When I First Met You

HE WAS SO HEART-STOPPINGLY GORGEOUS.

He was standing a few steps away from me, wearing only black silk pajamas. His raven black hair was wet and messy in a sexy way.

I can't believe I was seeing him right now as if he was real. Marahan akong bumangon mula sa carpeted na sahig. Sinalubong ko ang mainit na titig ng kulay berde niyang mga mata sa akin. I can't be wrong, this was him.

He was my Cross, not the real and rude one, but my imaginary boyfriend, my perfect love. Finally, he was here again with me. Ngayon ko siya kailangang-kailangan. Malinaw na malinaw siya sa imagination ko and–

"Hindi ka ba papasok?" bigla siyang nagsalita.

"H-ha?" Napakurap ako.

"Wala ka bang pasok sa school ngayon?"

Kinusot kong mabuti ang aking mga mata bago muling napatitig sa kanya. "S-so you're not my imaginary boyfriend?" usal ko.

He just raised his left brow. Ahg! How rude! Hindi nga siya ang Cross ko!

Bakit ba kasi wala siyang suot na cap? At bakit naka-topless siya? Fit na fit tuloy sa kanya ang pagiging imaginary Cross ko! Ahg!

Kinuha ko ang aking cellphone na nakalapag sa aking uluhan. "Late na ko. Aabsent nalang ulit ako ngayon. Tomorrow na lang ako papasok since I still got some things to figure out." Plus, he just ruined my day. Akala ko talaga na nagbalik na ang imaginary Cross ko.

"That's the same yesterday."

He was right. Pangalawang araw ko na itong aabsent. Dalawang araw na ako rito sa condo niya. Nakahilata lang ako sa capert the whole day hanggang sa gumabi. Wala naman kasi akong ibang magagawa since wala naman siya ritong gamit.

"What's your plan now?"

"None..."

Nagsalubong ang makakapal niyang kilay. "What do you mean none?"

"I have no place to go. I also have no cash with me. Pina-freeze din ni Dad ang lahat ng cards ko."

"You're kidding."

"I wish..." Malungkot akong bumuntong-hininga. "Seriously, wala akong kapera-pera. Siopao pa lang ang laman ng tiyan ko."

Wala kasing ibang pasalubong sa akin si Cross kundi siopao. Iyon lang yata ang alam na pagkain ng lalaking ito.

Napahilot siya sa kanyang sentido. "Why don't you just go home?"

"I can't. I talked to my dad last night and we just had a fight."

"Then just say sorry and get it over with."