WHEN IT WAS YOU

Nice meeting you

Soonyang and Ji decided to have a sleep over at Soonyang's place the night before Soonyangs final interview at a company. They pamper theirselves with some relaxing and moisturizing facemask.

"Soons, I have a question."

"Hmm."

"Kelan nga ba nagumpisang maging crush mo si kuya Woo? At paano mo nasabing crush mo sya? Well, he's really handsome but he looks so cold for me."

"Well, let's say it as a 'love at first sight'. The moment kuya Cheol introduced him to me, I already got interested in him. Not just for his looks, but his aura."

Flashback to Soonyang's first day in College.

Soonyang finds it hard to look for their college building so she goes here and there. She's too afraid to ask the students around because she's new and all alone.

"Soonyang!" Fortunately there she saw Cheolo, a friend.

"Kuya Cheolo, thanks God. Hulog ka ng langit."

"Why, why?"

"Di ko po mahanap building namin. Malelate na po ako sa first class."

"Patingin ng registration form mo. Oh Woo, magka-College kayo ni Soons. Ang swerte mo Soons. Ito si Woo. BSA din 'to."

"Nice meeting you." Woo offered his hand for a handshake. Soonyang can't explain why her heart beats so fast while reaching for Woo's hand.

"Nice to meet you din po."

"Bago ka ihatid ni Woo sa Building nyo, fill up-an mo 'to."

"Ano po ito, kuya?" before reading what's on that sheet of paper.

"Registration form for our organization. Sali ka samin. Mababasa mo naman jan ang mission, vision at goals ng org. Woo, wanna try this time?"

Before getting the form, Woo looked at Soonyang. Soonyang seemed to got interested on Cheolo's org.

"Let me see." Woo while getting the form for himself.

"Sige, takits nalang mamayang lunch, Woo. Aral ng mabuti Soonyang."

"Thanks, kuya Cheol. Bawi po ako next time."

"Tara?"

"Tara po."

Ang pogi naman nito.

Soonyang can't help it but to glance as much as she can at Woo while walking through their college's building.

"Here. Sa dulo yung faculty room. And ito naman ang room mo for the first period." Pointing the room in front of them. "Nasa building naman na'to lahat ng classes mo for the sem. Di ka na mahihirapan mag hanap. Kung may kailangan ka man, I'll be around this building lang din kaya wag ka mahihiyang hanapin ako."

"Thank you, kuya Woo. Bawi din ako next time sa inyo."

"No need." Woo smiled at her that melts her heart.

From time to time during Soonyang's first semester, Woo always checks what's up with Soonyang until the latter got to have her friends that will help her. It's all out of Cheolo's knowledge that Woo and Soonyang got to hangout together at the library to have some tutorial sessions and to study together. But then, it's always for academics for they are both that studious.

(End of flashback)

"From then, I can't get hold of myself when I'm with him. Dinadaan ko nalang din sa jokes kasi he seemed to enjoy it. I've became sure that I like him especially nung iniwan kami ni kuya Cheol noon sa may org room natin. We got to talk privately."

"Owww. Tapos tinatago mo sakin 'to all this time? I'm disappointed, Soons."

"I'm so sorry, Ji. I feared na baka mailang sya sakin kung malaman nya na may something ako sa kanya e. I enjoyed being with Him na kasi kaya sobrang iniingatan ko yun. Alam mo na, yung nangyari samin ni Jun."

"Grabe, ang galing mo Soonyang. Imagine, natago mo 'to for years. And the way you treat kuya Woo, hindi halatang may hidden agenda ka."

"Well? It's my talent, I guess."

"By the way, how's your communication with Kuya Woo now?"

"Well, last time, we got to talk na ulit. Two weeks nalang daw Exams na nila kayo medyo pahinga na sya sa review. Hoping na makapasa sya."

"Knowing kuya Woo, he'll get it. I'm very sure of that."

"You know what, it still amazes me na he liked me too. Like, how? Diba?"

"Pa humble ka nanaman, Soons. Bukod nga sa mga kwento mo samin dati, ang dami parin naman nagparamdam sayo nung College tayo ah? Si Daniel? si Ken? At marami pa. So what do you think the reason para di ka magustuhan ng isang tao, and to remind you, ni kuya Woo?"

"Iba naman sila, iba si kuya Woo. Sa una palang talaga pakiramdam ko may red string nang nag coconnect samin. Sadyang may gumugulo palang sa damdamin ko noon."

"May sagot ka na ba sa kanya?"

Soonyang think of it for a second. Meron na ba? I'm still not sure of it.

"To be honest, wala pa. Natatalo parin ako ng takot, Ji."

"Soons, ikaw na ang may sabi. Iba si kuya Woo sa kanilang lahat. Why don't you give him a try. Let her court you. Para mas makilala mo pa sya. Para makita mo pa yung kaya nyang gawin for you."

"Ewan ko, Ji. Sobra parin akong natatakot."

"Think of the possibilities, Soons. Itataya ko din ang buhay ko, si Kuya Woo na yan. Promise. Kung gawin lang din ni kuya Woo sayo yang mga kinatatakutan mo, wala na akong maihaharap na mukha sayo. Pwede mo na akong kalimutan."

"Grabe ka naman! But have the assurance that I like him back and hindi naman ako tatanggi sa panliligaw nya. Just give me some time. I thought i was already healed from what happened, pero hindi mo pala talaga malalaman hangga't hindi ka ulit nachachallenge or hindi ka ulit darating sa ganoong situation."

What I know now is that, this is not just a simple admiration. I may say that I love him now. Right, Soonyang love Woo now. She's very certain of that.