Kanunay

Kare-Kare

Context

Vice and Ion have been together for almost two months. Nobody knows. But Ion has subtly made his presence during the It's Showtime!'s lunch table without anyone really questioning the both of them—that is until Ion takes something from Vice's plate which everybody knows he hates. And there's somewhere else he wants his presence known.

Kare-Kare

"Sama 'ko ulit?" Ion asked Vice as they were left alone by Team Vice. Vice hasn't told anyone from his team yet, let alone his friends and family, but he knows they've been speculating. They know that this is so much more than his relationship with the hashtag members or any of the Showtime dancers, for that matter.

Vice knows that Ion is different somehow, but how long can different last? He wants to be sure, he wants security before he even opens his mouth about their relationship. He isn't even sure yet if they're really being serious. At the moment, it's just been fun. Besides, he's just been reeling at the last relationship he thought would be different, too. For now, it's in his best interest to keep mum about this. It's better to be safe than to be sorry.

"Oo naman." Sagot niya habang tinitingnan ang sarili sa salamin. Nilingon niya si Ion. "Ayaw mo ba?"

Ion quickly shook his head, "Hindi ah!" Madaling depensa nito. "Sinusure 'ko lang sa'yo kasi hindi ba sila nagtataka kung bakit lagi na akong kasama tuwing tanghalian?" Vice wanted to laugh at his face—he looked like a very worried child that might get scolded by his Mother because of something bad that he did.

But he didn't do anything wrong, he didn't need to worry. In fact, he's done nothing wrong. Not yet, Vice thinks.

"Wala namang nagtatanong sa'kanila sa akin. Hanggang harot lang yung mga 'yon. Saka, natutuwa naman sa'yo sila Jhong." He twirled his chair around to finally face the boy on his couch. "Baka iniisip lang nila na anak-anakan din kita." Ion scrunched up his nose in disgust. Vice laughed, a full hearty laugh where he was throwing his head back.

Ion was quick to stand up and in just three steps, he was there in front of Vice. Smirking like he had something in mind that would throw the latter off guard. While still laughing, Ion snaked his arms around Vice's waist pulling him up from his chair. Mabilis na naputol ang tawa ng isa at imbis ay nanlaki ang mga mata. Ion quickly planted his lips on Vice's. Madiin, pero mabilis. Tama lang para sabihing,

"Ganyan din ba yung ibang anak-anakan mo sa'yo?"

Vice choked on his words. Hindi siya agad makasagot. Ion seemed very quiet and submissive outside their own little bubble, but he quickly learned that when it's just the two of them—Ion can make him buckle his knees. This boy is no saint.

Imbis na sumagot ay umakap na lang si Vice sa leeg ng kaharap at siya naman ang humalik dito. Malambot, mababaw, mabagal, para bang lahat ng oras sa mundo ay mayroon pa sila. Pero naputol din nang may humihiyaw na sa labas para simulan ang programa. Vice stepped away from Ion, but the boy kept him close by trapping him in his arms, not letting his waist go.

"Tara na daw," he softly told him, but his actions contradicted him because he was making no effort to move away.

"Two minutes." Ion grinned at him.

This is what was different. This softness; this wanting him close; this looking at him like he held some answers to the questions Ion was seeking. Hindi siya sanay at ayaw niyang masanay.

They stayed there for two minutes more, despite Vice's another two Tara na kasi's because even though he told Ion to go, he didn't make any effort to step away from the boy's warm embrace. They finally separated when a loud bang from the door startled them both.