“Yup, Maricar, isn’t it?” sagot ko. Was this true? Pinay “Grabe kay Mariks,” sabi ko. Neighbors kami dati sa Pasig. Then she started to sing that old Hotdog song “Behh Buti Nga.” We had a good laugh afterwards. I was close to her family; from time to time pinapaki-usapan ako ng nanay niya to do repairs of small appliances, and also to help on her homework. She was then a high school student, 14 years old, samantala 24 na ako and on my early stages of being a professional. “Alam mo, nasaktan ako ng husto nang nabalitaan ko na ikinasal ka.”
“Bakit naman?” I asked. Then she started to sing that old Hotdog song “Behh Buti Nga.” We had a good laugh afterwards. She went to college and graduated. But I had to control myself. So we exchanged pictures, and lo and behold, the chubby 14 year old who never bothered to dress or comb her hair properly has already blossomed into a luscious woman, curvy, smart, and oozing with sex appeal.
