Chapter 23
I never really thought High School's going to be this memorable. Hindi naman kasi ako palakaibigan. Angel was the one who approached me and pushed us to be friends. Pero nagpapasalamat rin naman ako kasi dahil sa kakulitan niya, I earned a best friend.
When I met Angel, I was contented kasi okay na sa aking isa lang ang kaibigan ko basta ba totoo lang ang pakikipagkaibigan niya. Tipong she'll stick with me through thick and thin. Tipong masasakyan ko siya at masasakyan niya rin ako.
Angel and I's personalities are quite different. But who would have thought we'll last as best friends for four years? Even I, didn't expect that to happen.
"Bakit ka iiyak-iyak diyan?" Natatawa kong tanong kay Angel. Nang matapos kasi ang graduation ceremony ay panay na ang iyak niya.
"Mami-miss ko lang maging high school. Kasi feeling ko ang laking responsibility maging college student," sumisinghot-singhot na tanong niya.
"Baliw 'to. Magkasama pa rin naman tayo," I said.
We both passed the entrance exam of the college that we want. She's going to take up BA English habang pinanindigan ko na ang Bio. Pasang-awa nga lang 'yong score ko pero buti na lang nakapasok pa rin sa cut-off.
Bahagyang lumapit sa akin si Angel and whispered, "na-meet na ng parents mo si Andrei?" Ang bilis mag-change ng topic!
Napatingin naman ako sa gawi ng parents ko na kausap ang parents ni Angel. Pinagpaplanuhan na ata nila ang paglipat naming dalawa. We decided to just stay in one apartment. Nag-suggest pa si Mommy na mag-hire daw kami ng maid para may mag-aasikaso sa amin but I didn't agree. This is my chance to practice living independently. At syempre mapaghahandaan ko rin ang future ko as Andrei's wife. Naks.
Nabaling naman ang tingin ko kay Andrei na di kalayuan sa akin. Napapalibutan siya ng mga kaklase naming gustong magpa-picture sa kanya. Di na muna ako sisingit. May time naman for us later.
"Hindi pa. Busy pa si Andrei eh. Maybe later," I replied.
"Eh kailan mo siya sasagutin?" She queried. Napangiti ako.
Matagal kong pinag-isipan 'to. I figured na maybe it's best to say yes to Andrei right now. Graduate na kami sa high school and we're going to be college students soon. It would be nice to welcome college with a boyfriend. Though we're not in the same university, and technically will be in a long distance relationship, but we'll work it out. Naniniwala naman ako sa aming dalawa ni Andrei.
"Ngayon sana..." nakangiting sagot ko sa tanong ni Angel. Agad naman siyang napatili which gained stares from people around us, including our parents. She just hurriedly covered her mouth.
"Hala siya. Magkaka-boyfriend ka na," excited na bulong niya. Mukhang mas excited pa nga siya sa akin. "At ang long time crush mo pa ang magiging boyfriend mo. Nagbunga rin ang matagal na pagmamasid mo lang sa kanya!"
"Baliw," I just said. Pero ang totoo ay kinikilig rin ako sa thought na 'yon. I can't wait for my parents to meet him.
Our parents called us to go near them. Siguro ay magri-report ng progress nila sa meeting about our future as college students.
"I already talked to my friend and she said na may alam daw siyang magandang unit for the two of you," Tita Cherry, Angel's mom said. "Ano? Check natin next week?"
"Sige po, Tita," I smilingly replied.
"Para rin ma-check kung anong kulang at kailangan niyo para mapaayos natin agad," dagdag ni Tita Cherry.
"We'll be on a business trip next week. So Anne Lei, you'll go with your Tita Cherry, okay?" Sabi naman ni Mama na sinagot ko ng tango.
While talking with our parents, I felt Angel poking me. When I looked at her ay nakita ko lang siyang may tinuturo sa likod ko. And when I turned my back, I saw Andrei.
