8th part of Robi's My Tomboy-ishfriend

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Ian left to meet up with Paolo at the park. I stayed in my room the whole afternoon. I couldn’t take Ian out of my mind. I must be crazy. Really crazy. It was already dark when I felt like sitting outside the house. So, I went out and sat on the pavement. I stared at Ian’s house. It was the same old house that I see everytime I walk out of our house. I didn’t pay much attention to it. But now that I’ve given time to look at it, I can say that their house screams happiness. You can feel their strong family bond just by looking at the house. Of the many times I’ve been inside that house, I never felt that I was an outsider. Ian’s parents treat me like a son. Alex treats me like a kuya. Ian was always the one asking me to play games with her- may it be video games or soccer or biking. Even if we only bonded a few times when we were young, I enjoyed those few moments. Moments with her have always been fun even if we are fighting. I don’t think life will ever be boring with her. I’ll always remember how she saved me from my terrible date on our Juniors’ Prom.

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Juniors’ Prom Flashback
February 2005

I asked the girl I was courting to go with me to prom. She said yes. I didn’t know her much, but because she’s beautiful, I wanted her to be my girlfriend. She looked really beautiful in her red gown. Then, minutes passed by and the conversation was already boring. She talked about how she got the dress she was wearing and how she found the perfect shoes to match the dress.She talked non stop about her self. I was bored to death having to listen to someone as conceited as her. I let her talk, but it didn’t mean that I was listening.

I wandered my eyes around the huge hall. Then, I saw Ian. She wore a flowy purple gown and was sitting with Paolo. They were laughing, along with the other guys that surrounded her. She must be having a really good time. While others danced on the dance floor, she was exchanging stories with guys without dates. Still, she was enjoying the night. I excused myself from my date and went over to Ian’s table. I walked to her and I could say that she was surprised.

“Sayaw tayo.” I announced to her.

She was awe-stricken.

“Tara na.” I said.

I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the dance floor. I’ll forever remember the song that was playing when I danced with her for the first time- “Huling El Bimbo” of Eraserheads. Our big Eraserheads fan teacher requested that song. While Eli Buendia sang his heart out on the record, I stared at Ian’s face. She looked beautiful. Her eyes sparkled with the help of the glittery stuff on her eye make up.

“Ganda mo ngayon ah.” I complimeted her.

“Salamat.” She smiled. “Hindi ba magagalit si Erika? Diba sya yung apple of the eye mo ngayon?”

“Apple na lamog. Ang boring nya. Walang ibang gusto pag-usapan kundi yung damit nya, sapatos nya, make up nya, itsura nya, lahat puro tungkol sa kanya. Sukang-suka na ko.”

“Eh kala ko ba gusto mo sya. Diba dapat kapag may gusto ka sa isang tao, lahat tatangapin mo. Kahit self absorbed pa sya.”

“Kaya lang kasi, tinalo nya si Spongebob sa sobrang pagka absorbent.”

“Ikaw kasi, ligaw na lang ng ligaw, hindi muna kinikilala yung tao.”

“Maganda eh. Malay ko bang ‘me, myself and I’ pala yun.”

“Yun na nga eh. Ang hilig mo sa maganda, nakakalimutan mo tuloy yung substance.”

“Muka kasing may substance si Erika. Mapanglinlang pala sya.”

“Nagpalinlang ka naman.”

“Medyo… Bakit hindi ka nakikipagsayaw sa mga boys mo?”

“Hindi ko mga boys yun noh!”

“Hindi daw… Eh enjoy na enjoy nga kayo. Lalo ka na. Nagsha-shining shimmering splendid yung mata mo.”

“Sa glitters lang yan. Tsaka, ayoko din sumayaw. Sakit kasi sa paa ng sapatos ko.”

“Dapat nag-sneakers ka na lang. Mahaba naman yung suot mo, hindi na halata yun.” I joked

“Eh di lagot naman ako kay mommy. Sya kaya pumili nito.” She was referring to her high heels.

“Si tita talaga. Gustung-gusto ka gawing babae. Hindi pa ba nya tangap na Hoy Boy ka?”

She frowned.

“O, bakit ka sumisimangot dyan?” I asked her.

“Ewan ko sayo. Para kang bading.”

“Ako, bading?”

“Oo. Kasi nakikipag sayaw ka sakin. Diba boy ako?” She was mad.

“Pikon ka na naman.”

“Sumayaw ka mag isa mo!” She pushed me and walked away.

She sat with the guys again. She took her shoes off and placed her feet on the chair beside her. It made me smile. I went over to where they were sitting. I sat next to where she placed her feet.

“Huy. Joke lang yun. Peace na tayo. Sayang naman yung shining shimmering splendid look mo kung sisimangot ka lang.” I apologized to Ian. She glared at me. I smiled in return and did the peace sign. “Peace and smile.”

She didn’t smile.

“I can show you the world.” I sang. “Shining shimmering splendid” I stopped. “Peace na kasi. Hanggang dun lang yung alam kong lyrics.” I was losing my patience.

“Oo na. Sige na. Peace na kung peace.”

“Bakit parang napipilitin ka lang?”

“Ayaw mo?!”

“Sige na nga. Pwede na kahit napipilitan ka lang.”

Then, “You and Me” by Lifehouse played. One of the songs I was hooked on.

“Favorite mo yan diba?” Ian asked me.

“Bakit mo alam? Stalker ba kita?”

“Kapal mo! Lagi mo kasi yan tinutugtog pag may gitara sa classroom.”

“Ah… Kala ko pinagnanasaan mo ko.”

“Hanging habagat ka na naman.”

“Tara, sayaw tayo.” I grabbed her hand again and pulled her on the dance floor. “Ay. Teka yung sapatos mo.”

I ran to the table and took her shoes.

“O. Suot mo na.” I put the shoes down in front of her.

She bent down and picked it up.

“Wag na. Sakit sa paa eh. Panira ng moment.” She put her arms around me. Her shoes still in her hands.

I held her on the waist and we danced.

“Moment pala ha. Siguro crush mo ko noh?” I teased her.

“Whatever. Hindi ako ang nag-aya makipag sayaw. Kaya wag kang feeling.”

“Asus… Gustung-gusto mo naman. Siguro kinikilig ka noh?”

“Sayo? Ewww!”

“Denial queen ka na ngayon?”

“Queen ka dyan. Diba lalaki ako? King dapat.”

“Ang ganda mo namang king.” I blurted.

“Anong sabi mo?”

“Sabi ko ang ganda mo.”

“Hmp! Ngayon lang ‘to. Bukas, back to Hoy Boy na ko.”

“Ano ka, Cinderella?”

“Hindi. Pinocchio. Kasi ‘I’m gonna be a real boy!’” She said, immitating the way Pinocchio said that line.

It made me laugh.

“Buti na lang pala lumapit ako sayo. Kung hindi, wasak ang prom ko. Winasak ng red Spongebob.”

“Ang sama mo. Wag mo nga i-compare si Erika kay Spongebob. Kool kaya si Spongebob.”

“Sus! Kala ko ipagtatangol mo si Erika.”

“No way. ‘Di hamak naman na mas matimbang sa puso ko si Spongebob. Eh si Erika, lagi akong sinusungitan. Tinataasan pa ko ng kilay pag nagkakasalubong kami.”

“Talaga?”

“Oo. Mainit talaga dugo nya sakin.”

“Gusto mo gantihan natin? Papaasahin ko, tapos bigla kong aayawan.”

“Sira!” She hit me on the head with her shoe.

“Aray!”

“Tumigil ka nga dyan. Hindi dapat gumaganti emotionally. Didikitan ko na lang ng duct tape yung kilay nya, tapos bibiglain ko yung pag-tangal. Para wala na syang kilay na itataas sakin.”

“As if naman na kaya mo. Kaya mong magbuhat ng mga mabibigat na props at makipag-sabayan ng ka-machohan samin, pero hindi mo kaya manakit. Except me. Ako lang yung lagi mo pinapalo, binabatukan, sinisipa, hinahampas at binabato. Pwede na nga kita idemanda ng serious physical injuries.”

“Eh kasi, kairita ka. Wala kang ibang ginawa kundi asarin at bwisitin ako.”

“Aba! Hindi mo alam kung gano mo ko napapasaya pag nabu-bwisit ka. Enjoy yun.”

“Ah ganun?! Pano kung sabihin ko sayong enjoy din akong saktan ka?!” She hit me with her shoe again.

“Aray! Tigilan mo na ha. Dalawang bukol na yan.”

“Isa pa.”

“Bakit? Para ‘I love you’?” I asked. “Sabi ko na, pinagnanasaan mo talaga ako eh.”

“Hindi! Para ‘I hate you!!!’ yun!”

“Kunyari ka pa eh. Gustung-gusto mo talaga ako.”

“Hindi nga!” She let go of me.

I grabbed her arms and I placed them around me again.

“Bawal walk out. Hindi pa tapos yung kanta. Smile na ulit. Joke lang naman yun eh.”

“Joke mo muka mo.”

“Ang pogi ko namang joke.”

“Feelingerong joke.”

“Yan ang gusto ko sayo eh. Hindi ka boring kasama. Masarap ka asarin kasi kahit pikon ka na, bumabanat ka pa din. Good job yan, Ian-yan”

The song finished.

“O, tapos na yung kanta. Pwede na mag walk out?” Ian asked me.

I was having a good time with her. I didn’t want it to end just yet. She’s the only person I can have that kind of conversation with. Endless argument. We always have mindless conversations, yet, it stays in my head for a long time. The kind I can always replay in my head and never get tired of it.

‘Dare You To Move’ by Switchfoot was next.

“Hindi pa. Favorite ko din yan. Sa ‘A Walk to Remember’ na movie yan. Diba favorite mo yun? Sayaw lang tayo.” I held her closer.

We continued dancing. I didn’t know that she’ll be the one who’ll make that prom night a memorable one. She saved me from the wicked red rotten apple. She’s my prom super hero. Super Ian to the rescue. If Super Man is weakened by Kryptonite, what about Super Ian?

It was during our Junior Prom that I first saw Ian in a different light. That was the first time I had a ‘crush moment’ on Ian- a few seconds of admiration. A few seconds of seeing Ian beyond the ‘next door neighbor’ I grew up with. After prom, things went back to normal. She wore her usual jeans, shirt and sneakers. Her hair tied up. I felt normal again.


Now that we’re on our fourth and last year of high school, I became abnormal. I was still sitting on the pavement in front of our house. Still confused about what’s happening to me. Then, Ian finally got home from her skateboard afternoon with Paolo. She was about to go in when I called out to her.

“Ian-yan!” I yelled.

She turned to me. I ran to her.

“Last mo ko tinawag ng Ian-yan nung 3rd year tayo. Problema mo?” She asked.

“Wala lang…” I took out some band aids in my pocket. I handed it to her.

“Anong gagawin ko dito?”

“Diba nag-skateboard kayo ni Paolo? Eh, baka nasugatan ka na naman.”

“Marami kaming band aid. Atsaka hindi na kami nag-skate ni Paolo.”

“Ha? Eh anong ginawa nyo? Whole day kayo magkasama.”

“Wala. Nag-kwentuhan. Nilibre nya ko ng meryenda. Birthday nya kasi.”

“Ay, oo nga pala noh. Loko yun ah. Hindi man lang nag-imbita.”

“Sawsaw ka na naman.”

“Alam mo, nasasaktan ako pag sinasabi mong sawsaw ako.” I said kind of hurt, because I really was hurt.

“Asus… Si Robin Hood nagda-drama.”

“Hindi ako nagda-drama. Gusto ko lang naman sumama, kaya lang lagi mo minamasama. Ayaw mo ko kasama.”

“Eh bakit ba kasi gusto mo sumama samin? Dati naman ayaw mo. Noon, pag inaaya kita lagi mo sagot sakin ayaw mo ko kasama. Sinasabi mo hindi tayo close. Tapos ngayon, gusto mo na sumama.”

“Dati yun. Hindi na ngayon.”

“Bakit nga?”

“Ewan ko. Gusto ko lang sumama.”

“Para kang bata. Nababaliw ka na ba?”

“Oo ata.”

“Hay naku… Yan ba nangyayari pag malapit na grumaduate?”

“No idea.”

“Ay suuuusss…” She teased. “Alika na.” She grabbed my hand. My heart thumped so hard. “Dito ka na samin mag-dinner. Tinext ako ni mommy, sya daw nagluto. Sinigang na hipon- paborito mo.”

We went in. We ate dinner with her whole family. I felt good already. Somehow, she makes me feel bad and then good again in just a snap. She makes me feel good without meaning to. She can make me smile and laugh without effort. Even our little fights make me feel good. It has to be magic. It’s the only explanation I know- MAGIC.

Or… Maybe… Just maybe… I’m falling for her.
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mem-O-riesss...

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