We Shared a Kiss

SEVENTEEN

"RJ, ano 'tong nabalitaan kong may kumakalat na balita na umamin kang may girlfriend ka na daw? Totoo ba 'to?"

"Dad, help me. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko."

"Bakit? Ano nangyari iho?"

"Hindi ko po sinasadyang sabihin yung mga yun sa press-con. I just... nabadtrip lang ako kay Hannah. Puro kasinungalingan ang mga sinasabi and I've had enough. Pati rin ako nabigla sa sinabi ko."

"Dahil nagsisinungaling si Hannah, nagsinungaling ka na rin? Nakalimutan mo na ba yung promise mong hindi ka gagaya sa mga kagaya niya sa showbiz?"

"Hindi naman po ako nagsinungaling... I mean not totally. It's just the girlfriend and engaged part. I'm seeing someone, Dad."

"Seryoso ba yan? May syota ka na? Susme, wooooh! Halika nga dito loko ka. Binata na si loko, bilog na ba ang utot mo? Patingin nga?"

"Dad, hahaha. You're doing it again. Nagiging kanto boy ka na naman hahaha."

"Old habits die hard, son. At least you're laughing now."

"I know, salamat dad."

"So, kailan ko mami-meet yung girlfriend mo? Excited na ako. Akala ko hindi ka na makakahanap ng babaeng magugustuhan mo."

"Dad, hindi ko pa siya girlfriend. Liligawan ko palang. Pero I really like her. Gusto ko na nga maging kami na agad, pero siyempre ligaw muna."

"Dapat lang. Ligaw muna, tapos pag sinagot ka na, enjoyin niyo muna ang isa't isa. Wag kayo magmadali."

"Ikaw Dad, pano mo niligawan si Mom noon?"

"Simple lang ang Mom mo noon, pero ako gusto ko special yung panliligaw ko. I was gallant, I gave her expensive stuffs pero tinatanggihan lang niya."

"So paano mo siya napasagot?"

"Iniba ko yung sarili ko. Kagaya ng lahat ng kabataan, marami rin akong dinadamdam noon na sinasarili ko lang. Nung time na nagkausap kami, nag-open up ako sa kanya. She said, if I can be honest with her all the time, she'll give me a chance."

"Ganun lang?"

"Oo. Simple lang ang mom mo. All she ever wanted was trust. Then we got to know each other a lot. Yung foundation ng relationship namin is yung trust. Kaya kahit wala na siya, mahal ko parin siya hanggang ngayon."

"Dad... I miss Mom too."

"I know son. So what's her name?"

"Menggay po... I mean Nicomaine po."

"She must be one of a kind, because I can see that you are smitten."

"Yes she is dad. She really is something."

"So what's your plan son? May maitutulong ba ako?"

"Ako na po bahala dad, since cancelled na lahat ng nasa schedule ko this week dahil sa nangyari, I have more time to see her. I need to apologize first for dragging her into this mess."

"Good. All I can give is an advice. Just be your true self when you're with her. Be Richard Faulkerson Jr., not Alden Richards. Magpakatotoo ka lang, and most of all, always tell the truth. Lying is never a good thing unless you're saving someone's life."

"Thanks dad, I'll put that in mind. Love you, dad."

"Love you, son."