Author's message: Thank you for the support and I'm very story for the not updating due to online classes. I hope you will like it. I love you all Mwahhhhh
"What is the meaning of this?"
Paul bragging about why Ixis picked me, or us from our boarding house. Hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala na ginagawa ni Ixis 'to. Ixis is driving and I'm beside him, with Kristine and Paul at the back.
"Wala. I just don't know why we're here actually. Ang lapit-lapit ng school tapos sinundo pa tayo" sabi ko.
"Ixis, tapatin mo nga kami ni Paul, mahal mo ba si Niko?" Kristine asked.
"Shut up, Tin. Nakakahiya hoy!" ako na nagdedefend ng sarili ko.
"Niko and I will be a couple soon"
Nikolai wag kang kiligin. Huwag kang kiligin okay? NOOOOOOO!
Hindi nalang ako nagsalita. Nagpatulala nalang ako sa bintana para hindi ko sila maramdaman lalo na si Ixis. Na aw-awkward kasi ako. Nakarating na kami ng university at nagpark na rin si Ixis malapit sa oval ng school.
"Ay ses di'ba may gagawin tayo sa section natin? Remember?" Alam ko na 'to Paul, yung mata mong parang napundidong bumbilya is signals para makaexit.
"Ay oo nga ses! Sige na mauna na kami Niko ha? Hoy Ixis ingatan mo yang kaibigan namin ha" Chika ni Kristine.
Bago bumaba si Kristine ay may inabot siya sa kamay ko na parang nagalalaro kami ng I wanna be a Tutubi sa sobrang higpit at tsaka kumindat.
WHAATTTT?! A CONDOM?!
"Ano binigay ni Kristine?" Ixis asked after Kristine left.
"Ah wala wala." Sumasakit na ang kamay ko sa sobrang higpit ng hawak ko.
"Sige na? Patingin, ano ba yan?" He insists to the point na parang matatanggalan na ako ng braso.
"Ixis, ano ba? Sinabing wala nga eto eh!" I am still hiding it.
"Akin na sa--" And yes, he pulled a condom from my hand. His chinito eyes turned into a tarsier-like one. He's shocked.
"Oh? Masaya ka na ba? Mapilit ka kasi" hinablot ko mula sa kanya yung condom at nilagay agad sa bag ko. Pulang-pula na ang mukha ko sa hiya.
Nakaharap lang siya sa bintana. He's blushing too. Kitang kita sa batok niyang parang may rashes. There's this awkward silence in the air.
He faced me, "So.... Can we do it now?"
"IXIS!" Sabay labas ko ng kotse niya. Jusko pinagpawisan yung kili-kili ko sa kanya. Hindi ko na sya hinintay at umalis pero hindi ko alam kung saan pupunta basta nasa oval lang ako.
"Niko! San ka pupunta?" I can feel that he's following me.
Binibilisan ko nalang talaga ang paglakad ko. I tripped a little but he got me and grab my waist with his strong arms. Our faces are so close.
He is so handsome up-close. Walang ka pores-pores, ang lips niya parang nag-aagaw ang pula at pink tapos may konting pawis sa philtrum niya, yung sa ibabaw ng labi. Seloso daw yun pag ganon. Tapos ang bango niya, yung parang for kids na pabango para sa lalaki. I can feel his heart beating.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Bitawan mo nga ako!" I composed myself and stood up straight. I sighed and looked at him. Lord, inlab na ba ako sa kanya?
"Niko, bakit mo ba ako pinagsusungitan? Parang okay naman tayo kagabi ah?" He sounded like a kid that needs a candy.
"Sorry. Huwag ka kasing ganyan, yung namimilit. Sabi ko naman na ayaw ko diba?" I realized na okay kami dapat.
"Ayaw mo yung ano?" He asked while smiling teasingly.
JUSKO PULANG-PULA NA NAMAN YUNG MUKHA KO
"ANO BA? Ibig kong sabihin yung pinilit mong tignan kung ano binigay sa'kin ni Kristine. Ayoko sa makulit at pinapangunahan ako. Okay? Sana klaro sa'yo." I commanded.
"Awww, sorry. Hindi na po mauulit." He said.
- - - - - - - - - -
HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH THE AWKWARD SILENCE
"Kumain ka na?" I asked him.
"Hindi pa. Ikaw?" He asked back.
"Kasi ako kuma---" and he grabbed my wrist and we run in the oval field.
Alam niyo yun, yung parang ang feeling habang tumatakbo at panay tingin balik niya sa akin ay parang inedit sa CapCut na nagslo-slo-mo ang lahat. He is also smiling everytime he face me, it's so pure.
"Anong gusto mo?" I asked him. Nasa isang food stall na kami na puro Pancit Canton sa may parang events field. Ang dami ring choices and booth actually pero gusto ko lang kasi kumain ng Pancit Canton.
"May Caesar salad ba?" sabi niya at hinampas ko siya ng malakas "Aray! Ba't mo pa ako tinanong? Eh puro lang naman Pancit Canton dyan?"
"Buang ka ba? Syempre ibig kong sabihin anong flavor?" naiinis ako sa kanya pero deep inside natatawa ako dun.
"Yung Original. Dalawang serving." sabi niya habang hinahaplos ang kanang braso niya na hinampas ko.
"Talaga? Okay. Ate, isang serving lang ng Extra Hot then dalawang serving sa isang plate ang Original. Yun lang."
"45 pesos lang po" sabi ni Ate na kanina pa tumatawa sa amin sabay bigay ni Ixis ng 1000.
"Ako na Ixis. Libre ko na kasi may pa dinner ka kagabi." He agreed. He smiled with his disappeared eyes.
Kumain na kami sa may bench sa harap ng WVSU na malalaking letters na parang design. Again, we have this awkward silence or maybe dahil kumakain lang kami. Ang bilis niyang kumain. Isang subo palang nga nakain ko pero ubos na ang sa kanya.
Ang cute niyang kumain! Yung cheeks niya ay bilog at siksik dahil sa kinakain niya. Napansin niyang tinititigan ko siya at ngumiti lang siya sakin na nawawala yung mga mata niya.
"Favorite mo ba yung Original flavor?" tanong ko out of curiosity. Getting to know char.
"Oo. Naooffend nga ako minsan pag nakikita ko sa FB and IG yung mga posts and memes na hindi nila gusto yung etong flavor kasi pangit. I don't know why they don't like it. Ang sarap kaya." sabi niya habang nakapout. Pacute ang buang.
"Eh ang pangit naman talaga? Well, hindi naman talaga siya pangit pero hindi ko lang talaga siya matake or something like hindi siya tasty. Sobrang plain niya talaga." sabi ko.
"That's the point. Yung pagkaplain niya kasi yung nagpapasarap. Kasi diba if noodles alone at wala pang flavor, masarap na siya sana kainin kaso ang weird. Pero, kapag yung seasoning is Original flavor, it feels like it will be edible na and you can still taste the raw vibes. You got it? Hmmmm, you want to try it?"
"Anong want try it? Eh inubos mo na. Eto ang the best, Extra Hot." I said confidently.
"Allergic ako sa sili. But I also like it sana" sabi niya.
"Paano ka naging allergic?" Curious na naman ako.
"When I was 10, Nagluto si yaya ng Bicol Express and I was rushed to the hospital because I am about to die. Tapos kumain rin ako ng Spicy Chicken Adobo sa birthday ng kaklase ko nung highschool, eh di ko naman alam na Spicy eh kaya parang nasira ko pa yung party niya. Buti nalang may anti-histamine ako that time." he said like bedtime stories.
"Ang lungkot naman non. Spicy flavor hits different. Sige nga try natin? Isang subo lang ng Extra Hot sige na?" I challenged him. Biglang lumobo na naman yung mata niya.
"Huh? Ayoko kahit gusto ko yung flavor. Mamamatay ako non?" sabay takip sa bibig niya.
"Buti nga iyon para mamatay ka na, magiging happy ako kung ganon, sige na!" I am offering the fork and he is pushing me back slowly. He held my wrists to stop me.
"Nikolai, Mahal kita but I will never do that!" He shouted at me.
I was shocked. Not because he shouted to me but because he said he loves me. Parang ako yung mamamatay ah.
Binatawan namin yung isa't isa at hindi ng tinginan. Again, awkward silence.
"Gusto mo ba talaga Niko?" he guiltily said.
"Hoy buang! I'm just teasing you. Busog na ako tapon ko nalang to. Bye." sabay alis at iniwan ko siya"
"Sandali!" He tries to stop me pero iniwan ko kasi yung kalat ko kaya tinapon niya muna.
Sinusundan niya lang ako sa likod at napatingin ako sa isang photo booth. Ang witty ng name, gusto ko sana itry hindi dahil may jowa ako, kundi ang ganda ng quality ng photos nila.
"Ang ganda ng quality ng photos nila no?" sabi ko kay Ixis.
"Gusto mo ba itry? Pumasok ka na" sagot niya.
"Hep hep, bawal ang solo pic dito. Tignan niyo oh? Para sa Magjowa Pho 'To Booth. 2 shots for 350" sabi ni Tindera na studyante rin.
"Ay sayang, halika na mag ikot-ikot nalang tayo. Salamat!" I said with disappointment.
"Akala ko pa naman magjowa kayo, may discount pa naman sana if BL" rinig ko na sinabi ni tindera nung tumalikod ako. Dedma na man lang sana ako pero
"Sino ba nagsabing hindi kami magjowa?"
Ixis pulled me back and put his arms across my shoulder.
"Hoy buang hindi po! Ano ba Ixis?" I denied and giving him eye signals.
"Ay hindi yan pwede dito, alis na!" sabi ni tindera.
"Ate Tindera, kami ni... kami ni.. Baba ay in-denial pa kasi kaya ganon talaga, di pa kasi pwede eh. Gusto mo ba patunayan pa namin sa'yo?" Ixis insists while he holds me even stronger and closer to me.
"Talaga ba? Sige nga? Mag lips to lips kiss nga kayo?" sabi ni Ate Tindera.
HOY TEKA LANG WAIT AYOKOOOOO
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ni Ate Tindera. Well, hindi ako maarte pero ayokong ganito ang first ko no. Ang landi ko diba? I hope Ixis won't agree with her and stop.
"Sus yun lang ba? Sige na Baba. Let's kiss" he winked.
WAITTTT LANG HOYYYY
He lean his forehead to my forehead and look at me straight to my eyes. He then swipe his nose to mine and we're breathing nervously. Lord ito na ba yun?
"Okay na okay na." sabi ni Ate Tindera at inalis ni Ixis ang kanyang mukha mula sa akin. "Pagalitan pa tayo ng admin eh, palasamat kayo mahal ko kayong mga baby boys. 2 shots for 100 pesos."
"Talaga? Salamat Ate!" Ixis is so happy when he heard the discount. He held my hand when we entered the photo booth. It's sweaty.
"Ready? One, two, three!"
Ixis and I have a normal smile shot. I am smiling all out with full teeth while he smiled a little.
"Ano ba yan? Hoy ikaw intsik magsmile ka nga ng maayos" galit si Ate Tindera. Nakakaloka yun ah.
"Ixis, mag peace sign tayo. And smileee" I pulled his cheeks out and he laughed.
"Ayan ganyan lang, Last shot ha? Ready? One, two, three!"
The last shot we have is I am smiling all out while pulling his cheeks and he is doing the peace sign.
Binarayan ko yung photo namin at umalis na. Sabi ni Ixis siya naman daw nagpa as if na magjowa kami kay ako ang nagbayad.
"Niko, I want this one!" he is pointing out to the peace sign photo. It's like a Polaroid style of developed photo but in little version.
"Sige sa'yo na yan. Eto lang akin para madaling magunting yung mukha mo" I laughed and he looked at me with grumpy face.
Tumambay nalang kami sa may free film showing area hanggang naghapon. Nagchat rin sa akin si Kristine na gagabihin daw sila kaya depende nalang sa akin kung anong oras ako uuwi.
"So Ixis? Di ka pa uuwi?" I asked him.
"Dinner tayo Bab." he said casually.
"Huh? Bab? Hoy tama na yung acting hindi tayo magjowa. Uuwi na ako" sabi ko sa kanya.
"Okay. Niko. Umuwi ka na." ang cold ha.
"Okay. Uuwi talaga ako. Bye!" tumayo na ako at umalis.
Hindi niya ako sinundan or what. Nagulat ako dahil makulit siya eh, siguro dahil sinabi ko sa kanya na ayokong namimilit.
Nakarating na ako ng boarding house namin and it feels odd. I don't know. Lahat na nga ginawa ko para ilibang yung sarili ko pero wala pa rin. Biglang may kumatok sa pintuan ng bahay and assuming na sina Kristine and Paul yun.
When I opened it, it was Ixis. He's smiling like a primary school kid.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him in shocked.
"Sorry kung hinayaan lang kita kanina. Niko, I love you so much. Hindi naman sa pinipilit kita pero seryoso ako, liligawan talaga kita. I want to be your boyfriend like I want to be with you" he said so fast.
"Hoy okay ka lang? Alam kulang ka lang sa tulog." sabi ko sa kanya.
"Your kiss is a yes. So?" He said.
"Paano yun? May ka arranged marriage kana diba? Walang saysay if maging tayo pa. Ano nalang sasabihin ng mga tao?"
He kissed me. It was a fast smack but it feels so long and sweet.
"I enjoyed everything today. Your kiss is a yes. Good night and I love you." and he left.
Yun na yun? Hindi ko siya napigilan dahil gulat pa rin ako. The kiss is a yes and I will agree with it. Maybe Ixis is really for me. I am in love with him.
He is my first kiss.
I opened my phone and he messaged me on IG.
ixis_yancheva11: Goodnight Baba! I love you! Susunduin kita bukas.
Why does it feels different now? Parang go na go na ako eh. I'm very happy and excited if saan ito patungo.
Nakauwi na sina Kristine at Paul. They were very excited and happy for me also specially when I shared the kiss part. Hindi pa rin ako makatulog pero I have to na dahil gigising ako na may Good Morning. Natulog na ako sa ibabaw ng double deck bed namin.
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Ixis blocked me this morning. I was shocked with it and even in FB and Messenger he blocked me.
"Hala? Bakit ka naman niya ibloblock?" Kristine is very concerned with me.
"Niko, I guess it was a challenge to him, I'm sorry to say this pero siguro isa kang dare." Paul added nervously.
"No. I know na hindi yan totoo. He is sincere and serious about me? Alam ko yon hindi na yon joke lang?" I'm trying to defend everything even though I know that maybe I'm a dare.
"Oo nga Paul? Nakita naman natin na iba talaga yung tingingan at affection ni Ixis kay Niko di'ba?" Kristine said with conviction.
"Yes maybe? Pero who will be in love in just two or three days? Ano to fairy tale? Cinderella at Snow White lang ang peg? Wake up Niko, and also Kristine." Paul being realistic. My tears dropped with his words.
"Niko, just take it easy. Fix yourself, be ready and punta tayo ng school. Friday pa lang naman at walang proper classes." Kristine supported me.
Sinamahan ako nina Kristine at Paul papunta sa building ng Nursing. I need them para lumakas ang loob ko. Pagkarating namin sa 2nd floor ay nandun si Ixis kasama ang dalawa ng lalaking kaibigan. They were on their phones laughing while Ixis is looking at the window. I walk towards him and his friends saw me and shocked signalling Ixis about me.
"Ixis!" I shouted at him while smiling. I want to show him that I'm happy to see him.
"Pa fansign ka ba? Kainis naman." He said to me angrily and coldly while scratching his right ear.
I felt like my heart stopped pumping with his words. I didn't expect that. This is the Ixis most of the people said. Cold, introvert and mad. He showed his real self to me.
"Uhm no, sige." I turned back and walked fast while Kristine and Paul followed me. I didn't cry dahil ayaw ko mapahiya.
"Niko? What can we do ba?" Kristine said while looking at Paul asking for support.
"Huwag kayo munang umuwi ha? I need time for myself. That's the least that you can do. Thank you" I said and Kristine and Paul nod and left me alone.
Umuwi ako at naglock ng pinto. Napaluhod ako at umiyak ng napakalakas at maingay. I just can't believe na nangyari sa akin ito. I don't need any reason anymore because Ixis face is the answer. Bumubuhos lang yung luha ko sa sobrang sakit na parang pinipiga ang puso ko at namamanhid ang buong katawan ko.
Mama called and of course, I answered it
:Nikoykoy? Kamusta ka diyan?:
"Ma, ang sakit pala ng heartbreak no?"
:Umiiyak ka? Sabi ko naman sa'yo wag ka mag lovelife eh dahil masasaktan ka lang. Kailangan mo ba ng tulong?:
"I want to be alone muna Ma, I can't talk well ngayon. Sorry Ma, lablab:
:Oh sige. Ayoko muna dumagdag sayo. Lablab:
She hanged up and I continue to cry
I am just a Dare.
*_*