Platonic Hearts (Compass Series #1)

Chapter Twenty-one

"Fall out of love for those responsibilities?" He asked quietly.

Umiling-iling ako. "There's no love, Ashen. There were just responsibilities that used to make me feel better." I murmured. "Maybe fall out of happiness. I don't... I don't feel that anymore while working. Parati nalang akong pagod." Lumingon ulit ako sa kanya. He's still looking at his guitar, but with a crease on his forehead now. Napawi na rin ang ngiti niya sa labi na para bang may malalim nang pinag-iisipan.

"Should I take that as a motivation?"

Napahalakhak ako sa tanong niya bao napailing. I turned off the stove and let the hotdogs dried up from oil before walking near him. Naalis ang atensyon niya sa ginagawa nang makalapit ako. He immediately placed his guitar beside him again and leaned back while staring at me. "I'm not even sure if I'll be good at it... Paano kung may makakakilala sa akin doon? What if my parents will know about this? What if I'll get caught, Aria?"

My brows furrowed at him. Ngayon pa siya magdududa sa kakayahan niya? "You'll do great, Ashen..."

He shook his head. "No. This is going to be the part where I'll fail. There's a big possibility that I will, Aria."

Oh. The first-timer, alone, hardworking, and insecure Ashen.

Nanatili akong tahimik ng ilang segundo bago gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ko. I didn't know what urge me to sit beside him. I tried to look his gaze but he just kept on looking down, crestfallen. Parang ngayon lang pumasok ang reyalisasyon sa isipan niya, na may mga posibilidad na hindi niya inaasahang mangyari sa kanya. I've always seen him so competitive in school, but now, I don't even know this side of Ashen exists. Lonely and doubtful.

I'm glad that he's not hiding this from me.

"You're afraid to disappoint yourself, don't you?"

He stared at me for a while before nodding. I gasped with his immediate honesty to me. "I've never failed in everything I do." He murmured.

"Ashen..." Tawag ko sa kanya. "U-Unang beses mo palang naman magtrabaho. You can't guarantee anything. But I'm sure it won't be the same for you. You'll be doing what you love... just like what you've been doing in the streets."

"At isa pa..." I smirked at him. "Manonood ako pa rin naman ako, hindi ba? I will clap for you."

His brow raised. "Sinasabi mo bang walang papalakpak sa akin?" His thumb suddenly touched my chin. Nilapit niya rin ang mukha niya sa akin nang may maliit ng ngiti sa labi. He held my face gently, settling my gaze to only look at him.

My eyes widened. "I-It's not like that--"

"Have you ever been kissed before?" He suddenly asked as if tempting me. Pabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa bibig at mga mata ko.

"N-No..."

His eyes flickered in amusement. "Good. Save your first for the best." He grinned widely.

Wala sa sarili akong napatango-tango. I almost slapped myself when he burst into laughter in front of me. Namula ako at mabilis na umalis sa tabi niya. I went to the hotdogs again and prepared them for us. Kumuha ako ng dalawang plato at nilapag na ang lahat sa maliit niyang lamesa. Napasimangot ako nang hindi pa rin siya natapos sa pagtawa.

I glared at him. "You being funny?"

Mas lalo lang siyang tumawa. He fell back on his bad and covered himself with a pillow. I just notice this gesture of his whenever he's shy or embarrassed. Parati niyang tinatago ang sarili.

Napangiti nalang ako at napailing.

"Do you want me to be your first kiss, Aria?" He boldly asked. Bahagya na siyang sumilip mula sa unan na nakatakip sa mukha niya. I continued arranging the plates. My hands slightly trembling and sweating. Sinubukan kong iwasan ang titig niya.