He's My Cousin!

[Ch.25] 'Til My Last Breath

[Ch. 25] ‘Til My Last Breath

// Ayanna's Point of View

To be in his arms was a very overwhelming feeling, a feeling I wouldn't be able to explain. It was something I never expected to happen but something I dreamt for. Kuya Paolo, or should I say Paolo, was one person I never thought I'd be in love with. Looking back on how we met again makes me smile.

Natatandaan ko pa kung gaano ako ka-kabado noong panahon na iyon. Mahilig siyang mang-asar at madalas niya akong pagtripan. And guess what? He's starting to be like that again. I don't know if I'd be happy to always see him smile though knowing that he's thinking of pranks for me again. Paolo's sweet too. Sa mga sinasabi niya? Minsan nacocorny-han ako pero hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mapangiti. You know why.

Naalala ko tuloy si Ian, sweet din kasi yun. This weird question suddenly popped out of my mind: 'kung hindi kaya tumira si kuya sa bahay namin, will I love Ian so much by this time?' Indeed a weird question.

"Aya," he embraced me tightly for both of us were lying on his bed. "Alam mo hindi pa rin ako sanay na tawaging kang Paolo," I said as I looked at him. Look, I used to call him ‘kuya’ ever since. He looked at me then gave me a smirk. I didn't really know what that smirk was for.

"You don't want to call me Paolo then?" he finally asked.

It took a moment before I finally answered, "Hmm, that’s not what I meant. Hindi lang talaga ako sanay.”

He seemed to be thinking. "Then call me babe, honey, love, mahal ko, sweetheart---" I pinched his nose until he begged me to get rid of it. Ha ha, he looked really cute. Bahagya naman akong naguilty dahil pag tanggal ko ng pagkakakurot sa ilong niya, kitang kita ang pamumula nito. He looked even cuter so that's okay!

"Sabi ko nga kasi Paolo na lang eh. Ang corny corny pa niyang iniisip mo!" protesta ko sa kanya. He pouted because of that. Natawa naman ako sa itsura niya. I’m not accustomed seeing him like that… but I guess I should.

"You look gay!" I shouted in front of his face though he didn’t really look like one.

"Do you remember what happened the last time I was called gay?" I saw him grin. Matapos kong makita ang kakaibang kurba sa labi niya, naalala ko yung araw na hinalikan niya ako sa may beach dahil sa mga 2nd degree cousins namin. Feeling ko namula yung pisngi ko ng dahil don.

"Ewan ko sayo!" hinilamos ko yung kamay ko sa mukha niya. Umupo ako mula sa pagkakahiga namin. Kumunot naman ang noo niya. “Don’t tell me you’re planning to make me stay here?” tanong ko sa kanya. Tumawa ako, wala naman kasi akong balak na matulog sa kwarto niya. It’s not that I don’t trust him! Ayoko lang namang maabutan kami ni Mama sa kwarto niya na tabi matulog Okay, we’re cousins, yes, but still… you know what I mean. Hindi tama.

Funny, I’m thinking what’s right when I’m actually doing something forbidden.

“You may if you want to,” seryoso niyang sabi.

“K, I’m out!” I said as I walked to the door.

Ѽ

March 8 came too fast. I’m at school and I was having my lunch with Ella, Paolo, Francis and Liz. For the first time Francis joined us. It was actually as though we were having a double date plus Ella… but no, they do not anything about me and Paolo being together nor do I have plans of telling them so.