Stonehearts 4: Diamond

Twenty Seven

"Grandma, mauna na kami ni Aya. Ayoko kasing gabihin kami masyado dahil may pasok pa kami bukas." Paalam ni Ferris pagkatapos humalik sa pisngi ng lola niya. The old woman nodded her head before she stretch her arms for me. I awkwardly moved forward until she was able to wrap her arms around me. She combed my hair using her fingers before murmuring something to my ear. "You're good for Ferris. Thank you for bringing him here."

Wala akong nasagot kundi ngiti lang. Mukhang matagal nga nilang hindi nakasalamuha si Ferris. I looked at him over my shoulder before he secured me by putting an arm around my waist. He planted a soft smooch on the side of my head. My heart erratically pounded hard on my chest. I'm really falling deep for this guy and I knew it. He's most of the time annoying but he's my annoying man and I wouldn't mind being irritated by him for the rest of my life.

"Wait here." Ferris finally spoke. I turned my head to face him. Anxiety was written all over his face while looking at something, someone rather. I followed his gaze and I saw his dad and Miss Suzanna talking at the kitchen table. I smiled and gave him a subtle nudge on his side.

"Puntahan mo na. Kaya mo 'yan."

He looked at me before he drew in heavy breaths. He nodded his head before he made his way to his parents. I saw how shocked the two were when Ferris gave them both a kiss on cheek. I laughed secretly because of his awkwardness.

Mabilis siyang umalis sa harap ng magulang niya bago bumalik sa tabi ko at humawak sa kamay ko. "Alis na tayo." He said without a blink before dragging me out of their family house.

I was still laughing while I watched him purr the engine to life. His face was crossed with pique and exasperation before turning to me hastily. "Will you please stop laughing?" He asked annoyed, his brows furrowing together.

Mas lalo akong natawa, pumalo pa nga ako sa hita ko dahil hindi ko talaga mapigilan. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya saka niya inabot ang magkabilang gilid ng mukha ko. And before I knew it his lips were on mine. My eyes were wide in shock but my mind got slurred out of reality. I just felt the urge to close my eyes and savor the moment. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit hindi ako nakatanggi. He kissed me with so much passion until I was breathless.

"Tatawa ka pa?" He said with a smug look on his face. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko dahil hindi ko na masundan ang bilis ng tibok nito. Ferris got busy driving and didn't notice the sudden change on my breathing. Hindi kasi ako handa sa ginawa niya. Nanginginig akong humawak sa braso niya, nakangiti siyang lumingon sa akin pero napukaw iyon nang nakita niyang hirap na akong huminga.

Agad siyang napa-park sa gilid ng daan. "Shit. Shit. Shit." He muttered in trepidation before grabbing my bag. Mabilis niyang nahanap ang inhaler ko, he gave it to me and supported me while I take hits. "Shit, tell me you're okay." He asked pressingly. I can feel his hands tremble too. Isinandal niya ako sa upuan bago niya pinaandar ang sasakyan.

Humawak ako muli sa braso niya para kalmahin siya. Nakikita ko kasi ang taranta niya, baka kung ano pang abutin namin dahil sa pagmamadali niya. "Ferris, I'm okay. Pl-lease calm do-own." I said in between meds. He faced me and I tried my best to smile at him. "Ito ang normal ko. Makakahinga rin ako ng maayos mamaya."

He sighed before he held my hand and kissed it hard. "Hindi na kita ulit hahalikan ng walang paalam." He muttered seriously. Mukhang sinisisi niya ang sarili niya sa nangyari.

"You literally took my breath away." I joked to make the situation light. Napalingon siya sabay ngiti at iling. Inakap niya ang kamay ko sa kanya saka hinalikan 'yong muli.

"Nakuha mo pang magbiro."

Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinilig ang sarili ko sa kanya. My breathing went normal again. Inakbayan niya ako bago humalik sa tuktok ng ulo ko. "Nanlalambing ka? Mamaya na baka madisgrasya tayo." Mayabang na tugon niya. Napairap ako bago umupo ng maayos. Actually I was really making lambing. Para lang malaman niya na hindi ko siya sinisisi sa nangyari kanina.

"I should really set an appointment as to when I can kiss you. Para maiwasan natin ang nangyari kanina." He said those things in all seriousness. Natawa ako bago humampas ng mahina sa braso niya.

"You deserve the kiss." I said in teenie weenie voice, my cheeks blushing crimson. He looked at me before parking in front of the carinderia. Inakbayan niya ang upuan ko at wala akong nagawa kundi manliit sa pwesto namin.

His face is a few inches from mine again. He was grinning before rubbing his nose on mine. "Say it again." He ordered, his breath fanning my face. I held my chest tight, hinga Aya. Hinga.

"You deserve my first kiss." I quietly muttered. "You deserved many of my firsts."

He beamed at me dearly before kissing the tip of my nose. "You're my first of many too."

Lumayo siya sa akin at nagsimulang magtanggal ng seatbelt. Muling lumuwag ang paghinga ko pero nakahawak pa rin ako sa bandang dibdib ko. "First in what?" I asked curiously. He reached for the lock of my seatbelt and released it.

"First to make me fall in love is one." He said without indecision. Napatigil ako sandali sa paghinga. Nginitian niya ako saka siya bumaba ng sasakyan at pinagbukas ako ng pinto. Napatigil ako sa pagbaba ng sasakyan niya nang biglang lumitaw si Bryce sa likuran niya.

Ferris turned around to look at whom I'm gaping at. "Ikaw nanaman!" Tahimik na aniya. Hindi siya pinansin ni Bryce sa halip tinugon nito ang atensyon niya sa akin. May mga pasa rin siya sa mukha at medyo maga ang kanang pisngi niya.

"Aya, pwede ba tayong mag-usap?" Nilingon ko sa Ferris. I gave his hand delicate grasp before looking back at my bestfriend.

"Ferris..." 'Yon pa lang ang nasasabi ko nagbuntong hininga na siya. Inakap niya ako ng mahigpit na mahigpit. Tighter and firmer than his usual hugs. "Okay then. Just because I promised tito things. Goodnight sunshine, I will see you tomorrow."

Hinintay muna naming tuluyang mawala ang sasakyan ni Ferris bago ko hinarap muli si Bryce. Blangko ang mukha niya habang nakatitig lang sa akin. "Gusto mong umupo?" Tanong niya. Napatango lang ako bago pumasok sa loob ng carinderia.

He followed me and claimed the seat across me. Matagal kaming nagtitigan dalawa. After years of being bestfriends, ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng kaba habang kaharap siya. Parang malabo na atang maibalik ang dating kami. "Do you like him?"

I gasped because of his question. I leaned back before I nodded my reply. I saw him close his eyes for a moment. Matagal na matagal bago niya iyon minulat muli. "Then it's my duty to be happy for you. Because that's my job as your bestfriend. Sorry if I caused you trouble. Alam ko namang ako ang mali, nagsayang ako ng panahon noon at ngayon hindi ko na maibabalik."

"Bryce..."

"It's okay baby. I have accepted defeat, I know you can never look at me in a romantic way and there's nothing I can do about it. Siya ang gusto mo at hindi ako. Simple lang naman at hindi mahirap intindihin. Ang akin lang, 'wag ka niyang sasaktan. Alagaan ka niya hindi dahil responsibilidad ka kundi dahil mahal ka niya. Dahil kung hindi, ako mismo babasag sa mukha ng lalakeng 'yon."

Napatayo ako at umakap sa kanya. Mangiyak-ngiyak pa nga ako habang nakapulupot ang kamay ko sa bewang niya. He put his arms around me and kissed my hair.

"Thank you Bryce... I thought I lost you forever."

He chuckled while caressing my back. "Ikaw ba naman matitiis ko?"

I half laughed and half cried before I looked at him straight in the eyes. Hinawi niya ang buhok ko at inipit 'yon sa tenga ko. "Bestfriends forever tayo 'diba?" Nakangiting tugon niya.