Chapter 18: First Date

I went home from school.

I'm still in the past.

I haven't gone back to the present yet.
Nag-usap kasi kami ni Noelle—I told her I still want to stay here.

I remember what we talked about earlier...

"You have to go back, Julian," she said softly after I told her I just wanted to stay in the past... with her.

But I shook my head, worried. "But what if... what if something bad happens... to you?"

Her lips parted a little.

Then, she smiled at me.

A smile that felt like she already understood something.

As if she heard my thoughts—without me having to say them aloud.

Without me needing to explain the real reason why I was so afraid.

I really hope she understood.

I hope she really knew what my greatest fear was.

Umiling din siya. "It's fine, Julian. Nothing bad will happen, okay? It's going to be all right."

She gave me that calm, reassuring smile again.

Eventually, napangiti na rin ako.

I bet she didn't really know what her future holds.

No one told her.

I can't tell her.

It's tragic.

Damn it.

I still felt so damn frustrated.

"Let's just meet again in the future, okay?" she said gently.

"We don't want our families and friends to suffer the consequences of you staying here longer... just because we want to be together now."

She smiled at me.

Her smile was always calm and beautiful.

Parang wala siyang problema sa mundo.

Nakakahawa rin ang ngiti niya kaya napangiti na rin ako.

And somehow... I just felt reassured by that smile.

One day, when I'd look back on that moment, I'd realize something:
She taught me that love... real love... shouldn't be selfish.

"Dad?"

Nagulat pa ako nang makita ko si Daddy sa bahay pag-uwi ko.

"Julian, done with school? How was your soccer practice?"

Mukha siyang nagmamadali—parang may pupuntahan—but that didn't stop him from checking in on me.

I smiled at Daddy.

I was about to ask him about meeting him in the past, back when he was just a high school student.

I also wanted to ask about what we talked about there.

But we didn't have much time. He already had to go—to attend to my mom.

"Have dinner, okay? I'll go to your mom now. Take care of yourself," bilin ni Daddy sa akin.

"Take care, Dad. Love you..."

He turned to me one last time, smiling like he was genuinely happy.
Bahagya pa niyang ginulo ang buhok ko sandali.

"I love you, my boy. I'll be going now. Please have dinner—nagpaluto na ako kay Manang, okay? Sorry I couldn't eat with you. Pero uuwi rin kami ng Mommy mo."

I nodded. "All right, Dad. Ingat po kayo ni Mommy."

He gave me another small nod—then left.

And then, on the weekend, I met up with Noelle.

She was wearing a light blue sundress that swayed with every step she took, paired with white sneakers and a denim jacket tied around her waist. Her hair was down, framing her face in soft waves, and she had a small sling bag hanging by her side. She looked... beautiful.

I, on the other hand, wore a plain white tee under a black hoodie, dark jeans, and my favorite sneakers. I didn't try too hard, but I wanted to look decent. And somehow, standing next to her, I felt both relaxed and nervous at the same time.

"Hi," I greeted her, trying not to smile too much.

"Hi," she replied, mirroring my awkward grin.

We met at the entrance of the amusement park, the sound of laughter and music already filling the air. The smell of popcorn, cotton candy, and hotdogs made the whole place feel like a teenage dream.

Hindi ko inakalang darating din pala yung panahon na gugustuhin kong lumabas para makipag-date. Noon, sobrang busy lang talaga ako sa paglalaro ng soccer. Kahit madalas ko na rin naman itong marinig mula sa ilang kaibigan, kakilala, at maging sa mga teammates ko—lahat sila may oras pa rin makipag-date. Ako lang talaga yung walang interes sa romance noon, kasi naka-focus lang ako sa career ko. Iyon lang ang mahalaga sa akin dati.

"Ready?" I asked, trying to sound chill even if my heart was pounding in my chest.

She nodded, "Let's go!"

We started with the simple rides. The carousel, the bumper cars—laughing the whole time. I kept sneaking glances at her, and sometimes, I caught her doing the same. May mga sandali na nagtama ang mga mata namin tapos biglang pareho kaming iiwas ng tingin sabay tawa. It was the kind of thing that only happens when something feels new... and magical.

Then came the Ferris wheel.

"Should we?" I asked.

"Of course," she said without hesitation.

We got in and slowly rose above the park. The higher we got, the quieter it became. The noise from below faded, replaced by a kind of silence that made me hyperaware of her sitting right beside me.

The city stretched out before us, the view surprisingly calming. Noelle looked out the window, her face glowing from the late afternoon sunlight.

"Thanks for today," she said softly. "I had fun."

I looked at her for a moment, then back out at the view. "Me too. Actually... this is the most fun I've had in a while."

She smiled again—her real smile, the kind that reached her eyes. And something about that moment made me want to freeze time.

After we got off the Ferris wheel, we grabbed ice cream and walked under the hanging string lights that lit up as the sky turned orange and pink. Everything felt... just right. Walang pressure. Walang bigat. It was like we were just two normal high school students enjoying a weekend together.

We played games at the booths, took silly photos at the photo booth, and even won a small stuffed bear I gave her—though she technically won it herself. I just handed it to her like a gentleman.

And when the night deepened, and we walked toward the exit, neither of us wanted it to end just yet.

"I had a great time," she said again.

"Same here," I replied, then paused. "It was like our first date."

And it really was.

It felt like our first date.

Nakita kong muli ang pamumula ng kaniyang mukha. Ako rin naman ay nakaramdam ng kahihiyan sa sinabi ko. Parang nawalan ng preno ang bibig ko—sinasabi ko na lang lahat ng gusto kong sabihin, na para bang ayokong may masayang na panahon...

Naghintay pa kami sa labas ng amusement park hanggang sa sunduin na siya ng driver nila. I also waited for mine until Joey arrived. Pagpasok ko sa kotse, nakataas pa ang kilay niya sa akin. Tinaasan ko na rin siya ng kilay.

"What?" I was a little confused by his grinning face.

He looked just a little stupid, grinning from ear to ear like an idiot.

"Nagbibinata na yata," aniya.

Kumunot lang ang noo ko sa kanya sa una, pero kalaunan ay napangiti na rin ako.

"Just drive, Joey, will you?" sabi ko sa kanya.

At nakangiti pa rin siya habang iniikot ang manibela at umaalis na kami roon. Pero ang alaala ng pagpunta namin ni Noelle sa theme park ay hindi maalis sa isipan ko.

I will remember this day.