To Find You Once Again

Chapter Four

"Earth to Nikki."

Napakurap-kurap pa si Nikki dahil sa kamay na iwinawagayway sa harap niya. Natigil siya sa pagsimsim ng iced tea at nagtatakang nilingon si Bea. Kasalukuyan silang nasa canteen ng eskwelahan kasama si Ryan at mga barkada nito. Lahat ng mga ito ay nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Why?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Nikki sa mga ito

"You are not listening, Nikki," nakasimangot na sabi ni Bea.

Napansin ni Nikki na madilim ang anyo ni Ryan. "Christ's sake, Nikki! I just asked you to be my date on Christmas Ball. Ilang araw ka nang ganyan, ah."

"Sorry, may iniisip lang ako," she said in a little voice, scolding herself at the same time.

She was busy thinking about Matt and what he said days ago. Kaya naman ilang araw na siyang laging wala sa sarili. Binalikan sa isip ang naging pag-uusap nila nito.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you like me?"

Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakatanggap si Nikki ng diretsang pag-amin mula sa isang lalaki. Bago pa man dumating si Ryan ay marami na ang nagtangkang manligaw sa kanya, pero lahat iyon ay binabasted niya. They were all superficial guys who just wanted to turn her into their prized trophy. Ang pagkakaiba lang ni Ryan sa mga ito is that Ryan is Mr. Popular himself. Hindi niya alam kung ano'ng pwedeng pakinabangan nito sa kaniya.

Kaya hindi na siya nagtataka nang sabihin sa kanya ni Matt na gusto siya nito. Everyone wanted her for their own convenience, she thought bitterly.

"I'm asking you why you like me," untag ni Nikki dito. "Everyone has their own selfish reasons. What's yours?"

Ilang segundong hindi umimik si Matt bago nagsalita.

"Because you are smart and pretty, but you aren't like anyone else. I like how you can change the course of my day with just a smile. Minsan, nakikita pa lang kita, nakakalimutan ko na lahat ng problema. You are the only reason why attending this school becomes bearable. You're beautiful, but you are more than that. You are Dominique Martinez."

He stopped for a while and looked at her seriously. Siya man ay hindi magawang alisin ang mga mata dito.

"I like you because I know you are lonely too, but you try so hard to be nice to everyone. Alam mo ba that in this school, I'm probably the only one who knows your secret?"

Nikki frowned over what he said. "Ano'ng secret?"

"'I just want to be like everyone else. I just want to have the people I love within my reach. Is it that hard to dream?'"

Nikki gasped nang manitindihan ang sinabi ni Matt.

"Nabasa mo ang essay ko?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Nikki dito.

Matt grinned. "Yep."

"Nagustuhan mo?" she asked in a small voice.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit bigla ay mahalaga ang opinyon nito para sa kanya. Siguro ay dahil ito ang kauna-unahang tao na nalaman ang tungkol sa pagsusulat niya.

Matt smiled softly. "I thought that was very brave of you. Hindi lahat ng tao, kayang aminin na hindi sila masaya. However, dreaming isn't something that should be hard. When you want something so bad, you just have to give all you have para makuha ito."

She felt warm hearing those words. It was as if this guy understood her more than anyone else.

Pagkatapos ay kinuha ni Matt ang kamay niya at ipinaloob doon and bracelet niya. He ruffled her hair and smiled tenderly.