Love Takes Time: A Miefer Love Story

His

"And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me."

Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe

***

Fastforward

"Kiefer, Adam. Adam, Kiefer... boyfriend ko."

"Yeah, I saw the announcement." Game changer, huh?

They shook hands pero Kief won't let go so I pinched him lightly on the side.

Hinaltak ko na siya pabalik sa kotse at lumalabas na naman ang caveman instincts niya...

"Tell me he's gay, please?"

"He is. So don't worry, okay?"

"Oh... Ohhhhh. Ok."

"Yes.. Ohhhhh... Kaya sige na, balik ka na sa Katips at may class ka pa. Kakastart pa lang ng sem niyo baka ma-late ka kaagad!" I said pushing him to his car.

Nung papalapit na kami sa kotse niya, bigla naman siyang humarap sa akin, making me push air for a second thus off-balancing me.

He caught ma by the arms and tugged me to him to snatch a kiss to my cheeks.

"Bye babe." Napailing na lang ako, being used to his antics. See what I'm forcibly subjected to?

I kissed his cheeks knowing hindi siya aalis until I do so, at para hindi na siya ma-late... Smooch.

I took his keys from his backpocket and pressed the remote to unlock the door. Ako na mismo nagbukas immediately after ng door niya para hindi na magpatagal pa. He held out his hand and I dropped the keys there before walking to our school gate and waved at him.

Papasok na ko when he signalled for me to come near. Ano na naman?

"Love you." He whispered.

Napailing na lang ako, sabay pingot sa ilong niya and just said "Same here." Yeah, I'm still not used to saying it out loud publicly. Shame on me.

I waved goodbye for the last time and there was a distinguished change in his demeanor; he has totally been much more relaxed as compared to when I was introducing him to Adam.

Kulang nalang pati si Mike pagselosan. Loko talaga to.

Papasok na ko and dun ko lang napansin that my mysteriously-handsome-but gay-partner Adam was still standing where I left him - looking at me. "Hey. Thought you left?"

"He's really your boyfriend..."

"Whatever gave it away...? Did your hands got bruised when he shook it?" I jokingly asked.

He answered with a small, mysterious smile.

"By the way, why'd you lie to him?"

"Huh? When...??"

"He's that possessive? That you had to lie that I'm gay to get him off your back?"

"Wait. Stop!" My mind was just catching up. "You're not... gay?"

"What gave you the idea?"

"I don't know. Your scarf, your pagiging malambing, or... shoot, you were flirting before weren't you...?"

"Malam- what?

You were rooting for me to be gay rather than believe I'm flirting? I guess there's a first for everything."

"It's not... I really thought...."

"Ye, bilis na, male-late na tayo for practice!"

I looked at him then to Kim then back at him indecisively "...I have to go to... See you in class..."