Chapter 21
We're eating at the nearest steak restaurant. It's already 7:30 PM, and we haven't eaten yet. We're just waiting for our orders to arrive.
"Did you have fun? Have you been there before?" I asked her while patiently waiting for our food.
"It's okay, I guess. And I never been there." walang emosyon na sagot nito at nakatingin ito cellphone niya. Lagi naman. 'Kala mo phone addict. Joke.
"I've never been there either. It was my first time... and it was fun, especially knowing you were the first person I went there with. It would have been boring without you," I added boldly. But she didn't respond. Sanay na ako. Ayos lang.
"Have you been happy with your boyfriend?" I couldn't help but ask.
"I was always happy with him," she replied.
"Have you been happy with me?" I asked, not expecting a positive response.
"No. Being with you gave me a headache," she answered seriously. Grabe talaga 'to makasakit ng damdamin.
Ms. Sanchez isn't for the weak.
"Ouch, ang sakit mo dito oh," sabi ko at itinuro 'yung dibdib ko. Tsaka nag face express pa na nasasaktan. Kaya natawa nalang ako sa sarili kong katarantaduhan. Habang siya ay dissapointed 'yung mukha. Alam mo 'yung parang tinatanong niya 'yung sarili niya kung ba't niya pa ako kasama ngayon dito.
"But it's okay, even if you weren't happy with me. I'm always happy when I'm with you," I added.
"Nonsense, Gomez. The food's here; eat already so you can stop saying those nonsensical things." sambit nito kaya natawa nalang ako, hindi talaga 'to mabiro. Masyadong seryoso sa buhay.
"Yes, ma'am," I said, taking my plate. We ordered the same steak. I cut my steak neatly and offered it to her.
"What are you doing?" she asked, confused.
"Have mine; I cut it nicely so you don't have to. Eat well, Miss," I said, smiling. She didn't complain and took it.
We started eating, and I swear, that meal felt like the best thing I’d ever tasted.
Every bite, every flavor—it all seemed more vivid, more alive.
I’d been to that restaurant more times than I could count, but tonight…
everything tasted different.
Masarap.
Sobra.
Pero ang tanong: masarap ba talaga, o dahil lang ba kasama ko siya?
I watched her across the table—her poised posture, the way she cut her food so carefully, how she smiled slightly every time she enjoyed a bite.
Ang galing niyang magtago ng emosyon pero sa mga maliliit na bagay, hindi niya ako maloloko.
I could read her subtle expressions now.
I was learning her without even trying.
I took a piece of steak, and then—bam—I choked.
Tangina, pagminamalas nga naman talaga.
I grabbed my napkin, trying to breathe as discreetly as I could, but it was useless. My face turned red in seconds.
“Goodness, here, Gomez,” sabi niya, calm but concerned, sabay abot ng tubig niya at mabilis akong tinapik-tapik sa likod. Her hands, though firm, were gentle.
“T-thank y-you,” bulol kong sabi habang sinusubukan pang huminga ng maayos. Nakakahiya. Of all moments, ngayon pa?
She raised an eyebrow. “Eat properly, Gomez. No one's trying to steal your food.”
Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako. “Noted, Miss. Lesson learned.”
Pero nahalata kong pinipigilan nito matawa.
She's adorable.
After that, tahimik akong kumain. No more distractions, no more drama—I just wanted to survive my meal without dying.
When we finished, I asked for the bill, and of course, I paid. I would never let her reach for her wallet, kahit anong sabihin pa niya. That was non-negotiable.
Pagkaalis namin ng restaurant, she assumed we were heading home. I could tell by the way she leaned her head against the window, relaxed. But I had other plans. Tonight wasn’t over yet.
“This is the wrong way, Gomez,” sabi niya, medyo clueless pero hindi pa nag-aalboroto.
“We're not going home yet, Miss,” sagot ko habang ngumingiti. “I'm taking you to one of my favorite places.”
She turned her head slowly to look at me. I expected an annoyed glare or at least a snarky remark, but there was none. Instead, she just gave a small nod and looked back out the window.
The drive wasn’t long, but it felt like a quiet dream. The streets we passed grew darker, more lined with trees than buildings. We were slowly leaving the city behind. The glow of the lamp posts grew sparse, replaced by the moonlight peeking through the tree branches.
Finally, we reached it.
I parked near a dirt path that could barely be seen in the dark.
“We're here,” sabi ko, sabay labas ng kotse. Nilibot ko agad para buksan ang pinto niya.
She stepped out, heels crunching lightly on the gravel. The air was crisp and cool, and I noticed her wrap her arms around herself instinctively.
“Follow me, Miss,” I said.
We walked up a hidden trail lined with old pine trees. The soft rustle of leaves under our feet, the occasional chirp of crickets, and the faint whistle of the breeze—it was all part of the place's charm. There were no streetlights here, just the soft light of the moon guiding us.
And then we reached it.
A clearing. A small open space at the edge of a hill, where the world seemed to pause.
Before us, the city stretched out below—countless twinkling lights, like stars that had fallen and settled on the earth. The skyline was bathed in silver and gold, the buildings glowing gently against the dark velvet sky. Above us, stars dotted the heavens, sharp and bright against the inky night.
“It’s nice here, isn’t it?” tanong ko, breaking the silence softly.
She didn’t answer immediately. She walked a few steps closer to the edge of the clearing and looked out at the view.
“Yeah,” she said, her voice hushed, almost reverent. “It’s beautiful.”
I stood beside her, watching her face instead of the view. Her hair moved slightly with the wind, and the way the moonlight touched her cheek… it was unfair how someone could be this effortlessly beautiful.
“How did you find this place?” tanong niya, still looking out.
"I was sad once, and I just drove around until I found this spot. After that, it became my favorite place. You're the first and last person I'll bring here," I answered, also looking at the view.
“Lucky mistake,” she said, still not looking at me.
“No,” sagot ko. “Not a mistake. This place saved me that night. I’ve been coming back ever since.”
She finally looked at me. Her gaze was softer now, less guarded. “You never brought anyone here before?”
I shook my head. “Never. Not my friends, not my family. Just you.”
“By the way,” I said, reaching into my bag and pulling out a small, neatly wrapped package. “I have something for you.”
She raised an eyebrow, her curiosity clearly piqued as she took the gift from me, turning it over in her hands. “What’s this?”
“Just open it,” I urged, my heart suddenly beating a little faster.
She carefully untied the ribbon and peeled away the wrapping paper, revealing a plush toy inside. Her eyes lit up the moment she saw it.
"It's Ice Bear," she said, and I was shocked she knew that.
"I blinked, caught off guard. “You know Ice Bear?”
"How could I not? It's my favorite cartoon character, idiot," she answered, her excitement evident on her face.
"Kaya pala kaugali mo rin," sagot ko sa kanya at tinitigan ako nito ng masakit.
“So what? You’re like Grizzly, so childish,” she shot back with a smirk.
“Cute pa rin,” I countered, holding up the plush like a trophy.
“Ice Bear is cute also!” she insisted, and I couldn’t help but laugh at how passionate she sounded.
“You’re much cuter than Ice Bear, Miss,” I said softly, and instantly I noticed the flicker of something in her eyes — a subtle shift in mood, a sudden quietness.
Sana tumahimik nalang ako after that.
She looked away briefly, then cleared her throat. “How’s your wound, by the way?”
“It hurts,” I admitted, touching the side of my arm gingerly. “But I’m okay. The treatment was good… Just kulang lang ng kiss kaya hindi pa gumaling masyado,” I joked, raising an eyebrow at her.
She rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched in a reluctant smile. “Just for once, Gomez… can you be serious?”
"Of course, I can be serious. I'll take you seriously... if you let me," I retorted.
"What did I even expect from you?" she sighed.
"You're cute," I said, chuckling. "By the way, I really had fun today. Especially because I was with you," I added, looking at her.
But she didn’t say anything.
She just looked out at the view — yung city lights na nagshi-shine sa dilim.
The buildings, the soft sounds of the night, and yung mga bituin sa taas, parang perfect yung scene.
While she was staring at that, I couldn’t stop looking at her.
I was just watching her — how her eyes caught the light, yung slight smile niya, and how the wind played with her hair.
Wala kaming imik, pero hindi naman awkward or uncomfortable. Para sakin, kahit walang usapan, ramdam ko yung comfort. Parang kahit tahimik, enough na yung presence niya lang sa tabi ko. Maybe it’s the peace she gives off, or maybe I just like having her near — either way, it felt really good.
The more I looked at her, the prettier she became in my eyes.
I noticed yung konting kulay sa cheeks niya, yung soft na paghinga, yung curve ng lashes niya.
It’s like every little thing about her made her glow even more than the city lights.
Hindi ko akalain na ganito pala ang feeling.
Am I that in love already?
That moment, under the huge night sky and surrounded by the busy city, something inside me changed. Whatever it is — love or something new — I knew I was seeing her differently now. And I didn’t want to look away.
---
"Lunes nanaman! Kakainis! " reklamo ni Cecilia sa harap ko.
Oo, Monday ulit. Simula ng linggo na hindi ko talaga kinagigiliwan. Pero ngayong araw na ito, may something pa ring kakaiba — we're waiting for Ms. Sanchez, and the anticipation in the air was almost tangible.
“Mas nadagdagan pa mga nagkakagusto sa’yo, Syl ah,” tambalang si Kinsley ang nagkomento, tumitig sa akin na may halong biro at pagkagulat.
“True, after that performance, naging trending ka pa sa school. Alam mo ba ‘yon?” dagdag ni Cecilia, parang proud na proud na rin sa akin.
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko kaya simpleng sagot lang ang nilabas ko, “No, and I really don’t care.”
Pareho silang tumawa, pero alam kong totoo. Ang dami nang babae na tila nagkakainteres sa akin lately — pero hindi ako masyadong apektado, hindi pa.
“Sayang, dami mo nang sana sanang chicks eh,” reklamo ni Cecilia, na parang nalulungkot sa kawalan ng tagumpay niya sa usaping ito.
“By the way, hindi na tayo nakakapag-bar ulit ah,” dagdag niya, may halong lungkot at panghihinayang.
Tama sila. It’s been unusual that we haven’t gone to our usual bar sessions lately.
“I’ll pass. I’m quitting the bar,” Eliana declared, na talagang seryoso ang tono.
“Ako rin,” sumunod si Kinsley, na parang seryosong nagdedesisyon na.
“Wow, ano ‘yan? Bagong buhay na ba ‘to?” nagulat si Cecilia, halatang hindi siya makapaniwala sa sudden change nila. Tiningnan niya ako at nagtanong, “Wag mo sabihin ikaw din, Syl?”
I shrugged and said, “I’ll just drink while waiting for you guys,” in a joking tone, pero may halong katotohanan.
"Nag bagong buhay na talaga kayong lahat! Owemji, proud na proud ako sainyo!" sarcastic na sambit nito sa amin.
“Ikaw lang naman hindi nagbabagong buhay,” seryoso naman ang sabi ni Kinsley, tumingin sa akin.
“Walang may nagbabawal eh. Malay mo soon,” tugon niya, na medyo nagbibiro din.
Biglang sumigaw kaklase ko, “Ms. Sanchez is here!”
Napalingon kami lahat at nakita ko si Ms. Sanchez na papasok na sa room. Nakaayos siya sa kanyang usual formal uniform, pero sa totoo lang, iba ang aura niya ngayon — mas maganda, mas classy, parang nag-glow siya.
“Good morning, Ms. Sanchez,” bati namin sabay-sabay. Umupo siya sa harap, at tahimik kaming lahat habang hinihintay niyang magsalita.
“Congratulations to everyone who won and participated in the contest,” siya na ang unang nagsimula, at agad kaming pumalakpak. Hindi ko pa nabanggit pero si Eliana ang nanalo, at si Cecilia ang pumangalawa.
“Also,” dagdag niya, “your project for this semester will be a service project in the province.”
May isang kaklase na nagtaas ng kamay, “What do you mean by ‘service project,’ Miss?”
“It’s a community project,” paliwanag ni Ms. Sanchez. “For example, fixing a broken water pipe, repairing streetlights, patching road cracks — you’ll be the ones doing the actual work.”
Kahit sino ay na-imagine agad ang hirap nito. Everyone nodded, some with excitement, others with hesitation.
“Someone will also need to film the entire project for a documentary. Gomez, you’re assigned to that,” she said, looking directly at me.
Tumayo sa isipan ko ang pressure, pero alam kong kaya ko.
“The project will last one week, so consider it like a field trip. Bring clothes, food, and other necessities. It starts on Wednesday, so be prepared. And yes, it’s graded,” she concluded.
Pabulong reklamo ni Cecilia sa akin, “Kakapagod naman ‘yan.”
“Any questions? If not, then class dismissed,” she said, then stood up and walked towards the door.
Hindi ko siya sinunod agad. Lumapit ako at inalok, “Let me help you.”
For the first time, hindi niya tinanggihan. Kinuha ko ang bag niya at sinamahan siyang maglakad palabas.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly, sensing something was off. She seemed quieter than usual, almost emotionless. Hindi siya sumagot.
Habang papunta kami sa faculty area, biglang may lumapit sa kanya — isang lalaki. Nagyakap sila nang mahigpit, halos halikan sa pisngi.
“Hi, mahal, I missed you so much,” bumulong si Theo kay Ms. Sanchez habang niyayakap siya ng mahigpit.
“I missed you too, mahal,” sagot ni Ms. Sanchez, na ngayo’y napuno ng ngiti. Ang pagod na mukha niya na nakita ko kanina ay naglaho, napalitan ng liwanag ng pagmamahal.
I know she has a boyfriend, but why does my heart still ache like this?