How to Love

Chapter 5

How to Love

Chapter 5

Monday ngayon. Second week na ng school year. Sabi ni Michael sakin first day niya daw ngayon. So baka mamaya, magkakilala na kami in person. Grabe kinakabahan ako. Kanina nga habang naglalakad ako papasok, pinagpapawisan yung kamay ko. Actually, hanggang ngayon. Pahid tuloy ako ng pahid sa palda ko.

Bakit nga ba ako kinakabahan? Hindi naman siguro nangangain ng buhay yun si Michael. Hindi ko din naman alam kung paano kami magkikita dito sa loob ng campus. Ano? Maghahanap na lang ako ng kamukha ni Ralph? Parang ang hirap naman yata nun.

Sabi ni Michael basta magkikita daw kami. Eh pano nga? Ay nako. Bahala na nga.

"Best?" tawag ni Sofia sa tabi ko. Wala pa kasi kaming teacher. Wala pa rin si Ralph.

"Hmmm?" I faced her.

"May problema ba?"

I leaned forward and cradled my face in my hands. "Wala." I murmured. "Anong nangyayari sayo?" she said and touched my hands.

"Wala." I repeated.

Then the door opened and Ms. Rivera came in. "Good morning, class." We all stood up and greeted her a good morning and prayed. "Okay," she started. "Kasaysayang Pandaig-"she was cut off by the door opening. "Bakit ka late, Ralph?" she asked at Ralph who has just opened the door.

"Good morning, Miss. Hinatid ko lang po yung pinsan ko sa room niya. Bago po eh."

"Sige, maupo ka na." she said and Ralph walked inside the room and sat beside me.

"Good morning, Best." He greeted me with a mischievous grin. I rolled my eyes at him. "Walang good sa morning ko." I said.

He leaned forward to greet Sofia since my back was completely pressed against the back of my seat. "Good morning, Sofia."

"Good morning." She replied and smiled at him. Nakaadjust na din si Sofia na lagi niyang kasama sa classroom si Ralph at hindi na siya namumula tuwing kakausapin siya. Good for her.

"Nandito na si pinsan ah?" he said as he grabbed his notebook inside his bag.

"Narinig ko nga." I said and snatched his notebook and pen from his hands.

He slid two fingers on my left palm. "Kinakabahan ka no?" he asked with amusement.

I glared at him. "Hindi ah!" I said and started copying the notes Ms. Rivera is writing on the board on his notebook.

He chuckled. "Wag ka mag-alala. Di ka madidisappoint. Pogi rin yon parang ako." I rolled my eyes at him again. "Di nga, best. Seryoso ako. Kamukha ko yun kaya pogi."

"So kapag kamukha mo, pogi? Ganun?" I asked irritably.

"Hindi lahat! Basta kadugo ko pogi at maganda." He said cockily. "Eh bat kami ni Sofia, hindi mo naman kadugo pero maganda."

"Exception kayo syempre! Ay hindi pala! Nahawa na kasi kayo sa good looks ko eh. Tsk. Ang bait ko no? Namimigay ako." He continuously said and smiled.

"Sofia, naririnig mo ba pinagsasabi nitong isang 'to?" I asked the girl beside me.

She was also copying down notes and just smiled and nodded her head. Oo nga pala, crush niya nga pala si Ralph. Sino ba namang magdidisagree sa crush nila? Pagsinabi ni crush hindi ka syempre kokontra. Kailan ba naimbento yang rule na yan? Nakakainis lang.

"Ay ewan." I just muttered.

"Basta pagnakakita ka ng kamukha ko, Best. Si Insan na yun." He said. "Pagkahatid ko nga sakanya sa classroom niya kanina, yun mga babae dun sa mga dinadaanan naming classroom, napapatingin eh." He said and laughed.

"Tsk! Kailangan ko pa bang malaman yan?!"

"Hindi naman. Sabi niya, kinikilabutan daw siya." He said and laughed.

Sliding windows kasi yung ginagamit dito sa mga classroom, kaya naman pagnaglakad sa hallway kitang kita ka kaagad.

"Ano namang sabi mo?"

"Sabi ko, 'Masanay ka na. Ganyan talaga pagkasama mo ko, Pagtitinginan ka talaga.'"

I sighed. "Ay nako, Ralph."

"Ano?"

"Wala. Ang yabang mo kasi! Pwede bang pakibawasan?"

He leaned towards me and whispered, "Ang sungit mo ngayon, Best. Mayroon ka ba?"

"Wala!" I said. "Naiistress lang ako!"

"De la Vega, bakit ang ingay niyo dyan sa likod?" tanong ni Ms. Rivera.

"Sorry po, miss." Ralph and I said in unison.

Ms. Rivera just shook her head and continued writing on the whiteboard.

"Tumahimik ka na nga dyan, Ralph. Ang ingay mo kasi napagalitan tuloy tayo." I said.

"Oo na. Matutulog na lang ako." He said and bowed his head on his seat. He grabbed my left hand and placed it on top of his head. "Best, alam na."

Para makatulog si Ralph kailangan kakamutin mo yung ulo niya. Sobrang antukin po nitong taong to. As in sobra!

I slipped my hand on his hair and began to play with them while I still write with my right. Kung gusto niyong malaman kung anung pakiramdam ng paghawak ng buhok ni Ralph, isa lang masasabi ko: Hindi siya soft. Hindi siya soft tulad nung mga binabanggit sa ibang libro at dun sa movies. Tunay na buhay 'to. At ang normal na buhok ng isang ordinaryong lalaki dito sa Pilipinas ay parang dry pwera lang dun siguro sa mga artista.

Lagi kasing nagwawax to si Ralph. Sabi ko nga sa kanya dati mabilis siyang makakalbo in the future. Pero sabi niya lang, ok lang daw yun. Kung halimbawa daw na may asawa na siya nun, at kung mahal daw talaga siya, hindi naman na daw papansinin kung wala na siyang buhok. Oh diba? May pagka hopeless romantic yung best friend ko.

Pagkatapos kong kumopya, tumulala lang ako dun sa board habang si Ralph natutulog na sa tabi ko. Si Sofia naman, ayun sulat nang sulat. Nung tinanong ko kung pwede ko bang basahin, bawal daw. Okay, so private yun.

Since wala akong magawa tumitig lang ako dun sa orasan habang yung mga sumunod na teacher ay walang ginawa kundi mag-discuss dun sa harapan at naghintay na lang ako hanggang magbreak time.

—-

"Best, lalabas ka?" tanong ni Sofia sakin.

"Hin-" sasabihin ko sanang 'Hindi' kaya lang kumulo yung tiyan ko. "Oo lalabas ako."

She smiled. "Tara na. Ililibre kita. Lutang ka ngayon eh."

So bumaba kami sa canteen at kumain. Expected ko na makakita ng kung sino man na kamukha ni Ralph pero wala naman. Di pa siguro lalabas yun si Michael. I didn't even know who I was looking for. Tapos bandang huli yung lalaki palang nanakawan ng bag si Michael. God, so cliché. Bumalik na kami sa room and I checked my phone. 1 new message.

From Michael:

10:23 am

Binibini! :)

Me: Uyyy! :D Kamusta first day?

Michael: Eto okay lang :3 Di pa kita nakikita :/

Me: HAHA! Wag na, panget ako eh. :(

Michael: Sus! Sabi ni Ralph, maganda ka daw. :D

Me: Kunwari lang yun syempre :) Lahat naman ng babae maganda eh, ako lang hindi :(

Michael: Di kaya!:P Dumaan ako dyan sa classroom niyo kanina eh. Wala ka naman :/

Me: Ah! Kumain ako eh. :)

Buti na lang pala bumaba kami si Sofia kanina. Ano kayang gagawin ko kung sakaling nagkita na kami kanina. Diyos ko! Di ko maimagine!

Michael: Puntahan kita mamayang lunch :D

Me: WAG!!

Michael: Ayaw mo ba kong makita? :3

Me: Hindi naman. HAHAHA!

Michael: Wag ka magalala kinakabahan din naman ako eh.

After I read that text I took a deep breath. So hindi lang pala ako ninenerbyos sa pagkikita namin. Parang ano bang sasabihin namin sa isa't isa pag nagkita kami. Hi, Hello. Ganun lang? Parang ang awkward naman yata nun. Tapos baka madisappoint siya sa istura ko. Oh My God! Baka expected niya kamukha ko sina Kathryn Bernardo o kaya Julia Montes. Nako po!

Me: HAHA! Ok lang yan. Wag ka na lang magexpect para hindi ka madisppoint.

Michael: Hindi naman ako nageexpect eh. :) Gusto lang talaga kitang makita.

Me: Tas pag panget ako titigilan mo na ko?

Michael: Hindi :D

Should I believe? No, I shouldn't, right? Hindi ko naman ganun kakilala si Michael eh. God, I've been texting him for just two days.

Me: Bahala ka sa buhay mo :P

Michael: Puntahan kita ah? Maya na ulit :3

I put my phone away and leaned back on my chair. I twiddled with my pencil.

Ano ba yan?! Dapat pala nakita ko na siya para hindi na ko kinakabahan. Lakas tuloy ng t***k ng puso ko. Ginusto ko rin naman to kaya lang... argh! Masyado akong nako-conscious.

Being insecure sucks, it makes you feel like there's nothing great about you. So you better stop it. So I should just stop it.

—-

"Okay class, you may now take your lunch." Sabi nung teacher naming masungit dun sa harapan at lumabas na ng classroom.

Yung mga classmate ko, ayun mga nagsitayo at naglagay ng pulbos, nagsalamin at naglagay ng mga pabango. Ugh. Ano ba yan? Dapat ba ginagawa ko din yan?

Pupuntahan ako ni Michael eh. So dapat magaayos-ayos din ako di ba? Kaya lang baka mamaya isipin niya trying hard ako. ARGH! I was way over thinking. Besides, I always fix myself naman whenever I went out of the room. I hope he doesn't feel that special.

Nakita kong nagaayos si Sofia sa tabi ko kaya naman nakisali na ko sakanya. Pagharap ko sa salamin, mukha naman akong okay pero hindi pa rin ako makuntento.

"Ayo slang ba itsura ko?" I asked Sofia.

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Oo naman. Bakit? May sakit ka ba?"

"Wala." I said and handed her her mirror.

"Lalabas ka?" she asked me.

Inisip ko kung ilang minutes ang makukuha ng pagbaba ko at pagakyat. Mukhang kaya naman bago pa dumating si Michael.

"Tara." I said and grabbed my wallet.

We went down the stairs into the cafeteria and bought some snacks. On our way back Sofia asked, "Uy best. Okay ka lang ba talaga? Parang wala ka sa sarili mo."

I bowed my head and scratched the corner of my eyebrow. "Kasi..." "Kasi?" she urged me to continue.

"Naaalala mo ba si Michael? Yung kinukwento ko sayo?"

"Malamang! Baka kahapon mo lang sakin kinuwento yun." I snorted at her. "Yun na nga siya kasi eh-"

Then I bumped onto something. Or rather, someone."Sorry, miss." He said.

"Okay lang." I said and looked at the person whom I bumped. At first I thought that it could be Michael but then I realized that he was a former student here in St. Claire.

Sofia and I continued walking and I mentally laughed at myself. Do I really thought that I would bump onto a cute guy in the school hallways or wherever place here in earth with a person whom I'm going to have a happily ever after with? God, I'm so pathetic.

This is real, Shane. You're not in a freaking book or a young adult movie.

Bumalik na kami sa classroom at nandun si Ralph may kausap na lalaki na nakadungaw sa sliding window; he was leaning on the windowsill with his upper body inside the classroom and his other half supporting him on the other side of the window and he was laughing at what Ralph said. Can you imagine?

I stopped dead on my tracks.

"Shane!" Ralph called out when he saw me.

My immediate response was to raise an eyebrow at him and at the person on the window; both of them were wearing bright smiles on their faces. Almost identical.

Holy s**t.

That is Michael.

"Shane, halika may papakilala ako sayo." Ralph said and gestured for me to come over.

I shook my head microscopically. Ralph laughed and the person on the window broke into a huge grin exposing his teeth before looking away from me. They both looked cute when they smile that I can't help but to smile also. But I bit my lips to keep the smile to myself.

Ralph walked towards me and slightly pulled me in front of the guy on the window who stood up on his full height. I think he's only slightly taller than Ralph and I think I'm only up to his shoulders. I felt so small.

"Pinsan, si Shane nga pala. Shane, pinsan ko si Michael." Ralph introduced us.

"Hi." Sabi ni Michael. Even their voices almost sound the same! He gave me a lopsided smile. "Michael James Mercado."

"Shane De La Vega. Hi!" I said and smiled timidly at him and waved.

Then he grabbed my hand that was waving at him and shook it. "Hi." He said again, formally. And he looked directly in my eyes. Warm. Then we both slightly squeezed one another's hand. Not all people I meet offers (forces-in this one) handshake; most of them were just simply hand waves.

We both released one another's hand and I looked down on my shoes. This is awkward.

"Necessary ba talaga yun?" I asked pertaining to the handshake.

"Oo naman. Para pormal na tayong nagkakilala." He said and smiled, exposing his white teeth. I averted my eyes at him.

"Shane," Michael said.

I raised my head and eyebrows in a questioning manner. "Hmmm?"

Then he smiled. "Wala lang."

I rolled my eyes at him, not intentionally! "Hala?" I asked jokingly.

"Maiwan ko na kayo ah?" Ralph said and squeezed my shoulder.

"Ralph, wag kang umalis." I said and clutched on his arm.

"Ralph. Hindi Best? Awww." Then he laughed.

"Wag mo kong iwan." I said pleadingly. Hell, I'm not going to be left with a stranger!

"Ano ka ba hindi naman ako aalis! Makikipagkwentuhan lang ako dun." He said and pointed at the other corner of the room. "Hindi ka naman kakainin ng pinsan ko eh. Dyan ka lang." he said and smiled at me before he wiggled his eyebrows teasingly.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Ge dun ka na! Ipinagpapalit mo ko!"

"Bye, best." He said.

I rolled my eyes at him again.

"Hindi ka ba nahihilo?" Michael asked probably pertaining on my eye rolls.

"Hindi naman. Nasanay na eh." I said and walked closer to the window. It would seem rude if I was far away from him while we were talking. He backed a step away when I touched the windows glass.

I've noticed that by the way he looks at people is that it was like he was looking at them through his lashes with his head slightly bowed. He was staring at me and I raised an eyebrow. "May dumi ba yung mukha ko?"

"Wala." He said and shook his head. "Di ko lang inexpect."

"Sabi sayo eh, wag kang magexpect para hindi ka madisppoint." I said glumly.

"Hindi kaya! Kung baga ikaw, you exceed expectations." He smiled. "Asus! Bola!" I snickered.

"Ayokong Bola-hin ka."

I raised an eyebrow at him as if to ask why.

"Kasi..." he said and walked towards me until we were looking at each other's eyes deeply. "Baka kasi tumalbog ka, makuha ka pa ng iba."

I rolled my eyes at him and pushed him away. "Ang corny mo." I said playfully.

"Di naman ako ng pipick-up. Nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo." He said and looked at his feet before looking back at me with his hands on his pockets.

He looks so much like Ralph that the only difference was their eyes; Michael's looks like they are squinted while Ralph's were like the shape of almonds. At tsaka mas matangos yung ilong ni Michael. And yung hairstyle nila magkaiba. Same skin color at pareho ng aura yung dating. Now I get it kung bakit pinagtitinginan si Michael kaninang pagpasok niya.

"Bakit ka nakatitig?" he asked almost arrogantly. Argh. Pati ugali ba naman parehas sila?

"Hindi kaya!" I denied. "Napansin ko lang na sobra mong kamukha si Ralph."

"Syempre! Kambal tatay namin eh." he said.

"Weh? Ikaw yung pinsan niya na yun?" I asked and laughed. Oh God, I can't believe this! So he was the cousin. The EFF!

"Bakit parang hindi ka makapaniwala?"

"Akala ko kasi yung kakambal ng daddy niya babae. Hindi naman niya kasi sinasabi sa akin."

"Alam mo naman siguro kung gaano kasensitive si Ralph kapag tatay niya yung pinaguusapan di ba?" he asked.

"Oo, nakwento niya nga sakin." I said softly as we are talking about a sensitive subject.

Michael looked at his watch and I looked at mine. Malapit na palang matapos ang lunch time, wala pa kong kinakain kahit isa.

"Akyat na ko." He said. The 4th year classrooms were located at the upper floors of the building. "Baka malate."

"Oo nga, first day mo pa naman ngayon." I agreed. "Ge." He said and smiled at me.

I nodded and smiled at him in return. I watched him as he turned into the corner before I slid the window shut.

There are so many times in your life that you'll get disappointed because it didn't reach your expectations. Now that I saw him, I couldn't decide whether I should be disappointed or not. Don't get me wrong, he really is good- looking but... but maybe his good looks won't do anything good for me.

Umupo muna ako sa desk ko at tabi ni Sofia.

"Best, ok ka na?" She asked worriedly.

"Oo, nakaraos din." I said then my phone suddenly vibrated inside my bag.

Michael: Binibini, ang ganda mo. Gusto ko sanang sabihin sayo kanina kaya lang nahihiya ako sa personal. :3

I allowed myself to smile on what he said before typing a reply.

Me: Ayy nako. HAHA. Di po kaya ako maganda. :P

A girl never cares how many times she has been called beautiful not unless there is a person to prove it to her.

Michael: Di daw? Kulang na nga lang mapanganga ako kanina eh. :3

Me: Oy, tama na. You're so OA omg. HAHA.

Michael: Ah ge. OA pala. :/

Me: HAHA. Sorry na? :)

After that, he didn't reply and I grew nervous. Na-offend ko kaya yun? Hala! Lagot ako. Huhuhuhu.

Bigla namang dumating yung teacher naming kaya tinago ko na yung phone ko. Pagkaupo ni Ralph I immediately asked him, "Matampuhin ba yung pinsan mo?"

He studied me for a sec before he said, "Hala, best. Ang hirap pa namang suyuin nun."

"Di nga?"

"Oo nga, best. Dati nakalimutan ko siyang yayain magbasketball tas nagtampo. Pinagsuot ako ng dress tapos pinagsayaw para magkabati kami. Papagalitan kasi ako ni Daddy nun kapag magkaaway kami ni Pinsan."

The thought of Ralph wearing a dress raised a laugh from my stomach. "Vinedeo niya ba?"

"Oo! Yun pa? Pangpa-ganda daw niya ng mood yun."

I laughed. "Hahanapin ko nga sa kanya yung video na yun." "Nagtampo sayo? Makipagayos muna aba." He said.

"Oo na eh! Paano?"

"Bahala ka sa buhay mo!" Ralph said and stuck his tongue out at me.

This was one of the worst feelings ever. Ayoko pa naman na may nagtatampo sakin, hindi ako nakakatulog sa gabi. Ano naman kayang ipapagawa sakin nun? Papatawirin ako sa alambre, or papakainin ng bubog? Ako naman yata OA ngayon. Ugh. Magbibigti na ko.

The clock ticked by and soon the final bell rang. Pagsilip ko sa labas nandun si Michael kausap si Ralph. Parang pinakikilala ni Ralph si Sofia kay Michael.

Pagtapos naming mag-linis lumabas na ko. "Hi, Shane." Michael said with a smile.

I gave him a look.

"Bakit?" he asked.

"Di ka galit?" I asked cautiously.

"Ha? Bakit naman?" he asked, completely on why I was asking him that question.

"Wala wala."

"Akala niya kasi nagtatampo ka." Ralph said.

Michael looked at his cousin, then at me. "Bakit naman?"

"Yung text ko sayo kanina?" I asked with my eyebrows raised. "Ah! Yun! Wala yun." He said then smiled at me. "Tara kain tayo."

Sofia and Ralph lead the way out of the school and Michael and I walked side by side.

"Pinatawag kasi ako kanina sa Guidance Office kaya hindi na ko nakapagreply. May pinapirmahan kasi." He suddenly said as we started down the stairs.

I looked at him. He was still smiling. "Bakit ang hilig mong ngumiti?" I asked. "Kayo. Kayong dalawa ni Ralph."

"Masama ba?" he asked with a wider smile. "Hindi naman."

"Hindi naman, diba? Libre lang naman ang pagngiti eh. Sulitin na diba?" He said and I nodded, noticing his point. "Hindi ka palangiti no?" he asked.

"Palangiti naman." I said and smiled at him.

He smiled and shook his head. He looked like as if he was fighting back a laugh.

"Bakit?" I asked him.

"Wala." He said and shook his head again.

"Hala." I dropped the issue. "San ba tayo kakain?"

"May kinainan kami ni Ralph nung weekend. Burger. Masarap. Mura lang." "Ah. Saan?" I asked as we stepped out of the school premises.

"Malapit sa bahay. Okay lang ba?" he stopped walking then he looked at me like how he looked at me earlier when we first met, the one where he was looking through his lashes. And was not even going to deny that it sent chills down my spine.

"Oo naman." I said.

There were still a lot of students just outside the school gate and I saw one of the sophomore girls pointed at Michael. Then I heard one asked. "Anong pangalan?" then there was a chorus of "Hindi nga namin alam eh."

"Itanong ko kaya." The one who asked said. Then the other girls replied, "Sige, sige."

I looked at them over my shoulder and at Michael. "May fangirls ka." I said at him teasingly.

"Excuse me po." We heard someone said and we both looked at the girl who just came just below Michael's shoulder. The girl seemed like she couldn't stop smiling. I looked at her waiting friends and they were watching her.

"Ano yun?" Michael asked politely.

"Pwede po bang malaman yung pangalan niyo?" The girl asked hopefully. "Michael Mercado." He said then smiled at her. "Ikaw?"

"Richelle po. Hi!" she said then waved at him.

He offered her his hand and she looked at it first before grabbing it and shook it more than gladly. She looked so excited that I couldn't help but also feel excited for her.

"Oh my God." She said after she suddenly released his hand. "Thank you po." Then she took off to her friends, leaving me and Michael watching her trails.

Michael's hand was still stuck in mid-air and he put it on his pocket after recovering from shock. "Tara na?" he asked me like he was unsure.

"Tara na." I said and nodded at him.

A moment later, may nagtilian dun sa likod namin. We both looked back and Richelle has probably told how she met Michael. Someone smacked her on her arm and another pinched her other arm. But they were all laughing. Richelle's face was flushed.

"Kawawa naman siya, nabubugbog dahil sayo." I said as we started walking away.

"Hindi naman." He said.

Then I realized that I don't see Ralph and Sofia around.

"Asan sila?"

"Baka nauna na."

"Ikaw kasi eh."

"Anong ako?" he said and laughed.

"Grabe ka. First day mo pa lang may nangaalam na ng pangalan mo." I said jokingly.

"Wala eh. Nasa dugo namin ni Ralph yun." He said cockily. "Parehas kayo ng ugali no?" I said before I can even stop myself.

"Medyo. Nasa dugo din namin yun." He said and chuckled. "Pero mas mabait naman ako. Slight."

Sumakay kami ng jeep ang take note na pinauna niya kong makasakay ng jeep. Magbabayad na sana ako kaya lang hinarang niya yung kamay ko. "Ako na." he said.

"Ako na." I said. "Ako na." he said. "KKB." I offered.

"Ako na." he said and paid for our fare. "Tingin mo ba pagbabayarin kita pagkasama mo ko?" he asked disbelievingly. Then I nodded. "Binagbabayad ka ba ni Ralph kapag kasama mo siya?"

"Hindi. Iba naman yun. Kakakilala lang natin eh."

"Hindi naman nasusukat yun kung gaano na tayo katagal magkakilala. Parang pag-ibig lang yan. Hindi mo naman masusukat kung gaano mo kamahal ang isang tao sa tagal ng pagsasama niyo. Baka ngayon mahal mo siya, bukas mahal na mahal mo naman siya. Sa susunod, hindi mo na siya biglang mahal. Ganun lang yun." He said and gave me a small smile.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "May pinanghuhugutan ka ba?"

"Wala naman." He said and shook his head. "Iba naman kasi yung pinaparating ko sayo."

I thought about what he said. "Hindi ko gets."

"Sooner or later." He said and tapped a finger on my nose. I scrunched it at him.

I really thought na magiging awkward kami sa isa't isa pag nagkasama kami. But it turns out to be the opposite. Ang gaan ng loob ko sa kanya. Siguro kasi same air lang sila ni Ralph. But of course, there was always something new. Feeling ko nga close na agad kami.

Then I remembered his text—the one with him stating that I am pretty. I looked away and at the road.

If he really is the person God has given me to be my first boyfriend-nah!I'm thinking way too fast! Maybe he's not the first and definitely isn't going to be the last. (I'm betting every peso that I'll earn in my life on this.)

I looked sideways at his smiling face. But I couldn't shake off the feeling that he may be the first. With all these feeling and butterflies that I haven't felt before, I wouldn't be even surprised if when one day I'd fall for this guy.

It was really too soon to think that way. Hell, it was Day 3 of getting to know him. He was still a stranger. This might not even lead to anywhere. Maybe we would just be stuck on this stage.

But I couldnn't wait to find out if we'll be moving forward.

Part 1: Letting Love In

Step 8: Give it time.

Ang pagmamahal, hindi minamadali. Ay hindi, hindi lang pala ang pagmamahal ang hindi minamadali. Lahat ng bagay may tamang oras at panahon. Intayin mo na lang, wag kang magmadali at wag ka msyadong atat dahil minsan kapag minabilis mo, hindi maganda kinahihinatnan.