It was my first kiss. And my eyes fluttered close when I felt her soft lips against mine. It wasn’t a grown-up kiss, not the one I frequently saw on television. In fact, dampi lang sya but I still felt as if a bolt of electricity ran through me and I shivered.
“Bye.” She said and my eyes fluttered open. It ended too soon. “I’ll text you later?” She asked and I just nodded. “Salamat sa libre.” She waved at me and she was gone. Nakatulala ako sa harapan ng exit sa mall and I stared at the direction where she disappeared to.
“What just happened?” I asked myself but I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. “Wow. I’ve just been kissed.” I murmured chuckling.
Alam kong ang babaw, para kiss lang? But if you were a sixteen-year old boy with no romantic experience, big deal na yun. Achievement na kumbaga. I wanted to tell someone what happened, not because I wanted to brag, gusto ko lang i-share yung na-experience ko. Alam kong hindi ako pwedeng magkwento sa mga kabarkada ko dahil una, hindi sila maniniwala; pangalawa, maniniwala sila pero gusto nilang sabihin ko kung anong pangalan ng babae at pangatlo, I wanted to protect Sapphire. I didn’t know why I felt that way but I just did.
I felt my phone vibrate and I took it out of my pocket.
Sebastian’s Sapphire calling...
I stared at my phone’s screen. At tumawa ako nang malakas. Hindi ko alam na yun ang pangalan nya sa telepono ko. “Such a character.” I mumbled smiling. “Hi, Sebastian’s Sapphire.” I said and heard her laugh.
“Hi, Sapphire’s Sebastian.” She answered. “Nasa cab na ako, pauwi na akong bahay.”
“Okay. Teka lang sabihin mo sa akin kung anong plate number, body number at name ng taxi.” I said.
“Ha? Para saan?”
“For safety.” I said. “I-mention mo lang, sharp naman memory ko.”
“Naks, talaga naman. Lalo naman akong nai-inlove sayo nyan. Manong, narinig nyo po yun, yung boyfriend ko tinatanong kung anong plate number, body number at name ng taxi ninyo kaya wag kayong mag-attempt na lokohin ako!” I heard her say at natawa na naman ako. Kakaiba talaga itong babaeng ito. Boyfriend? I thought to myself. Hindi ko na narinig ang sinagot ng driver as Sapphire recited the information I needed.
“Text me as soon as you get home, okay?” I said.
“Okay. Bakit, ibababa mo na ba ang phone?” She asked.
“Oo. Pero if you want, pwede kitang tawagan. That is kung okay lang.”
“Malamang, okay lang.” She replied.
“O, sige bye na. Tatawagan kita after a few minutes kasi wala akong load. Hindi kasi ako naka-linya. Sorry.”
“Nyak, di rin naman ako nakalinya. O sige. Bye.” She answered before ending the call. Napatakbo ako para maghanap ng mabibilhan ng load nang wala sa oras. I bought three hundred pesos worth of call credits and dialed her number.
“Hi, saan ka na?” I asked as soon as she answered my call. Nagsimula na rin akong maglakad at pumila sa sakayan ng taxi.
“Nasa taxi pa rin.” She retorted. “Ikaw ba, nasa mall ka pa rin?”
“Nakapaila para sa taxi.” I said.
“Okay, mag-ingat ka. Malapit na ako sa bahay.”
“Malapit lang pala ang bahay nyo sa Trinoma.” I said and she laughed.
“Uy, curious. Baka naman nagkaka-crush ka na sa akin nyan.” She joked. Kahit alam ko namang biro ay hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mamula. “Ay wait, baka marinig ni Manong driver. Ang sabi ko pala ay boyfriend ko ang kausap ko.” She giggled.
