Just One Date

Chapter 6 - every inch beautiful

I squinted at the clock on top of my dresser to see what time is it.

4 a.m. and my damn phone was ringing.

Who in his right mind would be awake and calling this early on a Sunday morning?

I pushed my covers away and grabbed my cellphone.

Fifteen missed calls.

From Ethan, who else?

Sanay ako na si Ethan ang unang nagte-text or tumatawag everyday just to greet me good morning. Pero sa ganitong oras?!?

I was about to call him back when I heard something pelt against my window pane. Shaking my head, I pulled my window blinds up and saw several pebbles on the sill.

Looking below, I saw Ethan standing on the front lawn, smiling so wide and waving like a lunatic while I can hardly hold myself up because I was so sleepy. I literally want to slam his face with a baseball bat to wipe out that irritating grin. Akala ko pa naman ay emergency kaya nag-abala akong bumangon, ngingisian lang pala ako.

I quickly answered when my phone rang this time.

"Ano na namang problema mo? Gusto mo talagang masaktan? Ala una ng madaling araw na ako nakatulog tapos manggigising ka ng alas kwatro?" I complained.

"Sorry if I have to wake you up, my Lois. Pero LET ko kasi today, alam mo na, yung Licensure Exam for T-"

"Teachers, I know what LET means. So anong kinalaman ko doon eh hindi naman ako ang examiner?" I cut in, feeling more and more annoyed with every passing minute.

"It's not that," he interrupted.

"Eh ano nga?!" I exclaimed before turning off my phone. Inis akong lumabas ng kwarto at nagmamadaling bumaba para sugurin siya.

"Ano?! Anong kelangan mo?" angil ko when I opened the door for him.

Kahit nakasimangot ako ay nakuha pa rin niyang ngumiti.

I raised by brows at him but that didn't stop him from stepping closer. He first took my hands and held it in his. He's around five inches taller than me at kahit na hindi ako payat ay di hamak na mas malaki pa rin ang built niya kesa sakin kaya wala akong nagawa when he suddenly enveloped me in a hug.

"I just need to see you before my exam, my Lois," he whispered as he held me close.

Gusto ko siyang itulak palayo but something inside of me melted. It's not everyday that someone makes me feel like I'm badly needed.

"You're my lucky charm. You're the love of my life," he uttered under his breath while I was having a hard time trying to find something to say.

"Goodluck," was all I could come up with before he finally let me go.

"I would have loved to hug you all day long, but I need to go. Hindi pwedeng ma-late," he explained.

Kahit palagi akong inis sa kanya, nakaka-touch na parang naniniwala siya na magiging maganda ang performance niya sa exams kapag nakita niya ako. As if merely seeing me is enough to change everything.

"Nandaya ka, sabi mo you just needed to see me. Bakit ka nangyakap?" pabirong sumbat ko.

Napakamot siya sa ulo.

"Oh, that. Kasi naman you looked adorable in your pajamas. Tsaka with the ruffled hair and all, you're so damn beautiful, I couldn't help but hug you," he babbled.

Noon ko lamang naalalang tingnan ang sarili ko. I really don't care how I look like in front of Ethan but to hear him say that he thinks I'm beautiful in an oversized, tattered Winnie the Pooh shirt and an old faded pajama is just insane. At hindi rin pahuhuli ang buhok ko na ilang months nang nagmamakaawang ma-rebond.

"You're insulting me," I concluded. Kahit si Mama ang makakita sa akin na ganito ang itsura ay siguradong sasabihan niya akong ayusin ang sarili ko bago humarap sa ibang tao.

"No, I'm serious!" he insisted pero tumalikod na ako papasok ng bahay.

"Just go, Ethan! Sabi mo late ka na, diba? Get the hell out of here," I told him and closed the door behind me.

When I got back to my room, my message alert beeped.

'I mean it. Every inch of you is beautiful in my eyes. Thanks for the hug.' Ethan's text said.

"Ang aga-aga, nambobola," I muttered to myself before putting my cellphone back on top of the drawer.

Unang-una hindi ako kagandahan. Pangalawa, hindi ako sexy. Mas payat kesa noong High School ako na super chubby ako pero hindi ko pa rin sasabihing sexy. Ang sabi ni Mama baby fats daw ito pero nineteen na ako, I'm no longer a baby kaya tanggap ko na that the baby fats decided to stay for good. Hindi na talaga ako magiging kasing-payat ni Bethany.

I was not able to put myself back to sleep after that. I tossed and turned until the sun rose, blaming Ethan for ruining my deep slumber hours earlier.

When I went downstairs, all ready for the morning mass, Papa's jaw literally dropped.

"May lagnat ka, anak?"

"Ha ha ha. Very funny, Pa," I snorted.

"Bakit ang aga mo? Di ka na naghintay gisingin?" Mama chimed in from the kitchen.

"Wala lang po, di na makatulog," I answered. Ayokong idetalye sa kanila na ginising ako ni Ethan para humingi ng power hug dahil alam kong magkakatuksuhan na naman, ang aga aga.

"Pwede po bang kina Bethany muna ako sumimba?" I asked while stirring my Nesquick in a mug.

"Bakit, Ate?" Kirk suddenly butt in as he sat beside me on the table.

"Magpapasama kasi ako sa kanya magpagupit mamaya," I replied.

"Anak, you know that Sundays are precious for me. Sunday is exclusively a-"

"Family day," I finished for Papa, wondering why I even asked kahit alam ko namang hindi pwede.

Big deal kay Papa ang pagsimba as a family. He has strict rules sa pagkain ng sama-sama sa mesa at least kapag dinner. Kung may lakad naman kami, we make it a point to be home before supper as much as possible.

Kuya Brett might have noticed the disappointment on my face as he sat across me on the table and tapped my hand.

"Ihahatid na lang kita kay Bethany after mass, mamayang hapon pa naman ang lakad ko," he offered.

I beamed at him and smiled as a way of saying thanks.

We ate breakfast together in between chats. Afterwards, we attended the mass at The Last Supper of Our Lord Parish just within the village before Kuya Brett dropped me off at the church in BF Resort where Bethany sings as a member of the choir.

Nadatnan ko siyang kausap si Syndell, ang fiancee' ng first love niyang si Gavin at ultimate idol niya. Hindi ko maintindihan kung anong pananaw sa buhay meron siya at nagagawa pa niyang makipagkaibigan sa babaeng pakakasalan ng lalaking pinapangarap niya pero palagi niyang sinasabi sa akin na sobrang taas ng pagtingin niya kay Syndell.

"Oy insan! Naligaw ka yata ng simbahan?" a voice interrupted my thoughts from behind before I could even make my way to Bethany.

It was Tyler.

"Nope. May usapan kami ni Bethany," I replied.

"Ah, ang prinsesa kong hindi pa natatauhan na ako ang prince charming niya," he stated while looking at her in a wistful way.

"She'll come to her senses, don't worry," I assured him.

"I'm not. I know I'm the one for her. And I'm willing to wait no matter how long it takes."

He sounded so sure of himself that I had to laugh. Sa way ng pagtrato sa kanya ng pinsan ko, hindi ko alam kung saan pa siya kumukuha ng self confidence.

"Teka ikaw, nasaan ang the one mo? Di mo yata kasama?"

I furrowed my brows.

"Sinong the one?"

"Si Joaquin, sino pa? Yung laging nakabuntot sa iyo? Iyong dating varsity ng Soccer?"

I cringed. Sabi ko na nga ba, iyon talaga ang iniisip ng lahat.

"Si Clarķ Ethan Joaquin? Today ang LET niya. And just for the record, hindi ko siya boyfriend," I stated.

It was his turn to furrow his brows.

"Talaga? Akala kase namin-"

"Hindi. Close lang talaga siya sa family namin. Nanliligaw lang pero hindi kami," paglilinaw ko.

"Really. Dapat pala hindi siya midfielder noon sa Soccer. He'd be a great goal keeper, I bet, considering na ang galing niyang magbantay at ang lupit mambakod, he'd be a terrific goalie."

I had to laugh at that.

"Ikaw naman, ano nang lagay mo kay Bethany?" I inquired.

"Nilapitan ko iyang pinsan mo kanina, kaso nasupalpal na naman ako as usual."

"I'll see what I can do," I told him.

He tapped my shoulder.

"Thanks, insan. Pero hindi talaga kayo ni Ethan ha?"

I shook my head.

"Good. May kilala akong matutuwa sa balitang iyan," he told me and winked before looking over to his right.

Noon ko lamang napansin na naroon pala ang kapatid niyang si Tyrone, talking to a guy who's about his age. He's wearing a blue polo and black slacks, looking a lot more mature and formal than Tyler who I believe is more or less five years older than him.

Hindi na ako muling kinausap ni Tyrone since that incident when Ethan made a practical joke and I bumped into him while crying. He has been ignoring me in class lately and barely greets me whenever we run into each other around the campus. Ayokong isipin niya na kaya ako nandito ay para magpapansin sa kanya.

"I really need to see Bethany now, may lakad kasi kami," I finally said to Tyler and excused myself.

Wala na si Bethany kung saan ko siya natanaw kanina. Nasalubong ko si Syndell na kanina ay kausap niya pero si Gavin na ang kasama nito at may akay na isang batang lalaki.

"Anong sinasabi sa iyo ng GGSS na iyon?" Bethany asked when I finally found her at the Parish office.

"Ha?"

"Si Tyler na gwapong gwapo sa sarili, anong sinasabi sa iyo?" paglilinaw niya.

"Wala, bakit ka interesado? Diba wala kang pakialam kay Tyler?"

She rolled her eyes and grabbed her bag.

"Fine, let's just go. Bakit ka nga pala magpapagupit na naman? Your last haircut was last month ah, papaputulan mo na naman? Parang hindi pa nga humahaba."

Noong nagpahaba ako ng buhok dati, Ethan told me that he loved my hair long. Kinabukasan pagkasabi niya noon sa akin ay nagpagupit na agad ako ng buhok much to his dismay. Since then ay pinapatrim ko na regularly ang buhok ko. Naikwento ko na iyon kay Bethany before pero ayoko nang i-remind lalo na at Team Ethan siya.

"Mine-maintain ko lang lagi i-trim para hindi magka-split ends," I lied.

"Sinungaling. Bakit, palagay mo ba kapag ginupit mo ang buhok mo hindi ka na mamahalin ni Ethan? Kahit mapakalbo ka, I think Ethan will still feel the same," she said bago hinila ang braso ko.

"Dito ako naka-park."

We both got into her car and were already making our way out of the gate when we saw Tyler waving goodbye. Beside him stood Tyrone.

"Sagasaan ko 'yan eh, tingnan ko kung makakaway pa," Bethany muttered, obviously pissed off.

"Ang sama ng ugali mo. Samantalang kapag kelangan mo ng substitute sa choir na tutugtog, siya lang naman ang nahihila mo," I defended Tyler.

"Hindi ka naman kasi pwede, siguradong hindi papayag si Tito na hindi kayo sama-samang sisimba. Si Ethan naman, kung nasaan ka syempre doon rin siya. Wala na akong ibang kilala na marunong tumugtog ng piano."

"Kaya nga. So you should start treating him right," I suggested.

As we drove past them, I met Tyrone's eye. Nakita kong siniko siya ng Kuya niya and he smiled. Kung hindi ako nakaupo ay baka natumba ako sa ganda ng ngiti niya.

"See you at school, Fenella!" habol na sabi pa niya while we were staring at each other through my open window. I nodded and returned his smile.

"Wipe out that stupid smile off your face, baka magbago isip ko, pababain kita sa kotse ko," Bethany said after a while.

She's been very vocal about not liking Tyrone for me, like the way she's been frank about so many things pero hinampas ko pa rin ang braso niya, not hiding the fact na kinikilig ako.

"Did you see the way he smiled at me? And take note, he really knows my name. You think he likes me?" I asked, still giddy.

Bethany looked at me with disgust.

"Iyong nagdedeliver ng gatas sa Frozen Dreams araw araw, he also smiles at you that way. At alam rin niya ang pangalan mo. I think he likes you too," she said with sarcasm.

Muli ko siyang hinampas habang nagda-drive pero tumawa lamang ito ng malakas.

"Kainis naman ito!" I pouted.

I went ahead with my haircut despite Bethany's discouragement. After that, sinamahan ko siyang bumili ng mga kailangan niya para sa Medical Mission nila next week.

We parted ways around 6pm sa Alabang dahil may dadalawin pa siyang kaibigan na may sakit at kailangan ko namang umuwi just in time for dinner.

I called Kuya Brett to pick me up dahil nabanggit niyang he's going somewhere in Manila at mas mabilis akong makakauwi kung sasabay ako sa kanya but when I saw Ethan beside him on the passenger seat, I immediately regret my decision.

Bakit ba hindi ko naisip na kaya pumunta ng Manila si Kuya ay para sunduin si Ethan dahil doon siya kumuha ng LET? Ang shonga ko talaga. Sana nag-commute na lang ako kahit madaling araw na ako makarating.

Ethan was all smiles. But the moment I sat on the back seat, his reaction changed.

"So you cut your hair, huh?"

Hindi pa ako nakakasagot ay sumingit na si Kuya Brett.

"Iyan na yung gupit na sinasabi mo? May nabawas ba? Parang ganun pa rin naman," he commented while looking at me through the rearview mirror.

"May nabawas, I can tell. Alam mo naman, I'm very keen to details lalo na at si Lois ko ang pinag-uusapan," Ethan told my brother bago muling bumaling sa akin.

"Magandang pahabain ang buhok mo, bakit mo pinaputol?"

Gusto kong sabihin na para ma-turn off siya pero naroon si Kuya kaya nagkibit-balikat lang ako.

"Wala lang. Mainit."

I put on my headphone and closed my eyes after that brief reply kahit nagsasalita pa si Ethan.

"Fen, wag kang bastos. Kinakausap ka ni Ethan. Where are your manners?" Kuya reprimanded. Hindi ganoon kalakas ang sounds ko but I pretended not to hear and kept my eyes shut.

I know I was being rude but as usual, Ethan asked Kuya to let it pass. Baka raw pagod lang ako. I can even hear them talk about how the exam was, when the results will be released and how they playfully fought over the radio station to listen to. Gusto ni Kuya ng new wave music pero ayaw ni Ethan. In the end, Ethan won and stopped at a familiar tune.

"I wish my Lois is awake. I'd love to sing this for her," Ethan said before singing along.

♫ Your hand fits in mine

Like it's made just for me

But bear this in mind

It was meant to be

And I'm joining up the dots with the freckles on your cheeks

And it all makes sense to me ♫

♫ I know you've never loved

The crinkles by your eyes

When you smile

You've never loved

Your stomach or your thighs,

The dimples in your back at the bottom of your spine

But I'll love them endlessly ♫

Hindi ko kabisado ang lyrics ng kantang iyon although I love the easy tune. And I have to admit, Ethan doesn't sound bad.

♫ I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth

But if I do

It's you

Oh, it's you they add up to

I'm in love with you

And all these little things ♫

♫ You can't go to bed without a cup of tea

And maybe that's the reason that you talk in your sleep

And all those conversations are the secrets that I keep

Though it makes no sense to me ♫

That part with the cup of tea reminded me of our conversation in the province sa beach.

♫ I know you've never loved

The sound of your voice on tape

You never want

To know how much you weigh

You still have to squeeze into your jeans

But you're perfect to me ♫

♫ I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth

But if it's true

It's you,

It's you they add up to

I'm in love with you

And all these little things ♫

Kung kakantahin lang sana ito ni Ethan sa iba, doon sa babaeng may gusto sa kanya, things would be a lot different for him. A lot better, actually.

♫ You'll never love yourself half as much as I love you

You'll never treat yourself right, darling, but I want you to.

If I let you know I'm here for you

Maybe you'll love yourself like I love you, oh. ♫

♫ And I've just let these little things slip out of my mouth

'Cause it's you,

Oh, it's you,

It's you they add up to

And I'm in love with you

And all these little things ♫

♫ I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth

But if it's true

It's you,

It's you they add up to

I'm in love with you

And all your little things ♫

I heard him sigh when he finished the song at kahit nakapikit ako, I can feel his stare.

I didn't dare c***k my eyes open until I felt the car came to a halt. Without a word, I got out of the car and walked inside the house in a hurry.

"I know you weren't sleeping," Ethan suddenly said, following me closely.

When Kuya Brett walked past us, I stopped to speak with him.

"Ethan, no matter how many songs you sing for me, it wouldn't change anything. I'm sorry. I honestly don't know what else to do to para ma-turn off ka."

"Is that the reason you cut your hair short?"

I nodded and he looked hurt.

"Tigilan mo na ako, Ethan. Ito nga o, now that I'm less beautiful in your eyes, it will be easier for you to forget me. Pwedeng mas iklian ko pa ang buhok ko para mapangitan ka na ng husto sakin. Ihahanap kita ng ibang girl na mahaba ang buhok if you want."

He let out a humourless and stared at me.

"You seriously thought cutting your hair would make me change my feelings for you?" he asked.

"Does it?" I hoped.

"It doesn't change anything because it doesn't change you. Hindi ako sa buhok mo inlove. It's you I'm inlove with, Lois Fenella. Kahit putulan mo pa ng putulan ang buhok mo it wouldn't change a thing."

I heaved a sigh of frustration and shook my head.

"Mi dispiace deluderti. Ma sei sempre e comunque bellissima per me."

I threw him a questioning without bothering to ask what he meant.

He smiled at me in response and reached out to caress my hair before translating what he said.

"Sorry to disappoint you. But you're still every inch as beautiful to me."