Kazee's POV
"Are you proposing?" I whispered.
He remained serious with eyebrows almost touching. He's only few inches away from me but his effect felt like I'm going to collapse anytime.
"If that's what you call it, then so be it." He whispered back.
"I thought you..hate me."
He cocked his eyebrow as if very amused with what I'm saying. Inilapit niya pa ang mukha niya sa akin at mas tinitigan nang maigi.
"I still do, silly girl. I am giving you choice to back out. Dahil hindi na ako magpipigil. Gusto kita, Kazee."
Sa sinag ng araw at sa mga sinasabi ni Nathan ay mas lalo akong nagpawis.
I swallowed hard. I..I never expected this. He likes me? He does?? Like gusto ako ni Nathan?
"Are you fucking serious?" tanong ko.
He smirked without any humor. He licked his lips and glared at me. Parang may nalaglag? Pakipulot nga yung panty ko.
"Ikaw ata ang hindi seryoso. You were vulgar about what you feel. Or were you just flirting with me?" His voice was hard and cold.
I slid my tounge in my cheeks to suppress a smile.
"At first I was but--"
"You'll like me eventually. I promise you that. Keep in your little mind that I don't give up easily."
"Give me your best shot, babe." paghahamon ko.
"Gusto kita. End of conversation." I added.
"You'll fall harder and deeper untill you won't even think of any guy." His lips rosed up.
Nauna pa siyang umalis at dumiretso sa sasakyan. Tumakbo ako para mahabol si Nathan.
I was smiling when I put my seatbelt on. Grabe may bunga naman pala ang panlalandi ko?
"Are we going on a date right now?" Pangungulit ko.
He bit his lips as if preventing to smile. Naiiling pa siya ngunit nanatili ang tingin sa daan.
"Do you want to?"
"Of course!" I giggled.
He chuckled and manuevered the car swiftly.
"You don't have something to do? Like uhh your plates?"
"Tapos ko na, kaya solo mo ako sa weekeend."
My jaw dropped literally. He chuckled more. Hindi ako sanay na siya ang bumabanat! Nasanay ako yung nanlalandi, yung unang kumikilos!
"Huwag kang bumanat." Banta ko pero ngumisi lang siya.
"Bakit nahuhulog ka na?"
Napahawak nanaman ako sa dibdib ko dahil sa sinabi niya na mas ikinatawa niya habang nagmamaneho.
"Matagal ka na pa lang nahulog." dagdag pa niya.
I covered my mouth using the both of my palms and looked at him exaggeratedly. He laughed even more, he even tapped his steering wheel while my mouth remained covered.
"I can't take this!" Pinaypayan ko ang sarili gamit ang kamay.
"Kilig ka naman?"
Halos dumugo na ang labi ko sa kakakagat. I really can't take it! Parang mas gusto ko pa na binabasag niya ako dahil ako na ngayon ang hindi makasalita. Look how the tables have turned! Nathan is so malandi!
His hands rested on the back of my waist as he guided me towards the entrance of an italian restaurant.
Agad na nakuha namin ang pansin ng mga tao or si Nathan ang tinitignan. My mood suddenly turned sour when I saw how some of the ladies threw Nathan a malicious stare.
Nang tignan ko naman ang kasama ay parang wala siyang kamalay malay sa mga tingin ng mga higad na babae. Mas nairita lang ako nang may lumapit na isang babae sa amin.
"I'm the manager of this restaurant sir. How may I help you?" Malanding saad niya.
Agad na tumaas ang kilay ko. Lahat ba ng manager ganito ang trato sa bawat customer? This is annoying the shit out of me!
"Table for me and my boyfriend." I uttered sarcastically, drawing the line to shove her face of what's mine.
I heard Nathan chuckled behind me. Napaatras naman ang manager dahil sa sama ng tingin ko. Pilit siyang ngumiti at iginaya kami sa dulo.
"Boyfriend huh?"
I heard him chuckled again but my anger never died down. I was so pissed at the manager! Hindi ba niya nakikita na may kasama si Nathan? Like bitch! Girlfriend here!
I pouted when he chuckled more. I squinted my eyes and pursed my lips.
"I'm worried."
"About what?" He shifted his seat and leaned on his chair. For a moment I forgot what I was about to say because of the handsome cruel man in front of me.
"Kasama mo na ako pero may lumalandi pa din sayo. Paano pa 'pag wala ako?" My voice was so sad.
"Meron?" He asked innocently.
He didn't notice the girl?! I was so insecured about her a while back because she seems professional. More mature, got bigger butt and boobs. Tapos hindi napansin ni Nathan? Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako o maiinis!
"The manager with the big boobs!" I hissed.
He nodded as if very interested about what I'm saying but it was so obvious that he's pretending!
"She flirted with me? How?" He asked chuckling.
"Sa tingin niya!"
He barked out of laughter, some looked our way. Akala ko sisitahin kami pero parang mas natuwa pa silang nakita si Nathan na tumatawa. I hated it even more! It annoyed the hell out of me! I'm serious and he's taking it so lightly!
"Stop laughing!"
I crossed my arms and glared at him. He shook his head as if very amused.
"I'm not laughing." Inosente niyang sambit at nanatiling nakangiti.
"Stop it, Nathan!"
"What?"
"I hate you!"
"You do?" Still with his annoying smirk.
Natutop ng bibig ko nang inilagay ang pagkain sa mesa. Most of it are pasta and different kinds of courses.
I glared at my fork and rolled the pasta aggressively. Thinking that Nathan is whom I'm killing. He laughed more and grinned like a devil.
"You're staring at your food for too long."
"What?!" I hissed. Still annoyed with him.
"I'm getting jealous." He smiled.
And fuck. Tangina, ang rupok ko. I almost forgot what is making me mad!
Hindi na ako umimik at kumain na lang. Ganun din naman siya pero nanatili ang ngisi habang kumakain.
Hanggang sa makauwi sa condo niya ay busangot ang mukha ko. Hindi niya din ako pinansin pero nanatiling nang-aasar ang mukha.
We went home around 2:30 in the afternoon. Dumiretso agad ako sa kwarto ko para maligo dahil pakiramdam ko ang lagkit lagkit ko na!
Nang matapos magbihis ay napairap na lang ako nang nakitang si Louisa nanaman ng tumawag. I braced myself before answering, it's either she's going to nag or some bad news.
"Kalia, have you seen the news?" agad na tumaas ang kilay ko. What news? May bago nanaman?
"What news?"
"You father never admitted that you left home!"
"As expected." Bored kong sambit at kinuha ang perfume. I sprayed it all over my neck and wrist. Normally, I don't spray perfume but since Nathan and I are now in a relationship. Or not yet? I don't know! Basta we have a thing.
"He reported that you're missing!" Alerto at may kaba ang kanyang pagkasabi.
"W-what?" I stuttered.
I bit my lip and massaged my temple. I can't take this. If he reported me missing then there will be authorities that will find me!
In no time, malalaman ni Nathan. Baka mapahamak din si Dhelia! Damn it!
Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras ako nakatulala sa kwarto. Nathan never bothered me so I assumed he's busy with his studies or projects. He's always like that.
Nang lumabas ako ay prenteng nakaupo lang si Nathan sa sofa at nanonood ng TV. He's wearing a black jogging pants and sando. His biceps looked so hard, I wanted to touch it. I giggled.
Napatigil ako at nanigas sa kinatatayuan nang makita ang balita sa telebisyon. He even shifted his seat and payed attention to it. His eyebrows furrowed and his face darkened.
Agad akong nangamba. I inhaled big amount of air to calm myself but it worsened!
My lips trembled when my pictures were on the screen. Ang sabi ay nawawala daw ako! Nathan finished the news and remained serious. He turned the TV off and stood up.
Napaatras ako nang lumapit siya sa akin. "What is this, Kalia?"
His jaw moved as he spoke. His voice was cold that made me shiver.
"I...I-" I couldn't even finish my sentence.
"What?"
"I left home." Bulong ko.
He looked shocked but he remained silent as if waiting for me to explain. I inhaled first before doing so.
"Nathan, I...I can't do what they want me to do. Engaged din ako gaya mo, kaya ako naglayas." I explained calmly.
"My father knew! Alam nilang naglayas ako! But he chose to fool the media and make a story! He can't afford to lose his position because of me! He can't let his name be tainted with any disgrace! And I!... I..." my tear fell. Endlessly.
I felt like I'm opening up everything to him. I felt like for the first time, there's someone who listens to me with so much concern. I felt like I can trust him. I felt like it's okay to lean on his shoulders.
When he held my hand and pulled into a tight hug. My shoulders shivered as I cried in his chest.
I heard him breathe heavily as he caressed my back using his rough palm.
"I am a disgrace in my family. I bring nothing but shame." I said in between of my sobs.
He remained silent, listening to my rants. Listening to my burden, and I feel so light after telling it to him.
"Nakalimutan mo na ba ang sinabi ko?" I felt his chest vibrated when he spoke. Mas lalo kong narinig ang sinabi niya.
"Ano yun?" I mumbled still burying my face in his chest.
"Na ipaglalaban kita. Sana ganoon ka rin."
Agad na kumabog ang dibdib ko sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa kaba, kilig o saya?
I slowly nodded, I'm sure he felt that.
"I will, Nathan. I will fight with you." I mumbled.
I felt him shook his head, he chuckled a bit when I hugged him tighter.
"Tangina, mahal na ata talaga kita." Bulong niya.