Almost Feels Like Always (COMPLETED)

(TWENTY TWO) Envious Fall

I SMILED at the staff when she handed me the box. I left after saying 'thank you'. I'm giddy. Gusto ko na agad makarating sa campus. Hindi na ako makapaghintay na makita ang reaksiyon ni Hudson kapag nakita niya ako. I told him I wouldn't be able to watch his football game because something important came up. He was disappointed but he understood.

Ang totoo, gusto ko lang talaga siyang i-surprise. I was in a roller coaster of emotion last week because of my goddamn period. It was the worst. Well, that time of the month is always the worst. How I wish I could just command my uterus to malfunction.

I admit I've been a bitch to him during those five days of pure hell. Binunton ko sa kanya ang dysmenorrhea ko. Sa kanya ko binuhos ang frustration at init ng ulo ko nang dahil sa pesteng abdominal cramps. I made him my shock absorber. And he took it all like a man. A very, very patient man.

I thought he deserved a treat. No, scratch that. He deserves a treat. He deserves a red velvet cake with cherries on top. And a trophy. For being the best boyfriend on the face of the earth. Like, ever.

Muli akong napangiti. I gripped tighter on the ribbon lace of the box of his favorite cake that I got from his favorite bakeshop. Dumiretso ako sa football field. Malayo pa lang ako ay dinig ko na ang ingay ng mga tao. They were cheering for different teams. Iyong iba sa university namin, 'yung iba naman sa kalabang school.

Pagdating ko doon ay gusto kong mahilo sa dami ng tao. Ganito talaga kapag season finals. Dibdiban na kasi ang laban. Marami talagang nanunood. Akala ko sanay na ako noon sa mga basketball game ni Reese pero hindi pa rin pala.

Hati ang crowd sa mga taong nakasuot ng red and green shirts. Green is our color. I chose to wear a green midriff top with tiny straps and plunging lace-up neckline. I matched it with a pair of skin-tight jeans and Converse sneakers. I always gets told about how provocative I dress up but I really don't give a fuck. I would wear whatever the hell I want to wear—be it a pair of bikini or bahag.

I. Don't. Care.

I have no idea how I managed to passed through the crowd to the lower bleachers. Basta ang alam ko nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makaupo na ako. Hinanap agad ng mga mata ko si Hudson sa buong field. It wasn't hard to find him since I'm now very familiar with him.

Kaya ko siyang hanapin kahit nasa loob siya ng malawak na silid na puno ng mga tao. I already knew his face and body like the back of my hand. I memorized it. From the tip of his hair to his toes. Kahit nakapikit ako ay kaya ko siyang i-identify. That's how much I connect with him. Na kahit sa amoy lang ay makikilala ko agad siya o mahahanap.

Besides, alam ko rin naman kasi ang jersey number niya. It was my birthday. Nakatalikod siya sa 'kin kaya kitang-kita ko ang number 30 na naka-print sa likod ng jersey uniform niya. Basa na ang buhok niya sa pawis. He's sweating all over. I wanna run to him and wipe it off but that would halt the game so, maybe later.

The game was too intense that I'm barely breathing. Ako ang kinakabahan. Isang panalo na lang kasi ay pasok na ang university namin sa finals. I don't know much about football but it's not hard to know that the team from another school was a formidable opponent. They were good.

My throat's burning because I kept shouting and cheering for our team and for Hudson, of course. Nasa kanya ngayon ang bola. He passed it to Flynn. Then, Flynn passed it to Dane. Hudson ran halfway to the field. Sinipa ni Dane ang bola para ipasa sa kanya. Muntik akong atakihin dahil akala ko maaagaw ng kalaban ang bola. When Hudson got it, the crowd cheered.

"You go, Hudson!!! Go for the goal, baby!"

"Hudson baby! Okay lang kahit hindi ka maka-goal! Goal ka na sa puso ko! Whooooo!"