Nagmamahal, Tom

Epilogue

" Nana?", tawag ni Tom sa helper niya matapos magpractice ng basketball sa may garage nila kung saan nakakabit ang ring.
"Nana? Where are you?," tawag niya ulit. Nagmamadali naman ang Nana niyang puntahan siya.
" Sir Tom, may dumating po para sa inyo."
" I'm not expecting anything. Kanino galing?"
Inabot ni Tom ang item na may balot. Hindi niya alam kung ano pero parisukat ito at matigas.
" Galing kay maam Pim."
Nagmamadaling pumanhik si Tom papunta sa kwarto. Sinarado ang pinto at dahan dahang pinunit ang nakabalot. Hindi siya mapakali, marami ang tumatakbo sa isipan niya. Naguluhan siya ng makita na ang pinadala niyang notebook ang laman nito. Binuksan niya ito at nakita ang isinulat niya. Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya ng makitang may nakasulat sa sumunod na pahina.

~~~~~~~
Tom,
When we first met, nakakahiya kasi may mantsa pa ang vest ko nun kasi tinapunan ako ng classmate ko ng gravy niya. But unlike others, you did not ignore me. Instead, you offered me a hanky at kahit ayaw kong tanggapin, pinilit mo pa ring ibigay. Marami pa akong prejudices sayo nun matapos marinig ang sabi ng iba. Pero ang totoo lang pala dun e, bihira ka magtagalog. The second time we met, I found out nasa class pala kita kaso you're often excuse or absent. I returned your hanky pero binigay mo ulit matapos mo lagyan ng number mo. Nagalit ako nun kasi feeling ko iniisip mo na may gusto ako sayo. Papansin ka na since then, I thought, maybe challenge ako sayo kasi 'no one says no to Tom Salazar'. Ang kulit mo kasi naglalagay ka ng kung anu-ano sa bag at sa locker ko. I swear kahit ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam paano nakalusot yung mga butterscotch mo sa loob, hindi mo naman alam lock pass ko. I confronted you para sabihing, 'I DON'T LIKE BUTTERSCOTCH', pero imbis na tumigil pinalitan mo ng dark chocolates yung nilalagay sa locker. I already told you na it touched me but I did not gave in to you agad kasi kasing dami na rin ng chocolates mo ang haters ko. But then the more I push you away, the more I fell for you. It was a risk saying 'Yes' to the MVP of the school but I did anyways.
I was in cloud nine everytime you defended me until all the bullies are gone. You made me feel safe and at the time, feeling ko I don't deserve someone as good as you. So I did my best to keep up. I stayed kahit bihira ka ng magtext kasi inu-una mo practices mo. I stayed late with you lalo na pag may competitions, kahit ayaw ng mama ko na late ako umuwi kasi that's what I'm suppose to do, right? Whenever my mom blames you for my doings, I always say na it's my choice to be that way until she's no longer mad at you but to me. When we ended up in that room after ka pagsabihan ni Coach Nat, I want to comfort you and I trusted you, too much.
When you think more of your records than me, I was offended. I did not let you speak for yourself. I left, disappointed. But then recently, narealize ko that it was not because of you. It was me, I was disappointed to myself. I was expecting too much and selfishly thinks that you should stick with me too. I forgot that you have a life of your own and I am not always a part of it.
That night, you keep on asking me if I'm sure. I could have said 'no', you could've stop yourself because I know you're a man of control. But I did not say no, I wasn't thinking straight because I thought it was perfect to strengthen a relationship. I'm sorry Tom.
When we were apart, I learned a lot of things. I learned that you can love a person without interfering their true happiness. Natutunan ko na I should be more a partner to you than someone who only thinks of the ideals of a perfect relationship. It was selfish of me to blame you responsible for what happened, I forgot that we were young and nothing is certain between us yet and that we have to take care of each other's future. I forgot about myself but it was not entirely your fault Tom. I'm sorry to think you're not taking me seriously. Perhaps what happened is a blessing in disguise because it gave me an opportunity to meet a person who helped me realize what I am about to lose if I did not write this to you. You still have that place in me Tom. And if you're reading this and still feel the same, I want you to know that I'll be wearing a fushia gown in the masquerade ball, or I'll be dancing on my own.

P.S. I somehow learned how to dance.

Pim.
~~~~~~~~~~
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Napuno na ng mga mga seniors at faculty members ang ballroom. Napuno ng kinang at kulay ang silid at napuno ng musika.
"Iggy!", tawag ni Lin sa unahan. Kumaway siya ng lumingon ito. Ngumiti naman si Iggy at naglakad palapit sa kanya.
" Hi Pim!", bati niya kay Pim na nakasunod kay Lin.
" Woah--- that's just rude Iggy. Hello? I'm the one who called you.", pabirong reklamo ni Lin.
" I'm sorry. You look dazzling Lin", sabi ni Iggy kay Lin na nakangiti.
" Suss-- I could crush your bones, buti nalang you're extra cute in tux.",
Umalis muna si Lin para kumuha ng drink niya kaya naiwan si Iggy at Pim.
" So? How did it go?"
" I don't know. Magsisimula na ang event pero wala pa siya."
" Relax, I can still dance with you. If you want."
" Hmmm--- once is enough. Baka kasi umuwi kang red cheeks.", Tumawa naman si Iggy.
" Alright, alright. Pero baka mas prefer mo ang tall, dark and handsome like me in the middle of the night. I'm everywhere.", sabay tawa nito ng nakakaloko.
" Oo na, now go. Maraming nagpapapansin sayo, spread your charms Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome."
Nagwave na si Iggy kay Pim ng nakangiti bago naglaho sa gitna ng mga nagsasayawan.
Napabuntong hininga si Pim.
" Kung kailan naman gusto ko na andito siya saka naman siya wala. Baka hindi romatic yung invitation ko ng ka-date" , sabi niya sa sarili. Maya-maya lang ay umakyat na sa may stage si Ms. Torres.
" Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. Tonight, we celebrate the success of your journey as High School students. I am very proud to see all of you grow wonderfully in the presence of each other. Despite of the hardships and the struggles you've been through, you made it. I am wishing you all the best to the future ahead, and may you all be guided by the lessons you learned in and out of the classroom. Without further delay, I welcome you all to this year's graduation ball, let's dance and be gay!"
Napuno ng hiyawan at palakpakan ang ballroom. Nagsimula ng umugong ang upbeat music at nasa gitna na halos ang lahat. Inadjust ni Pim ang mask niya. Tahimik niyang sinusuri ang paligid at nagbabakasakaling dumating na si Tom.
Nagpabago-bago na ang music, maraming baso na ng flavored beer ang nainum ni Lin na paminsan minsan ay nilalapitan si Pim sa bilog na mesa kung saan ito naghihintay.
" Pim, come on let's dance!"
" Sige susunod ako."
" Seriously? You said that like the nth time already. Who are waiting ba?"
" Darating siya. Sumayaw ka na dun."
" Tss...okay, you'll be missing a lot of bulky bodies tonight. Ta ta", tapos nilamon na ulit si Lin ng crowd. Tinanggal na ni Pim ang maskara. Kanina pa siya naghihintay sa table at medyo sumasakit na ang paa niya sa suot na heels. Sa bawat pagpapalit ng kanta, mas lalong lumalakas ang pag-aalala niyang hindi dumating si Tom. Nagbago ulit ang kanta at nang malumanay na ito at nagpares-pares na ang mga sumasayaw, bumuntong hininga si Pim.
'Mukhang hindi na siya darating. Tsk tsk.'
Hinubad na ni Pim ang sapatos para umalis. Pinipigilan niyang tumulo ang luha niya.
' Para saan pa tong heels kung wala namang matangkad na magsasayaw. Tssh.'
Nang mahubad na ay binitbit na niya ang sapatos at naglakad na papunta sa pinto nang may nagsalita sa likod niya.
"Where d'you think you're going?"
Nababara na ng nagbabadya niyang sipon ang ilong niya at hindi na niya napigilan ang luha paglingon niya.
" I said, where do you think you're going?"
Naglakad ito palapit kay Pim. Pinahiran ni Pim ang luha. Napayuko siya para tingnan ang paa na walang suot.
" Are you wearing heels for me?", tanong nito nang sinundan ang tingin ni Pim mula sa paa at sa bitbit na sapatos. Suminghot muna si Pim bago nagsalita.
" Kasi-- kasi masyado kang matangkad"
Nagpipigil naman ng tawa si Tom.
" Since when did I complain about you being cute?"
"Ah--- huh?"
May kinuha namang panyo si Tom at inabot ito kay Pim. Nang tinanggap ito ni Pim, natatawa siya na naiiyak. Ito kasi ang panyo na sinulatan ni Tom ng number niya nuon. Pinahiran na ni Pim ang luha at inabot kay Tom ang sapatos na dala na kinuha naman nito habang nakangiti. Tumalikod si Pim para magpalabas ng sipon.
" Akin na yan."
" We can dance without it."
" Ayoko, titingala ako sayo ng todo pag-ganun."
Tumawa si Tom.
"Okay fine, let me help you."
Tinulungan siya ni Tom na masuot ang sapatos at inalalayan siya sa may dance floor. Hinawakan na ni Tom ang bewang ni Pim at si Pim naman sa balikat ni Tom. Nagsimula na silang sumayaw. Tinanggal rin ni Tom ang mask na suot kaya pareho sila ni Pim na walang mask. Nakatitig sila sa isa't isa habang sumasabay sa tugtog.
" Akala ko talaga na reject na ko.", sabi ni Pim
" I can't let you dance on your own."
Napatawa naman si Pim matapos maalala ang isinulat.
" Thank you, for coming."
" I can't imagine not coming."
Mas nilapit ni Tom si Pim sa kanya.
" Pim?"
" Hmm?"
" The heels is a good idea."
" Huh?"
" It's easier to stay close this way."
Nilapit ni Tom ang mukha kay Pim. Naaamoy ni Pim ang mint breathe ni Tom at ang pabango nito. Binalot ni Pim ang kamay sa batok ni Tom.
" I miss you too.", sabi ni Pim at inangat ang sarili para malapat ang labi kay Tom.
" I love you Pim. We'll do it right this time."
Hinalikan ni Tom ang noo ni Pim at pikit mata silang sumasayaw sa duyog ng kanta.

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WAKAS

Hi, thank you for reaching this far.
I want you to know that I am a bisaya, (BisDak jud ko), so if you find some words in tagalog that I misspelled or you felt like not the appropriate word to use for the scenario, I apologize. I somehow find if hard to translate some words and as much as possible, I'd like to make my narration more Filipino.
Thank you for reading, lots of love.