Eureka (TBS 1)

74

SOLANDRA

Maybe I was making the wrong decision.

That's what I thought when I was walking through the hallways, already making it at the school's lobby. Natigilan ako nang may makabangga sa akin kaya naman bahagya akong napaatras.

Humingi nang paumanhin ang nakabangga but my mind was elsewhere. I was just blankmindedly staring at the front gate of the school. I pursed my lips and sighed.

I took my phone out from the pocket of my uniform. I clicked the message icon and looked for Archi's name. Bumungad sa akin ang huling text niya kagabi. I didn't need enough scrolling to read again his message kasi wala naman akong naireply doon.

Second floor, lib, Filipiniana section, after class

I was contemplating but I didn't know I was already making my way to the library. I scanned my library card and entered. Wala akong inaksayang oras at umakyat agad ako sa second floor.

I stopped when I saw him at the far corner. Totoo ngang nasa Filipiniana section siya at nasa pinakahuling shelf na ng mga libro. There was a space there where you can seat if your back's not comfortable on the shelves.

He looked up and our eyes met. Natigilan ako at napatigil sa paglalakad. The grip of my hand on the strap of my bag tightened.

Bahala na nga

Unti-unti, humakbang si Archi. He was meeting me half-way. Bahagya siyang nakangiti sa akin kaya gumanti ako, although I was really unsure if I was making the right decision.

" Hi." he greeted.

Here goes nothing...

" Hi." nahihiya kong bati sa kaniya. I know, the whole day, magkasama naman kami sa classroom. Pero iba pa rin talaga kapag nag-uusap o nagpapansinan.

There was an awkward silence after. Nagkatinginan lamang kami at bumitaw agad ako kasi hindi ko makayanan ang malalim niyang pagtitig sa akin.

Why are you making me feel this way, Archi?

Are we on the same page?

" I'm sorry..." he lowly whispered. Napatingin agad ako sa kaniya. He was staring at me with pleading eyes.

" I'm sorry if I took this long to realize that I don't really want to just be friends with you. I realized, I want more than that. I want more of your attention. I want more of your stories. I want more of your moments. I want more of you beside me, Solandra. I really like you, Solandra." He took a deep breathe. It's like he already gathered enough strength for this. My heart thumped even more, like a wild animal, who's been freed from its cage.

" Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa kasi we've been running in circles for a long time now. I don't want to wait another month to confess kasi kapag ginawa ko iyon, it feels like you're slowly drifting away from me..."

" Gusto mo ba talaga ako?" I asked him.

Tahimik siyang tumango at ngumiti. " Matagal na."

" Then why just now?"

" Thought it was for the best, pero hindi naman ako nagsisisi...you're here now."

I shrugged. " Sigurado ka bang gusto rin kita?"

" You wouldn't be here if you're not..."

I almost rolled my eyes. Archiii!! Nakakainis.

Pinigilan kong mangiti pero dahil nakakahawa mismo ang ngiti niya, napangiti na rin ako.

" Eureka..." I whispered.

"What?" he asked.

" The eureka moment. I didn't plan on coming here and then I had found myself searching through my inbox, reminding me of your text. And then I realized maybe this was the eureka moment. The moment that I would find out whether it was worth risking for or not..." I told him.

" Was it worth it?" he asked, his forehead crumpling slowly. Tila palaisipan sa kaniya ang lahat ng sinabi ko.

" Yes, sobra..."