Chasing Fire

Special Chapter

A little gift as we celebrate a start of a new decade. Happy New Year, Everyone!

***

"Okay lang ba?"

Hinarap ko siya at ipinakita ang damit na susuotin ko mamaya. I even modeled it in front of him. But the brute just nods his head without looking at me.

"Fiero Alexis Azis!"

Kung hindi ko pa tinaasan ng boses, hindi pa sana siya liilingon sa akin. He's too engrossed with his cellphone. Humalukipkip ako at tinaasan siya ng kilay. This better be good or I'll raise hell here. Kanina ko pa napapansin ang pagkabalisa niya sa cellphone niya.

"It suits you well, Love."

"What's up with you, ba?"

He stood up to come near me. Pairap kong inalis ang tingin sa kanya para tingnan ang sarili ko sa salamin. I'm trying to see if the new dress that I brought yesterday will fit me well. May usapan kasi kaming magkakaibigan na magkita mamaya. I don't know the address yet kaya hindi ko alam kung anong babagay na damit doon sa pupuntahan namin. Fiero knew the location, but he decided to keep mum. Kaya heto ako, aligaga sa paghahanap ng damit. Kasi ani pa ng mga kaibigan ko, tonight will be special so I need to be presentable. I don't know what's with them, pero nae-excite ako.

"I'm... I'm just nervous."

"Ha? Bakit naman?" Kunot noong titig ko sa kanya gamit ang repleksyon ng salamin. "Is this about the Arabian Project? It's almost done. Bakit ka pa kakabahan?"

"No... This is more important than that"

"So, bakit nga?"

But instead of answering, he decided to dip his head on my neck as he claims my waist to pull me closer to him. I rolled my eyes. He's hiding something again. Isa ito sa mga napansin ko kay Fiero simula nang tumira ako dito sa bahay niya isang taon na ang nakakalipas. We tried to be open to each other, na agad naming pinag-uusapan ang kung may bumabagabag man sa amin. But when he can't say it right away, he always does this stance. He would hug me from behind as he leaned his head on my neck to avoid further eye contact. Hinahayaan ko lang, kasi hindi din naman magtatagal ay sasabihin niya din naman sa akin kung ano. There are really times na hindi namin agad masabi ang problema, pero at the end of the day, we always find ourselves talking about it. One thing that we learned from our last break up. We always communicate to avoid misunderstandings.

"I'll tell you tonight."

"Alright,"

It's been a year since that day on our sunflower farm. Many had happened after that. He met my parents right after that day. He even received a punch from Wynd, but all in all, that day ended with laughs on the table. Fiero and my Dad had a small talk after dinner na hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko alam kung ano pinag-usapan nila. Fiero wouldn't tell me, since he promised my dad not to say anything to me.