Chapter 35
Limjuacos
"Lasing lang ako," muntik pa akong mautal. Tinulak ko siya palayo. He smells like vodka mixed with an expensive perfume. "And you? You had way too much drinks. Are you hearing yourself?"
Ngumisi siya. "What's wrong with what I said?"
Lahat! Lahat ng sinabi niya! Hindi pa nga niya ako dineretso kung ano ba talaga gusto niyang sabihin. I don't know if he just confessed to me. And so what if he did? Harap-harapan ko na rin siyang pagsasabihan na hindi pwede kung ano man nararamdaman niya!
"I mean it," he said while looking at me straight in the eye. "All of it."
"Hindi kita maintindihan—" naguguluhan kong sabi. Kanina pa kami naka-tayo sa labas. Buti nalang at wala ng nagyo-yosi kaya kaming dalawa nalang ang nandito.
I looked at him again. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero bigla kong na appreciate ang pagiging hooded ng mata niya. It's not as sharp as his cousins' but kitang kita mo na singkit ito. May maliit na dimple rin siya sa left cheek everytime he smiles or smirk.
"I like you."
Paano niya nasasabi yun agad? If he does like me, why isn't he scared? Ganon ba talaga ang mga bagets?
I like his guts. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"Look. I'm sorry but, basted kana ngayon palang."
He gave me his usual lopsided smirk. Umangat siya ng tingin at nakita ko ang hulmado niyang adam's apple. Tumingin ulit siya sakin, medyo natatawa pa.
"Hindi naman ako nanliligaw."
What the heck?
Hindi ko alam kung seryoso ba siya o hindi eh!
"Kahit hindi ka manligaw," I defended myself. "You like me, right? Well I don't feel the same."
He chuckled softly. Sumandal siya sa pader. His football jersey is kind of loose on him, ngunit dahil hindi siya payat, you can really see how lean he is with all the muscles in place.
"I already told you... you don't have to like me," he said. "Pero kung magugustuhan mo rin ako, saka na natin pag-usapan what happens after that."
Ang kapal talaga! Sinimangutan ko siya.
"Ganyan na ba kayong mga bagets ngayon? Ang kapal!" Inis kong sabi. Gusto kong bumalik sa loob at iwan siya pero hilo na ako. It's a bad idea to go there and drink some more because my blockmates are already blackout drunk.
"If you won't like me back just because I'm younger, I won't accept it.." he looked at me. His eyes were cold and serious. "I need a better reason."
"As if that's your choice to make?" Iritado kong sabi. "Sinasabi mong gusto mo ko in a most arrogant way possible. If you're confessing your feelings, you should be at least a little scared!"
Umayos siya ng tayo at unti-unting lumapit sakin. Napa-atras naman ako. He always towers over me becaus of his height. It's intimidating.
"Paano kung yun na rason ko ha?"
"You heard my heartbeat. It's abnormally fast," umiling siya.
"Naka-inom ka!" Bakit ko pa ba to pinaglalaban? Ano bang punto ko? "That's a normal response of the body!"
"It's like that whenever I'm around you.."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Pero yung actions mo and pano mo sabihin sakin parang wala lang? How would you expect me to believe you? Hindi nga ako sigurado kung niloloko mo lang ako!"
