02

I was sitting in the farthest end of the cafe, a.k.a. Miru and Bella's table. Ever since naging mag best friend kami palagi na kaming tumatambay dito sa cafe at dito mismo sa kina-uupuan ko kami palaging umuupo.

Wala pa si Miru, I looked at my wrist watch. 10 minutes na siyang late. Tignan mo 'tong taong to siya yung gustong makipag-kita sa akin tapos siya pa ang late. The nerve of that guy! Alam na alam niyang ayaw ko sa mga late!

Then someone put an iced coffee at my table. When I looked at that someone, it turned out na si Miru pala yun. He then seated in front of me. His usual place.

He's just staring at me. Seems like he's contemplating unto something.

I, on the other hand is torn kung magagalit ba ako sa kanya dahil sa plates ko at late pa siya or magso'sorry ako sa kanya kasi nasigawan ko siya kanina. But before I could say anything inunahan niya ako.

"I don't want us to be friends anymore." He said.

I just stared at him. What the hell? Bakit parang siya pa ang galit?

"Okay." I said.

He was shocked at my response. He's forehead creases and leaned on the table. He can't believe na papayag talaga ako.

He may look so serious right now but I can see through him. Gagong 'to. Alam ko pinagti'tripan lang niya ako. Mukha niya! Akala niya hindi ko nakikita mga kagaguhan sa mata niya!

"Really? Papayag ka talaga? Wow Bella! Just wow! Mag best friend tayo since high school! Tapos isang sabi ko lang na we should stop being friends papayag ka agad?! Ni hindi mo man lang ba ako tatanungin kung bakit?!" he said. Mangiyak-ngiyak na siya.

"Yun ang gusto mo diba. So bakit kita pipigilan?" I said. Gusto ko nang matawa sa itsura niya. It's shown in his face the confusion and betrayal.

"Grabe ka! Joke lang yun eh! Gusto lang kitang pagtripan tapos ganito? Bella naman, kung hindi ko pa sinabi yun hindi ko malalaman na ganun lang kadali sa'yo ang tapusin ang friendship natin"

The ever dramatic Miru. Tignan mo 'tong baklang to. Okay, I just wanted to clarify things. Hindi bakla si Miru pero napaka dramatic kaya tinatawag ko siyang bakla minsan.

"Okay fine. Yung ang gusto mo diba. Sige...tapusin na natin 'to." My forehead creases. "Wala din naman patutunguhan 'to eh"

He looked so serious right now. Wait...sandale! Bakit parang totoo na?!

"I'm ending our friendship here. This time seryoso na. Ayoko na. Tapos na akong maging best friend mo. Tapos na akong..."

He stopped and stared at me. Ako naman ngayon ang nalilito. Diba dapat joke time lang? Anong nangyari? Sandali? Totoo na ba 'to? Friendship over na?

"Wait, are you serious–"

"Tapos na akong...maging kaibigan mo."

"Bakit– wait what?"

"I don't want us to be friends anymore Bella. I don't want us to be just...friends. I want something more. I...I want to call you my girlfriend."

I was stunned. What?! Did?! He?! Just?! Said?! Huh?!

"Look I know you're really confused right now. Ako rin naman eh. But Bella, matagal na kitang gusto. Yes I wanted to be your friend but I don't want to settle being just your friend.

Can you give me a chance? Can you give us a chance?"

Okay. Wait. My best friend for years liked me? Miru just confessed...to me. I– I can't seem to process everything.

Miru took my reaction the other way. He sighed and looked at the table and nodded slowly.

"Yeah I know. Alam ko naman. I'm sorry for saying that. But I just want you to know totoo lahat yun. And I'm not sorry for feeling that way. I'm not sorry for loving you."

He...lo–loved me? Again, what the hell?

He breathed deeply and meet my eyes. He smiled not showing his teeth. Pinilit niyang ngumit, ang pangit. Para siyang nasusuka na ewan. I chuckled at my thoughts.

"Tignan mo 'to ang sama sama ng ugali. Tawanan ba naman ang confession ko" he said.

I raised my brows at him. An indication that I wanted to hear more of what he wanted to say.

"Look Bella. Tanggap ko naman na ayaw mo sa akin. But please don't ignore my feelings for you because this is something I never planned to have. Kung pwede nga lang kalimutan 'to ginawa ko na eh per–"

I cutted him off. Napakadaldal talaga. At assuming!

"Sino may sabi?" I asked.

"Ng?"

"Sino may sabi na ayaw ko sa'yo? Sino may sabing–"

"Wait! Hindi totoo yun? Gusto mo din ako?!" He asked and assumed.

"Hindi. Ang tanong ko sino may sabi na wala akong gusto sa'yo? Gusto ko lang malaman kung sino"

All the colors of his faced drained out. He pouted and sulked at the corner. Para siyang bata na tinaguan mo ng cellphone. He glared at me when I laughed at his reaction.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

"Sige tawa pa, sana madapa ka mamaya" he murmured.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA grabe ka! Napaka sama ng ugali mo!"

"Ay talaga? Ako talaga? Nahiya naman ako sa'yo" he said. Still not in the mood.

Tawa lang ako ng tawa habang siya pinagmamasdan lang ako. Sobrang nakakatawa talaga tong araw na 'to na nakakabaliw. Puyat na ako, natapunan pa ng kape ang plates ko, bumait yung prof ko, tapos ngayon naman nag confess si Miru. Ano pang kulang? Universe ano? Ibagsak mo na ngayon nahiya ka pa.

"You're really pretty when you laugh."

I stopped laughing and looked at him. Is that admiration I see in his eyes?

"You're much prettier when you're not aware of your actions." He continued.

"You looked so pretty Bella."

I smiled shyly. Okay universe hindi pa pala tapos.

He smiled widely and said. "But you'll be the prettiest if you're my girlfriend..."

"...kaya sige na pumayag ka na. Liligawan naman kita eh. Magpapa-alam naman ako kay tito–"

Tinapunan ko siya ng tissue kaya natawa siya. Ang ganda ganda na ng moment sinira pa nang ka epalan niya.

"But seriously Bella. I really like you, no I love you. I don't know when it started basta I just woke up one day tapos mahal na kita. So please give me a chance to prove it." He said. Seriously this time.

I sighed and nodded. "Okay. Pero magpa-alam ka kay daddy at sa mommy mo. Kung hindi sila papayag then hindi din ako papayag."

"Really? Walang problema kay mommy she want–"

"Pero sandali may naalala ako. May kasalanan ka pa sa akin! Yung plates ko kanina bwisit ka!"

I stood up and give him multiple punch. He didn't fought back. Hinayaan lang niya akong gulpihin siya. Mukang nag e'enjoy pa nga siya eh kasi tawa lang siya ng tawa.

Our day ended like that. Pumayag din si daddy na ligawan ako ni Miru and tita Lucy, Miru's mother was really happy. Months after that sinagot ko si Miru. I never wanted to sacrifice our friendship kasi baka hindi kami mag work out. But that's Miru, I trust him so much. With Miru, I wouldn't have to worry about anything because everything is sure when it comes to him.

Our relationship isn't perfect. Palagi nga kaming nag-aaway even on small petty things. But we always see to it na hindi namin hahayaang matapos ang araw nang hindi kami nagkakabati. We just simply clicked. We both know what we want. And that is to make this relationship work.

Kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit siya nakikipag-hiwalay sa akin. Hindi rin naman siya nagbigay ng rason kaya mas lalo lang akong naguluhan. Hindi naman kami nag-away, wala din naman kaming hindi pagkaka-intindihan. Ang alam ko lang, sinamahan niya si tita sa Manila kasi dadalaw daw ito sa mga kamag-anak nila doon. Kakadating niya lang kanina and he wanted us to meet here at their cafe.

Funny how it goes, dito sa cafe na'to siya nag confess sa akin, dito ko siya sinagot, pero hindi ko akalain na dito din pala niya tatapusin ang relasyon namin.

***

:)