BUBBLY
It’s been a couple of weeks since the school term ended. Some students left the uni to go home to their families. While some students like Donny and me chose to stay for whatever reason we have. I for one didn’t want to come home. My parents are away in most occasions. Me being home alone in a huge house won’t really make sense wouldn’t it?
Donny on the other hand, well he doesn’t talk about his family that much other than they’re just like mine. They’re away all the time and it sort of make sense for him to stay as well. Not that I’m complaining, I absolutely like being around him. Our relationship has gotten better since my birthday.
He’s gotten a lot more touchy than before. He’d hold my hand and kiss me here and there. We’d fool around a lot and start shit up randomly. It’s like the game banters became a real life thing and I was happy about that.
But there’s actually one thing that’s missing from this entire thing. I’m not his girlfriend and he isn’t mine. I’ve actually been patient. But the longer I wait, the more crazier I feel. I’m not sure how to act on it. I couldn’t call him mine but at the same time, I couldn’t ask him to be my boyfriend.
I was assuming he’d ask me but what if I’m wrong? Is he waiting for me to ask? But why’d it have to be me? Oh right, I was so accustomed to guys asking me to be their girlfriend but then the moment I feel like I’m ready to be in a relationship already, the person I want to be in a relationship with doesn’t seem to have a clue where to go from here.
××××××××××
Belle: Donny
Belle: Donny
Belle: Donnyyyy
Belle: Donatoooo
Belle: Oppa
Donny: Yes?
Belle: 😑 u had to wait for me to call u that before u start responding
Donny: lol I had to know if u were willing. 😉
Belle: fuk u. Where are you?
Donny: Aww babe. I know u want to but it’s a secret I’ll never tell 😆
Belle: Donny!!
Donny: Belleeeeeendaa!!
Belle: That’s not how u spell my name.
Donny: Omg. U don’t say.
Belle: Istg Donny
Donny: wat did I do? 😑
Belle: bich
Donny: i Naneun SOLO
Belle: I hate u
Donny: Naww U don’t. U aint gonna be solo for long 😉
Belle: wdym?
Donny: Cause…
Belle: cause?
Donny: Cause I…
Belle: DONNY
Donny: Belle, can you umm..
Belle: Can I what?
××××××××××
Fuck. Is this what I think it is? Is she already asking me? Oh God.
××××××××××
Donny: Can you.. ugh sorry. I mean, can you-
Donny: open your door cause I’m outside. 😊
Belle: 😑😑😑😑
××××××××××
I rolled my eyes and got up from the couch as I walk towards the door to open it. For a second there, I thought he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend. I was getting frustrated. I don’t know how long I could keep playing charades with him. I swung the door open in annoyance only to be greeted by a handsome boy with all smiles.
“Hi.” He said and I couldn’t help but smile.
“What have I done to you?” I asked and he chuckled.
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. I wanted to see your face today.” He said and I started to feel butterflies inside me again.
He keeps throwing lines like that out of the blue and it fucking gets me every time.
“Are you doing anything tonight?” He asked.
“Hm, maybe. Why?” I asked.
“Aww, would you rather do anything else than be with me?” He sulked like a baby and pouted.
“Ya, Donato, I never knew you could act like that. Stop it. It’s scary.” I said and he started laughing.
“Damn, why’d you have to be so mean? I was just trying your thing. You seem to get whatever you want every time you do that.” He said and looked at me.
“Come with me tonight.” He said and kissed me.
How the hell do I say no after that? Of course, I’m going with him.
“Fine. But where are we going?” I asked and then he smirked.
“Well, there’s an event at the spicy chicken club tonight.” He said.
“Oh yeah? What event?” I asked.
“You’ll find out when we get there.” He said and then kissed me some more.
“I can just call Criza and ask about it you know?” I said.
“Yeah, you can do that but you won’t get any information from her.” He said and smirked.
“You little shit.” I said and rolled my eyes.
“You’re shorter than I am so that means, you’re the little shit.” He said and I hit his arm playfully.
“What time are we going? It’s almost six Donny.” I asked him.
“Well, you kind of have to get dressed now.” He shyly said and scratched the back of his neck.
“Urgh, why didn’t you tell me sooner!” I said and stood up to get changed.
“Well, it was a last minute thing!” I heard him shout from behind.
I wore a simple dress to match Donny’s outfit. He always dressed simple that’s one of the things I noticed about him but he didn’t need to dress too much or make an effort anyway. Whatever he wears suits him very well. He is just naturally attractive without even trying.
When I got out of my room, Donny stood up and scanned me from head to toe and I’ve yet need to get used to it. It’s just that there’s something about the way he stares. It’s like he holds this power over me that make my knees weak. The first time he looked at me that way was when he and I first met at the cafeteria. He was shy and all and I was too sort of but there’s just boldness in there that his eyes couldn’t seem to hide and right now, I couldn’t tell if he wants us to leave or stay here.
“How do you always look this good?” He asked and I laughed.
“Try harder Pangilinan, I’m used to compliments.” I said and walked towards where he is.
“Really?” He asked.
“But you look really pretty.” He whispered on my ear and kissed me on the cheek.
I almost shuddered. He was driving me crazy.
“Yes, really.” I barely managed to say it and he knew.
He knew damn well.
“Okay, kitten. Let’s go?” He asked.
“Yeah, let's.” I said and he locked his fingers with mine as we both headed out of my dorm on our way to the spicy chicken club.
One of the things I like about in this area is how everything is just nearby. From coffee shops, to bookstores, restaurants, teahouses and study cafes. Our uni is close to everything so we didn’t really have to go far if we want to go somewhere. There’s no need to drive and I find walks a lot more intimate.
Doing this with Donny gave me all kinds of feels every time. We’d talk about never ending things. We don’t seem to run out of topics and we end up bickering in some things but there’s never a fight. We were both annoying each other and yet, we are so attracted at the same time. Does that even make sense? I don’t know. Maybe not, but that is how it is between him and I.
As we reach our destination, I realized that there’s an exceptional amount of people coming to the place. Huh. I thought. There’s definitely an event here. Donny held my hand and pulled me inside the restaurant. I saw Joao sitting beside Criza. He’s here too.
“Joao! You’re here!” I said in surprise but hugged my friend anyway.
“Yeah. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” He said and giggled.
I saw a stage set up in front of where Joao and Criza sat. Donny and I sat together with them and the servers instantly placed a whole bucket of spicy wings on our table.
“It’s my restaurants first anniversary here. We’re having an open mic and this is on the house.” Criza said and I beamed!
Free chicken it is!
“See, I told you Donato, chicken is the way to a girls heart. Look at this guy over here.” Criza told Donny and he laughed.
“She’s not wrong Don, I love food and your friend is amazing.” Joao echoed and kissed Criza on the cheek and Donny just smiled.
Wow, an open mic I thought. I haven’t been to any of these things. But I heard people with different talents get their names listed to perform whatever the hell they want to perform on stage. I was looking forward to it. This is going to be pure entertainment. I thought.
“I hope you don’t mind, it’s an open mic. I’m not sure if you’re into these things.” Donny whispered in between the noises around the restaurant.
“No, I like it. Thank you for bringing me here.” I said and squeezed her knee under the table.
“Hey, quit eye-fucking each other and put your attention on stage. The show is about to start!” Criza said and Joao busted out a laugh.
“Shut up.” Donny said and scooted even closer to me.
The show did start as Criza said. The first performer did a poem entry. I was half-amused and half bored. I knew, he put an effort into writing that but it just didn’t get me. The guy talked about a flower that bloomed and died. It was supposed to be tragic. The people clapped their hands for the guy for encouragement. At least the audience were nice.
There was a couple more people who did the same thing and the crowd was almost dying. Not until the next performer was called. The host called up the person and I felt my ears ringing.
“Let’s give it up for the next performer, Donny Pangilinan!” The crowd cheered including Joao and Criza as I was left stunned.
“You’re performing?” I asked him and he was smiling.
“Yes, I hope you like it.” He said and stood up to make his way towards the stage.
“Kill it!” Criza whistled and hollered.
“Hi everyone! I’m not really a singer or anything but I’d like to dedicate this song to that girl over there, Belle Mariano.” Donny said and I almost fell out of my chair at her words.
The crowd erupted with mixes of whistles, hollers and cheers.
The people that went today are mostly still students from the uni. Students who didn’t come home to their families for vacation. They knew me very well and the cheers spread like wildfire inside the restaurant.
“Go get your girl Donny!” Joao shouted and clapped his hands.
When the music started, Donny began swaying his hips as he gets into the song. He bops his head slowly and holds the mic in front of him. God, he didn’t even start and I could already feel my clothes on fire. He looked really hot standing there.
[Bubbly - Colbie Caillat]
🎤 I've been awake for a while now
You've got me feeling like a child now
'Cause every time I see your bubbly face
I get the tinglies in a silly place 🎤
🎤 It starts in my toes
Makes me crinkle my nose
Wherever it goes
I always know
You make me smile
Please stay for a while now
Just take your time
Wherever you go 🎤
What the fuck! I’m ready to die. He was looking at me the entire time and I could feel my face heat up from the song he was singing. His voice sounded so calm but so sensual at the same time. How the fuck did he do that? Oh my God.
🎤 The rain is falling on my window pane
But we are hiding in a safer place
Under covers staying dry and warm
You give me feelings that I adore 🎤
🎤 They start in my toes
Make me crinkle my nose
Wherever it goes
I always know
You make me smile
Please stay for a while now
Just take your time
Wherever you go 🎤
He then pulls the mic from the stand and walks down the stage to get to me. He took my hand the the crowd cheered even louder.
“Oh my God!” I can hear Joao squeal from the action and cheered with the crowd.
“Get your girl Donny!” Criza said while enjoying the show.
Holy mother of spicy chickens. I was not expecting this at all.
🎤 But what am I gonna say
When you make me feel this way?
I just, hmm 🎤
🎤 And it starts in my toes
Makes me crinkle my nose
Wherever it goes
I always know
You make me smile
Please stay for a while now
Just take your time
Wherever you go 🎤
He brought me to the stage with him as he sings to me. His hips were swaying comfortably and he held my waist close to him and we danced together while he sings to me. I can feel myself almost melt from what he was doing. He has no idea how this affects me so much. How every move affects me as he sings and circles around around me, touching me here and there. I wanted to grab his face and kiss him but the song isn’t finished yet. He stops going in circles and lifts my chin to level with his sight as he sings the next line.
🎤 I've been asleep for a while now
You tucked me in just like a child now
'Cause every time you hold me in your arms
I'm comfortable enough to feel your warmth 🎤
🎤 It starts in my soul
And I lose all control
When you kiss my nose
The feeling shows
'Cause you make me smile
Baby, just take your time now
Holding me tight 🎤
🎤 Wherever, wherever
Wherever you go
Wherever, wherever
Wherever you go
Wherever you go
Always know
'Cause you make me smile
Even just for a while 🎤
Today validates the fact that I’ve fallen completely head over heels for this man. As the song ends, the crowd cheered even more that before.
“Holy shit Pangilinan!” One said and cheered.
“I’m pregnant!” The other one screamed and that earned a laugh from everyone.
Right now, his attention was on me. His full attention was on me and without hesitation; he kissed me in front of everyone to see.
“My sweet child grew some balls holy fuck!” Criza said snapping pictures of us in amusement.
He traced my lips with his thumb and kissed me again.
“I’m in love with you Belinda, be my girlfriend.” He said and that did it for me.
I pulled him by the nape and kissed him tenderly. I never thought it’d happen today. I was just thinking about it earlier and how I was growing impatient about him not asking me but here we are. It’s what I’ve been waiting for and I couldn’t help but feel like it’s all a dream but the more I felt him close, the more I felt it was all real. This is real. He wants me, he really does.
“I thought you’d never ask.” I said and we smiled at each other.
“Okay love birds, get off the stage! It’s my turn to sing!” Criza said and made us leave the stage laughing.
“I dedicate this song to Joao Constancia.” Criza said and smirked.
[One More Time - Britney Spears]
🎤 My loneliness, is killing me And I, I must confess, I still
believe
Still believe
When I’m not with you I lose my
mind,
Give me a sign
Hit me baby one more time! 🎤
“Oh my god, she did not just do that.” Joao said covering his face in embarrassment and we all ended up laughing.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental