C1 CHAPTER 1: LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

Nagising ako bigla dahil sa panaginip ko na parang may sasakyan na bumangga sa akin at tanging ilaw lang ang nagpagising sa buong pagkatao ko. Nawala ako bigla sa pag-iisip tungkol sa panaginip ko ng biglang may kumatok sa kwarto ko, nakita ko na si mama pala.

"Luna, anong oras na? Kailangan mo nang magmadali, ma-le-late kana.” sabi ni Mama

Agad kong tiningnan ang aking relo sa gilid ng kama ko na nakalagay sa small cabinet ko at narealize kong malapit na akong ma-late sa paaralan.

“Sige po Ma,” agad kong sagot

Isinarado na niya ang pintuan at ako ay dali-daling nag-ayos ng aking kama at agad na tumungo sa banyo upang maligo. Sa bawat patak ng tubig, umaasa akong ang mga pangamba at takot na nagmula sa panaginip ay mababanlawan. Iniisip ko na lang na ang pagkabangga sa panaginip ay hindi katulad ng tunay na buhay.

Matapos maligo, nagmadali akong lumabas ng banyo at nagtungo sa kusina. Doon, nakita ko si Mama na nagluluto pa ng pagkain at sila Papa at kuya naman ay umiinom g kape, at agad akong sumama sa kanila.

"Magandang umaga, anak," bati ni Papa, at ang kanyang ngiti ay nagbigay ng kakaibang kasiyahan sa aking puso. Sa sandaling iyon, nawala ang mga kabalisaan na dulot ng aking panaginip, at napalitan ng pagmamahal at suporta na ipinapakita ng aking pamilya.

“Good morning din, Pa,” sagot ko, habang nagtitimpla ng kape

Habang ako'y abala sa pagtimpla ng mainit na kape sa kusina, bigla kong narinig ang boses ni Papa na nagsasabing ihahatid daw ako ni Kuya sa akin sa paaralan. Napalingon ako at napaisip. Hindi naman ito karaniwang nangyayari. Si Kuya, na laging abala sa kanyang mga Gawain sa school at hindi madalas mag-alok ng tulong, ay biglang nag-aalok na ihatid ako.

"Okay lang po ako, kaya ko nang pumunta ng school mag-isa," reklamo ko sabay hahalo ng asukal sa tasa ng kape.

"Tama ‘yong Papa mo, mas maganda kung ihahatid ka ng kuya mo. Para masigurado natin na ligtas kang makakarating," sabi ni Mama habang kumukuha ng kutsara para sa sarili niya.

Napailing na lang ako at sabay hagod ng noo. Maaaring may punto sila, subalit alam kong kaya kong mag-navigate sa daan patungo sa eskwelahan. Ayoko rin naman na palaging umaasa sa iba, lalo na’t dalawang pu’t apat na ako.

"Ma, Pa, alam kong concerned kayo pareho, pero seryoso, kayang-kaya ko na. Matagal ko nang ginagawa ito nang mag-isa," paliwanag ko.

Ngunit hindi pa rin sila nakumbinsi. Napasubsob na lang ako sa mesa, hindi alam kung paano ko maaalis ang insistensya nila. Naisip ko na lamang na ilang taon na ako, dapat na akong mas maging independent at magdesisyon para sa sarili ko.

"Pa, Kuya, okay lang. Sabi niyo nga, dapat na akong maging independent, 'di ba?" dagdag ko nang may ngiti.

"Kung ganun, sige. Papayagan na namin na pumunta ka mag-isa papunta sa school," sabi ni Papa habang nakangiti.

Nilingon ko si Kuya, na masamang humalakhak, "Okay lang 'yan, hindi mo na kailangan magmukhang traffic enforcer sa kalsada para sa'kin." Pagtataray ko

Matapos ang isang masayang umagahan kasama ang aking pamilya, ay nagmadaling nagtungo ako sa paaralan para sa aking mga klase. Habang ako'y naglalakad, bigla akong nabangga ng isang lalaki.

"Sorry," sabi nito at agad niyang kinuha ang aking atensyon. Sa pagtingin ko sa kanya, tila na-love at first sight yata ako sa kaniya. Ang kaniyang mga mata ay nagdulot ng isang kakaibang kuryente na tumagos sa aking puso.

As I tried to regain my composure, my eyes were drawn to the figure standing before me. He was a tall, striking young man with an air of mystery. His complexion boasted a golden tan, and his features seemed straight out of an animated world, as if he had stepped right off the pages of a manga or the frames of an anime. I couldn't help but feel an inexplicable pull, as if fate had intervened in that very moment.

“Are you okay?” sabi niya

Agad niyang napansin na nakatitig ako sa kaniya at mabilis akong umiwas at tumayo mula sa pagkakadapa ko. Napangiti siya, marahil dahil napansin niya ang aking reaksiyon. Napalapit ako sa kanya at agad kong sinabi, "U-um, Yeah, I’m okay. Don’t worry."

"M-My apologies," he stammered, his voice laced with sincerity. "I didn't see you there. Are you sure are you alright?"

His concern pierced through my initial shock, and I managed to find my voice, albeit with a hint of shyness. "No, no, it was my fault too. I should have been more careful."

A faint smile tugged at his lips, and in that instant, time seemed to stand still. Our gazes locked, and I felt a rush of emotions flooding over me. It was as if the world had faded away, leaving only the two of us in a realm of unspoken connection.

But just as quickly as the enchantment took hold, it was broken. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he realized that I had been staring at him, lost in my own thoughts. Embarrassment flushed my cheeks, and I scrambled to my feet, brushing off the dust from my skirt

"I-I'm really sorry," I stammered, my voice betraying a mixture of shyness and self-consciousness. "I didn't mean to... I mean, I was just... um... lost in thought."

His own blush matched mine, and he offered a sheepish smile. "No need to apologize. I guess we were both distracted. Let's just be more careful next time."

Nang nagpapatuloy ako sa pag-aayos ng dumi sa aking palda, biglang nag-ring ang kanyang phone. Agad naman niyang sinagot ito at naglakad palayo upang makausap ang taong kausap niya sa kabilang linya. Sa isang iglap, nawala na siya sa aking paningin, na tila hindi na ako umaasa na makapagpaalam sa kanya. Naramdaman kong abala siya sa kanyang pag-uusap sa telepono, kaya't hinayaan ko na lamang siya at nagpatuloy ako sa aking paglalakad tungo sa paaralan dahil baka maka ma-late na talaga ‘ko.

Arriving at school, a sense of disappointment lingered within me. Despite our brief encounter, I couldn't help but wonder what might have happened if we had had more time to talk. I shook off such thoughts and tried to focus on the reality at hand. Events like this are a part of life, and I had to continue without dwelling on "what ifs" and regrets.

As I finally reached the school grounds, a smile spread across my face as I spotted my two friends, Maegan and Alhena, waiting for me. They were standing near the school entrance, waving excitedly as they saw me approaching.

"Hey there, my friend!" Maegan called out cheerfully.

"Hey, sorry I'm late," I called out as I approached them, a smile forming on my lips.

Maegan chuckled. "Fashionably late, as always. But it's okay; we were just excited to see you!"

Alhena joined in the playful banter. "Yeah, we were starting to wonder if you got lost or kidnapped by aliens."

We shared a laugh, the worry of the earlier encounter fading away. With Maegan and Alhena by my side, I felt a sense of belonging and comfort.

"We were wondering where you were. You're cutting it close, you know, Maegan said.

I chuckled, feeling relieved to see them. "Yeah, sorry about that. Had a little mishap on the way here."

Alhena chimed in, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Oh, really? Do tell!"

I recounted the encounter with the mysterious guy—the collision, the instant attraction, and the missed opportunity for a longer conversation due to his phone call. They listened intently, occasionally exchanging amused glances.

"That's quite the eventful morning you had," Maegan said, playfully nudging my shoulder. "Who would've thought you'd have a love-at-first-sight moment while walking to school?"

I blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed. "It sounds silly when you put it that way."

"Nonsense!" Alhena interjected. "It's a romantic adventure waiting to happen! Maybe fate will bring you two together again."

I hope…

Despite their teasing, I appreciated my friends' support and lightheartedness. Being with them always brought joy and comfort.

As we walked towards the school entrance, our conversation flowed effortlessly, as if no time had passed since our last meeting. We talked about our weekend plans, the latest gossip, and shared stories that made us burst into fits of laughter. These were the moments I cherished—the ones that reminded me of the true value of friendship.

Inside the school, we found our usual spot in the courtyard, a serene place where we often gathered during breaks. As we settled down, the sound of our laughter blended with the chatter of other students, creating a symphony of youthful energy.

Throughout the day, we faced various challenges, from demanding assignments to unexpected pop quizzes, sermon ng mga teachers, and biglaang activities with by group. Yet, together, we navigated through them all, offering support, encouragement, and the occasional funny distraction to lighten the mood.

During lunchtime, we shared our meals, passing around bites of our favorite snacks and engaging in lively discussions about everything under the sun. Our conversations ranged from silly jokes to deep conversations about our dreams and aspirations. In each other's presence, we felt safe to be our true selves, knowing that we were accepted and loved unconditionally.

As the school day came to an end, we walked out of the gates, the afternoon sun casting a warm glow upon us. Our footsteps echoed in rhythm, a testament to the synchrony of our friendship. We knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we had each other to lean on.

"Today was a great day, noh?" Maegan remarked, a gleam of contentment in her eyes.

Kaira nodded in agreement. "Yes, true ka d’yan. It's moments like these that make all the hardships worth it."

And I couldn't have agreed more. In a world full of uncertainties and missed connections, having friends like Maegan and Alhena by my side was a constant reminder that I was never alone. Our friendship was a beacon of light, guiding us through the ups and downs of life.