Bertwal Chapter 18: Oh El

Bertwal

by Paul Diaz

Chapter 18: Oh El

Katatapos ng final exams at nauna nanaman si Joanna at Marco sa tambayan. Di nanaman nagkikibuan ang dalawa at parehong abala sa pagtetext.

Hanna: In fairness nadalian ako sa exams ko

Paolo: Yup me too, ikaw kasi e

Hanna: Ikaw din kasi e. Ahahaha

Paolo: Anyway, so musta na yung plano mo?

Hanna: Hmmm…yeah this is the day Pao Pao

Paolo: What do you mean?

Hanna: Don’t get mad okay? I am going to have dinner with him and his family again

Paolo: Its okay, sabi ko nga diba honesty dapat

Hanna: Yup, and sasabihin ko sa kanya… OL ka!

Paolo: wait then


Biglang umalis si Marco at si Joanna nainis pagkat di man lang nagpaalam ang binata. Focus siya sa cellphone niya at inaantay niya ang pagbalik ng katext niya. Ilang minuto lumipas at di nakatiis si Joanna kaya nagpadala ulet ng isang text message.

Hanna: Hey, bat nawala ka?

Paolo: Sabi mo mag online ako, wala ka naman

Hanna: Hahaha sira! OL ka meaning Only Love Ka, ay kita dapat pero basta ikaw yon

Paolo: Aw! Woof! Bumabanat ka nanaman ha.

Hanna: Talagang nag online ka?

Paolo: Oo kaya. Hahaha para akong tanga ah ahaha. OL din kita

Hanna: Wushu! If I know merong iba din e

Paolo: Hay, eto nanaman ba yung mga online issues?

Hanna: Uy joke lang ikaw naman o

Paolo: OL kita, ikaw lang at wala nang iba

Hanna: OL din kita, konting tiis ha. Bukas okay na

Paolo: Even if it will take forever, I can wait, I will wait and keep on loving you

Hanna: I wont let that happen, basta Pao Pao malapit na

Paolo: Shall we tear the wall down soon?

Hanna: Yes we will…ei Pao text you later nandito na kalaban

Paolo: Hahaha harsh, kalaban ba itatawag mo?

Hanna: Oo, love you Pao, don’t worry saktan na natin to

Paolo: Hahahaha wag masyado labs


Sa gate nakita na ni Joanna si Anthony nag aantay at sakto dumating sina Jane at Jamie. “Sis balita ko magdinner ulit kayo kasama family ni Tonying ah” sabi ni Jane. Ngumiti si Joanna at tumayo, “Yup, this is the day” sabi ng dalaga. “So insan ano okay na ba?” tanong ni Jamie. “Insan? Bakit pinsan mo si Paolo?” banat ni Joanna at natameme si Jamie. “Ha? Akala ko ba kayo na ni insan ko?” tanong ni Jamie at tumawa si Joanna. “Ows? Saan mo nasagap? Di siya ang OL ko” sabi ni Joanna.

“OL meaning online?” tanong ni Jane. “Nope, OL meaning one love, si Pao ang OL ko, at sasabihin k okay Tonying yan for the last time at ididikdik ko sa utak niya yon para tigilan na niya ako” sabi ni Joanna at tumawa si Jamie. “As if naman kaya mo no, we know you at mahina ka sa ganyan” sabi ni Jamie. “Oh talaga? Lets just say I found the source of my strength already, so sige mga sis at may kailangan pa akong saktan” sabi ni Joanna sabay tumawa siyang parang bruha.

Pagkalayo ni Joanna ay lumapit si Jamie kay Jane, “As if magagawa niya yon, sus di niya kaya matiis si Tonying” bulong ng dalaga. “Oo nga e, she melts at the sight of your cousin” sagot ni Jane at nagtawanan sila. “For sure mamayang gabi magtetext nanaman siya sa atin saying na nalilito nanaman siya” hirit ni Jamie. “Hmmm oo nga, kasi if she really likes Paolo e di dapat kaya niya tumanggi agad right?” sabi ni Jane. “Yup, lets say weak nga siya at nahihiya siya tumanggi, pero wala e, sabi niya kaya na niya, oh well tignan natin” banat ni Jamie.

Magkasama sina Joanna at Anthony, patungo sila sa isang restaurant kung saan nag hihintay ang mga magulang ng binata. “Gusto ko pizza” sabi bigla ni Joanna at natawa si Anthony. “Pizza is a snack food, we are having early dinner” sabi ng binata. “E yun ang gusto ko e” sabi ng dalaga. “Maybe next time, how was your day?” tanong ni Anthony. “It was okay until now” bulong ni Joanna at napatingin sa kanya si Anthony.

“Bakit mo ako laging iniimbitahan mag dinner kasama parents mo?” tanong ni Joanna at napangiti lang ang binata. “Wala lang, just like the old days remember?” sabi ni Anthony. “Old day? Past is past and I don’t remember having dinner with them before” sagot ng dalaga. “Hey, ano problema?” tanong ng binata. “Wala, kasi pag ganito lagi baka isipin ng iba na magsyota tayo e” sagot ni Joanna at napatahimik si Anthony.

Nakaupo na ang dalawa at nakaharap ang magulang ni Anthony, nagsimula na sila mag order pero humirit si Joanna, “Pizza lang sa akin” sabi niya at napakamot si Anthony. “they don’t serve pizza here” sabi ng binata. “Ah iha we can go to another restaurant that serves pizza” sabi ng tatay ni Anthony at ngumiti si Joanna. “Di na dad okay na dito” sabi bigla ni Anthony kaya napangisi nalang si Joanna. “Sige orderan mo nalang ako” sabi ng dalaga at nilabas ang phone niya at nagtext.

Hanna: Badtrip talaga

Paolo: Why?

Hanna: Wala lang kasi he isn’t you

Paolo: What do you mean?

Hanna: Wala naman. If ever we have dinner at sabi ko pizza papayag ka?

Paolo: Syempre e favorite mo yon e, at favorite ko din

Hanna: Ahahaha good to know. He isn’t you talaga

Paolo: Oy ano nanaman drama yan?

Hanna: He isn’t you Pao Pao, OL kita. BRB


“So ano Joanna you still have not answered my question from last time iha” sabi ng nanay ni Anthony. “Ano po yon?” tanong ni Joanna. “If you two are a couple” sabi ng nanay. “Ah he is not courting me” sabi ng dalaga at nagulat si Anthony. “O mahina pala tong anak ko e” sabi ng tatay ng binata at napakamot si Anthony. “Sumasama lang po ako kasi matakaw ako e” banat ni Joanna at nagtawanan sila maliban kay Anthony.

Habang kumakain ay tuloy ang pagtetext ni Joanna at tumatawa siya mag isa. “Did someone send you a text joke?” tanong ng nanay ng binata. “Hmp she is texting someone she has not seen” biglang banat ni Anthony at napatingin si Joanna sa kanya. “True but OL ko siya” sagot ng dalaga. “See he is just someone online, grabe you cant trust people like that. They can pretend to be anyone” hirit ni Anthony.

“Well I trust him at OL ko siya, I told you that before pero makulit ka e” banat ni Joanna. “Oh don’t fight in front of the food” sabi ng tatay ni Anthony. “She is infatuated on this anonymous person who acts good to her” hirit ng binata. “And this anonymous person makes me smile always, he makes me happy and he loves me” sumbat ni Joanna.

“Hahaha yeah right, I would just like to see the look on your face when you two meet” sabi ni Anthony at nagsimangot na si Joanna. “Tony that is rude, say sorry” sabi ng nanay ng binata. “Why should i? I am just stating a fact, virtual love is different from real love. He is a virtual character that loves you and here I am a real character, and still you choose that person?” dagdag ni Anthony.

Tahimik si Joanna at niyuko niya ulo niya, “Alam mo I cried when you left, I wished that you had stayed. But you had to go so I accepted that. Everynight I would imagine what would it be like if you stayed. I dreamt of happy moments of us, and I kept on imaging things like that until one day I had to move on. I found someone, but he too broke my heart and for one year I questioned myself, I felt so depressed until he came to my life” kwento ni Joanna.

“Oo siguro we had something going on before, but that was in the past. You cannot just come back thinking we could bring back the past and continue where we left off. I admit I still have feelings for you, but now its not you who makes me happy, its him. So I am sorry if you think we are going somewhere, I am so sorry. Alam mo ang weakness ko at di ako makatanggi, but this time I found someone who gives me strength to say no. I am sorry” sabi ni Joanna.

“I don’t believe you. I know you still love me and you are just making an excuse, ginagamit mo lang yang virtual friend mo to make me feel the pain you felt when we left. Di ko naman gusto yung nangyari ha, I wanted to stay but we just had to go. Alam ko you are testing me” sabi ni Anthony at tinignan siya ni Joanna. “Sorry Tonying, I am really in love with Paolo” sabi ng dalaga. “Huh, that isn’t even his name and you know that!” sabi ng binata. “Tony! Quiet down, you two finish your food and you can talk later” sabi ng tatay ni Anthony.

“Sorry dad, I just lost my appetite” sabi ni Anthony at pati si Joanna binaba na ang tinidor at kutsara niya at napayuko nalang. “Kayong dalawa wag kayong mag away, you two were really good friends when you were younger. Tony respect her decision too anak” sabi ng nanay ng binata. “I will respect her decision only if I see them really together” sabi ni Anthony. “You well know may usapan kami ni Paolo na not to meet each other yet” sumbat ni Joanna.

“Well if that’s your excuse then I wont believe you then” sabi ni Anthony. “Tony, you stop that” pagalit na sinabi ng nanay niya. “Its okay po, in as much as I don’t want to hurt your feelings…but you are forcing me to. Tomorrow then, I will text you the place. I am not doing this to hurt you…but I too want to meet him already” sabi ni Joanna at natameme si Anthony. “Sige po alis na po ako, thank you and sorry” sabi ng dalaga sabay nagmadaling lumabas ng restaurant. Hinabol siya ni Anthony pero nakasakay agad ng taxi si Joanna.

Pagkauwi ni Joanna ay agad siya nagkulong sa kwarto niya at nagbihis, agad niya tinext si Paolo para siya ay tawagan. Ilang segundo lang ay nagring agad ang phone niya, inayos niya pwesto niya sa kama at huminga ng malalim.

“Hello” sabi ni Marco. “Pao…bakit madaming hindi naniniwala sa situation natin?” agad tinanong ni Joanna. “Ha? Bakit yan ang tanong mo? May problema ba?” tanong ni Marco. “Bakit kahit sabihin ko na nagmamahalan tayo ay tinatawanan lang nila ako? Ganon din ba sa iyo?” tanong ni Joanna at napaisip si Marco. “Hmmm oo pero I don’t get affected kasi alam ko naman totoo nararamdaman ko e. Hinahayaan ko nalang sila, lalo na yung mga di marunong mag intindi” sagot ng binata.

“Tsk, bakit di nila kasi maintindihan at matanggap?” tanong ni Joanna at dinig na dinig ang kalungkutan sa boses niya. “Kasi look, they have all the right to doubt, tignan mo naman kasi, oo Internet tayo nagkakilala, sabi nga nila pwede ka magpanggap. Talagang tatawa sila pag nakahanap ka ng love online pero look di naman tayo ang nauna ah, I am sure madami din ganito like us and pati sila dumaan sa ganitong hirap para patunayan na ang feelings nila ay totoo” paliwanag ng binata.

“Pao…do you still love you ex?” tanong bigla ni Joanna. “Hmmm honestly yes, kasi ang love alam ko it never dies. Pag nabuo ang love di na mawawala yan, it may fade in intensity but its always there. Kahit na sinaktan niya ako, honestly yeah may feelings parin but not like before” sagot ni Marco. “Korek, ganon din ako sa kanya e. I still have feelings for him but now my heart belongs to you. Ayaw niya maniwala e” sabi ni Joanna.

“I tried to tell him nicely but he does not believe. Sabi niya saka nalang siya maniniwala pag nakita na niya tayo magkasama” kwento ni Joanna at biglang natahimik si Marco at huminga ng malalim. “So I guess we just have to show him…show them” sabi ng binata at halos sabay sila napangiti. “It’s the only way I think…Pao its okay if we stick to our deal, kaya ko siguro tiisin pangungulit niya” sabi ni Joanna. “Labs, I don’t want you in pain or in trouble, so I think I am ready” sabi ni Marco.

“Kasi I told him tomorrow na e” sabi ni Joanna at nagulat si Marco. “Ha? Bukas na?” tanong ng binata at sabay sila natawa. “Oo, hahaha teka naexcite ako bigla” sabi ng dalaga sabay yakap sa unan niya. “wow, pati ako grabe, bukas na talaga?” tanong ni Marco at pati siya biglang di mapakali.

“Oo…okay lang ba?” tanong ng dalaga. “Hoooo…wow! Grabe so bukas na…wow teka parang kinakabahan ako ah” sabi ni Marco at muli silang tumawa ng sabay. “Ako din kaya, I don’t know what to say or what to do when I see you” sabi ni Joanna. “Ako din no, grabe, wow so many feelings inside of me and I don’t know what to do when I see you…grabe ha ahahaha” sabi ng binata.

“Pao…I am excited and sa totoo di ko din alam ano gagawin ko pag nagkita tayo” sabi ni Joanna. “Hmmm well tulad ng dati I guess, we have to start with on hello then bahala na” sabi ng binata. “Yeah, right now parang sasabog dibdib ko sa kaba pero sasabog din sa feelings for you, I don’t know if one hello is enough” sabi ng dalaga.

“Yeah ako din, my imagination is running wild pero we have to start somewhere, one hello at bahala na si Batman” sabi ni Marco at nagkatawanan ulit sila. “Pao…parang di ako makakatulog ah” sabi ni Joanna. “hahaha ako nga din e, so bukas na talaga…wow…all the feelings inside I cant contain them anymore…di ko alam kung sapat na ang hello to express what I really feel” sabi ni Marco.

“Pao…tomorrow we are going to show them right?” tanong ni Joanna. “Yeah, ipapakita natin sa kanila na maaring bertwal tayo nagkakilala…bertwal tayo nagkaigihan…at kahit sa bertwal nagsimula ang pag ibig ay totoo naman ito”

“We really don’t owe anyone an explaination; we really don’t need to prove anything to them as long as we know that our love is true”

“Love is mystical, it grows mysteriously…to them our love may be virtual…to us it is real…”

“…and tomorrow we shall show them”



(This chapter is supposed to be chapter 23…I will be gone tomorrow and maybe the next…be posting the final chapter for the blog by then. All in all Bertwal has 26 chapters…only 19 for the blog but the story for the blog will be complete…so pagbalik ko chapter 19[24] Paolo and Hanna)