L'Amour

ONE

FIRST-EVER LETTER

"Wife, nasaan mo na inilagay mga papeles ko!?" Sigaw ko sa asawa ko na nasa labas. Sana lang marinig niya ako, nasa kusina yata 'e.

"Be like Sherlock Holmes, Honey!" Sigaw niya pabalik. Paano ako magiging Sherlock Holmes? Ano, 'yung maghahanap ng mga importanteng bagay sa mundo? 'E paghahanap pa nga lang sa kaniya, mahirap na.

Natawa ako sa kalokohan ko. "I'm already Sherlock Holmes! I already found you!"

"Corny! Maghanap ka na lang!" Saad niya. Tsk. Parang dati lang kilig na kilig pa siya sa mga ganyan ko 'e.

Hindi na ako sumagot pa at pinag-patuloy na lang ang paghahanap sa mga drawers ko.

Inilabas ko ang mga papel at unexpectedly, nakita ko mga old love letters na ibinibigay sa akin ng mga babae na patay na patay sa akin dati.

Instead of searching for my job files, I sat on the floor and opened every letters one by one. I smile as I reminisce everything.

Itinatago ko ito dati kay Jade kasi nagseselos siya. Hindi ko pa siya girlfriend o asawa noon, crush niya pa lang ako.

One letter says,

Hi, Rae. I just want to express my feelings for you. I like you. We are schoolmates and we see each other every day but you don't know me yet. Do you want to hang out with me?

Most of the letter givers are rejected by me. I didn't send my replies to them. Bukod sa sayang sa pera, hindi ako interesado sa kanila. Iisa lang kasi crush ko noon, kahit hindi ko sinasabi, si Jade lang talaga.

I opened another letter again. It says:

Rae, let's hang out sometimes if you don't have a girlfriend yet. Can we? I want to meet you more.

I didn't reply to that as well. As in no letter got a reply. I don't like girls like that.

I only open letters with interesting designs. I opened a letter again, and I laughed so hard.

Napahiga ako sa letters habang tumatawa nang sobrang lakas. Napatigil ako ng makita ang asawa ko na nasa pintuan. She has this scary and black aura around her. I already know she's angry.

She grinned like a devil before screaming, "WHAT ARE THESE LETTERS, RAE!?" She approached me and I immediately backed out of the letters. "WHAT DID I TELL YOU!? WHAT IS THAT LETTER IN YOUR HAND!?" Sigaw niya na nakaka-bingi.

Late ko nang na-realized na may hawak pala akong letter sa kamay ko. And a funny idea flashed on my mind.

I smirked and stood and raised the letter. "Eh 'di tignan at kuhanin mo, kung kaya mo!" At ayun nga, lumapit siya sa akin at tumalon para makuha ang letter pero sadyang matangkad ako kaya hindi niya magawa.

"Aray!" Bigla na lamang siya lumiyad at kinagat ang lower lip ko. Naramdaman ko ang sakit mula sa kagat niyang madiin.

Ibinaba ko ang kamay ko at hinalikan na lamang siya. Tinigilan niya ang pagkagat sa labi ko at tumugon na lang din ng halik.

I put my hands on her back and pulled her closer. I felt her hands fell down.

Bigla na lamang siya bumitiw sa halik at nasa kaniya na ang letter. "You got tricked, handsome."

Sinimulan niyang buksan ang envelope at nagsalita ulit, "You know I easily get jealous, right? I'll burn all of these letter, including this one," She held it up. "I secretly peak at your room everytime and this letter has always been special to you. Uunahin kong sunugin ito."

Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Natatakot ako na baka gawin niya na nga iyun. 'Wag naman sana.

Her eyes widened and looked at me. She stopped--I seized the opportunity to retrieve the letter. "How dare you!?" She bellowed.

I read it loud.

"Rae, bakit ikaw pa? Kaibigan kita 'e. Hindi ko alam pero it's been six months since my feelings started. I seek opportunities to confess yet girls get mad every time we are with each other. I think I like you. I don't want this feeling, I really don't. I took this opportunity to send this letter to you. This time that you know my feelings, would you stay away from me? If so, it's okay. We are supposed to be friends, just that, but this feeling won't wither, instead it grows, like a flower. Yes, I like you but if you don't feel the same way, you could just dump me. Love, your best friend, Jade."

That's right, siya ang best friend kong nagka-gusto sa akin at nagbigay ng letter na ito. Hindi ko akala-in na nai-tabi ko pa ito. Naalala kong inaasar pa siya ng mga kaibigan namin na huwag daw mahiya kasi baka maging asawa naman niya ako, and they're right, she's already my wife, and I'm her husband.

She was rooted on her place while her mouth was opened. I took the opportunity to kiss this girl, my wife, and when I stopped, I spoke. "Burn your first ever letter to me then..."