He's My Cousin!

[Ch.21] He's back, too!

"Is it really ok for you, Hija?" asked Tita Ynez.

"Oo naman po. Alam ko naman po na mas makabubuti para kay Ian yun," sagot ko. Hindi naman kasi pwedeng sa akin lang iikot ang mundo niya.

"Thank you, Aya. ang bait mo talaga," she smiled at me.

Nagdate kami ni Ian nung araw na yun. Masaya siya kasama at kay sweet niya. Binigyan pa niya ako ng bracelet para raw kahit wala siya eh parang lagi ko siyang kasama. Simple lang yung bracelet pero white gold ata iyon at may heart na palamuti. Sinuot niya yun sa akin as I was intently looking into his eyes. They were mesmerizing, glistening and almost hypnotizing... naalala ko tuloy si Kuya. Pareho kasi silang medyo singkit. Pero hindi! Iba sila. Si Ian kasi boyfriend ko, si Siopao, pinsan ko lang yun.

Ok, that was silly. I keep on denying everything to my own self even if my love for him was so clear. Mahal na mahal ko siya. Hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari, hindi ko alam kung paano nagsimula. Ang natatandaan ko lang ay naiinis ako sa kanya noon dahil ang hilig niyang paglaruan ako, lalo na dahil nang magkita kami sa beach ay ganun nga ang nangyari. Napahawak ako sa labi ko. My lips have once touched his.

Trick, Paolo, Trystan, whatever they call you... You're still my love. My Prince.

Nabalik ako sa ulirat ko nang huminto na ang sasakyan. Lumabas si Ian para buksan ang pinto para sa akin. I was just staring intently at him, at what he was doing. Of what he could do to me.

"Kelan mo sasabihin sa mama at papa mo?" he asked me as we were walking to our gate. "Bukas. Tatawagan ko sila bukas."

Ian smiled at me. Hinawakan niya ang ulo ko at bahagyang ginulo-gulo ang buhok ko. "You never fail to make me smile, just a sight of you can complete my day." Napangiti ako. Minsan kasi iba yung pinag-uusapan namin tapos mapapatitig siya sa akin then he'll begin saying sweet things to me. Oh Ian, you're making me admire you again.

"Wushu. Sige na, pasok ba ako sa loob. Good night."

"Good night." He kissed me on my cheek.

"What was that for?" Nagulat ako nang iyan ang bumungad sa akin pagpasok ko ng bahay. "Copine."

"Ian's my boyfriend," I said. He laughed. "You must be kidding, right?"

"Of course not. Sige Knave, aakyat na ako sa kwarto ko," paalam ko sa kanya. I glanced at him and I saw sadness in his eyes, I didn't know what that expression was for but there was a part of me that subsided as I saw that agigation. I decided to set that aside and headed to my room. I sat on the side of my bed and gazed at the empty wall.

'I'm happy, am I not?' I asked myself. Hindi ko alam pero there was something in Knave's expression... he looked dismayed and consternated. Ah! I really don't know why the hell I was bothered with these things. I mean, there was nothing to worry about. Nothing at all, Ian's by my side. I should always keep that in mind.

My eyes shifted into the door when it creaked. I saw the ever alluring Knave standing by. He looked at me as if he was asking for permission to come in. I signaled my hands for him to come in. Umupo siya sa tabi ko. "Who's Ian?" he asked bluntly.

"He's a year older than me. I was in junior high and he was in senior high when we knew each other. I mean, that was the time we became close since I knew him already since freshman days, we studied both in John McGill anyway. He was a good friend then he turned into someone I admire. Mabait siya, Knave," I was smilling while I was telling him those words. "Ian Miguel Valmonte, he's that person who always makes me feel special ang loved."