My Real First Love
(Cecily Gonzaga POV)
Mag-isa nanaman akong umuwi ngayon. Pero hindi na ako kinakabahan maligaw ulit dahil sa madalas kong pag-iisa ngayon, nakabisado ko na ang directions. At isa pa, medyo happy ako ngayon dahil bati na kami ni Gwynne. Pero hanggang ngayon, iniisip ko pa rin yung sinabi saakin ni Asher kahapon, “Siguro nga nandidiri na ako sayo.” Bakit Ash? Bakit? 

Tapos natigil ako sa paglalakad ko, at napalo ko ang noo ko. Sh*t! Lumagpas nanaman nga yata ako! Sa sobrang dami ng iniisip ko, at mixed emotions na nararamdaman ko, hindi napansin na nakarating nanaman ako sa familiar na lugar na ito. “Teka, nasa Arcilla Village nanaman ako. Dito ulit sa playground.” 

Tumalikod ako para bumalik sa talagang way ko pauwi. At isa pa, naaalala ko pa naman kung saan yung terminal ng tricycle sa labas ng village na ‘to. Kaso bigla akong natigil sa kinatatayuan ko. Sa dinami-dami naman ng taong makikita ko ngayon, bakit siya ulit?
Si Aicelle, ngayong ko na lang ulit siya nakita nung na-expel siya sa school after nung bugbugan incident sa pagitan namin. Puro mga lalaki ang kasama niya, halatang mga wasted ang buhay. “Guys, naalala niyo ba yung kinukwento ko sa inyo. Yung babaeng dahilan kung bakit ako napatalsik sa school namin? Siya yun oh. Favor naman, gusto ko talagang gantihan nang sobra-sobra ang b*tch na yan eh.” 

Natakot ako at tatakbo na sana ako palayo, kaso humarang na yung limang lalaki kasama ni bakulaw. “Lumayo kayo saakin! Kung hindi sisigaw ako!”

Tapos biglang lumapit si Aicelle at sinampal-sampal ako. At sabi niya sa mga kasama niya, “Sige dalhin niyo na yan dun, pagpasa-pasahan niyo yan ha.” 

“Ayoko! Please!” Nagpupumiglas ako at sumisigaw.
Tulungan niyo ako! Papa! Asher! Hadwin! Tulungan niyo ako!

Habang nagdadasal na ako sa isipan ko, biglang may dumating nga para tulungan ako.
Nag-iisa lang siya pero nagawa niyang patumbahin yung limang lalaki nang hindi man lang siya nagagantihan. Tumingin siya saakin, “Okay ka lang?”

Wala akong naisagot. Tapos nilapitan nung lalaki si Aicelle at sinampal niya ito.
“Hindi ako pumapatol sa babae, ngayon lang!

“Kilala niyo naman pala ako eh! Kapag sinaktan niyo siya ulit, lalo ka na…” Ang tinutukoy niya ay si Aicelle. “Sisiguraduhin kong makukulong kayo habang buhay!”
Nilapitan ako ng lalaki at tinulungan niya ako tumayo. “Hindi ka na nila gagalawin pa, maniwala ka saakin.”
Pagkasabi niya nun, naiyak ako at napayakap ako sa kanya. “Bartender… thank you…you saved me again.” 


“Heto oh.” Ibinigay niya saakin ang isang malamig na bote ng juice. “Idampi mo yan sa pisngi mo. Sinampal ka nung babae kanina diba? Ilagay mo yan para hindi mamaga.” Sinunod ko yung sinabi niya. Pagkatapos binuksan niya yung isa pang bote ng juice. “Heto naman yung inumin mo.”
“Pag hindi na malamig yung nasa pisngi mo, yan lang yung saakin.” Nginitian niya ako at tumabi siya saakin. “Naalala mo naman ako diba.”
Nilagok ko yung juice at nakahinga ako ng malalim. Pagkatapos, “Bartender! Merrick, diba?”
“Ikaw yung nasa birthday ni Gwynne diba?”

“I was eight nung pumunta kami ng America ng family ko because of our family business. Pero bago kami nagpunta doon, nakatira muna kami sa Aranilla Village sa Santa Victoria Street.” 


Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.
Pagkatapos niyang sabihin yun, biglang may nag-flashback sa isip ko. Isang batang lalaki, bukod kay Ash, na kasama ko nga noong bata pa ako. Lalo lang naging malinaw ang lahat nang biglang kantahin ni Merrick ang isang familiar na nursery rhyme.

“There’s a silly little girl named Silly! A pretty baby girl like a lily. I listen when she’s silly, she tells me that she’s girly…” Bago pa niya ituloy, nagtinginan kami at sabay naming binanggit ang huling linya... 

“Oh my God!”
Napatakip ako ng bibig ko! Yes I remember him now! He’s that boy! Merrick was that boy! And after all this time, ngayon ko lang na-realize na it wasn’t Asher who gave me that nickname, it was him! “Merrick!”

Lalo pa akong nagulat nang bigla niyang gawin niya weakpoint ko. “Silly!” He poked my nose. “Yeah it’s me! Merrick!” 



“I’m glad! Na-miss kita! Akala ko hindi mo na maaalala!” Tapos niyakap niya ako ulit, and I can’t describe what I’m feeling right now.
“Oo nga pala! There’s one more thing!” Nagtaka ako kung ano yun. Kinuha niya yung wallet niya sa bag niya. May inilabas siyang picture, a familiar photo. “Do you also remember this?” 


“Of course!” Kinuha ko yung picture. “I was that bride and you are my groom. And Asher…” Natigil ako at tinitigan ulit yung picture. “Wait nasaan si Asher?” pero ang mas magulo ngayon, “And did we really kissed at this photo?” 

Medyo nahiya siya at natawa na lang. “Kuha yan mommy ko. That’s my only photo na kasama kita. And what’s funny is that… yun nga… we kissed… there.” 

“No Merrick.” Napatayo ako. Medyo malabo pa rin saakin yung wedding play scene na yun.
“Asher! Si Asher yung ka-kiss ko nun! We also have a photo! A different version! He’s the one who kissed me!”

Nakatingin lang siya,
“Yeah… I didn’t know na may picture din pala yung scene yun. But you’re right he kissed you…” I was relieved, Asher kissed me. “He kissed you right after I kissed you.”

Napaupo lang ulit ako. So ano ba talagang nangyayari? Na lahat ng inaakala kong mga ginawa ni Asher, si Merrick lahat! Even my first kiss?
Si Merrick din? Then could it be possible that Asher isn’t the one. Na pwedeng kayak o nagustuhan ang lalaking iyon, dahil iniisip kong siya si Merrick. Na si Merrick ang talagang first love ko at hindi si Asher.

“Silly?”
Napayuko siya, but I know na hindi siya magsisinungaling. “We’re pretty close to each other. And would always tell me that you like me and you’re gonna marry me.”
He took my hand, and the only thing that I can hear is the loud beating of my heart. I can’t believe it… I really can’t. 

End of Chapter 13 Part 3
buyi, gusto ko ang update na 'to! hahaha. inyourface asher! now win her back bwahaha!
ReplyDeleteyvi ikaw ba yan??? ahahahaha!!!
ReplyDeleteikaw nga yan dahil sa tawag mo saakin!!!
ahahahaha!!!
sabi ko naman sayo silent reader mo ako! everyday ako nagche-check ng updates sa blog mo, hahaha!
ReplyDeletenagmamahal,
tagasubaybay
OMG sandali lang! Pati ako naguguluhan!!! Hahahahaha. Ano ba talaga? OMG! OMG! Hahahaha~ alam mo ba Unnie pumasok sa isip ko dun sa chapter na kinuwento ni Asher na naglaro sila ng kasal-kasalan nun na si Merrick yung lalaking naging groom ni Silly? XD wala lang nakakatuwa lang! XD
ReplyDelete