After Summer

#AS92

I saw Theo leaning against his car with both his hands on his pockets when I opened the gate.

"Hi." Nakuha ko ang atensyon niya at agad naman siyang umayos nang pagkakatayo.

It's like his eyes suddenly cheered up when he saw me.

"Hi" he replied and then a smile formed on his lips. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin hanggang sa makalapit ako sa kaniya.

"Bakit bigla mo akong gustong makita, anong oras na?"

"I think you've been purposely avoiding me the whole week. You have no idea how hard it was for me, so just go easy on me today, will you, Sorley?"
Yumuko siya ng bahagya para mapantayan ang mga mata ko.

He's so soft spoken. May lahi pa naman kaming uto-uto.

Napatango na lang ako dahil hindi ko alam ang sasabihin, nang ngumiti siya para akong biglang hiningal at gustong sumabog ng dibdib ko.

He mouthed "wait" pagkatapos ay may kinuha siya sa loob ng kotse niya. A rose.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't find any flowershop that's open. Namitas na lang ako sa garden ni Mom."

"Thank you." Natatawang sabi ko na lang.

"Actually, the purpose of my sudden visit is to clear everything. I will pursue you, Sorley."

Para akong nabulunan sa bigla niyang pagkasabi.

"Where are you going?" I turned my back on him.

"Sandali, nakakahiya pala."

He patted my head. "So, can you tell me the reason why you avoided me? Please?"

Why is it hard to be honest in times like this?

"Kasi diba sabi mo g-gusto mo ako, sa totoo lang, ang hirap maniwala. Ayoko lang na ano.. ma-awkward sa'yo pag 'di mo ako pinursue or if you had a change of heart." He sighed.

"I don't think there's a possibility of me having a change of heart. Not even once in the last 4 months and not in the future. Take a walk with me?"

We decided to walk around the neighborhood and settled on a bench near the park, enjoying the silence and the peacefulness of the night.

Napapatingin ako paminsan sa kaniya, tapos bigla na lang parang napupuno 'yung dibdib ko. Siguro dahil pwede na ako magpakatotoo sa sarili ko, at ihinto 'yung pagl-limit sa sarili na gustuhin siya?

And maybe I already like him but I was too scared to let myself feel that because I was protecting myself before, na malabo mareciprocate pag nagka feelings sa kaniya kaya inuunahan ko 'yung sa sarili ko na, huwag siya.

"What are you thinking?"

"Naisip ko lang, kung hindi ba tayo nagkita sa Laguna, tingin mo may chance na ano.. maging ganito tayo kaclose?"

Kita ko ang pag-ikot ng paningin niya sa paligid, senyales na napaisip din siya.

"I'm not sure, but I think there's a high chance that I would still like you, although it would take a bit longer."

"Eh? Sure ka? I don't think so. Theo andaming nagkakagusto sa'yo, paano mo ako mapapansin?"

"I've never even cared about how other people think of me, but it's not the case if it's you."

How can he say things like this without getting shy?

"Did I already tell you how I found out that I'm into you?" Napatingin ako sa direksyon niya at umiling, he was smiling at me. Ang ganda ng mata, I could melt.

"Recently, I've been showing up unannounced, right? Because even with the simple decisions that I have to do daily, I think of you. When changing the air freshener in my car, I would ask myself, "gusto ba ni Sorley 'yung amoy nito?" And if I heard from Laverne that someone will fetch you, I will ask myself about five times, 'will she be okay?' and would always end up with a conclusion that no, I don't feel at ease at all. Wait, why are you covering your face?"

Shy girl nga ako.

Pilit niya akong tinitignan pero iniiwas ko ang mukha ko sa direksiyon niya.

What is wrong with him?

"Nahihiya ako, hayaan mo lang ako magsalita ka lang."

"Ako naman 'yung nagsasalita. Why are you the one covering your face?"

"Basta, continue." I heard him chuckle but he still continued.

"Alright, I'll make it short miss, I wanted to know everything you like and I wanted be with you even with the boring days, and I hope you would let me, and by that I mean courting you."