What's this Between Us?

XXXXIX

STORME LAVIER

"Call me when you got home." Bilin sakin ni Autumn habang nagaalis nang seatbelt.

"Yes boss." Sabi ko with salute pa. Hinatid ko kase sya sa apartment na tinitirhan nila ngayon nang papa nya.

I want to asked them na ililipat ko sila sa mas maayos na bahay pero ayokong isipin nila na nakikialam ako sa buhay nila. I don't want her father to think na kino-control ko si Autumn. At isa pa, hindi pa kami official.

"Goodnight." Sabi ko bago sya bumaba nang sasakyan ko.

"Drive safely. No alcohol." Bilin nya sakin bago tuluyang isara ang pinto nang tumango ako.

Nag drive ako papunta sa Hotel nila Eiks. Agad naman akong pinapasok dahil kilala na nila ako. Naabutan ko si Eiks na nakaupo sa may side nang pool habang nakalubog ang paa nya sa tubig.

"Lalim ah.." Sabi ko bago tumabi sakanya. Pareho kaming hindi pa nagpapalit nang pang swimming. Naka short at shirt parin kase sya, same as me.

"Nandito ka na pala." Hindi ko alam pero may iba sakanya

"You became serious. What happened to you?" Takang tanong ko sakanya. Matagal din kaming hindi nagkita at baka may something na nangyare kaya nagbago sya.

"Uhmm... There's this girl." Panimula nya kaya nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"Really?! Maganda? Kilala ko ba? Anyare?" Interesadong tanong ko

He chuckled "She's pretty, gorgeous even. She was breathtaking but cute at the same time. I really like her— nope, I love her." Seryosong kwento nya habang nakatingin sa mga paa at nilalaro ang tubig.

"Oh tapos? Anong nangyare?"

"We were together everytime. She's there when I needed her the most and vice versa. We're friends until I realised I don't want that label anymore."

"So? Did you tell her?"

"Nope. I didn't, I couldn't. I lost her. I lost my chance." Malungkot na sabi nya kaya tinapik ko ang likod nya "I still love her."

"It's okay. You can just tell her kapag nagkita kayo ulit." I said trying to comfort him. Sya ata ang may kailangan nang swimming.

"I'm going to.. Right now." He said bago tumingin sakin nang seryoso kaya napatigil ako sa pagtapik sa likod nya "I.. I love you."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko bago ko mabagal na binawi ang kamay ko sa likod nya. "H-huh?" Sabi ko at napakurap nang ilang beses.

"Don't worry.. Alam ko namang hindi mo ako gusto. I just wanted to tell you, at least." Sabi nya bago malungkot na ngumiti sakin

"E-eiks.." tanging nasabi ko nalang. I can't process what he just said. He loves me? Eto ba yung sinasabi ni Autumn na malalaman ko ngayon?

"I actually waited, you know. Gusto kitang sundan pero hindi sabihin nila tita kung saan ka ba talaga nagpunta. Until one day you came back. Pero huli na pala ako. Matagal na pala akong talo."

"I'm sorry.. Hindi ko alam.."

"It's okay. I know I didn't do anything to show you what I really feel. I wasn't pursuing you enough for you to consider me as a man, not a boy friend."