“Hindi ako makapaniwala.” Ilang inch lang ang pagitan namin at magkaharap kami ngayon.
“Saan?”
“That I like you and you like me.” I heard her chuckled. Pero nabawi din agad yung ngiti nya. “What’s the problem?”
“Adriel, paano kung bigla na lang ako mawala? Hahanapin mo ba ko?” seryoso ang mukha nya at nabagabag ako bigla sa tanong nya. Bakit naman nya maiisip ang ganung bagay?
“Of course. I’ll find you. Maliit lang ang Pilipinas.” Pag bibiro ko. But I am serious with finding her if ever na bumalik na nga sya sa lugar nya.
Ngumiti lang sya.
“Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko matandaan yung lugar kung saan ako nakatira pero naalala ko naman lahat.”
If ever nga na bumalik na sya sa lugar nya talaga, hindi ko alam kung saan ko sya unang hahanapin. Una sa lahat, wala akong alam kung saan sya nakatira.
“Promise mo na hahanapin mo ko ha.” Para syang bata, ang cute nya. Gusto ko syang yakapin at iparamdam sakanya na ayaw ko na syang umalis sa tabi ko.
“I promise.” I told her. Hinawakan ko ang buhok nya at inamoy ito. Ngumiti lang sya sakin. I still can’t believe that I am in love with her. Baka naman isa lang to sa mga panaginip ko.
Niyakap nya ako, I feel her warmth. This is my first time to be lying on bed with a girl that I love but I’m not feeling except anything except for love and care. I hugged her back.
“I love you.” That’s what I told her. My weird feeling akong naramdaman nung sinabi ko yun. It’s like telling me that I’m wrong with my feelings but no. I know deep inside my heart that I love this woman.
*****
“Domi, you seen her?” pag gising ko nakita ko agad si Domi na nasa sala, nag babasa ng libro pero ang pinag tataka ko, bigla na lang nawala si Cyrille sa tabi ko. San kaya sya pumunta?
“Who’s her?” nag taka ko sa tanong nya. Sino pa ba? Malamang si Cyrille.
“Cyrille. You seen her?” I ask her for the second time, baka hindi lang nya na-gets yung tanong ko nung una.
I saw her na para bang hindi maintindihan ang sinabi ko, “Who’s Cyrille?”
I almost drop my jaw for her question. “What do you mean ‘Who’s Cyrille? She’s our friend. Are you playing with me, huh Domi?” If she’s joking, this is not a good joke and it’s not funny.
Nag umpisa ng tumibok na malakas ang puso ko and I swear that I can hear it.
“Honestly, who’s Cyrille? Is she someone I know?” I look at her serious face. Yeah, she’s damn serious.
“Yes Domi. She’s our friend and kagabi pa nga--” nag back off agad yung thoughts na sasabihin ko. Hindi ko na pwedeng ituloy na Cyrille’s already my girlfriend.
“Wait Adriel, are you keeping a secret from me? Nag tatago ka na ng girl dito?”
“You don’t know, Hi Cyrille?” Why? Why is this happening?
“You mean, Hi? She’s outside.” Matagal nag sink-in yung sinabi nya. What?!
“Domi!!!! Jino-joke time mo ba ko?”
Tumawa sya ng malakas and I realized that she’s making fun of me. Nice Domi.
“I thought you’re referring to someone. I didn’t know that it’s Hi you are talking about.” Napapalo ako sa ulo ko. “Stop calling her Cyrille kasi. Start calling her Hi. Alright? I think it’s-”
