"Gago, binigyan ka ng drawing? Omaygash, ang ganda pa ng pagkakagawa sis! Shuta, pencil lang yung gamit niya dito oh."

Manghang-mangha yung kaibigan ko sa drawing na binigay ni Wyatt. Well, who wouldn't be? He got all of MY details correct! Wala akong nakikitang mali sa kanyang ginawa. Panigurado kung sasali siya sa mga arts contests o drawing contests, ay tiyak na makakakuha siya ng gantimpala roon.

"His actions happened so fast that I didn't even get a chance to reject him." I honestly told her.

"Ay talaga naman, in love na in love na talaga kay Asrow."

"C-Crush lang, at least pinapansin ako ni crush!"

"HOY, WALANG DAMAYAN DITO!" I giggled at her response as she lightly punched me on my elbow. "Pero tanong ko lang, diba gusto mo naman na si Asrow? Then why are you letting him court you? Diba dapat, matagal nang kayo?"

"I want him to show his love through actions, not just sugarcoated words, 'hon." I answered her. May pagka-playboy din kasi yung binata at tsaka dati palang, hindi ko naman napapansin na nagugustuhan niya ako kahit kaunti. I want him to prove himself to me and that's by courtship.

"Ahh, taray may pa-candy pa si ate." Komento nito.

"Hala boba ka,"

"So paano na ba 'to, dalawang lalaki na ang nanliligaw sayo? Grabe 'yun sabay sila! Ang haba ng buhok mo ha," Ani nito bago tumawa.

"Hindi ko naman 'to ginusto," Sabi ko naman. 

"I can't wait to spread this to your ex-boyfriend so that he'll realize the diamond he wasted!" She excitedly said as she smirked in remark. 

I don't give a f*ck about that jerk. Papansin lang naman 'yun sa mga tao, feelingero pa. He's not even sorry for what he did to me! Pero sabi nga nila, 'karma has no menu; you get served what you deserved'. I'll leave it all to karma.

Makalipas ng ilang Linggo ay nagkaroon ng chill moments sa school sa wakas. Nakatapos kami ng mga requirements kahit papaano 'tas pasado naman kami sa mga pagsusulit. I was glad because my scholarship still kept strong even as the years go by. Marami din akong nakukuhang incentives doon kaya kailangang matataas mga grado ko.

The carinderia kept on blooming more ever since Asrow came working there. Yes, trabahador na namin siya pero hindi niya tinatanggap mga sweldo na binibigay ni mama, dahil ginagawa niya naman daw ito para sa'kin at sa pamilya namin. Sus, pampataas points lang 'yan kina mama hmp, dahil alam naman na nila mama at papa na nanliligaw siya sa'kin. They weren't surprised about it too because Asrow's efforts were pretty much obvious to them.

The way Asrow's courting me is actually surprising. I can feel his sincerity in each and every actions he did to make me feel special everyday. Month by month, week by week, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, I became convinced of his feelings towards me.

"Books?" Asrow asked.

"Check," I answered.

"Wallet?"

"Check,"

"Law books?"

"Check,"

"Personal needs? Extra napkins, alcohol, wet tissue?"

"Check, check, check,"

"Kiss from Asrow?"

"Che- Ah, tangina mo." Hinampas ko siya 'tas tumawa siya ng malakas. Akala niya naman mauuto niya ako doon!

"Kahit isa lang?" Pacute na tanong nito at talagang nag-beautiful eyes pa siya sa'kin. 

"Asa ka,"

"Asa ka," Panggagaya nito.

Pinapadouble check niya lang naman kasi mga gamit ko sa bag ko kasi nung isang araw, nakawala ako ng fifty pesos dahil sa pagmamadali. Ayan, parang naging human list checker ko siya ng mga gamit ko.

Inirapan ko siya bago ko binilisan ang paglakad ko papunta sa isa sa mga kainan sa campus namin. At dahil hindi naman ako sporty at mabagal ako tumakbo, nakaabot si Asrow agad sa'kin 'tas sinabayan ako sa paglalakad habang nakangisi.

"You call that running?" Nakangising pang-aasar nito.

"W-Wala akong pake!" I frustatedly said. 

"Cally niyo pagong na," Pang-aasar nanaman nito at talaga pinagdiinan niya yung pagiging pagong ko. 

"Lubayan mo na nga ako! Iba nalang ligawan mo!" 

His face suddenly looked amused. "Wew, tampo ka?" 

"As if!" I rolled my eyes and tried to quicken my pace but he still kept on catching up to me! 

"Yieee, tampo siya!" 

"Tse!" 

"Ikaw lang naman yung nag-iisang pagong na gusto 'kong ligawan araw-araw." 

"At ikaw din yung ungas na gusto 'kong iwasan araw-araw!" I hissed back at him.

He laughed as I pouted at him. Ang hilig niya talagang mang-asar, jeez! Patuloy pa din siya sa pang-aasar sa'kin hanggang sa makapunta kame sa kainan na napili ko. May mga taong napapatingin sa direksyon namin, hindi dahil sa nagtataka sila kung ba't kami magkasama, kun'di masyadong malalakas ang boses naming dalawa. 

Some of the students from school knows that Asrow is courting me and that's because his circle of friends in the varsity team likes tea a lot. They're supporting us two wholeheartedly. 

Nagorder si Asrow ng dalawang burger 'tas brownies 'tas dinala ito sa table namin. Siya nanaman ang nagbayad, pero okay lang sa'kin kasi nililigawan niya din naman ako. Plus, I'm used to not paying for our meals because Asrows always insists. 

"Oh, dalawang burger 'yan. Dapat maubos mo 'yan ng isang upuan lang ha," He teased as he handed me the two burgers. 

"Busog ako," Inirapan ko ulit siya, pero ang galing tumayming nung tiyan ko kasi tumunog agad ito. 

"Sus, your tummy said otherwise." He bluntly said. 

Naramdaman ko ang pamumula ko dahil sa kahihiyan. Kinuha ko yung burger 'tas kumain. Napabilis ako ng pagkain kaya late ko na din napansin na nakatitig na pala si Asrow sa'kin. 

"Oh, ano nanaman problema mo?" 

"Ang ganda mo eh, masama bang titigan ang binibini ko?"

Agad ko naman siya tinaasan ng kilay. "You're getting ahead of yourself. Binibini ko amp."

"What can I say, I'm a futuristic man."

"Ibang mundo ata nakikita mo." Inirapan ko siya 'tas kumain ulit. "Pero legit na tanong 'to, Asrow."

"Yes?" He asked, eager to know my question.

"Bakit mo ako nagustuhan?"

His blank face softened as he took a good look at me. It was as if he's remembering some certain details or scenes from the two of us before. Umiling-iling ito habang nakangiti 'tas kumagat muna sa kanyang burger bago sinagot ang tanong ko.

"Hindi ko rin alam eh."

"Gusto mo masapak?"

"Ay hehe, punish me po."

"Ano nga?" I asked before pouting at him.

"Bakit? In love ka na ba sa'kin?" A playful smirk made its way to Asrow's mouth.

"No,"

"Alam mo, tuturuan kita kung pa'no ka ka maiin-love sa'kin." Binitawan niya saglit yung burger 'tas biglang hinawakan yung kanang kamay ko. "Una, hawakan mo kamay ko. Pangalawa, 'wag mo na ako bitawan kahit kelan."

Ah, this corny joke.

"Turuan din kita kung pa'no mo ako mapapasaya," I gave him a smile before taking my hand away from him. "Una, bitawan mo ako. Pangalawa, umalis ka ngayon na at baka matadiyakan kita diyan."

He laughed at my comeback. "Hahaha! Grabe ka naman, Cally! You're too harsh and feisty!"

As expected, hindi niya naman seseryosohin tanong ko eh ugh. Naubos ko agad yung isang burger kaya sinimulan ko nang kainin yung pangalawa dahil sa inis.

I don't know why he likes me! Wala namang kagusto-gusto sa'kin. I've been cheated on before so there must be something wrong with me. The whole school views me as someone who should be hidden behind the shadows. Asrow's famous and I'm not. He's sporty and I'm not. He always get into troubles while I don't. We're the complete opposite of each other. Mas mag-memake sense pa nga kung ang nagustuhan niya ay si Shaira eh.

"But you know, walang halong biro yung sagot ko kanina." Biglaang ani nito.

" 'Di halata,"

"Because I like you more than the world could ever imagine, Cally. It's undescribable and ineffable. My feelings transcends this world; it's too much for this world."

Napanganga ako ng bahagya sa kanya. Hindi ko inaakala na ganun yung magiging sagot niya sa tanong ko. That was deep. It was like, he's telling me that his feelings are absolute and explicit. Our knowledge's not enough to describe what he's been feeling. He gave me a soft smile before continuing on his meal.

I could feel my face heating, upon realizing his words, so I looked away from him and just ate my burger. Wala pang nakakapagsabi sa'kin ng ganun ka-sweet. It felt warm and fuzzy inside.

"Asrow?"

May lumitaw na dalaga sa gilid ng lamesa naming dalawa. Siya ay naka-puyod ng buhok at may highlights siya na light brown. She was wearing a sky blue top, partnered up with white skinny jeans. Her pure white sneakers, sunglasses, and blue handbag complemented her outfit overall. The dark but soft makeup on her face made her look matured, far from her age.

"Niana?" Nagtatakang tawag ni Asrow. Titig na titig ito sa dalaga.

"Oh my gosh, it is you! Asrow!" Lumawak ang ngiti nung dalaga nung nakilala niya na si Asrow.

Muntikan ko nang madiinan yung pagpisil ko sa burger ko nung bigla nalang niya niyakap si Asrow ng mahigpit. Napaupo dito ito sa bakanteng upuan na katabi ni Asrow dahil sa pagkakayapos nito. He couldn't react to the woman's sudden actions so he just stayed still...

... And didn't even push the woman away from him.

"Hoy, gumwapo ka! Kamusta ka na ba?" The woman said when she finished hugging Asrow. Lagpas mata ang ngiti nung babae, halatang labis niyang inantay yung pagkakataon na makita muli si Asrow.

"I'm fine, you're as gorgeous as ever too, Niana."

Napakagat ako sa ibaba 'kong labi nung narinig ko yung linya na 'yon.

"Hehe salamat, 'buti naman at maganda pa din ako sa mga mata mo." She literally gave him a flirtatious smirk!

What the hell? Sino ba 'to? Nagmukha tuloy na ako yung istorbo sa kanilang dalawa.

"Ehem," I cleared my throat to catch their attention, which worked because both of their attention are on me now.

"Oh, who's this?" Natanong nung babae habang nakangiti.

"She's Cally," Pagpapakilala sa'kin ni Asrow 'tas tinignan niya naman ako. "Cally, meet Niana. She's a friend... Of mine before."

"Wow, friend lang ha?" Niana sarcastically laughed at his answer.

Nalilito ako. Asrow never mentioned a girl named Niana before. At tsaka, hindi naman ako tanga! Sa mga aksyons palang nung babae, halatang hindi sila magkaibigan lang noon. I don't know what's their previous relationship but this is bugging me.

Asrow told me that I was the first girl he spent so much time with in public.

But I don't think that's true at all.

"I'm Calliope Nelly Suarez," Pormal na pagpapakilala ko sa babae habang nakangiti. "the girl Asrow's been courting for the last three months."

The smile on her face faded when she heard my last line. Hah, serves you right. Nakatingin sa'kin si Asrow na parang nagtataka siya sa sinabi ko. He knows that I never introduce myself with my full name. Heck, I also don't claim Asrow's courtship like that! I'd usually just say my nickname but I don't know, I want this woman to know her place.

"Ohh, is that right?" Tumango-tango siya sa'kin habang pinipilitan ang sarili na ngumiti. "Bagay kayo hehe."

Talagang-talaga.

"Thanks," Sabi ko naman. "I'm aware of that naman na."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Asrow saglit 'tas nakita ko yung kaunting pagngisi nito pero nawala din naman agad. Ugh, lalaki nanaman siguro ulo nito dahil sa mga pinagsasabi ko. Get a grip, Cally!

"Okay, good for you?" She said before giggling. 

Sana mabulunan siya sa kakatawa niya. Boses pabebe pa man din.

"Oh siya, aalis na muna ako. I need to process my documents here at U.P so that I can finally transfer here." Okay, share niya lang?

"Pwede pala 'yun..." Bulong ko sa sarili ko. In the middle of the school year pa talaga niya naisipan na lumipat ng school.

Sana matanggihan yung application niya.

"Sure, no problem." Asrow bid her farewell but I didn't.

Nung naglakad na paalis yung babae, patago ko siyang inirapan 'tas inubos yung burger ko ng mabilisan. Why am I this frustrated? Tipong pati inumin ko naubos ko ng isang lagok lang, 'kala mo naman alak 'to.

"What was that?" Asrow suddenly asked while watching me eat.

"Alin?"

"That,"

"Alin nga?"

His mouth turned into an amused smile again. "Well, just to let you know, Niana's nothing to me. She's just a friend, nothing more."

"Tinatanong ko ba?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"You seemed like you wanted to know my relationship with her so I'm just reassuring you."

"Hindi ko nga tinatanong," 

"Ay sus, nagtataray nanaman yung baby. Ang cute cute mo namang magselos baby ko." Tinignan niya ako na parang bata yung nakikita niya ngayon. It made me cringe!

"Ang cringy mo!" 

"Ang cringy mo!" He imitated my tone.

I pouted when he laughed at my dismay. Okay lang naman siguro na ma-bothered ako roon diba? I have the right diba? Ako yung nililigawan ni Asrow eh, pero sabi niya wala lang daw sa kanya yung babae kanina. Magkaibigan lang daw.

Magkaibigan ba talaga o magka-ibigan?

***

"Ay kilala ko 'yun sis," Shaira said upon hearing the name.

"Sino 'yun?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"She's Niana Montesimon, half-Filipino and half-American. Kakabalik niya lang ng 'Pinas, sis." Sagot nito habang nagscroscroll sa phone.

"Pa'no mo naman nalaman 'yan?" Tanong ko ulit. Montesimon sounds very familiar.

Kinunutan niya ako ng noo at saglit na tumigil sa pagscroll sa phone. " 'Teh, Montesimon? Kapatid siya ni Wyatt FYI. Syempre kay Wyatt ko narinig yung mga detalye."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "H-Ha?!"

"I'm telling the truth!"

"May something ba sila ni Asrow?" Tanong ko naman ulit.

"Who? Asrow and Wyatt?" She mischievously laughed at my assumption. "Gurl naman, alam ko naman na mahilig tayo sa yaoi pero sina Wyatt at Asrow ay-"

"No! I mean, Asrow and Niana!"

"Ah, 'yun ang hindi ko alam." Sagot niya naman agad. "Wyatt never mentioned anything like that to me. Tsaka hoy, anong meron sa dalawa? Paano mo nasabi na may something sa kanila?"

Kinwento ko kay Shaira yung nangyari kanina sa kainan. Nasabi ko rin sa kanya yung kaunting sabatan namin, yung pagtataray ko ganun.

"Wow ha, selos ka?" Tanong niya bago ako nginitian. "Label muna gurl!"

"O'nga, I know I know!" I frowned at her. Aware naman ako ng dapat may label muna kami bago ako magselos! Eh pero kasi, nililigawan niya ako so don't I have a 50% right? 

"Well, ano bang gusto mong gawin?"

"I don't know why, but I don't like Niana's vibes." I honestly told her. "Plus, Asrow's hiding something about them from me. Kitang-kita ko talaga Shaira kanina na hindi lang sila magkaibigan noon. Yung ngiti, yung galaw, yung pagkakayakap niya kay Asrow, her actions are telling me something."

"Chill ka lang, Cally. Diba nga nasabi ko sayo na kakabalik lang ni Niana galing U.S?" Pagpapaalala nito sa'kin. "Malay mo, magkaibigan na sila dati pa, close friends ganun! Parang kami ni Castriel, pero without feeling- 'Wag kang ngumiti ng ganyan! Imaginin mo nalang na wala ngang feelings, jusmiyo ka!"

"Plus, it's bad to assume something without any concrete evidence; it could lead to your downfall, Cally. Diba 'yun yung turo sa'tin sa law?"

"Oo nga pero-"

"Asrow already explained that they're just friends, so be it. Obserbahan mo at kapag may nakikita ka pang red flags pagkatapos no'n, saka ka mag-react." She advised me. "Saka mo sabihin sa kanya na ayaw mo nang magpaligaw. Open communication is the key to a successful relationship, girl. I-open up mo sa kanya yung nararamdaman mo at tsaka hoy, label ha!"

"Wow, coming from you ha? Na hindi pa din nag-coconfess hanggang ngayon?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Weh, sure ka diyan?"

I laughed at her remark. I feel a little better after talking to her. She's always been my buddy in rants and life. Palagi niyang nasasabi yung mga salita na hinahanap-hanap ko palagi.

Kinabukasan, pinapapasok ako ng Manager ko sa cafe kasi short on hands sila ngayong araw. Day-off ko dapat pero nakakahiyang hindi tulungan yung boss ko kasi madami siyang nagawang mabuti para sa'kin at sa pamilya ko. And so, I agreed to come to work today despite that.

Sinabihan ako ni Asrow na ihahatid niya daw ako papuntang cafe para daw makasigurado siya na ligtas ako at hindi mapapahamak. Kaya ayun, kasalukuyan akong naghihintay sa labas ng building ng school. I have already informed him where we should meet.

"Ba't ang tagal," Bulong ko sa sarili ko habang nakatingin sa relo.

Halos nakatatlumpung minuto na akong nag-aantay sa kanya dito sa labas. Pinagtitinginan na ako nung ibang tao kasi para akong tangang naka-estatwa sa labas. Alam ko yung class schedule niya at dapat kanina pa siya tapos sa klase. Pero nasa'n siya? He's missing!

Wala naman siyang minessage sa'kin na may gagawin siya o ano. Usually, he would give me a heads up about his activities and such. But this time, he didn't!

Habang naghihintay ako kay Asrow, ay biglang may lumitaw na binata sa harapan ko. He had a poker face on and was holding onto his backpack. Halata sa kanyang mukha na pagod siya 'tas puyat din.

"Hello Cally," He greeted.

"Hey, Wyatt. May kailangan ka ba?" I asked before turning my phone off.

"Uh, are you busy?" He asked before scratching the back of his head and looking at another place so that he could avoid my eyes.

Napakagat ako sa ibaba 'kong labi. "Why?"

"May gusto sana akong ipakita sayo, if okay lang?"

I frowned before looking at my phone. Asrow hasn't sent me any messages yet. Minessage ko siya ng ilang beses ngayon pero naka-delivered lang. Nagpa-missed call na rin ako sa kanya kasi nagbabaka sakali lang naman, pero wala pa rin talaga. Nasa'n naman kaya 'tong lalaking ito?

"Saglit lang naman 'to, 'wag kang mag-alala." Wyatt said as he looked eagerly at me.

"S-Sige," I nodded at him.

Wala pa namang mensahe si Asrow kaya pwede naman ako mawala ng saglit. Pwede din naman na umalis ako agad 'pag nandito na si Asrow sa labas.

I followed Wyatt inside the school building again. Hindi ko siya nakakasabay sa paglalakad dahil siksikan yung dinadaanan namin ngayon. Maraming estudyante ang nagkukumpulan sapagkat uwian na.

Ewan ko kung tanga o lampahin ako, pero may estudyante akong nabunggo 'tas tumalsik ako. The student said sorry so I let him be, because it's my fault in the first place. Hindi ako nakatingin ng diretso sa dinadaanan ko.

Wyatt surprisingly held my wrist and made me walk in front of him, so that he could keep an eye on me better. Hindi na ako naka-hindi sa kanya dahil sa kumpulan na ganapan dito sa loob.

We stopped in front of the drafting room in the building. Dito din nagkaklase sina Asrow paminsan-minsan dahil magaganda at maaayos yung facilities dito, na makakatulong sa kanilang kursong kinuha.

"What are we doing here?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya.

He just gave me a soft smile before opening the door of the room. Pinapasok niya ako sa loob 'tas sinarado yung pinto. Inilibot ko yung mata ko sa loob ng room. The smell of erasers and pencils immediately ran through my nose. The air conditioner's responsible for spreading that smell. Halatang may kakagamit lang nung room na 'to.

My eyes stopped at a certain canvas.

"T-Tangina..." Gulat na bulong ko sa sarili ko nung nakita ko 'yon.

"It isn't much but, I've been working on this canvas for so long and I just recently finished it." He said, upon seeing my reaction.

"Anong it isn't much?!" Gulat na gulat na tanong ko sa kanya.

He drew me in a 48" x 48" canvas! It's similar to his previous work but this time, it was drawn in the biggest canvas size I've ever seen! At alam 'kong ilang araw— baka buwan pa nga eh, ang lumipas bago niya natapos ito!

Base sa strokes at shading ng drawing, pencil nanaman yung ginamit niya! The talent is just too much! He really outdid himself this time.

"I-I can't accept this," I breathlessly said.

"You should," He insisted. "I've been drawing this for a whole year."

"Isang buong taon?!"

"Ahh yeah. One year is isang buong taon, so yeah." He locked his eyes with me as the curves on his lips started going up. "Do you like it?"

"Like it? I LOVE IT? Sinong hindi magkakagusto sa ganitong drawing?" I pointed out. "Kitang-kita ko na todo mo 'tong pinag-effortan, Wyatt. Grabe ka, lodi ka talaga!"

Anyone would've been moved or touched upon seeing their faces drawn in the largest canvas. The efforts he made were just too much. Isang taon niya 'tong pinagtrabahuhan, isang taon niya 'tong pinaghirapan, isang taon siyang naghintay para maipakita 'tong nilikha niya sa'kin.

So this is Wyatt's way of courtship.

"My efforts are paid off," He sighed before ruffling his hair. "I'm glad... That you liked it, Cally. I'm really glad..."

"Pero, hindi ko 'to kayang tanggapin." I told him.

The drawing's breathtaking but I honestly can't accept his efforts when I don't even have romantic feelings for him. Baka mapaasa ko lang siya sa wala. Baka masaktan ko lang siya sa huli. Baka maaksaya ko lang yung oras niya sa kakahintay.

"Dahil ba kay Asrow?"

I gulped. "Uh..."

"It's okay, I know." He blurted out before smiling at me again. "I told you, right? The competition's not over. I still have time to win your heart, Cally. Hindi pa naman kayo ni Asrow, kaya may pag-asa pa... May pag-asa pa ako hangga't single ka pa."

"Pero—"

"This is my own decision, Cally. You don't have to worry about me getting heart broken or whatever. I'm not pressuring you to say yes to me. I'm just trying. I'm giving out my best shot here. I want to stay on the battlefield 'till it lasts. I want you to let me continue on proving to you, my love for you. Because you know what?"

"You're worth it, Calliope Nelly Suarez."

I was touched.

Napatitig ako sa kanyang seryosong mukha habang nakakaramdam ako ng lungkot sa loob. He is willing to let himself get hurt by the obvious outcome, just to prove to me how much he loves me. Wyatt may have been the torpe guy before, but it turns out, he was just carefully planning out things and placing his cards right.

"P-Pwede ba kitang ihatid sa trabaho mo? Kahit ngayon lang?" He suddenly asked.

Sasagutin ko na sana siya pero sakto, nakaramdam ako ng vibration mula sa pantalon ko. Kinuha ko yung phone ko at nakita ko yung mensahe ni Asrow sa'kin.

---

Asrow Ungas
Cally, may biglaang practice kami ngayon sa team.
I'm sorry if I informed you this late. Babawi ako sa susunod.

---

I am now feeling a mixed feeling of emotions: confusion and happiness.

I'm happy because Asrow finally messaged me back...

But I'm also confused because of another message from my friend...

---

Shaira
Hoy gurl, may biglaang try outs sa cheerleading team namin. Nandito si Niana! Eh 'tas may practice din volleyball team. Nakikita ko na nag-uusap yung dalawa palagi, gurl! AAAAAAAAAA

---

***