040201

It's a day after the April fool's and fools do rush in, like we did.
.......
"Bhaze and Alfie's getting married in UP chapel." Jody said smiling happily. Her announcement took me back seven years underneath the dome of a Catholic sanctuary.

This same smile made the summer heat of April 2, 2001 a vague and warm greeting of first love. It was the last day of the 2nd semester, my 3rd year in College. My sweating forehead dried-up even before the salty droplets fell. Jody accompanied me earlier to submit my last Humanities 2 requirement to the faculty center, then she said that we should meet in the UP chapel after lunch.

I wanted to ask her out for lunch, but she was meeting her parents and she was to leave me and the campus behind for the Summer break. The idea was a dreadful topic,since we've spent more and more of the days being dependent on each other. It was funny and weird since a few nights ago while sitting on the Engineering steps, she asked whether I was courting her and in response I took her hand in mine. In this very informal way, we became a couple.

I told her that I had my lunch at Rodic's in the shopping center; but truthfully, and due to my still boyish & romantic ideas, I waited for her near the church not minding my stomach's constant rumbling. Funny that such waiting seems blurred in my memory, although I can remember being impatient with time for prolonging the agony of a lunch break. Then I saw her enter the Church wearing her lovely maroon blouse I grew accustomed with.

I followed her near the empty chapel resembling a large half buried eggshell. I walked inside the circular lawn until I was covered by the circular ceiling. The birds above, were happily chirping which i found amusing; but then again, my amusement would diminish seeing markings on the floor due to unnecessary droppings.

Jody saw me and motioned me to sit beside her just in front of the wooden crucifix. She took out something from her bag which was covered in transparent plastic: A take-out pizza fresh from her lunch date. She knew I didn't take my lunch. I placed the pizza inside my bag; it can wait until we got out.We sat there, held hands and silently uttered our own thoughts; she was praying, and I was trying my best to appear praying while eavesdropping and staring at her closed eyes. She caught me the instant she opened her eyes, and smiled at my pretension.

"Walk tayo ng makain mo yung pizza. Pinabaon ni Mommy at Tita yan" she said smiling, while she closed her bag.

That moment I wanted to tell her, that even though I wasn't her boyfriend yet, I'll marry her in the UP chapel someday. She probably saw some ideas leaking out from my eyes, that she took my hand and we soon found ourselves walking outside the church.

She was laughing at the way I ate the pizza as we walked. "Anong nakakatawa po?" I asked and she shrugged in response. Years later, while being pregnant with Jas, she would tell me how she enjoys seeing me eat.

"Saan tayo?" I asked her knowing that we were running out of time -- they were to leave at around 3pm. She can't make up her mind and said that she just wanted to be with me more. There were troubles in her thoughts as she constantly wrinkled her forehead and nose, as if arguing with herself.

"Upo tayo" she said when we were in front of the Sunken Garden. The place looks more like a large crater of lawn rather than a garden. My mind played with the thoughts of the COCC Sunday marching on the lawn as I almost fainted in front of a female battalion commander I addressed as"Sir" -

she cursed me with "paalam ka kung hihimatayin ka" along with a strong thud on my chest. A thud that ended my train of thoughts, and I felt happy thinking that I was with Jody instead of "Sir"-- though Jody was wearing a confused face since we walked away from the chapel.

We sat under the shade of of the century-old tree. Comforting her thoughts, I sat behind her with my hands enveloping her and letting the palms fall on her hands. She was leaning on my left knee while trying to stare across the green grasses. I was telling her stories to cheer her gloomy mood since she was probably sad of the Summer to come;then she spoke..."Oo, tayo na." It was probably the sweetest sound hearing her say those words.

I smiled, with a bit overly-exaggerated tone I said "YES!". She laughed at my reaction with a slight shyness, probably trying to hide from the passing students. I didn't mind and with a driven impulse I intend to hug her tightly. She was about to look my way, and I was going to tease her when friction of soft lips made us stop and moved away from each other.

"Fist kiss!" I almost shouted. "Hindi ah" she said as her cheeks became too red amplifying the color of her blouse. I was so happy I had not heard her cellphone beeping: A message from her sundo. It was time to let go.

She bade goodbye after I walked her to PCED where her parents checked-in for the evening. I remember walking towards the dorm with mixed emotions of happiness (for having a formal relationship with Jody) -- and sadness (for the idea of not seeing her in the next two months.)

The next sem, we met by accident in an IKOT ride. I was seated at the far-end left side and she sat in front of me by surprise. We held hands as the passengers awkwardly trying to load and unload.

We miss UP, because it contains memories of our many "first" stories together; and going back to see friends getting married makes it even more exciting.

Happy 7th year Jody. Even though you insist that it wasn't our first kiss, I still believe it was.