My Best friend, My Lover

PROLOGUE

My love, you know you are my best friend.

You know that I'd do anything for you

And my love, let nothing come between us.

My love for you is strong and true.

                   - SARAH MCLACHLAN

"Naririnig ko ang tibok ng puso mo" mahinang sabi ni Tristan.

Nanlalaki ang mga matang napahinto ako sa aking ginagawang sketch. Napatitig na lang ako sa ginagawa ko.Nakita kaya niya na siya ang pinipinta ko sa digital drawing pad ko? Impossible...Bakit nga ba naman kasi nag-umpisa akong magdrawing ng puno pero imbes na dahon ay mukha naman niya ang naidugtong ko sa katawan ng puno?!

I tried to hide the blush slowly creeping on my cheeks.I'd rather lie than admit to him that I can't still my beating heart whenever he's around.

Tristan Del Rosario Formoso.

MVP of the Year

Class Number 1

Cum Laude

Captain ng Debating Team

Campus Hearthrob ng St. Dominic... 

If those titles were not enough reason para mangimi ang isang ordinaryong babae na gaya ko upang pagpantasyahan siya, malamang itong huling rason na ito, wala na ako talagang pag-asa--

He's my bestfriend! We have been friends since the start of our sophomore year. Ilang taon na din pala akong umiiwas na magfall sa kanya. Ang hirap palang supilin ang mga bumabangong damdamin lalo na at palagi kong kasama ay ubod ng gwapong kagaya nya.

I let out a small sigh. Its such a cruel world for girls caught in the limbo of being more than friends yet less than lovers. He's so near yet so far. Its pure torture to be sitting beside him. He's a devil incarnate! Yes, devil...a very sexy one at that...

" Mahal mo ba ako?" My heart plummeted to my stomach.

This is it!

I shifted my gaze to what he is holding in his hand....

O-M-G!!!

I Almost fell off my seat!

Hawak hawak nya si Muning, ang favorite niyang persian cat na gift ko sa kanya last year.

Badtrip naman oh. Sayang lang ang pag somersault ng puso ko. To think that I almost choke and my heart would have had flown out  of my chest habang naririnig ko ang binubulong nya... Argggghhh!!!

"Foolish..Foolish..." Napapasabunot sa buhok na nasabi ko. How can I be so foolish? Never had I felt so humiliated and embarrassed not until now. I could have revealed my cover there.Whew!

"Daniella... Are you all right?" I was taken out of my self-musings when I heard his voice behind my back.Mabilis na itinago ko ang ginagawa ko. 

I gave him a sheepish smile.

"Uh-huh.Nothing best. I just can't seem to find an inspiration for my gallery exhibit next month.So there..." 

"Hmmm... I thought nagrereact ka sa sinabi ko kanina..." a devilish grin crossed his face.

Damn! What a tease!

"Huh?Why would I react to what you said?Di naman yun para sa akin di ba?" Defensive na sabi ko sabay  tago ng mga gamit. I tried to keep my hands busy and my gaze averted from him. Im too scared that he might see my flushed face. 

Eto talaga ang mahirap sa genes ko. Kung naging morenang morena sana ako gaya ng mama, I will not have any problem hiding this freakin' creeping blush on my face.

"Uy nagblush siya...Selos ka noh?!" his lopsided half-smirk has turned into a teasing grin.Such sexy boyish appeal would always melt my resolve to pretend to be mad at him.

"Ewan sayo Stan! Believe what you want.Im not at all affected!" hinampas ko siya sa braso. I just want to keep the space between us. Mahirap na baka bigla ko na lang maihilig ang ulo ko sa balikat nya! So F-O. Friendship over!

"Feel ko lang affected ka kay Muning! " patuloy sa pang-aasar si Tristan habang naglalakad kami palabas ng school grounds. 

"Why would I be? Diyosa ako pusa lang siya. Besides, bakit ba lagi mong tinotour ang pusang yan dito?Makawala sana! "  

"What?!!! I can't believe yan ang pinagdarasal mo for my baby! Special kaya to. Anytime ipagpapalit ko to sa gf ko" natatawang pahabol sigaw nito dahil mabibilis nang hakbang na nakalayo ako.

I really didn't mean what I said about the cat. Hmm maybe half-meant! hahaaha. After all, ako ang nagbigay ng pusang iyon sa kanya. Kung special yun para sa kanya malamang kasi dahil...special din ang nagbigay! Sabi ko na nga ba! 

With that thought in mind, I turned my back to wait on him.

Napasimangot akong bigla ng makita ko na may kausap siyang matangkad na babaeng color blonde ang buhok. Bigla kong naalala ang sinabi niya...

 Anytime ipagpapalit ko to sa gf ko.

Does that mean may girlfriend siya na di nya sinabi sa akin? My heart constricted at the thought...