Engrossed in my resolute pursuit of college education, I found little time for the pursuit of women. In my five years in the Mindanao State University, I had courted only three girls. Two short-lived courtships led to nowhere. I had little patience for a long courtship and I easily got discouraged.
One of the girls that I courted was a classroom seatmate. She was half-Chinese. I cannot help staring furtively at her white thighs as she listened intently to the lecture on Philippine Government and Politics. Miniskirts were then in vogue. She was a liberal arts senior student and a full scholar. Before the bell rang, I managed to insert in her textbook a short poem I wrote with a fresh petal of red rose pressed on the stationery. I had inserted several short poems in her notebooks or textbooks before but never got any reaction from her. I prayed she would discover the insertion and read my poem in time because that night I was determined to propose to her at the university cafeteria.
At the mess hall, I joined her taking dinner alone at a corner table. I was lucky. She did found my poem. We exchanged pleasantries and when her cheeks crimsoned as her lips parted with her usual subdued smile my spirit lifted. Tonight or never, I told myself. But fate was against me. I sensed that she wanted a soft drink but I pretended not to notice knowing that the coins in my pocket were not enough for an 8-ounce bottle. My courage ebbed and I remained tongue-tied throughout the dinner. I did not lose hope yet. I intended to recoup on the way to the women’s dorm. Fortunately, she graciously agreed to be escorted.
The dorm would take at least ten minutes in a leisurely walk. However, I only managed to talk about the weather. Halfway, the view of the full moon provided me an inspiration and an idea on how to start. But I only succeeded in pointing to her the shining lunar object overhead. We parted at the entrance of the dorm with my grand design coming to naught.
Angry at my stupidity, I ambled to the Aggie Village kicking stones on the way. I was good in casual conversations and serious discussions with anybody (women included) but when it came to expressing my love to a woman my tongue was tied. After that night, I observed that the girl was evading me. I didn’t mind since I had given up hope of ever winning her heart.
In my final year in college, a lady friend introduced me to Pat, her neighbor in Barrio Green, Marawi City and a high school classmate. She built the bridge that Pat and I eventually crossed. But that would be another story.
(Excerpt from the book, LOOKING BACK, MEMOIR)
