No Label

D-7

Nana's POV

Once In A Lifetime Crush. I named that folder for a reason. 'Once In A Lifetime' meaning an infatuation that lasts for a day.

An attraction for a minute.

A photo for remembrance.

No need to see them again. One day or even a minute is enough.

But destiny seems like playing with me that made Jill an exemption.

How did we actually met?

Common friend?

Right. He is a friend of my friend's friend. Connections brought us together.

I was hosting a birthday party. I mentioned his name and he sang on that event. I just found him cute and so I took a photo and added to my collection. I added him because I thought I would never see him again. 

I don't know how many days had past since that day. I was hanging out with my friends then suddenly I saw him. Someone from this circle invited him. He sat on our table. We are far from each other while that friend introduced Jill to us. Of course hindi ako nag pahalata na isa siya sa mga koleksyon ko. I was planning to remove his picture on that folder that day because I might be seeing him often but I didn't.

No particular reason.

Maybe because that's the only picture of him that I owned. I'm too shy to ask for a picture and too lazy to stalk.

I can't remember exactly when the two of us became close. We met coincidentally many times. Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya ba ng tadhana yun o siya yung nanandya? I don't want to assume that he likes me but It felt that way.

I casually talked to him whenever we met. He's a good talker though he always speaks english kaya dumudugo din ilong ko minsan. He didn't make move for the past few weeks that we are hanging out... just the two of us. So maybe, what I assumed is wrong. It's fine though, it's not mutual anyway.

The preceding days that I hanged out with Jill, I decided to carry Ina. Isa sa mga friend ko na gusto kong magkalovelife. Mina is a consideration also. But it's hard to make her fall inlove. Even if a guy like Jill, I think it still won't work for her. Eh mahirap naman kasi hanapin kung ang standards niya Ji Chang Wook at Kwon Ji Yong. Kaya inuna ko muna ang marupok which is Ina. Let's see kung pwede na akong mag sideline bilang match maker or blind date organizer or artificial cupid-- whatever you call that s**t.

Then I guess, I could be one. They ended up dating, Ina and Jill. It's sad that they broke up, though.

And I'm currently thinking how much is Earth's diameter that we meet again like this. Jill, Mina and Ina is now in one team, Tulips, I heard.

I just made a deal with Mina. I wasn't taking it seriously because It's fine for me to go on blind dates but damn...out of 109,292,299 people in this country, si Jill pa?! Seryoso, pinagtritripan ba ako ng tadhana?

Me: MINAAAAAAAA

I texted with full of emotion. I've been contemplating the whole night on what to do. Kung ano ba itong pinasok ko? Bakit ba kasi nag deal deal pa ako?

Mina: Problem?

Me: Pwedeng palitan?

Mina: HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Yeah. She's been laughing at me when she saw my situation earlier.

Me: Potek! Mina namaaaan! Okay lang naman talaga sakin na magblind date kahit kanino, wag lang si Jill

Mina: Ano ba masama kay Jill?

Teka-- Oo nga? Bakit ba ako nag rereklamo ng ganito? Ano naman kung si Jill? Dahil Ex ni Ina? Dahil friend ko siya? Oh natatakot ako na magiging 'lifetime' ang 'Once in a lifetime' ?

Me: Eh, paano ko naman siya jojowain in one week. He doesn't like me.

MIna: In a scale of 1-10, 1 is the least possible,  how sure are you that Jill doesn't like you?

Me: 5

Mina: It's half! Go for it.

Me: Paano kung ayoko?

Mina: F.O.

Me: Tangina ka Minaaaa

Mina: HAHAHAHAHAHA. One week lang naman. Kahit sabihin mo na lang kay Jill na project lang. Social Experiment.

Me: Kailangan mo ba talaga 'to?

Mina: Please? That's the only way I could think of to confirm something. I have lots of sleepless nights already.

Seriously?  Hindi lang pala trip trip 'to ? Did that actually caused insomnia to her?

Me: Naguguluhan na ako. Ano ba yang hinahanap mo? Project mo ba 'to?

Mina: Sorry, still not ready to tell you any details.

Me: So kailan mo balak sabihin?

Mina: After a week. A week you are dating, Jill.

I took a deep sigh.

Me: How about... an exchange deal?

Mina: what's that?

Me: I'll do you a favor, and you'll do me another in exchange?

Mina: What favor?

Me: You think of it. Ano makukuha ko aside from your 'reasons', if I successfully dated Jill in seven days?

She left me on seen for a half hour. Mukhang pinag-iisipan niya nang mabuti. After 30 minutes, she is typing again.

Mina: If your relationship with Jill lasts for seven days, I'll date Yanyan.

Nagulat ako. Seriously? Coming from Mina?

Mina: For real.

She added. Did I say earlier that this girl doesn't fall for a guy easily?

Me: You sure? No regrets?

Did that Yanyan beat Ji Chang Wook and Kwon Ji Yong?  O pampalubag loob lang ni Mina para pumayag ako? But if I actually do it, she will date that guy for real? Oh my God.

Mina: Yes. Maybe

Me: You like that guy?

Mina: No? Not yet? Idk

Me: Can you date him even if you don't have feelings for him?

Mina: Maybe I could develop feelings for him If I date him?

Me: That's crazy. You'll actually do that for the so-called 'social experiment'?

As if we're on a life or death situation. I sometimes can't understand this girl.

Mina: So ano na? Deal?

Me: Sht

Mina: I'll consider that 'yes'.  We're even now. 

 Okay fine. Let's do it Nana. Para sa lovelife ng kaibigan mo.

 Wala namang mawawala, diba? I will gain something actually, lovelife ni Mina at baka lovelife ko na din.

It's just Jill.

Yes, just Jill.

Fck, why Jill?!

Ilang oras akong pabalik-balik ng lakad sa loob ng kwarto ko. I don't know how to start. What should I ask Jill? I need to prepare some reasonable reason para pumayag siya. Paano kung hindi siya pumayag? Should I just drop this chance that Mina is finally not single?

Umupo ako sa kama dahil nangangalay na yung paa ko. Kinuha ko phone ko para i-chat si Jill. I should do it now, while I'm at it. Baka magbago pa isip ko kapag bukas ko pa gagawin.

Me: I like you, Jill.

No shade. No sugar coat. No beating around the bush. That's the first phrase I sent to him. Online siya pero hindi pa niya nai-seen yung message. Should I remove? Mag 'Hi' kaya muna ako?  Was that too straightforward?

I was about to remove that message but it's too late. He saw it.

Jill: What kind of prank is this Nana?

Did he just dropped the 'ate'?

Me: Thank you for participating in this social experiment 'How teenagers react to sudden confession'. Now, are you ready for the next level?

That's right, Nana. That was smooth.

Jill: Hahahahah I saw that many times already. What is this all about? 

Damn.

Me: hahahhahah aahh...

Putangina. Ano na sasabihin ko? Na gusto ko siya for real? Na joke lang yung social experiment?

Jill: So you're being serious with that?

Me: Medyo?

Tangina, Nana. Nasan na social skills mo?

Jill: So it's true na... you like me?

Me: Did it gave you burden If I say that?

Jill: Not really. Maybe I just can't sleep later.

Legit na lumaki mata ko sa sinabi niya.

Me: Insomnia? 3am thoughts? Vampire?

Jill: I'll probably asking myself later if that was sincere. 'Was that a confession?' 'Why did she suddenly confessed to me like that? '

Me: You're single?

Jill: yes

Me: Let's date

Kapal na talaga ng mukha ko. Maygad! Mina inubos mo na dignidad ko! Pag di mo talaga tinupad yang deal na yan, kakatayin talaga kita.

Jill: This is not a prank, right?

Me: Seryoso 'to. Seryoso ako... sa'yo.

Jill: So you're the one asking me out? That's... unusual.

Me: Yeah. Weird right?

Jill: I like it.

Me: What?

Wag niyang sabihing mutual yung feelings? Baka sumobra sa seven days itong relasyon na 'to.

Jill: Your bravery. I like it.

Me: You like brave girls? (Not the group)

Jill: I wish I was that brave too

Me: So will you date me? At least for seven days?

Jill is typing...

Hindi ko pa nabasa yung sinend niya nang umitim screen ng phone ko. What a timing!

"Ngayon ka pa talaga na lowbatt?!", tumayo ako at agad na kinuha yung charger. Sinaksak ko sa socket malapit sa bed ko. Hinintay ko pang mag start. Taas baba na yung tuhod ko dahil hindi ako mapakali. It's either a yes or no ang bubungad sa akin.

Nang mag-on na yung phone ko, huminga muna ako ng malalim bago basahin ang reply niya.

Jill: Yes. I won't mind dating you, Nana.