Just the Way It Is : Cliches Overload :) - Complete

John Dave Smith - II

Part Two

My family happpened to reside in an exclusive subdivision. Mula nung nagkaisip ako, dito na kami nakatira. So far, I'm happy with our residence at isa na sa mga dahilan nun yung iba't ibang recreational places dito sa sub. . .all kinds of courts, sports facilities, pools, clubs etc. Ang wala lang ata rito eh yung golf course. Syempre, sayang nga naman yung lupa ano, imbis na mga damo at butas ang ilagay, mabuti pang mga bahay na lang.

When I was a kid, madalas talaga akong pumunta sa playground nitong sub namin. Hilig ko kasi talaga yung swing. Syempre bata pa ako, feeling ko talaga nun lumilipad ako. May paabot-abot pa ako sa mga ulap na nalalaman pag andun na ako sa taas.  :) Well, as I reminish those times, I can't help but also reminish Dave and the first time we met. . .

It was quite late afternoon that time. At gaya ng nakagawian ko, pupunta ako ngayon sa playground at magsu-swing. Yey! Walking distance lang ang layo nun sa bahay namin kaya naman nilalakad ko lang at di na ako nagpapasama pa.

"Ey kid! Kami dyan. Maghanap ka ng ibang paglalaruan mo", saway sa'kin ng parang mga elementary students mas matanda sa'kin nung paupo na ako sa swing. First time ko silang nakita rito sa playground at di ko talaga sila kilala. I was just six by that time.

"Pero ako ang nauna rito", apila ko. I was really a brave child back then but the fact that they're older than me also means that they are stronger than me.

They pushed me away. Hindi naman sya ganun kalakas pero dahil naurungan ko yung bakal na paa nung swing. I fell down. It hurts and I was about to bring myself to tears. Bata pa ako nun at mababaw lang ang luha ko.

"Hala, lagot kayo. Pulis papa nya. Isusumbong ko kayo”,  suddenly a boy came before me. Hindi ko rin sya kilala gaya nung ibang mga nang-aaway sa’kin ngayon. Ako naman ay lalo pang nagdrama at umiyak para  mas maging effective yung sinasabi nya.

“Sino ka namang bata ka?”, medyo takot pero trying maging matapang na tanong nung pinakamatangkad sa kanila.

“Magkapitbahay kami. Siguro bago pa lang kayo rito no kaya di nyo kilala binabangga nyo.” The boy was just so cute back then. Then it hits me na kaya nga siguro di ko sila kilala ay bago pa lang sila rito. Halos magkakakilala rin kasi ang mga tao sa sub na ito or if not, malalaman mo sa mukha na taga rito. Eh lagi naman akong nasa playground and it was the first time I encountered them including the boy beside me.

The kids became still, maybe what the boy had said and what I thought is true. They’re just new here.

“So what if papa nya is pulis, Hmmmf. Dyan na nga kayo.” , maarteng sabi ng pinaka maliit sa kanila. And in a second, hindi na sila makikita sa playground. Haha, so what daw pero dali dali namang umalis. That makes the little me smile. I wipe my tears away and look at the little boy.

“Thank you. Bago ka lang dito? Ano nga pala name mo?” He helped me stand.

“Yes. Kalilipat lang namin last Tuesday. JD, ikaw?”

“Di pwede. Ako si JD. Ano name mo?” sagot ko sa kanya.

“JD nga”

“Ang kulit mo naman ih. Ako nga si JD” Well, I was still young that time.

“Ano magagawa ko eh JD rin ang pangalan ko?” tila helpless nyang sabi sa’kin. “Parehas pala tayo ng name.” Then he suddenly smiled.

“Di ah”

“Sige, kaw na lang si JD girl, ako si JD boy.”

“Eew, ang baduy naman! Ano ba ibig sabihin nung JD mo?”

“John Dave”

“John Dave?”

“Yes”

“ Hmmmm. Can I be JD and you be Dave?” Napakamot na lang sa ulo yung batang Dave sa kakulitan ko. Hehe

“Alright, alright” He gave up. “But can we be friends?”

I can helped but smile when I remember that day. Parang typical lang na eksena na napapanood ko sa TV. After that, Dave has been my constant companion. We do different activities together, hang out together. Nung mga bata pa kami, lagi syang nasa bahay namin at nakikipaglaro sa’kin. Malimit rin ako sa bahay nila. Naging close sya parents ko and ako sa parents nya. Lagi rin kaming tinutukso sa school. We’re classmates and he’s just months older than me. He’s also my prom date in High School. Well, sino pa nga ba? We were really inseperable that time until his family decided to send him to US for his studies. He’ll manage their company soon so getting his bachelor’s degree in US will do him really good. It saddened me not having him around anymore but maybe it’s also time for me to grow up and know other people. We communicate from time to time  but still, physical presence is different.

Yeah, I could really say that he’s my childhood sweetheart. :)

And hearing him confess now, it really breaks my heart. I can’t afford to hurt him. He’s very very very special to me. He’s like the brother I never have. Our closeness means so much to me but I couldn’t love him in a romantic way. I’ll be hurt everytime he’s hurting.

Then, I feel his hand wipes something on my face and stays there.

“Don’t cry. Please don’t cry.” He said while his hand was on my cheeks. I was shocked for I didn’t notice that a tear has already fell to my face.

“Well, I just tried. I know you already love someone else.” He just couldn’t hide the sadness on his tone.  “I know I should have not told this. I’m sorry for being selfish but I just wanna tell you that I really enjoyed growing up with you and I do wish to grow old with you too”. He sadly smiled at me.

“I’m sorry Dave.” Tears keep falling down my face. It was a silent cry.

“Ang kulit mo naman eh. Sabi nang don’t cry. Kahit kelan talaga ang kulit mo.” I let out a small laugh. He removed his hand over my face to get a hankie on his pocket and wipe my tears. I grab his hand and get the hankie.

“Yaan mo nga syang tumulo. I was just hurt.”

“Should I be the one hurting now? Silly.”

“I don’t want you hurt.”

“I know.” He smiled again, that sad smile. That moment, I just can’t stop myself from bringing myself to him. I hug him with all my might, sobbing on his shoulders. This person is really so important to me.

“Mind introducing me to the lucky guy?” He said after a few minutes and I released myself to him. My crying begin to stop.

“How could you be sure that I’m in love right now?”

“Dear JD, did you forgot that we have ‘that’ connection? That we know each other ‘that well’ that I can see through you and you through me?” Oh. Right. I just remembered having that thought awhile ago, us understanding each other without the need of words.

“So wala na pala talaga akong maitatago sa’yo.”

“Yes, nagtataka nga ako kung bakit di mo naramdamang I’m having a feeling with you.”

“Sinong may sabi sayong hindi?”

“Eh?”

That night has been a witness kung gaano talaga kami kaclose ni Dave. We just smiled towards each other knowing everything will be well, that nothing will change between us. He’ll be ok and we both wished each other good luck. Everything was said without the need of words. :)