Rule #1: Rule of Fate

[25]

"What the hell?!"

Pumikit ako ng mariin at napasapo nalang sa noo. What was I thinking? Bakit ko ba siya naisipan halikan bigla? Am I drunk? No! Paano ako malalasing kung nasa children's party ako?

"Lia, what the hell did you just do?" he asked, he didn't sound mad but he was really shocked. Hindi niya talaga inaasahan na hahalikan ko siya bigla ng ganon.

"Forget it," I said and tried to stand up, pero nahila niya rin akong pabalik.

Tumingin ako sa kanya na nahihiya na at parang gusto ko nalang lamunin ng lupa sa kahihiyan na natamo. Ayaw niya ba? Siguro nga, hindi niya na talaga ako gusto. Baka si Hanako na ang gusto niya dahil hinayaan niyang halikan siya nito.

"You don't just kiss me, and just say forget it, Lia." his voice was serious.

I bit my lip again, bigla naman siyang tumingin doon at tinitigan 'yun. It seemed like he was already distracted with what I was doing. I stopped biting it, dahilan para umakyat ang tingin niya sa mata ko. Nakaramdam naman ako nang kaba sa dibdib sa paraan ng pagtitig niya.

"Oh, would you please stop doing that!" he said, looking at my lip.

"D-Doing what?" I stuttered and bit it again because I couldn't handle the tension between us.

"That!" he said, pointing at it.

I stopped doing it and looked down. I just reverted my gaze to my hands and moved them just so I could be distracted. Ginala ko nalang din ang paningin ko sa garden.

"Just forget it, it's not a big deal." sabi ko.

His forehead creased. Hindi ako makatingin sa mata niya. I felt like I just ruined our friendship because of that kiss. Kung tutuusin naman, kasalanan ko rin bakit siya nahalikan nung Hanako na 'yun. I forced him to go on a date. Sana pala hindi nalang ako nangialam.

"Not a big deal?!" sabi niya. "Are you seriously saying that right now? Ano 'yun? Joke mo lang? Trip mo lang? Damn it!"

I looked at him. "If you didn't like it, then just forget it! Bakit mo pa pinapalaki?" medyo iritado kong sabi sa kanya.

It's been a while since I kissed someone, and it wasn't even a real kiss. It was just a peck, a dare before. The kiss I did with him, was a bit longer than that one.

"Because it's a big deal to me!" he told me. "And I never said that I didn't like it!"

I sighed and looked down. He suddenly held my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. I stared at his eyes before looking away. I suddenly felt that beat again. Damn it.

"Lia, I need you to tell me why you kissed me. I'm sure you didn't just do that because you're bored or something."

Tumingin ulit ako sa kanya. Should I tell him the reason why? Bakit ko ba kase ginawa 'yun? Ang tanga lang!

"Lia," he called again. "Answer me, please..." medyo may pagmamakaawa niyang tono.

I sighed heavily. "Ano kase, uhm." Hindi ko maituloy 'yung sasabihin ko. Sasabihin ko ba? Pero nahihiya ako! At saka, diba nga ako 'tong si tangang pinipilit siyang magdate?Bakit niya ba kase gusto malaman 'yung dahilan? Hindi ba pwedeng bigla ko lang nafeel ganon? May mga tao naman na ganon ah!

"What?"

I pursed my lips and looked away. Tatalikuran ko na sana siya pero napilit niya uli akong iharap sa kanya.

"Fine! I think I like you okay!" I revealed with closed eyes. I opened one eye just so I could see his reaction. He looked stunned. Natulala lang siya bigla. He's not even blinking.