#julielmof

    Did he just kissed me?

    Uh,no. He did kissed me.

    He fucking kissed me! Again! With all those people!

    ‘UGH!! THAT’S IT!’ Julie screamed, getting up early on bed to interrogate Elmo.

    All throughout yesterday, after the kiss, Julie gave Elmo silent treatment. Not talking to him and not answering his questions which clearly made Elmo both frustrated and worried. Not that she’s mad yesterday. She was just still in deep shit, or shock. Still recovering whether he really did that or not. God he even gave her a quick kiss after that Eskimo kiss!

    ‘He already kissed me three times!!’ she clamored once more as she stump her feet towards Elmo’s room across hers. Not having second thoughts, she pound her fist on his door not caring if he would be mad after waking him up early in the morning.

    ‘Elmo!!’ she pound the door for about five more times before it finally opened, revealing a topless, messy hair Elmo whose pouting and rubbing his left eye. Leaving Julie speechless.

    ‘What?’ Elmo asked, voice still husky from his sleep. He managed to open his eyes a little after not hearing anything from Julie.

    ‘Ah.. Ano..’ Julie stuttered coping up for words to say.

    ‘Are you still mad?’ he asked again, now fully awake. ‘Bout me kissing you?’

    Julie can see that he is still nervous and worried for what she would say. But, she can’t explain it. Why on earth doesn’t she feel angry at him? Why the hell she ain’t mad?

    ‘Look, Julie. I’m really sorry. I.. I thought it was, it was okay for me to do that. I mean… Were now, like, boyfriend and girlfriend, right?’ he paused to look at her reaction and saw that her brow raised a little. ‘I.. I.. I mean… Like fake couples. Right? Uhhh..’   he sighed, looking apologetic to her. ‘Please say anything. You’re killing me.’ He begged again. Getting more and more worried as she just stood there, not saying anything. But got relieved when he heard her sigh.

    ‘Can I just… Pwedeng… pwedeng pasampal ng isa?’ she finally said, looking frustrated, but not mad. Making Elmo feel relieved.

    ‘Uhh.. I guess?’ he smiled, finding her first ever statement after their kiss yesterday, amusing.

    ‘Because you like.. You like kissed me for three times yesterday!’ she said making him a bit confused.

    ‘Uhh.. I only kissed you two time yes-‘

    ‘You Eskimo kissed me you jerk!’ she cut him off, surprising him.

    ‘Oh. I.. did..’

    ‘Ugh! You even stole my first kiss during that party! Bakit ba kasi halik ka ng halik? Pahalikan ko kaya sayo tong kamao ko ng magtanda ka?!’ she shouted with too much exasperation. ‘What?’ she asked upon seeing his amused face. ‘Why are you smiling like that?’

    ‘Wait, wait. So.. I’m your first kiss?’ Elmo asked with a lopsided smile on his face. ‘I mean, I was your only kiss?’

    ‘Gusto mo ba talagang masapak?’

    ‘Haha! Fine, you can hit me. Para naman din a sumama ang loob mo sakin.’ He cheered, finding Julie’s annoyed face cute.

    ‘Go on. Sapakin mo na ko.’ He said, but she just stood there glaring at him. ‘Oh wait wait! Not the face okay? Anywhere, but not the face, ok- AHHHH!’ he shouted, after Julie stepped on his right foot. ‘Wala man lang warning?!’

    ‘Whatever.’ Julie said, turning to go downstairs. Leaving Elmo in pain.

    ‘Ahh. Shit. Grabe talaga yun. May bakal ba yun sa paa?!’ he whinned, following Julie with his eyes.

    -----

    Elmo was lying comfortably on the couch on the living room, reading a book on his hands. But he wasn’t really reading. He was watching Julie mop the floor on the corner of his eye. He still wasn’t sure if the girl is still giving his the silent treatment because no one was talking when they had their breakfast. And he felt relieved when the doorbell suddenly rang, breaking the stupid silence that filled the room.

    Julie immediately left the mop on the floor, causing a sound that made Elmo jump a little, to get the door. Coming in again with Tina.

    ‘It’s nice to see again, Julie.’ He heard Tina say.

    ‘Same here.’ Julie replied, smiling at her.

    ‘Hey!’ Elmo stood up, raising his right hand to greet Tina.

    ‘Hey. I brought my team with me. So, should I start?’ Tina asked Elmo, whose currently limping to their stance. ‘What wrong with your foot?’

    ‘Don’t mind it. And yes, you have three hours to prepare. I’ll just rest in my room. Kayo na bahala kung san niyo gusto gawin yan.’ He instructed Tina, then turning to Julie. ‘Julie, were going somewhere later. Sila na bahala sayo, okay?’ he smiled, limping his way to the stairs.

    Julie felt her heart ache when he smiled at her. Feeling really guilty that he didn’t even got mad at her for what she did. So she quickly ran into the kitchen, causing Elmo and Tina to stop their doings and watch her. She ran back into the living after two minutes with an ice bag, rushing to Elmo’s side and hugging his waist sidewards. Making him reeeeally surprised.

    ‘Ju-julie.. Wh-what?’ he asked, looking down at her, since he was taller.

    ‘Wag ka nang maarte. Tinutulungan na nga eh.’ She said, turning to her back for a while. ‘Uhm, Tina, wait lang ha. Aalalayan ko lang si Elmo.’

    ‘Uh, of course. Sure sure, take your time.’ Tina smiled, looking lovingly at them that made Julie a bit uncomfortable.

    ‘Tara.’ Julie lead, hugging his waist more since he was a bit heavy, making Elmo smile widely. He placed one of his arms on Julie’s shoulder and began to follow her lead, still having the big goofy grin. But of course he would hide it whenever Julie looks up, then grin again after she looks down. He really was loving, uh no, liking, just liking the attention she was giving him.

    It was a long and slow walk to his bedroom, and when then finally reached his bed, Julie immediately pushed him there.

    ‘Ahh! Grabe ang bigat mo!’ she complained, massaging her shoulder. ‘Oh. Ilagay mo dyan sa paa mo.’ She said, giving him the ice bag.

    ‘Thanks.’ Elmo smiled at her, grabbing the ice bag on her hand. ‘So, di ka nagalit?’

    ‘Hm? Di naman ako galit ah?’ she said, raising her eyebrow on him.

    ‘Talaga? Eh ba’t di mo ko pinapansin kanina?’

    ‘Nagpapapansin ka ba?’ she curiously asked, making Elmo laugh.

    ‘Uhh, siguro?’

    ‘Masakit ba talaga?’ she suddenly asked, gazing at his foot.

    ‘Yup. May bakal ka ata sa paa eh.’ He joked, making Julie glare at her again. ‘Hahaha! Joke!’ he added immediately, seeing a glimpse of Julie’s smile which made him smile too.

    ‘Uhh.. I better go down. Naghihintay na si Tina.’ She said, changing the awkward feeling she got which Elmo was aware of.

    ‘Haha. Sure sure.’ He said, enjoying how she tries to hide her smile. He watched her turn her back on him, and she was just about to leave when he called for her again causing her to turn.

    ‘Julie! Thank you.’ He said, smiling, and hoping she will smile back at him too. And she did. Making Elmo’s heart beat rapidly when she gave him that beautiful smile before closing the door. He harshly grabbed his shirt just above his chest and looked at it in awe, feeling it’s fast heartbeat, and recalling that the first time he felt that was also with Julie.

Bad trip, di pa rin ako kina-kausap ni Gino. Kainis talaga! Kung kelan ko pa siya naging classmate sa Trigo saka naman nangyari ito. Para akong multo na linalampasan lang. Pag kinakausap ko naman no reaction ang drama lagi, buti na lang andiyan lagi si Samie para pasayahin ako.

Lagi ko siyang kasama mag-meryenda, madalas hinhatid pa ko sa bahay. Tinutulungan pa ko sa mga assignments ko..ang suwerte ko lang talaga.

Si Chy naman mukhang busy-busyhan mode..laging wala sa paningin ko, sa tingin ko may bagong inaatupag yung babaeng yun. Malamang magkaka-jowa na. Hmp, buti pa siya..ako never been touched, never been kissed, nbsb p!

Hay nakaka-stress talaga ang paligid, tapos di ko pa masimulan yung book report, English class pa naman ako uli bukas.

Lord, please help me..sana okay na mood ni Gino.

BAKIT BA BIG DEAL NA MAGING OKAY NA KAMI NI GINO?

Pinapatunog ko ang aking ballpen sa ibabaw ng table ng cottage ng school kung saan ako kasalukuyang naka-puwesto.

'Haaay...' hingang-malalim.

'Buti naman napagod ka'

Napalingon ako sa nag-salita. Sabi ko na nga ba..

'Bakit?'

'Lagi ka kasing tumatakbo sa isip ko eh.'

Haha..panis, lumang pick-up line na naman.

'Eenk..hehe..panahon pa yan ng hapon Sam'

'Haha..oo nga, pagbigyan mo na ko, ikaw naman o' tumabi sa'kin sabay kurot sa baba ko. 'Gusto ko lang naman na tumawa ka..hindi ako sanay na nakasimangot ka'

'Ay sus..' nahiya naman ako kay Sam, ayan napa-ngiti tuloy ako ng wagas.

'That's my gal. So, what's the problem?'

Sasabihin ko ba? Baka pag isipan ako ni Sam na sobra na pag-iisip ko diyan kay Gino. 'Mmm..kasi..si Gino kasi.' okay na sabi ko rin.

He shrugged his shoulders, para bang no big deal naman pala. 'Okay?'

'May request ako Sam, please..please..pagbigyan mo naman ako' humawak ako sa braso niya para kulitan siya.

'Hmmm..' nag-iisip

'Madali lang to, promise..actually wala kang kapagod-pagod dito'

'Depende..ano ba yun?'

Sinabi ko na nga.

'One question..why?'

'Ha?' nagulat naman ako sa tanong ni Sam.

'Why do you need to exert that effort para maging okay kayo ni Gino? Eh di ba inis na inis ka nga sakaniya?'

Actually yun din yung tanong ko kanina eh.

'I think you're starting to like him na'

He sounded sad about it.

'Come to think of it, he does look like Elmo.'

Ala..at saan naman niya nakuha yun? 'Sinabi sa'yo ni Chy?' Makikita ng Chy n yan.

'Na you like Gino?'

'NO!' in high pitch 'About me going gaga over Elmo, y'know' asus nahiya pa.

'I will understand naman if you like Gino cause kamukha siya ni Elmo, ang babaw lang kaya nun..haha..it's like crush lang. Normal lang naman ata yun sa mga fan girl na katulad mo.'

Aww, super understanding talaga ni Samie. Napahilig tuloy siya dito.

Pero ang totoo, after the incident nung mag-muse ako..parang may something na akong naramdaman kay Gino. Kasi hindi naman pala siya puro BV eh, he was caring also, especially when he looked straight in my eyes and told me to sit down lang and wish him luck. I know kahit mayabang siya, somewhere in his heart, he really is a good person, at ngayon medyo, slight lang naiinggit ako sa girlfriend niya at hindi ko pa man siya nakikita indifferent na siya sa'kin. Haizz...this is crazy na talaga.

Magkaka-boyfriend na ba ko? Eenk, ang fail naman ng first romance ko if ever..magulo agad!

Sa University gym kung saan nagpa-practice ang sila Gino

'Hey guys' bati ni Sam sa mga kasama niya.

Hinanap agad ng mga mata ko si Gino.

Oh gosh! There he is..eeee..cute niya talaga pag naka basketball uniform.

'Guys, sinama ko si Marga, gusto daw kasi niyang manood ng practice game natin, I hope its okay'

'Hi guys' bati ko sa mga nag-guwa-guwapohang varsity players.

Nakitang kong lumingon si Gino sa akin hawak ang bola, pero nakasimangot ito.

Eennk..simangot agad, d man lang nag-smile kahit ngiting aso. Todo-effort siya sa pagpapansin kay Gino. She was cheering..

'Go Gino, go Sam..go guys!'

Naging water girl pa siya.

'Here Gino oh' abot ko ng mineral water kay Gino, tiningnan lang ako ng masama. Di man lang nag thank you. 'Gino..' I called bago siya tuluyang tumalikod.

'Hindi kami nagpapasok ng audience habang may practice' Mukhang bad trip agad, di man lang nadala sa tubig na inabot ko at tumalikod na.

'Wait..Gino..'

Deadma na naman. Kainis talaga.. Pabalik na ko ng upuan ng makita kong nakatingin sa'kin si Sam. He gave a thumbs-up sign..but I just gave him a weak smile.

Nang mag-break sila, nagpa-alam si Sam, may emergency daw sa kanila.

'You can do it Marga' pagpapalakas sa'kin ni Sam.

Gusto ko na nung umuwi kasi mukhang hopeless case na eh, pero sabi ni Sam ipagpatuloy ko lang daw, so I stayed.

'Gino oh, towel mo' abot ko kay Gino ng bumalik ito sa upuan na pawisan.

'Next time, I'll make it clear to Sam that we're not allowed to bring audience in the practice game' At tumalikod sa kaniya.

Sinabi na kaya niya yun!

'Uy Gino' buti na lang humarap uli sa kaniya.

'Ano na naman ba?'

'Wala namang kinalaman dito si Sam, pinilit ko lang siya na isama ako'

He was standing there looking at me.

'Kasi..gusto ko sanang...'

Ba't ba ko kinakabahan? Para tuloy di ko kayang sabihin. Sayang naman ang effort ko pag di ko nasabi.

'What??' naiirita na siya.

"Ah...' napalunok ako 'I just..'

Sheems...ba't walang lumalabas sa bibig ko??

'I'm wasting my time on you, stupid!'

Bumalik sa laro.

Tsk..kainis talaga. Balik na naman ako sa upuan nito at maghihintay kung kelan sila mag-be break. I looked at my watch and noticed it was getting late na. Lagot ako nito kay Mama.

I decided to call Mom..fail, walang signal sa loob ng gym. Naglakad-lakad siya para humanap ng malakas na signal. Buti na lang meron dito..sa may locker ng boys.

'Guys..guys..have you seen Gino?' tanong ko sa mga nakakasalubong ko.

Andun pa daw sa loob kausap si coach.

Nag-madali akong bumalik sa gym hanggang sa makasalubong ko si Gino. Dinaanan na naman lang ako.

'Gino..' habol ko pero d ako pinansin nito. 'SORRY NA TALAGA' I said bago tuluyang pumasok sa locker room si Gino.

There, that made him stop. Then he turned around and look at me. HUmakbang ako papalapit sa kaniya.

'Sorry dun sa sinabi ko sa'yo nung isang araw, I don't really mean it. It was just..'

'Yun lang ba sasabihin mo sa'kin? Akala ko pa naman kung anong importanteng bagay' pumasok na sa lockers room.

'Gino' wapakels na kung boys locker room yun basta kakausapin ko siya.

'Margaaa....' sigaw ng mga lalaking nagsho-shower.

'Sorry guys, promise I won't look kakausapin ko lang si Gino' tinakpan ng isang kamay ang mga mata pero she made sure na nakaksilip siya in between her fingers para makita kung asan na si Gino.

'Marga, ano ka ba?' nagmadali ang mga boys sa pag-shower at pagbihis at agad na lumabas, hanggang sa silang dalawa na lang ni Gino ang maiwan sa lockers room.

'Uy Gino..' asan na ba yun si Gino. Saang lupalop na cubicle ang ginamit nun? Inisa-isa pa niya yung mga locker..hanggang sa makarating sa locker ni Gino, it was open. Ano kayang laman nito? Ipinasok ko pa talaga ang ulo ko sa loob, ewan ko ba kung pano nangyari na napasubsob ako sa loob at nahila ko yung pinto ng locker na siyang ikinasarado nito. Ang nangyari nakulong ako sa loob ng locker ni Gino.

She started pounding the door but it won't open.

'Gino..' sigaw ko 'Gino..' linakasan ko pa.

'HELP!.. Anybody hear me?' kinakabahan na siya. Pano kung umalis na si Gino? Pano kung makulong na talaga ko dito? Baka ito na ikamamatay ko.

Huhu..nararamdaman ko ang pagkapus ng hanging sa kinauupuan ko. Naninikip na ang aking dibdib.

'GINO!!!' sinipa ko ang pinto ng locker.

'Marga??'

Thank God he's still here.

'Gino, I'm here in your locker'

'Goodness, why are you there?'

'I don't know..' I started crying.

I can hear the sound of the zipper opening or closing, whatever basta may narinig akong zipper na tumunog..

'Gino..' nanghihina na ako.

'Wait, I'm looking for my keys'

'Waaaaahhhh...please...' sigaw ko

'Shut up Marga, you're making me nervous'

Patuloy kong sinipa ang pinto ng locker, di ko na maigalaw ang mga kamay ko, mahina na ang mga braso.

'I said, stop that! I can't think pag maingay'

'Ginooo..' nanginginig na ko. 'I can't breathe anymore.'

'Don't pull your trick on me ha!'

'Claustrophobic ako..takot ako sa mga masikip na lugar, hindi ako makahingi. Gino, please hurry up...I ..I ..can't...brea...the..'

''Wait, Marga..Marga'

Ewan ko ba kung pano ko nagkaroon nito basta nahihirapan akong huminga sa masisikip na lugar sa madaming tao na nagsisiksikan. Kaya nga hindi ako pinasasama ni mama sa mga mall shows ng JuliElmo, nakakapanood lang ako pag tumatakas.

Ala, wala na akong naririnig sa labas. 'Gino..are you still there?' Langya baka iniwan na ko ng lalaking yun, an sama talaga niya. Mumultuhin ko siya makikita niya.

Nagulat na lang ako ng biglang parang may malamig na hangin na sumalubong sa mukha ko and then Gino pulled me up at yinakap ako.

Geee..patay na talaga ata ako. Totoo ba to? Naamoy ko pa yung bath soap, and I can feel my chest against a hard chest na basa-basa pa. I slowly open my eyes..'Gino..' tum-tulo pa yung buhok niya..I lifted my hand to touch his face.

'Stop crying okay'

Naramdaman ko yung kamay niya sa mukha ko, wiping my tears.

'Yung mascara mo kumalat na, ang pangit - pangit mo na'

What mascara is he talking about? I don't wear make-up. Kahit ba naman dito sa langit, ina-asar pa din ako ng lalaking to??

'Don't worry, I'm just here, it's gonna be alright'  sabi niya pagkatapos niya kung pahigain sa bench.

Then I felt his warmth lips in my cheeks, while holding my face.