She Crossed That Bridge

09

"The guys and I are going to your house this evening."

Did I hear him right? They're going to our house? Tonight? O namali lang talaga ako nang dinig? Baka may naririnig akong kakaiba? O nag-i-imagine lang ako?

"I have to impress your father. Any advice you can give?"

Mas lalo akong natigilan at napatitig sa kanya. So talagang pupunta nga sila sa bahay namin mamaya. At gusto niyang magpakitang gilas kay dad?

"What the hell?" wala sa sariling sabi ko.

"What?"

"Why would you do that?"

"Why not?"

"Drop it, Hel. We're slowly getting everyone's attention. Go back to your table," pabulong kong sabi saka ko siya siniko.

"I'm planning to ask you out on our second date this weekend and it might be too hard to ask for your brother's permission, but maybe it's easier if I asked your father directly."

Pakiramdam ko lahat ng dugo ko ay umakyat sa pisngi ko. Grabe. Why did he keep on saying things like that? It would make me fall for him even more. Napakadali ko pa namang mahulog.

Helix Guatamyel wanted to go on a second date with me, and he wanted to ask for my father's permission first.

Napangiti ako.

Progress.

***

MY head craned out my bedroom window as I watched the road, searching for Hel's car.

He would arrive any minute together with P5.

I forced myself to take a deep, calming breath. Panicking wouldn't help anybody. I just had to get through tonight and pray for Helix to make my father allow me to go out on a date with him this weekend.

I almost jumped in surprise when someone knocked on my door.

"What?" inis kong tanong sa kuya ko nang bumukas 'yong pinto. Umay na umay na ako sa presensya at mukha niya. Puwede bang lubayan niya muna ako?

"Do not leave your room. My friends are downstairs. They're all boys. So, you should just stay here."

I groaned in disbelief. "Are you serious?!" pikon kong sabi. Sumosobra na talaga 'tong isang 'to! Nakaiinis na talaga!

"Never been more serious."

"Gerald!"

"Uh uh. No more arguing, princess. I'll bring you pizza later," he said before closing the door. I didn't have any choice but to follow his rules. Kasi kapag sinuway ko siya, I would end up being grounded.

Damn it. I really hate my brother!

***

SLOWLY, I opened my eyes as I felt something poking my cheek.

Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko at napaayos ng upo mula sa pagkakahiga ko no'ng makita ko si Helix na nakaupo sa kama ko.

"How did you get in?" I asked in surprise. Kanina pa ba siya nandito?

"Gerald and Andrew went out to buy pizza."

Napairap ako. "Duh. Puwede namang magpa-deliver. 'Di talaga mahilig mag-isip 'yong kapatid ko. Sa bagay, wala naman talagang isip 'yon, laging lumilipad."

Bahagyang natawa si Helix saka napailing. "Wala raw silang delivery boy ngayon. But because Ger's so obsessed with their pizza, sila na mismo ni Andrew 'yong pumunta sa kanila para bumili."

"How did you know my room, by the way?" I asked, raising a brow at him. "And how come my father hasn't seen you walking upstairs?"

Nakapagtataka lang na hindi napansin ni dad na may ibang taong umakyat dito sa kuwarto ko. Sa kanya kasi nagmana si Ger. Pareho silang overprotective, pero siyempre, walang tatalo sa pagiging overprotective ni Gerald.

"He's outside, doing a car wash," sagot niya sa 'kin.

Ah. Kaya pala.

Tumango lang ako at nakahinga nang maluwag. Mabuti naman at wala talagang nakapansin na umakyat siya rito.

"My brother won't let me out," I complained. Sa sobrang inis ko nga ay hindi ko namalayang nakaidlip pala ako kanina.

"It's fine."

"But I want to hang out with you," I muttered, frowning like a kid.

A smile escaped his lips.

"Why do you want to hang out with me?" he asked, still smiling, like he already knew the answer.

"Because you're nice, handsome, and—I fell in love with you at first sight." Shit. That slipped from my tongue unconsciously. What the hell?

"I thought it was just me," he said, a smile evident in his voice.

"W-what did you just say?" gulat na tanong ko. Tama ba ang narinig ko? O may tama na 'tong utak ko at pandinig ko?

My eyes widened in surprise when he leaned closer to me and gave me a soft kiss on my cheek.

My pulse raced as his lips slowly went down to mine.

Ilang segundo bago ko napagtanto 'yong nangyayari.

Damn. Hel's kissing me!

Hindi pa nga ako nakare-recover sa paglapat ng labi niya sa labi ko, his hands drifted down until it cupped my lower back.

It was a delicate kiss.

I was drowning.

This was my first kiss.

And I literally have no idea how to kiss back, so I just closed my eyes and tried to comply in my own way.

His lips curved into a smile when he noticed I was kissing him back.

"You're not a great kisser, but that's just lack of experience," he whispered, giving me a crash course.

And I improved quickly.

~

T I A N A V I A N N E