It had to be YOU.

7

NASA Serendipitea siya ngayon para sa inventory ng mga gamit while she's waiting for Rohann's call. Ngayon ang scheduled date nila at manonood sila ng The Amazing Spiderman sa ATC. Maaga niyang tinapos ang inventory dahil ang usapan nila ay magkikita sila dito ng 5pm ngunit 6:30 na ay wala pa ito.

"Alam mo, Louise, nahihilo na ko sayo. Umupo ka kaya muna? Kanina ka pa paikot ikot diyan eh. Kakaloka ka." ani Kaye habang nagmimix ng drinks.

"Kaye, 5pm yung usapan namin. It's almost 7pm and he's still not here! Kanina ko pa siya tinatawagan. He's not answering my calls."

"So disappointed ka?"

"Nag.aalala lang ako. Bakit kasi ayaw niyang sagutin yung phone niya?"

Nagkibit ito ng balikat, "Aba malay ko. Ako si Rohann, teh?"

"Kaye naman eh," she grabbed her drink and sipped. "date kasi to eh. Date. With Rohann pa. Ayoko namang masayang lang naman."

Kaye just sighed and waved her hands in the air. "Tatawag din yun. So now, can you please sit down? Nakakahilo ka talaga, Louisa. Sit. Down."

Wala naman siyang nagawa at umupo na lamang sa dati niyang pwesto. She's really not keen on waiting pero para kay Rohann ay hinabaan niya ang pasensya niya. But seriously, gusto na niyang mainis at magalit sa binata. Ngunit nangingibabaw na rin ang pag.aalala niya rito. What happened to him?

"Ugh, this is frustrating!!" Napalingon ang lahat ng tao sa loob ng Serendipitea sa pwesto niya. She gave an apologetic smile and turned to Kaye na pinanlalakihan naman siya ng mata. Sorry na, she mouthed. Ilang beses na siyang napapasigaw sa loob ng shop niya dahil sa mga bagay bagay. Buti na lang at hindi masyadong halata na siya ang may.ari kundi ay nakakahiya ang labas niya nito.

She decided to go outside and take a walk for a while nang biglang tumunog ang telepono niya. Muntik na niyang mabitawan ito sa sobrang pagkagulat. It was Rohann on the other line.

"Hello? ROHANN! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?! ALAM MO BANG KANINA PA KITA TINATAWAGAN?! WHY AREN'T YOU ANSWERING ANY OF MY CALLS!? NAG.AALALA NA KO SAYO! ROHANN MADRIGAL!"

"Woah, babe, slow down! I'm right here behind you." She turned around the moment she heard him say that. Tinawid niya ang kakaunting distansya niya rito at niyakap ito ng mahigpit. She was really worried that he might got an accident.

Nagulat yata ito dahil sa pagkakayakap niya pero tinugon naman nito iyon. It was after a few minutes when she backed out and looked at him. Ninanamnam niya ang mga sandaling ito na nandito ito sa harapan niya at buhay na buhay.

"You jerk! Akala ko kung napano ka na!" pinaghahampas niya ang dibdib nito at saka umiyak. She was really scared. Unang date pa nga lang tapos mapupurnada agad?!

He cupped her face and wiped her tears away. He was touching her face in the most careful way. "I'm here, baby. I'm not going anywhere. Hush now, okay? Stop crying."

"I was worried about you. Akala ko kasi talaga naaksidente ka."

Kumunot ang noo nito sa sinabi niya. "What? No. I was doing something important kaya hindi ko nasasagot ang mga tawag mo. Anyway, let's go?"

Magkahawak ang mga kamay nila habang naglalakad. She thought they were heading to his car pero nilagpasan nila iyon. "Rohann, where are we going?"

Nginitian lang siya nito. "Trust me."

They passed by her aunt's restaurant and their village's church as well. Hindi pa man sila nakakalayo sa simbahan ay tumigil sila.

He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and tied it around her eyes. Nagtataka ma'y pinabayaan na niya ito. He said she needs to trust him and she's just doing as she's told.

Ilang minuto rin yata silang naglakad mula sa simabahan at saka sila tumigil. It was very quiet and serene. She was sure she can hear a few birds chirping. Maybe owls, her mind said.

"Rohann, hindi mo pa ba tatanggalin yung panyo? Medyo masakit na yung mga mata ko eh."

"Just relax. A couple of minutes more, okay?" He felt him grab her hand and squeezed it tightly. She really felt safe with him.

"Okay. Ready, babe?"

"Yeah, I think."

She felt him untie the handkerchief. Pagmulat ng mga mata niya'y nasilaw siya ng bahagya sa sobrang liwanag. And then she saw it.

"Oh my god.."

She looked at him and saw him smile, "You like it?"

"More than like it, Rohann. I love it!"

They were at the football field full of balloons. Bukas ang lahat ng mga ilaw at nasa gitna ang isang drive-in theater na naghihintay sa kanila. She was really amazed on what he did. Nice try for a first date, isn't it?

He grabbed her hands and guided her towards the drive-in theater. He opened the passenger seat and let her inside the car before he went around and sat inside the drive-in theater himself.

"What are we going to watch? Sayang. Di tayo natuloy sa ATC. Was hoping I can watch The Amazing Spiderman now." Ani niya habang kumukuha ng popcorn sa may tabi nito. There were popcorns and gummies as their food and of course, their favorite Wintermelon tea from Serendipitea.

"You'll see. Ang atat mo naman."

Pinalo niya ito ng mahina sa braso, "Anong atat ka diyan," she pouted "E ikaw naman kasi nakakainis ka."

Hinimas nito ang brasong pinalo niya and mimicked as if he's really hurt, "Ouch. I'm a battered boyfriend."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa sinabi nito. "Boyfriend?!"

"What? Don't you want me as your boyfriend?" She saw him pouted. Talaga naman! Naninira ng depensa. Unfair!

"No! I was.. uh.."

She felt him grabbed her hands and kissed her knuckles. "Hindi naman ako nagmamadali. Take your time." She saw him smile. She smiled back and rested her head on his shoulder while waiting for the movie, which is The Amazing Spiderman. He didn't let go of her hand until they've finished the movie. He really knows his way to my heart, ani kanyang isip. He's almost there.