For Everything (11) What I remember most about love is laughter. Our loud, obnoxious, without a care in the world laughter. How he gave me new experiences, and made me feel a gush of wonder and joy that I had never experienced before. The kisses we stole under the moonlight, and how tentative we were during that first kiss into the unknown. He was Elmo and I was Julie. We met and a whole bunch of figurative sparks happened, and we never stopped talking till the day it was over. "Hmm. This is really good introduction. In fair talaga, Jules. Feeling ko this book will sell." "Wag ka nga. Di pa nga nabubuo, bebenta agad?" "Trust me, Jules. I’m getting all the feels." "I’m thinking of changing the characters’ names." "Why? What’s wrong with your names? Cute nga eh. Wag mo nang baguhin, trust me." "Pero ikaw na din ang nagsabi that this would sell. What if it does?" "Then good. Everybody will know your story." "Which is why I’m changing the names." "No, you’re not." "Frencheska. The last time I checked, this was still my story." "Don’t Frencheska me. And stop with the sarcasm. You’re not changing the names. End of discussion." "Ang lakas ng ulan. Umuwi ka na." "But you’re not changing the names, right?" "Look at that. Bumabagyo. You need to go home." "Just promise me that you won’t change the names." "Sige na. Hindi na. Bahala na." "Promise me." "French. Ayoko na sa pangalan niya." "You don’t mean that." "Why does everything have to be about him?" "Because everything is about him. To you, at least." "Nakakabother na kasi. I just can’t… forget." "Because you see him in just about every little thing." That one was not an exaggeration. Because I see him in every… little… thing. "Even the rain reminds you of him." "Frencheska, stop reading my thoughts." "But Jules, I could read you like an open book. And continue writing down those thoughts. Pagkakakitaan ko yan someday." "Hindi rin. Maghahanap ako ng ibang publisher. Hindi na ikaw." "Haha. Funny, not funny. Must go before I get stranded. Be good, Jules." "Ingat ka," I said, giving my bestfriend a quick hug. "And take advantage of the gloomy weather, darling. This clearly spells thunderstorm with a chance of romance." I watched her lithe figure disappearing fast, but not as fast as my thoughts that began to wander too far back. And as much as I tried to block them out— the memory lane, after all is a good place to visit every once in a while but never a good place to get lost in, scenes came rushing in like they weren’t supposed to. It was, perhaps, five hundred rainy days ago. (Not that I counted. Not that anyone would actually count.) I could remember thunder rumbling softly in the distance, barely heard through the hum of my blow drying. I could remember glancing out my window nervously as I ran the warm heat coming from the device over my wet tresses. A quick flash of light broke through the curtain of evening. I yelped as the thunder seemed to crash against the earth and flares of lightning lighted up the sky. Shakily, I switched the hair dryer off and quickly unplugged everything from the mains in my room. Another flash of lightning followed and another unearthly crack trailed behind. Practically flying onto my bed, I dove for the covers. I thought of how timely my parents’ out of town trip was. I coached myself into a sitting position just as another bolt of lightning pierced the sky and the threatening rumble of thunder chased after. I yelped again. Why I was afraid wasn’t a question I was willing to answer. I made peace with the fact that I was afraid a long time ago, but that didn’t mean I was willing to face it. A little irrationality never hurt anyone. My phone rang just as scenes from horror movies began playing in my mind. Sucking in a breath of courage, I answered and found my refuge on the other line. "Julie?" "Moe," I said in relief, pressing the phone tightly against my ear. The relief was only momentary as the sound of thunder clapping and rain pounding like bullets reached my ears from over the line. “Elmo, where are you? Nasa labas ka ba? Bakit ang ingay?" "Yeah, open your window." "What?" My confusion was answered by a tapping against the glass. Timidly I looked over my shoulder and almost fell off the bed as the face of my boyfriend appeared from underneath his hood. “Moe?" He tapped the glass with his knuckle again as if he were knocking on a door and made a motion with his fingers to come closer. Carefully I climbed out of the bed, trying not to shake like a leaf as the thunderstorm continued to rage outside. Straightening my shoulder, I flung the window open, wincing as the cold wind hissed through my shivering body. In an instant he was in my room, the window shut and the floor filled with puddles from his soaked raincoat and slightly wet hair. "Bakit ka nagpunta dito? Baliw ka ba? Nakita mo nang bumabagyo, sumusugod ka pa." "It’s nice to see you too," he countered, removing his raincoat, running his hand briefly through his damp hair and kissing my cheek in greeting. "What are you doing here?" I repeated. I was mad. Furious, in fact. Because what the hell did he think he was doing, going out in that storm? And what was he thinking knocking on my window like some creepy stalker? Was he trying to give me a heart attack? Before I could verbalize my rant, the thunder applauded outside, making me jump against him. Almost on instinct, his arm wound around me and whether unintentionally or not, he drew me into the warmth of his chest. He was surprisingly dry underneath the raincoat he removed, I thought absentmindedly as he wrapped both arms around my waist in a hug. "Come on. Back to bed, it’s late," he whispered after that roll of thunder stopped. "I was in bed. What I want to know is why you aren’t." "Let’s go. Now." A playful smile began playing at the corners of his lips. "Don’t even think about it, Elmo," I warned as I began to climb back into the familiar warmth. He followed after, pulling my blankets properly around us both. "Buti na lang gising pa ko nung nagtext ka." "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you…" I trailed. Because in truth, I sort of did. Because wasn’t that what boyfriends were for, to annoy at all hours of the day and night with random requests? He chuckled somewhat drowsily as I snuggled much, much closer. “It’s okay. I love you more than sleep. I love you more than my bed, in fact." "I’m glad you think I’m better than furniture," I jabbed at his stomach playfully. He hummed, nuzzling into my hair as he did so. “You’re way better than furniture. You smell nice, too." "Aww. Was that supposed to be a come on?" I teased, expecting a clever comeback. There wasn’t. His eyes were closed. "Elmo," I prodded. “Uy. Wag mo kong tulugan." "Sorry. Series of exams today. Traffic pa. Late na ko nakauwi," he answered, his eyes opening reluctantly. "And yet you managed to drag yourself all the way to my house during a thunderstorm at eleven in the evening," I remarked in amazement, failing to resist temptation. I brushed my hand through his hair and down his cheek before dropping a kiss on his forehead. "What can I say? My future in laws are out of town and I’m a good boyfriend." He dropped his head down slightly to kiss the corner of my mouth, too exhausted to aim right. "I can see." "I couldn’t think of anyplace else I’d rather be in right now." "Me, too," I murmured, raising my head slightly to aim for his lips. I was awake enough to hit target. He didn’t let go this time. Until we were both panting. Until we were running out of air. Until hands began roaming and until I remembered that some things shouldn’t really be done just yet. "Control your testosterone, Magalona," I said after practically tearing my mouth off his. "Then stop teasing me, San Jose." A wink of lightning and a groan of thunder cut off my retort as I crashed into his arms for protection. “God, I hate that sound. Bakit pa kasi nauso ang kulog? Nakakainis." He just smiled and whispered, “Wanna know something?" The thunder subsided and the beautiful singing of the rain enveloped the suddenly still night. “What is it?" I whispered back, yawning as he pressed a kiss at the top of my head. "I really love thunderstorms." "You do?" "Hmmm. Wanna know what else?" "What?" "I really love you." And that, I guess, is another thing I remember about love. That it’s beautiful when it’s real.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 17:44:35 +0000
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