When can you truly say that you have found the one? William Tiongson has been asking that question over and over for the past few years in his life. Sa dinami-rami ng babaeng gustong makuha ang atensyon niya, hindi niya pa rin magawang magustuhan ang kahit na sino sa kanila.

William has finally accepted that it would be difficult for him to find the one for him not until he saw her from afar.

She was this snobbish girl from the Business Administration Department. She was always alone and barely had friends. But despite all of that, her beauty stood out in the crowd.

"Huy, sinong tinitingnan mo riyan?" Jiv asked William nang mahuli niya itong may tinititigan sa malayo. Sinubukan niyang sundan ang tingin nito pero masyadong maraming taong naglalakad sa school grounds. He can't help but wonder kung may nakakuha na nga ba ng atensyon ng kaibigan niya. Sa taas kasi ng standards nito, parang mas malaki pa ang tsansang tumanda itong binata.

"Wala," matipid na sagot ni William. Nakatingin pa rin ito sa malayo at halos hindi na kumukurap pa. Para bang takot na takot itong mawala sa paningin ang kanina pa nitong tinitingnan.

"Wala mo mukha mo. Dali na. Sino nga?" pangungulit ni Jiv. William knew that his friend wouldn't stop bothering him and so in the end, napilitan din siyang sabihin ang totoo. He pointed at the girl with long and straight black hair. Halatang plantsado ang uniform nito at maingat sa pagsuot dahil halos walang lukot ang damit. What caught his attention though was the beige Chanel backpack that the girl was using. She looked so simple yet here she was, using a luxury bag in school.

She must be just like him. William couldn't help but conclude.

"Ah, siya ba? That's Aisleen Echavez, only daughter of the owners of MJ Corp. Bakit? Type mo?" Type niya? William couldn't help but laugh at the back of his mind. He just saw this girl now. Paano naman mangyayaring gusto na niya agad ito?

William shook off the thoughts at tiningnan niyang muli ang lugar kung saan niya huling nakita si Aisleen. But to his dismay, wala na ang babae roon. And so he concluded that maybe, he was just fascinated. Hindi na dapat niya bigyan ng ibang kahulugan ang pagtingin niya kanina sa babae. It was something simple and he shouldn't complicate things. Imposible namang magkagusto siya roon. Right?

Nagkamali si William.

Pagkatapos ng araw mula nang nakita niya si Aisleen, hindi na siya natahimik pang muli. He would always hope to see even just a glimpse of her. He would always look for her in the crowd. Kahit hindi niya aminin sa sarili niya, he looked forward to seeing her. It was downright weird especially when they didn't even know each other but he couldn't help feeling that way.

Kaya nang mahuli na naman siya ni Jiv na nakatingin sa malayo, napilitan siyang aminin sa sarili niya ang pilit niyang itinatanggi sa sarili niya.

"Nakatingin ka na naman diyan. Ligawan mo kaya nang makausad ka naman. Walang mangyayari sa 'yo kung titingin ka lang nang titingin. Ikaw rin, baka maunahan ka ng iba." Napahinto si William sa ginagawa niya at napaisip siya bigla. Gugustuhin niya nga bang mapunta sa iba si Aisleen? But he was in no position to do so. He was just someone who's been admiring her from afar. But...

Does he really like her?

"Tigilan mo nga ako, gago," William said in an attempt to shove the unnecessary ideas away. There was no way in hell that he would admit to Jiv that he might have started to like Aisleen. Ni hindi niya nga alam kung paano ba lalapitan ang dalaga. Kakantiyawan lang siya ni Jiv 'pag nalaman nito ang totoo.

"Ako ang tigilan mo, Tiongson. Halatang-halata naman sa mukha mo na gusto mo 'yong tao. Lapitan mo. Get to know her. Your families are practically in the same social circle. That should be easy for you to do." Nang sabihin 'yon ni Jiv, napaisip na naman si William. Doon niya na-realize na ilang beses na nga palang nagkikita ang mga pamilya nila sa iba't ibang business functions and events. Pero bakit hindi niya napapansin si Aisleen noon? Ah... Umaalis nga pala agad siya dahil ayaw niyang makihalubilo sa iba.

At that time, gusto na lang batukan ni William ang sarili niya. He practically wasted a lot of time. Kung noon pa niya nakilala si Aisleen, malamang, malayo-layo na ang narating nila.

"Tangina," napamura si William dahil sa naisip. Tiningnan siya nang maigi ni Jiv at napailing pa ito dahil sa inaasal ng kaibigan. Dahan-dahang lumapit si Jiv kay William at tinapik pa nito ang huli sa balikat.

"Malala na 'yan. Tinamaan ka na ng lintik," natatawang saad ni Jiv na siyang nagpakunot ng noo ni William. Ha? Tinamaan siya ng ano?

***

"How am I supposed to do this?" William frustratedly said as he crumpled another piece of paper. Ilang bond paper na rin ang nasayang dahil sa hindi mapakali si William sa isinusulat niya. Pakiramdam niya, it was too generic, too forced, or too fake. Hindi naman kasi siya sanay gumawa ng ganito para sa babae. It was his first time to write someone a letter—and a love letter at that. Madalas kasi, he was at the receiving end. Girls would often give him gifts or even beg for his attention and now, he's here, practically acting like a fool.

In simple words, he didn't know how to get Aisleen's attention.

"Tangina. Wala na bang ibang paraan?" naiinis na tanong ni William sa kaibigan. Jiv was the one who suggested giving Aisleen some letters. Bukod sa wala na raw kasing gumagawa niyon ngayon, it would be easier to slip on her desk. It saves them the trouble of getting caught. Pero ngayon, para bang nagsisisi na si William na nakinig pa siya sa payo ng kaibigan. Para kasing mas lalo lang siyang nahirapan sa ganito. He didn't know what to say at all!

"Madali lang naman 'yan, e. Sabihin mo na-love at first sight ka."

"Tarantado." Hindi na napigilan ni William na murahin ang kaibigan na siyang ikinatawa nito. Sure, what Jiv said was partly true but he would never admit that to Aisleen.

"Seriously though, tell her what you really feel. Sabihin mo kung anong nararamdaman mo tuwing nakikita mo siya. It may seem cheesy but it could probably help you get her heart," Jiv said then he left William all alone. And with that, William started writing down things he never thought he would end up saying to a girl.

***

Ilang araw na ang nakalipas. Ilang sulat na rin ang naibigay ni William kay Aisleen. But up to this day, wala pa rin siyang natatanggap na sagot. He was growing impatient as the days went by. He wanted to do something but he didn't know where to start. So he asked for Jiv's suggestions again and here he was, contemplating if he would follow the plan or not.

Tangina. Natotorpe pa yata ako. William couldn't help but think that way. Bigla kasi siyang kinakabahan at hindi mapakali. When Jiv told him to approach Aisleen and tell her his feelings face to face, he was against the idea. Hindi pa siya nakakaipon ng sapat na lakas ng loob and he thought it would be too cheeky of him to do such a thing. Ni hindi pa nga siya sigurado kung nabasa na ba ni Aisleen ang mga pinadala niyang sulat.

"Hay nako. Ito, inumin mo nang magkalakas ka ng loob." Napatingin si William sa tumbler na iniaabot sa kanya ni Jiv. May idea naman na siya kung ano ang maaaring laman n'on pero kailangan ba talagang umabot pa sa gano'n ang lahat?

Dahil hindi kumikibo si William, pilit na ipinahawak ni Jiv sa kaibigan ang tumbler. Binuksan na rin niya ang takip niyon at nalanghap agad ni William ang amoy ng alak sa loob.

Gago talaga 'to. Sa isip-isip ni William.

"Inumin mo na tapos puntahan na natin siya. Ayon sa source ko, wala pa yung prof nila ngayon. Tara na hangga't wala pang problema." Napaiiling na ininom ni William ang alak sa loob ng tumbler. Halos maubos na niya ang laman niyon at nang maramdaman niya ang sipa ng ininom, huminga siya nang malalim at pilit na pinalakas ang loob. It was now or never.

Habang naglalakad sina William at Jiv papunta sa classroom ni Aisleen, marami ang napapalingon sa direksyon nila. Marami ang gustong magpapansin pero wala ni isa sa kanila ang binalingan ng tingin ni William. Jiv, on the other hand, was flirting with every chance he got. William was too focused on getting Aisleen's attention and he's now prepared to do it by hook or by crook.

"Elise, pakibigay naman 'to kay Aisleen, o," Jiv said sa isang babaeng grabe kung makangiti sa kanya. William thought that this girl could be one of his friend's flings.

"Hindi ko na naman sasabihin kung kanino galing 'to, right?" the girl asked at tumango naman agad si Jiv dito.

"Thank you! I'll see you later, okay?" Isang mapang-akit na ngiti ang isinagot ng babae kay Jiv at napailing naman si William doon. Hindi na lang siya nagsalita but they stayed standing along the hallway, eavesdropping on whatever Aisleen has to say.

"Aisleen, may nagpapabigay," Elise said pero walang narinig na sagot sina Jiv at William. Maya-maya lang, nakita nilang lumabas si Aisleen na may hawak na mga envelope sa kamay at naglalakad ito papunta sa basurahan.

Shit. 'Yong sulat ko 'yon, ah! William thought and that's when he realized as to why he didn't receive any replies at all. Itinatapon pala ni Aisleen ang lahat. He was about to go and confront her about it nang biglang may bumangga sa dalaga.

"Ano ba?! Watch where you're going, will you?" sigaw ni Aisleen sa nakabunggo sa kanya. Nalaglag ang mga envelope na hawak nito at nakasimangot siyang napaupo para pulutin ang mga iyon.

Napataas ang kilay ni William dahil sa nangyari. Who would have thought that she would flip over something as small as that? Sa pagmamasid na ginawa ni William for the past few weeks, he always thought that Aisleen was composed and calm all the fucking time. William then thought of an idea. He suddenly walked towards Aisleen and helped her pick the envelopes on the floor.

"Here," matipid na sabi ni William sa baritonong boses niya. Pinigilan ni William ang mapangiti nang makitang nanigas si Aisleen pagkarinig na pagkarinig sa sinabi niya. Just one word and this was his effect on her. Kung alam lang niyang ganito pala kadali ang lahat, matagal na niyang nilapitan ito.

"Uhh, thanks," sagot nito sabay hablot ng mga envelope mula sa kamay ni William.

"You're not going to read those?" hindi napigilang itanong ni William. Huminga muna nang malalim si Aisleen bago matapang na hinarap ang binata.

"What's it to you ba if I read them or not?" William immediately smirked upon hearing Aisleen's answer. He wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or if he was simply amused with her reactions. Either way, he was surely enjoying this moment. He then took a step closer to Aisleen which caught the latter off guard.

"What do you think you're doing?" she hissed at him. Imbes na matakot sa nanlilisik na mga mata nito, mas lalo pang napangisi si William. Paatras nang paatras si Aisleen habang palapit naman nang palapit si William. Para silang naghahabulan sa hindi malamang dahilan. And by the time William finally cornered Aisleen, a lot of people were watching them already.

"If you won't be reading those, might as well read it to you personally, right?" William whispered at nanlaki ang mga mata ni Aisleen dahil doon.

"I-ikaw?" nauutal na tanong nito. When William saw Aisleen's reaction, he couldn't help but chuckle. This girl was too easy for him to read.

"Judging from your reaction, I guess you haven't read even a single letter before," William said then he finally gave Aisleen some space to breathe.

"Why didn't you give it personally before ba? And why are you appearing in front of me now? What do you want?" Aisleen asked. She may look calm from the outside but William was so sure that she's fucking nervous right now. Her eyes gave her away already. But of course, he wouldn't tell her that.

"You."

"W-what?" Halos mapasigaw na si Aisleen dahil sa sagot ni William.

"You heard me," William said with a smirk.

"Paano kung ayaw ko?" Aisleen challenged him. Natawa na naman si William dahil sa naging sagot ni Aisleen. Parami na nang parami ang mga tao sa paligid nila na halatang gustong sumagap ng chismis. They were getting a lot of attention, but William didn't mind any of that.

Imbes na sagutin si Aisleen, William nodded at Jiv. Sinundan ito ni Aisleen ng tingin at nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang makita nito ang Chanel backpack na gamit niya.

Mas importante pa ba talaga ang backpack niya kaysa sa pag-uusap naming dalawa? William couldn't help but wonder.

"Thanks, Jiv," William said nung nasalo na niya ang backpack ni Aisleen. Nakahinga nang maluwag ang dalaga at akmang aagawin pa lang niya ito mula kay William nang hawakan nito ang kamay niya.

"Relax, Aisleen. I won't do anything bad to your precious backpack," pagpipigil ni William sa ginagawa ni Aisleen at mas hinigpitan pa nito ang hawak sa dalaga.

"What do you think you're doing, huh? Let me and my backpack go."

"On one condition," sagot ni William habang nakatingin nang deretso sa mga mata ni Aisleen. Ito na ang matagal na niyang gustong sabihin. Hindi na siya pwedeng umatras pa.

"Sabihin mo na nga nang matapos n—"

"Go on a date with me," William straightforwardly said and when he noticed that Aisleen was just staring at him like he had just dropped a bomb, he wasn't so sure if he made the right decision at all. But as their conversation went on and when she finally agreed to go with him, William realized that drinking that damn alcohol might be the best decision had ever made in his life.