Messing with the Lieutenant

⚔ Is it a Date?

"Dating is a give and take. If you only see it as 'taking', you are not getting it"
-Henry Cloud

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Aaminin ko, being sent out to lecture ROTC cadets is fun but can be irritating and tiring lalo na kung maingay at wala sa lugar ang panghaharot ng mga bata.

Ilang beses din palihim na nagwalk-out si Theo dahil sa dami ng nagpapapansin sa kanya, his alibi, personal necessity.

I can also say that I'm starting to like Theo Lim, well, not romantically but as a person, He's a nice guy and a caring personal buddy. We will be having our final lecture tomorrow, I'll be lying if I'll say that I'm not going to miss it.

"Oi, may chismis ako" Nicole Barbados said as she sit in the available chair, Faye stopped murdering her burger when she hear the word 'chismis'.

"What is it?" Faye asked her rapidly, basta talaga chismis ay alerto ang dalawang ito.

"Narinig ko sila Niccolo at Colonel Ginebra kanina, they are talking about somebody who will arrive here next week"

"Luh, normal lang naman na madestino ah" I commented at saka ako uminom ng tubig, it's refreshing lalo na at ang dami kong kinain na kanin.

"Actually, ilang araw ko nang naririnig na may madedestino nga raw dito, pero dalawa sila" Faye added, dalawa? What's with the hype kung may madedestino dito?

It's normal, but why do the hair on my neck suddenly rises, weird.

"Sus, oo na. How are you and Theo? You seemed to be getting along" Nicole said with a teasing smile, she's even wiggling her eyebrows at me.

"Before teasing me, make sure that Niccolo Castillo isn't here, okay?" I said sharply, she rolled her eyes at me.

"Kill joy"

"May I join you, ladies?" a deep voice interrupted us, nang lingunin ko, It's Niccolo Castillo who is holding a bottle of water, hindi ako nakapagsalita pero tumango na lamang ako kaya umupo siya sa tabi ko, so both of us are facing Faye and Nicole.

"Hi sir" Faye said naughtily, I shake my head, kawawang Nicole, maaasar.

"Oy Yuson" Niccolo said to me, he leaned on the table closer to Nicole but his angle is now facing on me, "I've been teasing you with Lim pero mukhang walang epekto"

"Wala naman kasing dahilan para lokohin niyo ako sakanya, sir" I muttered but Nicole and Faye cleared their throat, it's their way of objecting to the things that I said.

Damn this two.

"No reason?" Niccolo parroted as if he's offended, "Theo Lim obviously likes you, isn't that enough?"

"Hindi pa naman niya inamin na gusto niya ako sir, so there's no assurance yet"

"Rome, actions are stronger than words" my ears perked up with his statement, you just gave me something to grill you, torpe.

"Yeah, I guess so" I smirked at him, natunugan ata ni Faye ang gusto kong gawin. Let me turn this table now, I've been teased long enough, "Napansin ko 'yun sayo sir, your actions speak louder than your words"

"Oh? I wonder why?" he straightened up on his seat as he stole Nicole a glance.

"You can deny it, but you can't do that forever" balik ko sakanya, I know I caught him off guard with that but he masked it with his cool facade, nicely done, pero sorry siya at napansin ko pa rin.
"We heard na may madedestino daw ata dito" wika ko para naman maiba na ang usapan, baka magkaasaran pa kaming dalawa dito.

"Oh, yes" tumingin siya sa akin, "Hindi ko pa alam ang pangalan niya but according to Colonel Ginebra, he's a newly promoted fella. Lieutenant daw, tapos yung isang kasama niya, mataas din ang posisyon"

"Lalaki din, sir?" and for the first time, nagsalita rin si Nicole. A hint of anger flashes on Niccolo's face when Nicole asked that, hmm.. Is that jealousy?

"Yes, Nicole. Lalaki din" he replied sternly kaya napatango na lamang si Nicole, "Excuse me, babalik na ako sa puwesto ko. Yuson, last lecture na bukas, huling pananakot mo na"

Pagkasabi niya ng bagay na iyon ay naglakad na siya palayo. Nakarating pala sa kanila 'yon, courtesy to Theo Lim.
Every time I start my lecture, pinapaputok ko ang M16 ng isang beses sa harap ng mga estudyante, but it's blank. Napapasigaw sila nang dahil gulat at sobra silang kinakabahan dahil hindi nila alam na blanko pala iyon.

Even Theo was shocked the first time I show the student how powerful the rifle is.

"What does it feel when you were cage in Niccolo's arms?" Faye asked Nicole, she's probably talking about the time when Nicole fainted, naikuwento ko din kasi. Napangiti si Nicole, showing that she's remembering that day.

"Well, shocking" she nibbles her inner lip, "Kasi the moment I woke up, naramdaman kong I'm sitting on someone's lap, at nang tingnan ko ay siya. And hello, napakahigpit ng hawak niya sa akin" kinikilig siya while she's narrating that thing.

Napangiti ako, alam ko namang gusto nila ang isa't isa, sadyang in denial pa rin sila at siguro ay nagkakahiyaan pa rin.

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"Last unit" Theo muttered under his breath when we arrived at the last school that we're going to have our lecture.

Finally, next Saturday, hindi ko na kailangang pumasok. I'll have the whole weekend to myself.

"Ilang friend request na ang inaccept mo?" I teased him, hindi ko naman kasi inakala na tototohanin ng mga bata na i-add itong si Theo sa facebook.

Basta ang alam ko lang, the next morning after our first lecture, Theo texted me, saying that it's my fault kung bakit ang daming nagfriend request sa kanya.

"I didn't accept anyone" he answered with a grin.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, baka mamaya magchat na din sa akin pag inaccept ko, naloko na"

"Sus," lalabas na sana ako nang naramdaman ko ang mahigpit niyang hawak sa aking mga kamay. I looked at him, he let go of me at saka siya nagbuntong hininga, "W-what is it?" I stuttered.

"Can I take you out to dinner tonight?" he asked me with hope in his voice. Oh my freaking gosh, is this for real? Or maybe I'm just dreaming, or perhaps, baka I'm in a state of coma kasi nabaril ako kaya ganito ang nangyayari.

Nope, this is real.

A guy just asked me out to go to dinner with him tonight. What am I supposed to say? Thank you? Sure? Uh... Papayag na ba ako? Gosh, I'm so dumb.

"Uhm... M-mag..." why on earth am I stuttering?, "S-sure"

"Really?" his eyes lit up, "I mean, okay, that's great"

I smiled awkwardly at saka kami dumiretso sa lecture area. The usual scenario greeted us, the platoon leaders checking the attendance and girls swooning over Theo. Gosh, Theo. Para bang may mga paru-paro sa loob ng tiyan ko, is it going to be a date?

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