Once A Love Story - #Wattys2018 Winner

Chapter Ten

"Erina." Tsaka tuluyang huminto sa pakikipaghalikan si Caleb, pinigilan ang kanyang kamay sa ginagawa.

"Why did you stop me?" she protested.

"Anong ginagawa mo?"

"Making out?"

"Making out?" Kumunot ang noo nito.

Tumango siya, "Hmm, making out."

Nagtitigan sila, animo isang kompetensiya at tinitingnan kung sino ang unang susuko. Si Caleb ang unang kumurap tsaka alanganing ngumiti. "Naghahalikan na tayo, 'di ba?" His smile was too awkward.

"Yes, but I want more."

"Twenty minutes, mahabang halikan na iyon, ano ba?" Natawa ito.

"Ayaw mo ba? You were doing it to me earlier, I thought you will be alrght with this. Do you much prefer that I am asleep?"

Naglaho ang mga ngiti nito, biglang bumalik ang konsensiya sa akalang maling ginawa. "Ano bang gusto mong gawin?"

"I told you I want you."

"Erina...hindi...puwede," hirap nitong bitaw.

"How hypocrite. You were doing it earlier, and I am giving you a permission to do it now."

"Of course, I want you. Gusto ko, Erina. Pero, hindi pa puwede."

"Bakit nga? You started it. Umasa ako. You should already know I that like you. You made me hope." Her heart was getting torn into pieces, and she hated herself that she was beginning to sound pathetic, begging for his attention. She was being clingy.

"P-pwede bang maghintay ka ng kahit isang linggo lang?"

"What?"

"Kasi...kailangan kong tapusin nang maayos ang tungkol sa amin ng ex-girlfriend ko."

"What?" Iba ang tono ng kanyang tanong kanina sa tanong niya ngayon. The tone before was accusing, hating, but this tone right now had a hint of hope.

"One week and then...?" He just raised her hope even more.

"And then...pwede na tayo?" Namula ang mukha nito, halata ang hiya sa reaksiyon.

Natuwa naman siya. "Talaga? Promise? Tayo na a week from now?"

Tumango ito. "Promise."

Halos maglulundag na kinabig niya ito sa batok tsaka niyakap nang mahigpit. She could not contain her happiness.

Natuwa rin naman ito sa kanyang reaksiyon.

"I will see you here next week. By then, you can't say no to me." She glared at him, making him stand on pins and needles.

"Babalik ako. Handa ka na bang umuwi?" He changed the subject.

"Hindi, but because you need to go, uwi na rin ako." She planted a quick kiss on his lips. Napangiti ito. Dinutdot ng hintuturo ang ituktok ng kanyang ilong.

"Ihahatid na kita sa inyo, dala ko ang sasakyan ko."

"Really? How sweet! Can I just eat you?"

Saglit itong natigilan at tiningnan siya.

"What?" Pagtataka naman niya.