Work Text:
| Filipino | English |
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"Tinanong ko lang kung mahilig ka sa yogurt," angal ni Gladio. "Mahilig din kasi ako sa yogurt. Yun lang ang dahilan at pupunta tayo sa yogurt shop. Hindi siya date!" "Kung hindi siya date," mahinahong pakikipagtalo ni Ignis, "ba't ka namumula habang niyayaya mo ako?" Tuwing naaalala nila ang pangyayaring iyon, ang pinakamalinaw sa kanila ay kung gaano kalaking pagkaasiwa ang naramdaman nila pareho. Disisiyete at disiotso lang ang edad nila noon. Wala pang alam sa pag-date-date, o sarili nilang mga emosyon. Natuloy rin naman sila sa yogurt shop, hindi lang naging memorable ang okasyon. *** Kaya, dalawampung taon ang lumipas, sinunggaban nila ang pagkakataong gawin itong memorable sa wakas. Nalaman ni Ignis na malapit sila sa isang bagong tayong yogurt shop, batay sa bahagyang simoy ng mga prutas at fermented na gatas sa hangin. "Bukas na pala ito," puna niya. Natuwa siya, dahil ibig sabihin nito ay mas maraming negosyo na ang nagbubukas sa bahaging ito ng Post-Dawn Insomnia. "Siyanga," sagot ni Gladio. "Magandang date place ito para sa mga bata." Napangisi si Ignis. "Gladio. Niyayaya mo ba akong makipag-date?" "Bakit, bata ka pa ba?" hirit ng tatlumpu't walong taong gulang na asawa niya. "Mahilig lang ako sa yogurt. Kung mahilig ka rin sa yogurt, tara." "Teka lang." Hinawakan ni Ignis ang maskuladong brasong nakakawit sa braso niya. "Kailangan ko lang malaman: namumula ka pa rin ba habang niyayaya mo ako?" At hinawakan naman ni Gladio ang kamay na nakapatong sa kanyang braso. Magaang idinantay ang mga labi sa buhok ng asawa. "Namumula pa rin," pag-amin niya, "kahit ilang taon pa ang magdaan." |
"I just asked if you liked yogurt," Gladio retorted. "I like yogurt, too. That's the only reason we're going to a yogurt shop. It's not a date!" "If it's not a date," Ignis calmly argued, "why are you blushing while you're asking me out?" Every time they remembered that incident, what came across as clearest to them was how much awkwardness they both felt. They were only seventeen and eighteen. They knew nothing of dating, or of their own emotions. They eventually got to the yogurt shop, but the occasion was simply not memorable. *** That was why, twenty years later, they seized the chance to finally make it memorable. Ignis found out they were near a newly set up yogurt shop, based on the mild scent of fruits and fermented milk in the air. "So it's open now," he pointed out. He was happy, because it meant more businesses were open in this part of Post-Dawn Insomnia. "That's right," Gladio answered. "It'll be a great date place for kids." Ignis smirked. "Gladio. Are you asking me out on a date?" "Why, are you still a kid?" his thirty-eight-year-old husband quipped. "I just like yogurt. If you also like yogurt, let's go." "Wait." Ignis touched the well-muscled arm linked to his own. "I just need to know: are you still blushing while you're asking me out?" And Gladio in turn touched the hand on his arm. Gently touched his lips to his husband's hair. "Still blushing," he admitted, "after all these years." |