Weekends came and I found myself standing in front of Amelie's house's gate. Dressed formally as if I'm attending a very important event. With flowers and any other offerings in hand.

Si Amelie ang nagbukas ng gate. Sa kaniyang tabi ay guard at kasambahay. I smiled instantly.

"Hi." I greeted.

"Ang aga mo. Nasabihan ko na sina Mama. They're excited to meet you."

She's wearing a sundress that made her look more radiant and warm. Ang ganda-ganda. Baka hindi panliligaw ang magagawa ko ngayong araw. Parang pamamanhikan pa yata ang magagawa ko.

"Ang ganda-ganda mo," I blurted.

"Thank you. Ang gwapo mo rin." Amelie smiled softly.

I followed her inside. Kabado pero para sa kinabukasan gagawin ko. Ang ganda palagi ng ngiti ni Amelie. Parang sinasabi na magiging maayos din ang lahat. Waves of problems may occur, but with Amelie, I feel like I can conquer everything. Iyong ngiti niya, kasing ganda ng mukha niya. Ang ganda-ganda.

"Ma. Nandito na po si Kit."

I cleared my throat. I saw her mom coming out of the kitchen, immediately recognizing some of Amelie's features from her. She was gracefully walking towards us.

"Nice to finally meet my daughter's suitor. I'm Amelia."

"Kithian po, Ma'am."

She did not extend her hands. And I though it would be rude of me if I would do that. Beso 'di ba? Ang mas maganda? O masyado lang akong speed sa beso? Ano ba dapat? Mano?

"Are you a student?"

Unconsciously, I gave her a nod.

"Hm. What's your family name?"

"Javier, Ma'am."

Tumaas ang kaniyang kilay. Maybe she's familiar with our family? We're the only Javier's in this town. Some of our relatives live in Dumaguete. And the rest are scattered in far places abroad.

"Are you related to Nathalie and Donrich Javier?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Very well." She nodded. "Amelie, tour your visitor around. I will just discuss some... things with your father."

"Sige po. Halika, Kit."

Agad akong lumapit sa kaniya. Her smile is sending me to heaven. I feel genuinely happy every time I'm with her and I get to see those smiles.

I calmed down a bit when it was already the two of us. Amelie started walking and I followed her behind.

"Gusto ba ako ng mama mo?" I nervously chuckled.

"Of course she'll like you, silly."

Tumango ako at hindi na nagsalita pa. We walked around their house. She even introduced me to her pet cat named Kuka.

"Do you want to see my room? Nothing's interesting in this house. Wala masyadong gamit. Gusto kasi ni Mama na magmukhang spacious ang bahay."

"As much as I want to, we shouldn't. It's inappropriate. Just continue touring me around outside."

Nagtagal ang paninitig ni Amelie sa akin. I smiled warmly at her, telling her that I'm fine with her touring me around. I only see few things inside their huge house. Minimalist lang din ang disenyo at sobrang linis.

"Gwapo mo."

"Ganda mo rin e. Bagay lang tayo."

We continued the touring outside their home. Malinis din. May porch sa likod ng bahay nila at tanaw na tanaw ang paglubog ng araw. Maaliwalas ang paligid at malamig ang simoy ng hangin. Siguro dahil maraming puno.

"You own chickens too?" I asked, feeling so amazed.

"Uh... yeah. They're mine, actually. I like feeding them every morning. And they lay eggs kaya may benefit din ang pag-aalaga ko sa kanila."

"And your parents let you have them?" Hindi natanggal ang ngisi sa aking labi.

Just tell me what your plans are for the future, Amelie, and I'll surely give it to you. Kahit mag-alaga tayo ng farm animals ayos lang sa akin.

"Yes. We have fishes too."

Hindi nagtagal ay bumaba ang parents ni Amelie. Her dad looks very strict. At hindi ko inaakalang may ilalakas pa pala ang kaba ko kumpara kanina.

"Hello, Sir." I formally greeted.

"What a surprise. Isang Javier sa aming bahay."

I cleared my throat because of his strict tone. Why do I feel like they don't like me? Mago-offer ba sila ng pera para layuan ko si Amelie? I can double that and I still won't do it.

"Pa, si Kithian po." Si Amelie.

"I know, Amelie. Eldest of the Javier's."

Casual ang naging pag-uusap namin. They did not clarify if I can call them tito and tita until I left their home. Hindi pa siguro pwede. But I can definitely wait. Pormal na pinagpaalam ko rin ang panliligaw ko kay Amelie. They didn't give me a violent reaction but did not say if they're okay with it, too. I'm so confused.

Either way, I'm still gonna court Amelie.

"Soafer happy naman, kuya." Krono's voice echoed in my ear.

"What are you doing in my room?" I clicked my tongue.

He opened my closet and went on to rummage my clothes.

"Stop it, Krono!" I hissed.

"Pahiram lang. Huwag kang madamot, kuya. Ang gamit mo ay gamit ko rin."

"It's yours and Keeno's rule. That rule doesn't apply to me." I argued but is too tired to argue a bit more.

I rested my head on the pillow and closed my eyes. Ilang araw na ang lumipas pero hindi ko mapigilang isipin ang tagpong iyon sa bahay nina Amelie. And I haven't seen my girl in those days! Ang sabi ay midterms nila kaya busy sa school at hindi nakakapunta sa simbahan.

Of course I want to show up in her school but I figured she shouldn't be bothered at times like this. She needs to focus. Saka na ako mangungulit ulit kapag tapos na ang midterms. Sa ngayon, text-text muna.

Amelie:

I'm back home. I'll rest for a while and then study later. May five subs pa po.

I instantly smiled at her update and quickly typed a reply.

Ako:

Alright. Don't forget to eat your dinner.

Amelie:

Nag-dinner ka na?

Ako:

Can I call?

I groaned. I shouldn't call her but my fingers already sent the message. I mentally cursed myself but didn't delete the message. She has probably seen it anyway.

Amelie:

Okay.

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon. I cleared my throat and dialed her number. Agad niyang sinagot iyon.

"Hey." I greeted.

"Hi." Her voice is soothing as always.

"How's school? May limang subs pa, right?"

"Hm. Isa lang ang exam namin today pero grabe 'yong ni-review ko."

Umayos ako ng upo. I am secretly hoping we could talk a little bit longer but I don't want to steal her study time.

"You should eat your dinner so you can rest a bit. Anong oras ang exam mo bukas?"

"Ten AM pa naman."

"Hatid na kita? I have class at ten-thirty, too. Pwede kitang ihatid. If it's okay." Mariin akong napapikit. Truth is, I just want to see her. Ilang araw na akong nangungulila.

"Hindi mo naman madadaanan ang school ko e. Mine goes the other way. Ayos lang."

"Gusto kitang ihatid. I haven't seen you for days, Amelie. Am I not allowed to see you?" I sighed and continued. "I miss you." So bad that it's making my head ache.

"Hm, okay. Aagahan ko bukas."

"You don't have to. Just follow your wake up time. I still have thirty minutes after bringing you to school. Malapit lang naman ang school ko." I quickly said.

Kinaumagahan ay nag-ayos ako ng mabuti. Bago dumiretso sa bahay nila ay bumili rin ako ng snacks para kay Amelie. Lagot sa akin ang manghihingi.

"Hi."

I found her standing in front of their gate. Lumabas ako sa kotse at kinuha ang bag niya. Sobrang ganda na naman. Naagaw agad ang pansin ko sa suot niyang kwintas. Ngumuso ako upang itago ang ngiti. It's the necklace I gave her.

"Morning. Thank you."

Inilagay ko sa backseat ang bag niya. I opened the passenger's seat so she can enter. Umikot agad ako matapos isara upang sumakay na rin.

"I have snacks for you at the backseat. Para may makain ka habang nag-aaral o kapag biglaang nagutom. I picked everything that will satisfy your sweet tooth."

"But you don't have to..." mahina nitong sabi.

"And I want to."

"Thank you, Kithian. For always taking care of me."

Kapag sinagot mo ako, Amelie, hindi lang 'yan ang uri ng "take care" ang makukuha mo sa akin. Makikita mo kung paano kita aalagaang mabuti.

"Anything for you."

"Ang swerte naman ng magiging girlfriend mo." She chuckled.

"Sagutin mo ako para masabi mong swerte ka," hamon ko.

"But what if you're just infatuated with me?"

I hit the breaks when the light turned red.

"I know the difference between infatuation and love, Amelie. And what I'm feeling for you is definitely not infatuation."

Ano? Kinukwestiyon niya ang nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya? Hindi ako magiging ganito ka baliw kung infatuation lang 'to. Hindi ko siya iisipin ng ilang buwan kung simpleng crush lang 'to. At mas lalong hindi ko siya liligawan kung gano'n ang nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya.

"Paano ka nakakasiguro? Have you been in love, Kithian?"