n. Okay naman si Patrick, ah. Gusto ko siya. He's a great guy. And did I mention what a charmer he is?" Umupo si Marian sa silya sa harap ko at sumalong-baba. "Have you ever fallen in love, Seth? Sa dami ba naman ng babae mo...."
"Love is too big of a word."
"I've never fallen in love. Can you believe that? Twenty-eight na ako at hindi ko pa rin alam kung ano ang pakiramdam ng mainlove sa isang lalaki." She cackled. "Siguro nasasabik din akong maramdaman iyon. Ano kayang pakiramdam ng in love? Yung unang tingin mo pa lang siya, alam mong siya na talaga yung gusto mong makasama habang buhay."
I swallowed as I looked at her. "It's not a one moment thing, Marian. It's slow and subtle. It happens gradually. You grow accustomed to it that it feels normal before you could even realize that you're falling in love."
"Wow, I can't believe that came from you!" She said with genuine shock in her voice. "I can't even imagine you falling in love!"
I had never... no... I didn't even know where those words came from. That was the corniest thing I'd ever said. Parang yung mga sagot sa define love nag mga teenager sa slambook. Somebody kill me now.
