Your Universe

#YU19

Umiling-iling si RJ. "Hindi ah! Mas maganda ka dun!"

Sinubuan ko na lang siya ng spaghetti para matahimik siya. "Ikain mo na lang yan, Pokerson. Naghahallucinate ka na naman eh. Gutom lang yan."

"Alam niyo, dami niyong alam. Mas maganda at gwapo sa inyo tong sina Alden at Maine. Wag kayong magfeeling diyan." Karla said. "Mga echosero."

***

Naabutan kami ng ulan sa labas ng school grounds kaya pumasok kami sa loob ng gym para ituloy yung training. The basketball team is still inside the gym kaya I approached RJ to ask if we can use half of the court for our practice.

"RJ," I called him. He turned around and approached me. "May sasabihin ako sa'yo."

"Ano yun?" he asked. Nadidistract ho ako sa braso niya, parang may pinaglalaban. Tapos pawis pa. Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin na marupok ako??

"Teka nga, pawis na pawis ka eh," I told him and started wiping away his sweat. "Hindi ka na naman agad nagpupunas ng pawis eh."

"Nasa training naman kasi kami, love" he murmured. "Syempre pinagpapawisan. Ikaw nga din pawis oh."

"Not as sweaty as you," inamoy ko pa siya sa leeg. "Baho pa."

"Uy grabe siya. Hindi kaya ako mabaho! Amuyin mo ulit bilis."

Aamuyin ko na sana ulit kaso nakita ko si Paolo na lumalapit sa amin.

"Guys, kanina pa kayo pinagtitinginan ng mga teammates natin."

Napalingon kaming bigla ni RJ and yep, they were all looking at us with that smirk on their faces. Grabe, nakakahiya! Hindi ko naman kasi napigilan huhu syempre concerned lang ako sa well-being ni RJ... ayaw ko po siyang magkasakit.... SYEMPRE MAINE SINONG NILOLOKO MO DIBA HUMAHAROT KA NA NAMAN.

If I was feeling all flushed, iba naman si RJ. Naramdaman kong hinawakan niya yung kamay ko at tinaas and proudly said, "We're dating."

Wala na kong ibang narinig kundi sigaw ng basketball and cheerleading team, congratulating the both of us. Medyo nalunod ako kasi lahat sila talaga lumapit para kamayan kaming dalawa, tumakbo ba kaming Student Council members at nanalo? Grabe naloka ako. But what stuck to me was what Aly said.

"Sabi ko na tama hinala ko when I saw you at Concha's Tagaytay last saturday eh. Ang sweet sweet niyo nun!"

Nginitian ko na lang siya and said thank you after. "Guys, wait lang ha. 20-minute break muna!"

Sinamaan ko ng tingin si RJ dahil sa sinabi niya. I think he got the signal. "20-minute break guys!" he said. He grabbed my hand and we walked outside the gym.

  •RICHARD•  

Alam kong papagalitan ako ni Maine dahil sa sinabi ko sa harap ng mga team namin kaya hinila ko na siya papunta sa labas ng gym para makapag-usap kami. I was right. Hindi pa man kami nakakaupo sa bench, nagsimula na siya.

"RJ naman! Di ba may usapan tayo about how we keep things private? Anong nangyari dun? Bakit mo sinabi yun sa kanila?! Huy! RJ! Nakakainis naman to eh—"

Inupo ko muna siya sa bench kasi konti na lang ata masisipa na niya ko. Inis na inis siya talaga eh. But when she sat down, she turned her back on me.

"Maine," I called her. "Maine, humarap ka naman sa'kin please."

"Ayoko."

"Maine, alam ko naman na may usapan tayo," I sighed. "But I can't help it. I said yes when you asked me to keep it lowkey because you're right, kapag masyadong maraming may alam, mas may possibility na marami ding makialam. But I am so darn proud to have you as my girl and I just want to tell the world that you're mine," she slowly turned around to face me. "Not the entire world per se, but the people around us." I held her hand and kissed the back of her palm. "Mahal kita, Maine. And I will show you in all the ways I know."

She remained silent after what I said. But I was shocked when she leaned on me for a hug and she started crying. I hugged her and started to rub her back, trying to make her at ease.

"Hey," I held her chin up so she can look at me. "I'm sorry for what I did earlier, love. I know I made you upset because of that and I'm really sorry. But I only did that because I am so proud of you, you amazing human being." I kissed the tip of her nose and smiled at her. "I love you."

"I love you too, RJ. Sobra," she snuggled close to me, her head resting on my chest and her arms around my waist. "I'm sorry I reacted that way earlier. Not that I'm not proud of you, love, but I just want to keep things private between us. You are my first boyfriend and I intend for you to be my last kaya takot din siguro ako for other people to know."

"Love, it's okay for other people to know about our status but that would be it. Hindi naman natin kailangang sabihin lahat ng detalye ng relationship natin sa kanila because we don't owe them anything. What matters is us and what we feel and do for each other."

"I'm sorry," she said and looked down, pouting. She started fidgeting, a sign that she's nervous. "Sorry."

"Hey, it's okay. I understand why you reacted that way kaya you don't have to say sorry," I kissed the top of her head. "Tama na iyak, love. Papangit ka lalo eh."

"Anong sabi mo?"

"Joke lang, ito naman di na mabiro," tumayo na ko at inabot yung mga kamay ko sa kanya. "Ano? Tara na? Balik na tayo sa loob. We can't miss practice, love."

She stood up and linked her arms to mine. "I love you," she said, smiling.

"I love you too. Pero aminin mo kanina, hindi mo din napigilang punasan yung pawis ko eh. What you did triggered me, love. You and your incredible han—aray naman, Meng!"

"Utak mo eh. Tara naaaaa."

***
A/N: Had to cut it short para sakto lang sa first basketball game ni Poks sa next chapter. Hahahaha. Thank you bmcdnt  for the photo above hahahahaha sorry sa kalokohan ko kahapon HAHAHAHA tawang-tawa pa din talaga ko diyan 😂 konting explanation lang, MAINE MENDOZA and ALDEN RICHARDS from the previous chapter are KS Alden and Maine on my mind haha para di kayo malito ng konti hahahaha and hiiii maichard_xoxo  & mengxrj ETO NA SIYAAAA I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS hihi #YU19 for your comments on twitter. Thank you guys! 💛