"What the hell?!"
Pumikit ako ng mariin at napasapo nalang sa noo. What was I thinking? Bakit ko ba siya naisipan halikan bigla? Am I drunk? No! Paano ako malalasing kung nasa children's party ako?
"Lia, what the hell did you just do?" he asked, he didn't sound mad but he was really shocked. Hindi niya talaga inaasahan na hahalikan ko siya bigla ng ganon.
"Forget it," I said and tried to stand up, pero nahila niya rin akong pabalik.
Tumingin ako sa kanya na nahihiya na at parang gusto ko nalang lamunin ng lupa sa kahihiyan na natamo. Ayaw niya ba? Siguro nga, hindi niya na talaga ako gusto. Baka si Hanako na ang gusto niya dahil hinayaan niyang halikan siya nito.
"You don't just kiss me, and just say forget it, Lia." his voice was serious.
I bit my lip again, bigla naman siyang tumingin doon at tinitigan 'yun. It seemed like he was already distracted with what I was doing. I stopped biting it, dahilan para umakyat ang tingin niya sa mata ko. Nakaramdam naman ako nang kaba sa dibdib sa paraan ng pagtitig niya.
"Oh, would you please stop doing that!" he said, looking at my lip.
"D-Doing what?" I stuttered and bit it again because I couldn't handle the tension between us.
"That!" he said, pointing at it.
I stopped doing it and looked down. I just reverted my gaze to my hands and moved them just so I could be distracted. Ginala ko nalang din ang paningin ko sa garden.
"Just forget it, it's not a big deal." sabi ko.
His forehead creased. Hindi ako makatingin sa mata niya. I felt like I just ruined our friendship because of that kiss. Kung tutuusin naman, kasalanan ko rin bakit siya nahalikan nung Hanako na 'yun. I forced him to go on a date. Sana pala hindi nalang ako nangialam.
"Not a big deal?!" sabi niya. "Are you seriously saying that right now? Ano 'yun? Joke mo lang? Trip mo lang? Damn it!"
I looked at him. "If you didn't like it, then just forget it! Bakit mo pa pinapalaki?" medyo iritado kong sabi sa kanya.
It's been a while since I kissed someone, and it wasn't even a real kiss. It was just a peck, a dare before. The kiss I did with him, was a bit longer than that one.
"Because it's a big deal to me!" he told me. "And I never said that I didn't like it!"
I sighed and looked down. He suddenly held my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. I stared at his eyes before looking away. I suddenly felt that beat again. Damn it.
"Lia, I need you to tell me why you kissed me. I'm sure you didn't just do that because you're bored or something."
Tumingin ulit ako sa kanya. Should I tell him the reason why? Bakit ko ba kase ginawa 'yun? Ang tanga lang!
"Lia," he called again. "Answer me, please..." medyo may pagmamakaawa niyang tono.
I sighed heavily. "Ano kase, uhm." Hindi ko maituloy 'yung sasabihin ko. Sasabihin ko ba? Pero nahihiya ako! At saka, diba nga ako 'tong si tangang pinipilit siyang magdate?Bakit niya ba kase gusto malaman 'yung dahilan? Hindi ba pwedeng bigla ko lang nafeel ganon? May mga tao naman na ganon ah!
"What?"
I pursed my lips and looked away. Tatalikuran ko na sana siya pero napilit niya uli akong iharap sa kanya.
"Fine! I think I like you okay!" I revealed with closed eyes. I opened one eye just so I could see his reaction. He looked stunned. Natulala lang siya bigla. He's not even blinking.
"Kale?" tawag ko sa kanya. I waved my hand at him. He won't even blink.
Siguro nga, wala na talaga siyang nararamdaman para sa akin.
"Fine! Just forget it!" sabi ko at tatayo na sana pero hinali niya ako ulit at hinalikan sa labi. My eyes widened from shock, pero unti-unti ko rin itong sinara.
He held my face gently, as I responded with his kisses. I felt the butterflies in my stomach emerging and my heart beating erratically. I didn't feel this when I had my first kiss before.
He broke free from the kiss and placed his forehead against mine. Hawak niya pa rin ang mukha ko habang matalim na nakatingin sa mga mata ko. Hindi naman ako makatingin pabalik ng dahil sa kaba.
Nilayo ko na ng konti ang sarili ko dahil pakiramdam ko'y aatakihin na ako dito. What the hell did just happen? Did I suddenly make out with him on my little brother's 1st birthday?
"What did you say?" he said with a smirk. "Paulit nga."
I rolled my eyes. Si gago, pinapaulit pa sa akin. Hindi na nga ako makahinga ng ayos dahil sa sinabi ko tapos papaulitin niya pa?
"Bakit ko gagawin 'yun?" sabi ko at ginala ang tingin sa garden.
He held my chin, forcing me to look at him. Tinanggal ko naman 'yung kamay niyang 'yun, dahilan para tumawa siya.
"Ang gulo mo, gusto mo naman pala ako." sabi niya na may ngisi. Mula nung sinabi ko sa kanya na gusto ko siya, ay hindi na mawala ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. He suddenly held my hand and kissed it.
"Excuse me?" sabi ko. "Maka-asta ka parang sinagot na kita ah, sabi ko lang I like you, not I love you, hindi pa kita mahal, okay?"
He stared at me before chuckling. Kung noon, balewala lang sa akin ang bawat galaw sa kanya, ngayon naman parang nagwawala ang sistema ko sa mga pinagagawa niya.
"Babe, doon din naman 'yun papunta." sabi niya, sabay hinawakan at pinaglaruan ang kamay ko. "I'll make sure you'll fall in love with me again, just like before."
Tumingin ako sa paraan nang paghawak niya sa kamay ko. Sinusubukan kong hindi ngumiti, pero wala na. Bumigay na ako. Napangiti nalang ako bigla.
"Gusto mo pa rin ako?" mahinang tanong ko, kahit alam ko naman 'yung sagot.
He laughed. Grabe, pati pagtawa niya iba na rin ang epekto sa akin.
"Hindi lang gusto, mahal kita." sabi niya na nakatingin sa mga mata ko. "Did you really think I could get over you kung kasama na kita halos araw-araw? That just makes it so much harder for me. I had to conceal my feelings just so you wouldn't be uncomfortable with my presence."
Hinaplos niya ang mukha ko at ngumiti. "I'm deeply in love with you, Liliana. Wala nang iba."
Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya at ginala ang paningin sa paligid. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero sa pagkasabi palang niya na 'yun ay natutuwa ako. Dati naman, madalas niya rin sabihin 'yan sa akin, pero para akong bato na walang maramdaman. Siguro, dahil iba ang gusto ko 'non. Ang gulo lang din talaga 'no?
Bigla ko na naman naalala 'yung nangyari sa kanila ni Hanako. Inalis ko ang hawak niya sa akin, making him confused. Ewan ko, pakiramdam ko paulit-ulit nalang na rerehistro 'yung image na 'yun sa utak ko.
"Talaga? Bakit ka nagpahalik sa iba? Tsk." I said, with crossed arms and one brow raised.
Kumunot naman bigla ang noo niya sa sinabi ko.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Inirapan ko siya. "Si Hanako! Yung goodnight kiss niya sayo! Wala ka man lang ginawa, you just stood there!"
"You were there?" he asked. I nodded. "What did you want me to do? Push her? She caught me off guard!"
I pouted. Nag-iisip nang isasagot sa kanya.
He suddenly smiled again and tried to touch my face again, pero tinulak ko 'yung kamay niya palayo. "Why? Are you mad because of that? Don't worry, that's the last time she's ever gonna kiss me. You can kiss me whenever you want though."
I raised a brow. "What makes you think that I want to kiss you, huh?"
He chuckled. "Don't pretend that you didn't enjoy the way I kissed you earlier, Lia. You were totally responding."
I opened my mouth in disbelief. Yabang! Nalaman niya lang na gusto ko siya umiiral na naman kayabangan niya.
"That's because... I hadn't kissed someone in a while." I awkwardly said.
Bigla naman kumunot ang noo niya sa akin.
"What? I wasn't your first kiss?" he said, with an irritated tone. "Sino 'yung G—"
"No! It's not him... it's someone else." sabi ko. I totally forgot about him. Nung sinabi kong kakalimutan ko siya at lahat nang feelings ko sa kanya, ay totoo nga. Dati kahit kasama ko si Kale siya ang lagi kong naiisip. Ngayon, hindi manlang siya pumasok sa utak ko, kung hindi lang sinabi ni Kale. I really have forgotten about him, huh?
Siguro nakatulong din na hindi ako nakikibalita. I just acted like I didn't care at all. Hindi ko na rin siya kinakausap. Wala rin naman rason para kausapin ko siya. I didn't want him to have problems with his girlfriend.
"Then who?" seryosong tanong ni Kale.
It'd be awkward if I say who it is, considering that... 'yun nga.
"Si ano, uhm... si Prince."
His eyes widened a little. "But he's your bestfriend's—"
"Yeah, yeah. I know. That was in the past, we were like fourteen, and there's this game. Tapos ayun, but that was just a peck. It was both our first kiss, but that meant nothing to us." paliwanag ko sa kanya. "Kaya don't think too much about it,"
"He's still your first kiss..." sabi niya na parang nalungkot. "And he's my friend."
I laughed. Nag-angat naman siya nang tingin sa akin at tinitigan ako ulit. May sumilay naman ulit na ngiti sa labi niya.
"But that's okay, I can kiss you better." he said, with a smile.
Namula ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya. Kailan pa ba nung naging ganito na ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya? Was I too comfortable with being with him almost everyday that I didn't notice that I had already fallen for him?
"What are we now, then?" he asked while intertwining our fingers.
I only said I like him, so I wasn't sure if that will eventually turn to love. I have fears and one of them is hurting him. Gusto ko, pag naging kami, ay sigurado na ako sa nararamdaman ko. Yung wala na akong naiisip pa na iba kung hindi ang makasama siya. I want to be in a relationship that will lead to marriage, dahil hindi naman 'to laro-laro lang para sa amin. Gusto ko, ang unang boyfriend ay yung taong papakasalan ko rin.
But how sure I am, that this feelings that I currently have for him isn't love?
Pero kahit pa maging kami, alam kong hindi pa rin sigurado kung kami nga talaga sa huli. A lot could happen, and that fears me too.
"Why don't we take it slow?" I said. "I just want to be sure of this."
He nodded. Kale is understanding. I hope he sees what I mean. Ginagawa ko lang din naman ito para sa kanya rin. Para hindi siya masaktan.
"Sure, but I'll court you everyday. I won't ever get tired of you, Lia. I waited for you to at least like me back. I ain't gonna waste this opportunity."
I smiled. At least, nagkakaintindihan kami.
"Tara na, baka hinahanap na tayo?" sabi ko.
He smiled and held our hands together as we went back to the venue.
After Jaiden's birthday, hindi ko na masyadong nararamdaman ang awkwardness sa bagong pamilya ni Mama. Being away from home, helped me to realize a lot of stuff too. It helped me to see the world in a mature way. Kung dati ay halos kagalitan ko ang mundo dahil sa nangyayari sa akin, ngayon naman natutunan kong tanggapin ang mga bagay na nangyayari sa realidad. Dwelling on things that don't make you happy, will only make you miserable. Instead, focus on the things that you have and the things that make you happy.
Living in Japan, definitely helped me to grow as a person. Hindi man ako totally mag-isa, pero pakiramdam ko ay ginagawa ko na ang buhay na gusto ko as a growing adult. I am finally making my own decisions and surviving it on my own.
I remember Papa's fear of leaving me alone here. Yet, here I am, surviving it. Pinalaki nila akong matapang kaya papatunayan ko 'yun.
"Kale, stop."
We are at my room, supposedly studying dahil malapit na exams namin. Pero ang kulit niya at ang clingy that we ended up making out here!
I pushed him away. He just laughed and wrapped his arms around me. Sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin.
"Pag ako bumagsak dito, sinasabi ko talaga sa 'yo." I told him.
He chuckled and fixed my hair. Nagsimula naman na ako magbasa. Nabasa ko rin naman 'to kagabi pero gusto ko lang ulitin para sure.
"Okay, I won't bother you anymore." he said.
Hindi pa nga kami pero ang daming beses na kaming naghahalikan. Nakakahiya pa at minsan ako ang hindi makapagpigil. Ewan ko ba, ever since I kissed him that night, parang may something na sa akin na lagi akong hinihila palapit sa kanya.
We are already on our last year in college, kaya pinagbubutihan ko rin talaga. Kale is smart enough to just read the whole thing in one reading and remember everything. Kaya nga walang kaso sa kanya kung maghalikan nalang kami ngayon. Ako naman, paranoid. Kaya gusto ko talagang mabasa nang paulit-ulit 'to.
"Kale," tawag ko.
"Hm?"
"Wala ka ba talagang balak mag-aral?"
He only had his arms crossed while watching me study. Medyo nakakadistract. Maski ako nahahawa na rin ata sa pagiging clingy niya.
"I'm fine. I already studied." he said. "Go on, study. I won't talk."
I rolled my eyes at him. Kakaiba talaga.
Almost a year na rin pala siya nangliligaw sa akin. So far, he has always been consistent. Wala na rin siyang ibang babae pang pinapansin. Kaya minsan may natatanggap din akong masasamang tingin pag magkasama kami.
When Kale rejected Hanako, halos umiyak 'to nang umiyak sa kanya. She really liked him that much. Grabe din pala talaga ang kagwapuhan ni Kale dahil sa dami nang babae na may gusto sa kanya. Hindi ko maiwasan mapangiti, na sa lahat nang babae na 'yun, ako lang ang gusto niya. Ako lang ang babaeng sinasabihan niya na mahal niya ako.
"Why are you smiling?"
I looked at him and shooked my head.
"Wala, this is nothing." sabi ko.
Sinandal niya ang braso niya sa table at tiningnan ako. Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagngiti ko. Pinagmamasdan niya lang naman ako habang nagbabasa na nakangiti.
"You look so happy, huh? Sino 'yang iniisip mo? Hm?"
Tumingin ako sa kanya at inirapan nalang siya.
"Nakakatuwa kase 'tong book." sabi ko.
He looked at me weirdly, and glanced at the book.
"The book makes you blush, huh? I guess I have to compete with that." sabi niya at sumandal sa upuan.
Umiling nalang ako. Gets naman niya ata bakit ako natatawa mag-isa dito at ngiting-ngiti.
When exams came, I was really happy because I got a good mark! I never had confidence on my skills, but ever since I'm here, walang tigil na ang pagsaya ko.
Everything is working out, just as what I had predicted. Ginawa ko na ang lahat, para magexcel and so far, I'm doing good!
Magiging doctor rin ako, Papa... you'll see.
"Congrats, babe." Kale said and kissed my head.
"You too!" sabi ko at niyakap siya. Nasanay na ako sa pagtawag niya nang babe sa akin dahil hindi niya mapigilan. Hinayaan ko nalang siya kahit hindi pa kami. Doon rin naman kase ang punta 'non, pag nagkataon.
Pagdating nung graduation, ay pumunta sina Mama dito. Nakwento rin sa akin ni Kale na pupunta ang Mama, Papa at mga kapatid niya dito. Nakaramdam naman ako ng kaba nung maalala 'yung huling beses na nakilala ko Mama niya. Nakakatakot.
"Congrats, anak." Mama greeted.
"Thank you, Mama." sabi ko sabay yakap sa kanya.
Pumunta rin sina Tito Jeremy dito. I smiled at him. Unti-unti ko na rin naman natatanggap na masaya si Mama sa kanya. Hindi ko naman ipagkakait 'yun.
"Congrats..." he said and handed me a paper bag.
Umaawang ang labi ko. Here he goes again, bearing gifts.
"Uh, thank you po." sabi ko sabay tanggap dun. Ngumiti lang naman si Mama sa akin.
"Ate!" tawag ni Jaiden sa akin.
Ngumiti ako at kinuha siya kay Tito. Two years old na siya, at unti-unti na din nagiging madaldal. Nakasama ko rin sila nung nag new year at nung nagpasko.
"Babe! Uh, I mean, Lia."
Lumingon ako nung marinig ang boses ni Kale sa likod ko. Humarap kami ni Jaiden sa kanya at nakita ko naman na kasama niya ang buong pamilya niya. I smiled at his Mom.
"Congrats, Kale." bati ni Mama.
"Thank you po," sabi ni Kale. Lumingon naman siya sa pamilya niya. "Uhm, Tita, Tito. This is my mom, my dad, and my three siblings." he said, introducing them.
He had his arms around me, while facing his family.
"Ma, Pa, Kuyas, this is Lia. Liliana Dela Fuentes." he said, introducing me.
He had his arms around my waist as he whispered. "My mom's name is Soledad and my dad is Kenneth. The one on the right is Dash, then the other one is Dane."
I nodded and smiled at them.
One of his brothers smirked. He nudged the other one, who only gave him a cold look.
"We've met," Tita Soledad said with a smile. "Congratulations, hija."
"T-Thank you po."
"Congratulations, hija. I'm glad I finally met you." Tito Kenneth said.
Tumingin naman silang dalawa kina Mama at Tito Remy. They had a look of shock on their faces. Napatingin naman ako kina Mama.
"Soledad. Kenneth." bati ni Tito Jeremy.
Ngumiti ang Mama at Papa ni Kale. Magkakilala pala sila... siguro dahil mayaman nga pala si Tito Remy.
"Jeremy." bati nung Papa ni Kale. "It's been awhile, huh?"
Nagsimula naman mag-usap si Tito Kenneth at si Tito Remy. Lumapit naman si Tita Soledad kay Mama.
"Lauren, it's nice to see you again. I didn't know you had such a beautiful daughter."
Dumapo naman ang tingin nung Mama niya sa akin. She stared at me and I think I felt goosebumps. Sabi ni Kale, mabait naman daw Mama niya pero ewan, natatakot ako sa paraan nang pagtingin niya sa akin.
Nagulat ako nung alam ni Tita Soledad ang pangalan ni Mama. Paano sila nagkakilala?
"Likewise, Sol. Anak mo pala si Kale?" sabi ni Mama.
Kale also looked shocked that our parents knew each other. Kung ganun, kilala rin kaya nila si Papa?
"Same college kami nag-aral." sabi ni Mama sa akin dahil nahalata siguro nila ang pagtataka namin na magkakilala sila.
Nagsimula naman sila ulit na magusap kaya itinuon ko nalang atensyon ko sa mga kapatid niya. Nilagay naman ni Kale ang kamay niya sa likod ko.
"Congrats, baby." he said and kissed my head.
"Congrats..." bati ko rin. Ngumiti naman siya at nilaro si Jaiden na buhat-buhat ko.
Nakita ko naman ang pagbubulongan nung dalawang lalaki niyang kapatid. Ang ganda talaga nung genes nila! Both of his brothers are tall and good looking. Nakikita ko rin ang tingin nung ibang tao sa kanila, gaya nung pagtingin nila kay Kale. Pero para sa akin, si Kale pa rin ang pinakagwapo sa kanila. He has the most outstanding features among them.
Both Tita Soledad and Tito Kenneth are extremely good looking. Kaya hindi na rin nakakapagtaka na ganon rin ang mga anak nila.
Kylie smiled at me. Tinulak niya ang dalawang kuya niya nang konti, para makalapit sa akin.
"Ate! Hello! Congrats!" she said. Tumitig siya kay Jaiden. She looked at him with awe.
"Can I hold him?" she asked.
I nodded. Mabait naman si Jaiden na nagpakarga kay Kylie.
"Kale, is that your son? Grabe, naunahan mo pa ako." rinig kong sabi nung Kuya Dash niya.
Naalala ko naman 'yung instagram post ni Kale nung isang taon! Baka nakita nila 'yon! I wonder kung ilan nga sa mga taong nakakita 'non ang nagakalang anak namin si Jaiden?
"Kuya, kapatid 'yan ni Lia," medyo nainis na sabi ni Kale dahil tinutukso siya nung dalawa niyang kuya.
"Oh, is that so?" Dash said looking at me.
Lumapit siya sa akin at naglahad ng kamay. Nilalaro naman ni Kylie si Jaiden. Nakita ko naman na naguusap sina Mama at Tito Remy kasama ang mga magulang ni Kale.
"Hi, I'm Dash. Kale's older brother." he said, with a smile.
"Lia. Liliana Dela Fuentes." pakilala ko at tinanggap ang kamay nung kuya niya.
Dash smirked and looked at Kale with a teasing smile, humigpit rin ang hawak nito sa kamay ko. Kale rolled his eyes at pinaghiwalay naman ang kamay naming dalawa.
"That's enough," mahinang sabi niya.
Dash chuckled. "Seloso," bulong niya.
Lumapit din sa akin ang pinakamatanda ata nilang kapatid. Compared to Dash, he's more quiet and reserved. I noticed how both of them almost looked like twins. Kale on the other hand, looks like a mix of both of his parents.
"Hi, I'm Dane." tipid nitong pakilala.
"Lia." sabi ko, dahil narinig naman na niya ata ang pangalan ko.
Agad din naman itong bumitaw sa akin. Kale tells me that his Kuya Dash is the playboy one. Kaya ganon niya na lang kami pinaghiwalay ni Kuya Dash kanina.
"Is she your girlfriend, dude?" nakangising tanong ni Kuya Dash.
"No," sagot ni Kale. "But I'm courting her."
Kuya Dash laughed. "Ang hina mo, bro. Sa akin, isang linggo lang sagot agad, tsk." tumingin siya kay Kuya Dane. "Same with you, right bro?"
"Tsk," si Kuya Dane.
He just laughed again. Naiinis naman na tumingin si Kale sa kanya. Kylie is busy with Jaiden.
Sa totoo lang, I've finally decided on whether I'll say yes to Kale or not.
This past few months, I was really happy with Kale. Aside from our constant making out sessions, he has really showed me how serious he is about this. About us.
Hindi ko alam kung kailan o kung saan ko narealize 'to pero kakaiba ang pinaparamdam niya sa akin. It was way different during the time I really loved Gray. My love for Gray was painful, at halos wala na akong maramdaman na saya. Pero kay Kale, ewan ko... kakaiba.
I could honestly see myself with him in the next 10 years. Parehas kami magdodoctor, and maybe it'll be hard to have a child and get married but honestly I'm fine, as long as I'm with him.
Mas hinigitan pa niya ngayon 'yung dati kong nararamdaman para sa kanya nung high school kami. That was a crush, ngayon iba na.
This time, I'm sure of him. I'm sure of what I feel for him.
"Mr. Yamamoto!"
Napatingin din kami sa paglapit nung pamilya nina Kotomi. Kotomi smiled at me, habang poker face lang naman 'yung kapatid niya.
"Ate, congratulations!" she said and hugged me. Tumingin rin siya kay Kale at ngumiti. "Congrats too, kuya!"
"Thank you." me and Kale said in unison. Nagkatinginan naman kami.
Lumapit na rin sa akin si Kenzou. Kausap naman nung magulang nila ang mga matatanda. Buti nalang, di naman awkward sina Tita Gridget at si Mama, considering may Tito Remy na.
"Congrats, Ate Lia." Kenzou greeted. "Congrats too, Kuya Kale." he greeted with a smile.
"Thank you," we said in unison again. Grabe, sabay pa talaga kami ha?
Kinuha naman ni Kale si Jaiden mula kay Kylie na nilalaro rin pala ni Dash. Kuya Dane is just watching them.
"Kids, let's go we'll have dinner together." Tita Soledad said. "All of us." she smiled.
Turns out, Mr. Yamamoto, Kenzou and Kotomi's dad reserved a place for us to eat. Isa nga talaga siya sa pinakamayaman dito. Magkakilala rin sila nang mga Buenavista.
Magkatabi kami ni Kale habang kumakain. Nag-uusap naman ang mga matatanda nang tungkol sa business.
Medyo natatakot pa rin ako kay Tita Soledad. She really has this scary vibe. Si Tito Kenneth naman friendly.
Kuya Dash kept on teasing Kale. Kaya naiinis naman siya. Tumatawa rin ako pag ginagawa niya 'yun. Sina Kenzou, Kylie at Kotomi naman mukhang nagkwekwentuhan. Halos magkakasing edad nga pala sila.
Bigla ko naman naisip kung kailan ko sasagutin si Kale. Sabi ko kase, sasabihin ko sa kanya pagkatapos ng grad, bago mag med school. Pero, paano?
"I was really surprised to know that Lia, is your daughter with Louis." I heard from Tita Soledad.
Natigilan ako nung marinig ang pangalan ni Papa. Napatingin naman sa akin si Kale, na may pag-aalala.
"I mean, I thought you and Jeremy actually ended up together! I just heard from someone that Louis had already died! Hindi ko naman alam, na 'yung pinuntahan nang anak ko, ay kay Louis!"
"Sole..." si Tito Kenneth.
"What?" sabi ni Tita Soledad.
Tita Gridget and Mama looked so awkward. Siyempre, kapatid ni Tita si Papa.
Kale held my hand. Hindi naman na gaanong masakit ang marinig 'yon. Pero medyo may kirot pa rin akong naramdaman. It's not easy to forget that.
Tiningnan ako ni Mama at malungkot na ngumiti. She knows how hurt I was because of that. Dahil maski sa kanya'y galit na galit ako noon.
Tito Kenneth whispered something to Tita Soledad. She looked around with class. Tumikhim ito at tumingin kina Mama.
"Sorry about that, that was careless of me to say." she said.
Mr. Yamamoto changed the topic kaya hindi na rin gaanong napagusapan 'yun. The whole time we were eating, Kale kept looking at me.
"It was nice meeting you again, Sol." Mama said.
"Likewise, Laur. Sorry again."
"Ayos lang 'yon." ngiti ni Mama and glanced at me.
Magkaibang hotel ang tinutuluyan nina Mama at nina Tita Soledad kaya nagpapaalam na.
Tita Soledad looked at me. "Sorry for the way I acted earlier, hija."
I smiled. "Ayos lang po, Tita."
Ngumiti siya at tumingin kay Kale. "Hindi ka ba sasama sa amin?"
"Mamaya, Mama." sagot ni Kale.
Tumango ito. Sabi kase ni Kale, maglakad ulit kami sa paligid. Gusto niya daw kase ako makasama pa.
"Saan ba tayo pupunta?"
Paakyat kami ng isang building. Wala talaga akong ideya kung saan ako dadalhin nito.
Namangha ako nung makitang ang daming ilaw dito at may overlooking view sa city. May mat na rin na nakalatag doon.
"A-Ano 'to?" tanong ko.
He smiled. "Surprise!"
I smiled. Hinampas ko naman siya at agad 'tong umaray.
"Aw, why do you always hit me?"
Bigla ko naman naramdaman ang nagbabadyang luha sa mga mata ko. Ang effort niya talaga.
"Are you gonna cry? Hey, don't cry, baby." he said, and held my face.
Sunod-sunod na tumulo ang mga luha ko. Hindi ko maintindihan bakit ang emosyonal ko ngayon. Pinunasan niya ang mga luha ko.
"May sasabihin ako sa 'yo..." sabi ko.
"Hm? Ano 'yon?"
Ngumiti ako sa kanya at pinunasan ang mukha ko. "Sinasagot na kita."
Naestatwa naman siyang bigla. He blinked twice at me. I pouted, 'yun lang ang reaksyon niya?
"Ayaw mo?" sabi ko.
Umiling siya. "No! I mean, gusto ko pero, ah, fuck. Naunahan mo ako..." he said at napakamot sa ulo niya.
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Huh?"
He sighed. He looked at his watch. Tumingin siya likod ko at ngumiti.
"Turn around,"
Ginawa ko ang sinasabi niya at nakitang may billboard na nakalagay ang mga salitang, 'Will you be my girlfriend, Liliana Madeline?'
My hand flew to my mouth. What the? Nagpabillboard pa siya dito para doon?
Tumingin ako sa kanya. Nakangiti lang siya at natatawa.
"I brought you here to surprise you... to formally ask you again. Pero, naunahan mo naman ako..."
I chuckled. Tears of joy, falling from my eyes.
I tiptoed and wrapped my arms around his neck to kiss him. He held my waist, and responded to my kisses, passionately.
"I love you," I whispered.
Umaawang ang labi niya sa narinig mula sa akin at hinalikan akong muli.
"I love you more," he whispered.
I chuckled. Naguumapaw ang saya na nararamdaman sa dibdib. First time kong magkaboyfriend, and I really feel like he's the one for me... siya na ang gusto kong pakasalan in the future. Sana lang ay wala nang ibang hadlang sa amin.
"I love you... and I'll love you more and more each day until the day I die," he muttered before kissing me again.