Chapter Five

Sophomore Year: Met TWIX back in high school. He was dating my fellow cheerleader/batchmate at that time, and he was also part of the cotillion at our senior prom. I didn’t notice him back then coz he was already taken. But they broke up after high school graduation or in college I guess. Then out of the blue, he sent me a forwarded text message and that was the start of it. He was my 9 pm fix. He calls at the house at exactly 9 pm and we’ll talk until the wee hours of the morning. My eldest brother and I would usually fight over the phone because he also calls his girlfriend at around that time. Being the good sister that I was, I’d give in to my kuya’s request and ask TWIX to call back again. I guess we just loved talking to each other that we don’t notice the time. And plus points for him coz aside from the fact that he’s good-looking, he also makes me laugh! Hmmm… my waterloo (what can I say?! I am a sucker for guys with a sense of humor!)… we went out a few times, had dinner, seen a movie, brought me food during dance practice, gave me chocolates… called me during the holidays (on his prepaid cell)… drove me home… stuff like that… he could have been the first boyfriend… but poof! He vanished… into thin air… without even saying goodbye… I didn’t understand it at first coz he said he’ll wait… but I guess he was done waiting. We did promise each other that if ever I don’t want him to go on with the courtship, I’ll tell him. And if he wanna stop courting me, he’ll tell me. We agreed on it, could have shook on it but we were on the phone talking. So there you go… communication was cut off and I haven’t heard from him ever since. My friends at his school told me he was already dating someone else, my batch mate and she also lives in the same subdivision where I live… coincidence? Nope! They were actually classmates and we got to talk about her in one of our conversations. I never thought he liked her because she was a bit boyish… but who knows? There could have been an attraction of some sort from the very beginning. Contrary to what my friends thought that I cried over him, well, not true… I didn’t… I guess, I felt it way ahead when he no longer called or even sent text messages… hey… I’m not moronic, I can take a hint… I busied myself with school work and extra-curricular activities to get over. Once I visited his school, since it was my alma mater and I wanted to see my friends as well. I wasn’t expecting to see him but it happened. I was with my friends and we were ascending the stairs towards their classroom. I could hear his voice from afar but I just thought it could be anybody. He was a bit noisy or rather chirpy, greeting my friends who were infront of me, when he saw me, his face fell and he was silent. I just looked at him and smiled. He was too stunned to speak. I guess he never expected to see me at that time. And he left… too embarrassed to face me (after what he’d done, he should be!).

Fast forward to the present year 2008, he sends me text messages from time to time. We had this long exchange of text messages last year, even thought of meeting up for coffee or something. He wanted to talk to me and explain himself. After five years, he finally found the guts to explain. And on my part, I also wanted to say the things I should have told him even if I don’t feel it anymore, just so he knows. It’s weird but I guess we both need to hear each side of the story. They’re planning to get married in a few years and what can I say? I am happy for them. At least they stuck it out with each other after all these years.

Junior Year: met ROCKY ROAD (I was going for rocky road ice cream, but I guess it’s too long for a code name). We were having this afternoon party at a friend’s house after our midterms. We cooked pasta and we hang out and made ‘kwento’ the whole day. He was invited to come and everyone wanted ice cream. Of course we all wanted different flavors, and since my fave was rocky road flavor, I told him over the phone to buy my fave. We were all joking and we didn’t know if he’ll really buy but he did! And guess what flavor? Yup! Rocky road! All two half-gallon of it! He could have bought another flavor but chose mine instead. See? The power of my sweet voice and persuasion I guess! Haha! And he did other sweet things too! He invited us to one of their school concerts wherein he was going to perform. Hey, the guy can really sing. So we wished him luck and we watched him perform. Of course we were there to support him. Clap-clap-clap! And right after his performance, I congratulated him thru a text message. He replied and told me that the song was really for me! (awww… sweet…) And we all went out right after to grab some snacks, and he walked me home. Another party, another ice cream request. My friend wanted strawberry, and I wanted my fave. Again, to my friend’s disappointment, he still bought me my fave. Cool!

I joined the cheerleading squad of our college and there I met MARTIAN. He was your bad boy type but with a softer side. He looks out for all of us girls and was the perfect gentleman. He courted my bessie during our freshmen year, it didn’t work out so he got himself heartbroken. We all got along, we were the driving force of the squad, we practiced almost every night and I guess we all bonded. But then, MARTIAN was really developing this ‘fondness’ of me and I never put malice in it. From the very start, I told my friends that it was never going to happen, I won’t allow it, he courted my bessie and it was simply inappropriate. My cheerleader friend was devastated coz she’s got the biggest crush on him. And she can’t help it coz MARTIAN would always talk to her about me! He’d share to her how he really felt about me. And it breaks her heart even more. Again, not my fault! I found her once in a dark corner during one of our cheerleading practices, crying her eyes out. I asked her what’s wrong and she told me everything. She was clearly heartbroken. I didn’t know what to do, I don’t want to see my friend hurting… and so I asked her, “What do you want me to do? I’ll avoid him for you if that’s what you want, if it will make you feel better… I’ll stop talking to him…” she declined, it wasn’t necessary. It was clear that MARTIAN wasn’t really into her. It was sooo sad!