Chapter 7

On our way to where he'll be taking me, I heard him humming a song. At parang nananadya nga talaga ang panahon dahil hindi ko maiwasang sumimangot nang malaman kung anong kanta 'yon. It was Green Day's Boulevard of Broken Dreams. 

Pakiramdam ko ay nalukot muli ang mukha kong kanina ay maaliwalas. The song just merely reminds me I can't go to their concert. And it sucks. 

But instead of keeping the same face, I thought of possibilities where he'll take me. At least, I need to. 

Lunti is the first place that crossed my mind. Doon naman kasi talaga kami madalas tumambay. But as we approach closer, I can tell he's taking me somewhere I'm not familiar with. 

Ang daan na ito ay taliwas sa lagi naming tinatahak. We went over a bridge surrounded by trees bago kami makarating muli sa lugar na may mga buildings. 

It wasn't long before when we ended up staring at an enormous sculpted door. Sa kalakihan ay kinailangan ko pang tumingala upang matanaw ang kabuuan ng mga nakaukit doon. Bahagyang nakabukas ang pinto at matatanaw ang kakarampot na parte ng kalooban. 

"Anong… gagawin natin dito?" I looked at him, showing a confused face. 

Ngumiti s'ya at kapagkuwan ay hinila ako nang marahan na parang hindi narinig ang sinabi ko. "Masaya 'to, promise."

Though a bit confused, I still let him pull me. 

Sumalubong sa amin ang amoy na madalas bumalot sa ilong ko sa tuwing nakakakita ako ng nga lumang bagay.

This place has a high ceiling which allows to accommodate large installations, as well as allow a large reserve volume of conditioned air. The white bricked walls being reflected by the surrounding area gives the place a total sophistication. 

Even the empire chandeliers on the two other sides are stunningly hanging, illuminating the obscurity of the place. 

Nabusog ang mga mata ko nang dapuan ng tingin ang mga expressionism at impressionism paintings sa dingding. The museum is vertically built on the entrance. But as we come closer, I noticed that there are two doorways on the two sides that I presume, leads to galleries. 

I have this weird fondness of being in places like this. It brings me peace of mind and contentment. But I'm unaware of Prime knowing about this. Hindi naman ako madalas magkwento sa kanya. He knows that I'm fascinated by books but I didn't know he knows this too. 

I couldn't stop smiling as I savor every single thing I see in here. I catch sight of bells of different sizes. Halatang mga kampanang ginamit noong sinaunang panahon.

Mayroon rin akong nakitang sculpted figures. Ang iba ay hindi pamilyar sa akin, maliban sa bul-ol na naalala ko pa sa History class namin no'ng high school. It's a carved wooden figure that is believed to guard the rice crop by the Ifugao peoples of northern Luzon. Mayroon din na mga malalaking litrato ro'n na usually ay black and white. 

I was completely enjoying the vibe of the place when I notice something. Hindi ko maiwasang kumunot ang noo dahil walang ibang tao sa loob maliban sa amin. Nang bumaling ako kay Prime, nakangiti ito habang nakatitig sa akin. 

When he noticed I'm looking at him, he cheerfully raised his brows. "Is there something wrong?" marahan n'yang tanong. 

"Uh, ano kasi... bakit walang tao? I mean, nakakapagtaka lang dahil Sabado ngayon at—"

"I rented the whole place," he interrupted.  

Napaawang ang bibig ko. "What?! Why would you do that?"

He grinned before tracing his hands through the sculpted figures. "What do you think?"

"Tama bang sagutin ng tanong ang isa pang tanong?" singhal ko sa kanya. 

Lumambot ang tingin n'ya at panandaliang napawi ang ngiti sa labi. "Are you mad?" nanunuyo nitong saad. 

"No."

Napayuko s'ya. "I just want to... make you smile. I want to spoil you with everything I can provide... I thought you'd like this but—"

"Sinabi ko bang ayaw ko?"

His face lit up upon hearing those and it made my forehead knot even more. He really is moody. 

"Gusto mo bang pumunta tayo sa mga galleries? There's a library here, we can—"

"Oh my gosh…" I gasped for air after hearing it. 

It was pure bliss and I don't even know how much I should thank him. I've been to a public library many times before but I've never seen a museum having a library inside so I couldn't help but look at him in awe. 

He then held out his hand while showing me the sweetest smile I've ever seen. I obliged to accept it and we delve unto the right side of the museum. 

Pinapakiramdaman ko ang dagundong sa loob ng dibdib ko habang magkahawak ang mga kamay namin. I already said I don't want this, bakit ang kulit? But I have to act normal. Ayokong mapansin n'yang hindi na naman ako mapakali. 

Sa pagtuloy namin, napansin kong parang underground ang daan papunta sa kinaroroonan ng library. May mga hagdanan na pababa bago kami muling lumiko pakanan. 

Ten more steps before we came to another sculpted door. Mas maliit 'yon kumpara sa pintuan kanina. At hindi ko alam na mas may igugulat pa pala ako nang umikot iyon no'ng itulak ni Prime. 

It's a wooden revolving door! At nakakapanibago 'yon! I've never seen any library I've gone through having one. At no'ng nakita ko ang nasa kabila ng pinto, mas lalo akong nagulat. There are books on the other side of the door. Nagmistulang bookshelf ang kabila nito dahil sa mga librong nakasalansan doon. 

"Do you like it?" Prime asked, a hint of joy in his voice. 

When I turned to him, I want to burst out. Like is an understatement! The feeling this moment is giving me is so magical that I thought I'm dreaming. I mean, imagine a guy bringing you to a place where you dreamt of living. Books are everything to me! 

"I love it! Sobra!" I couldn't help to sound grateful. Para akong dinuduyan ng kasiyahang bago sa pakiramdam ko. And this guy has such unique little ways of making my heart happy. 

Napansin ko ang malaki n'yang ngiti. This time, he's holding the door vertically for me to penetrate inside. At kahit na nakapasok na ako, hindi pa rin naaalis ang ngiti at tingin n'ya sa akin. 

If I would be choosing someone I know who has the most genuine smile, probably, it would be him. But as he stares at me, medyo naco-conscious ako sa itsura ko. Kaya naman gaya ng madalas kong ginagawa, I tried to avoid his gaze. 

Nang makaupo ako sa kahoy na upuan doon, akala ko ay lalapit s'ya sa akin, ngunit ang tunog ng bawat hakbang ay papalayo. 

Nagtungo ito sa may sulok ng library. Then, there he is, taking out his acoustic guitar from its case. Kitang-kita ko kung paanong sumikip ang manggas ng suot n'yang itim na kamiseta nang gawin iyon. And I just found myself glancing at it, enjoying the view. 

Seriously?

I glanced at it! 

Hindi ko na alam kung anong nangyayari sa akin. I'm not even aware how many times I've blinked just to distract myself. 

"Anong gusto mong kanta?"

Napakurap akong muli. "What do you mean?"

He smiled before it turned to be a grin. "Sige, ito na lang," sabi n'ya habang kinakalabit ang string ng gitara. 

I guess, he'll sing?

What? Kakanta s'ya? Inside a library? 

'Di ba dapat tahimik 'pag nasa loob? 

Right, he rented the place. 

"Wise men say, only fools rush in~"

"For I can't help, falling in love with you~"

His brown eyes were fixed on mine. Hindi ko alam kung ilang beses kong hinigit ang hininga nang unti-unti ay lumapit s'ya sa akin. Mataman ang bawat tinging pinupukol n'ya sa akin. 

"Like a river flows surely to the sea~"

When the chorus came, he slowly closed his eyes as his lips curved upward. 

Kahit sandali, gusto kong sulitin ang pagpikit n'ya dahil alam kong sa pagbukas ng mga mata nito, iiwasan ko na namang madako ang tingin ko sa kanya. 

"Darling so it goes, some things are meant to be~"

In an instant, I got sight of those pearls once again. Nanunuyo. Nang-aakit. Nanghuhumaling ang mga matang 'yon. 

"Take my hand, take my whole life too~"

This time, I wonder, magiging selfish ba talaga ako 'pag hinayaan kita, Prime? 'Pag hinayaan kitang maging parte ng buhay ko, am I taking your life? 

"For I can't help falling in love with you~"

"Oh, for I can't help falling in love with you."

Nabanggit ko na bang nanghehele ang boses n'ya? Pero kahit nanghehele 'yon, hindi ko makuhang makaramdam ng antok. 

Ang tanging nararamdaman ko lang ay ang hindi normal na tibok ng puso ko, ang makukulit na paro-paro na nakain ko, ang panlalamig ng mga kamay ko, at ang panginginig ng tuhod ko. 

"Look, I know you've always wanted to attend their concert…"

Nangunot ang noo ko. "Huh?"

Ngumiti ulit s'ya. "Green Day."

What? Yes, I want to, but—

Don't tell me?!

Hindi ko namalayang may kinakapa na pala s'ya sa bulsa. Then, there it is. 

VIP tickets to Green Day's concert! 

I felt like I wanted to go nuts, in front of him! It's Green Day! For Pete's sake! 

And I know I'm stupid for doing a thing I might regret later. Nagkaroon ng buhay ang mga paa ko at unti-unti akong dinala no'n papunta sa kanya. 

I gave him a peck in the cheeks! I f*cking kissed him in the cheeks! I'm not sure what had gotten to me but I just did! 

At ngayon, para akong sinampal ng make-up sa mukha. Nararamdaman ko ang init sa pisngi ko kaya wala akong nagawa kundi yumuko. 

But I found myself gazing at him for the nth time when he held up my chin. 

"Every day, you give me reasons to tighten my grip. And it's driving me crazy, Gail. You're driving… me crazy. You always do."

Like a shot, I felt his lips against my forehead. 

Doon ko nalaman na kahit pala lumaban ako, matatalo at matatalo ako ng nararamdaman ko.