"I can't wait to make us official."
He boldly said that without any hesitations, as if he waited for this right moment.
We stopped dancing as I was shocked, I don't even know what to say, I opened my mouth but nothing came out.
He was intently staring at me, and I tried to avoid his gaze, but my eyes were fixated on to him as well. It was like everything stopped, the time, the people dancing, and the only thing I could hear was my heart beating loudly and our warm breaths.
Why?
That was the only question in my head, I couldn't think of anything else, I find everything to fast as if we were in a time-lapse.
"Hmm?" He said as if he was waiting for a reaction from me, I just continued leaning on his chest.
"Aren't we going to fast? The dates, our hangouts, I appreciate that so much, but-"
"I'm sorry," he moved away so he could see my face, so I lift my head up to see him as well. "I'll patiently wait for you, no pressure." He said in a calm assuring voice then, he smiled.
"Let's find more time muna in getting to know each other, I think that's one of the first important steps before getting into a relationship."
"Yes, I get you." He shortly replied in agreeing to what I said.
"Tsaka, wala pa akong experience dyan, so..." I laughed awkwardly as I was shy because of it.
Then, we continued dancing. We were having fun as we chit-chat about what we love, what we have in common, and even our embarrassing moments! Nakakatawa lang na may ganito siyang side, he has a really bubbly attitude.
"Hey dude!" Tawag sa kanya ng isa sa mga friends nya which is si Troy, nilingon namin siya at mukha siyang pagod kasi pawis na pawis siya, tinulak niya ang isa sa mga couple na nagsasayaw at sabi, "Tabi mga ulol, magbbreak din kayo!". Narinig ko yung lalaki na kasayaw ng babae na nairita at minura siya.
"Parang tanga." Sabi nung lalaki.
"Kanina pa kita hinahanap pare," hinihingal siya, his hands were on his knees which looked like he was crouching. "Beast mode nanaman si Ashton, halimaw talaga yon, si Jane kasi kanina pa namin pinagsasabihan, ayun dude, puntahan mo."
Nagkatinginan kami ni Dwayne, "Puntahan ko lang saglit ha, pag kasi nagalit 'yon, iba eh. Balikan kita mamaya, why don't you stay outside near the fountain for fresh air? After, I'll send you home."
"Sige, tawagan mo nalang ako pag okay na."
"Gusto mo ba ihatid muna kita?"
"Dude naman," Troy joined the conversation. " She has legs, hands, and eyes to see and walk, kaya niya yan. Kayo na ba at grabe ka naman pare. Hulog na hulog!" Sinabi niya ng pabiro at nakangisi.
"Dami mong alam, nagmessage saakin si Alexa." Sabi niya habang nakatingin sa cellphone niya. "Umiiyak parin daw si Jane, si Ash naman umalis."
"Where did he go?" Tanong ni Troy.
"Let's go and find him before he does something bad."
"Sige hanapin niyo na kaibigan niyo, dun muna ako sa labas." I started walking away when Dwayne grabbed my elbows softly which made me shocked, when he turned me around from his grip, he kissed me on the cheek.
My eyes widened with what he did, kaya nahiya naman ako, baka kasi pinagtitinginan na kami rito. Then he left with his friend.
Nakalabas narin ako ng building, nasa may gilid ako ng fountain nakaupo, there were lights on the fountain kaya nakikita ko yung clear water and the coins, may nakita pa nga akong bente pesos.
Sarap kunin hehe.
I wonder if the people's wish came true, ang dami nila hinulog oh. The statue on top of the fountain was a baby cupid, it was holding a bow and, an arrow which was ready to be released.
The garden in this area was filled with lights, it was hanging and wrapped on the trees, there were a few decorations like the statuettes, human-sized standees and more.
Tatawagan ko sana si Alina at tatawagin kung nasaan siya, kaso siya na yung nauna tumawag. Agad ko naman sinagot.
["Hello! Nasan ka?!"] I could hear the music blaring through the phone, so nasa loob parin siya.
"Andito ako sa labas, anong ginagawa mo?" May nakita akong dalawang bata naglalaro, mukhang familiar yung batang lalaki, parang nakita ko na siya kung saan.
["Kanina pa kita hinahanap, nasa labas ka lang pala! Oh, nasaan si Dwayne?"] I heard the familiar voices of her friends laughing, narinig ko rin isa sa kanila binanggit pangalan ni Dwayne. ["Shush girls! I'm on the phone!"]
"Andun sa loob, may hinahanap lang, maya-maya ihahatid na ako. Sasabay ka ba saamin?"
["Hmm, hindi ko alam eh, I think I'm going home late, nasa business trip sila Mom and Dad so okay lang yan HAHAHA! By the way, I have chika!"] She sounds excited parang interesting yung sasabihin niya.
"Ano naman 'yon?" Nginitian ko yung dalawang bata, nakatingin kasi sila saakin, lumapit yung batang lalaki at yunng kasama niyang kalaro na babae.
["Just now kase, I saw Ashton, Troy and the girls na kasama nila, sila Alexa and Jane, I'm not with them right now kasi umiiyak daw si Jane. Sinigawan daw ni Ashton doon sa table nila, he even flipped the table, oh my gosh!"] Gulat niyang sinabi saakin.
"Kaya pala, kamusta na kaya siya? Ano ba kasi nangyari, okay naman sila kanina." I got curious, so I decided not to know more, I have to mind my own business.
["I think Jane was drunk, alam mo naman babaeng 'yon. So, I think she got quirky and tipsy, she likes Ashton kaya nagpapansin siya siguro to the point nakulitan si Ash."]
Hindi nalang ako sumagot, hindi ko naman alam sasabihin ko eh. Mukha namang tahimik si Ashton kanina, napakainitin naman ng ulo non. Mukha rin siyang misteryoso, ewan ko ba.
"Ate, natatandaan niyo pa po ba ako?" Umupo sa tabi ko yung batang lalaki, inalalayan ko siya at hinawakan sa likod, baka kasi mahulog siya sa tubig.
I tried to familiarize his face, I am sure I saw him somewhere before.
"Ako po yung bata na nasa hospital dati, you calmed me down, remember?." Parang kumikinang yung mga mata niya habang kinakausap ako, singkit siya, maputi at bilog ang mukha, parang may kamukha.
"Ahhh," naaalala ko na, siya yung bata sa hospital na umiiyak sa gilid tapos sinundo nung lalaki. "Brent is your name, correct me if I am mistaken."
"Yehey! Naalala ako ni ate Ganda!" Ngumiti siya sa tuwa kaya hinaplos ko yung malambot niyang buhok, abot yung ngiti niya sa mata kaya halos hindi na makita mata niya, nakakagigil pisngi niya!
"Oh, bakit ka nandito? Nasaan na yung kalaro mo?" I said with a sweet voice, he looks like an angel in his black shirt and white shorts.
"Oh, you mean Emily? Yea, she's with her Mummy now, I'm waiting for mine here."
Wow, ang cute ng British accent bata na 'to ah.
"Pero, aren't you scared? Kakaunti lang tao dito oh, it's dangerous for a young boy like you." I got worried, paano kung na-kidnap siya?
"I'm a strong boy ate, I can fight bad guys like Hulk!" Then he flexed his arms like a wrestler, natawa naman ako.
"Still, you should not be alone. Okay? Where's your Mummy?" Tumingin-tingin ako sa paligid, nagbabaka sakali na makita ko mama niya.
"She'll be here anytime soon, anyways, may boyfriend ka na ate?" He clasped his hands as he was swinging his legs back and forth, he was grinning.
"Huh?! Wala naman hehe." Ano bang tanong na 'yon?
"I'll court you in the near future if you are still single, just kidding! HAHAHAHA!" He laughed nervously while looking at his side, he did a peace sign at me.
"Ikaw ha, bata ka pa, study first." I pinched his cheeks lightly, I can't help it, it looks so squishy!
"Yes ate, I hope in seeing you again because my Mummy is here!" Kumaway siya at bumaba sa inuupuan niya, tumayo ako at tinignan ko ang babae na papunta saamin.
"Hello Pumpkin, there you are!" Sabi nung babae, ang ganda niya, mukhang mayaman. Tumakbo si Brent papunta sa kanya.
"Mummy, she's the one I'm talking about when I was in the hospital!" Humawak siya sa kamay ng nanay niya.
"Hello there, thanks for taking care of him in the mean time, we better get going!" Kaswal siyang nagpasalamat saakin habang nakangiti, elegante ang itsura niya, mukha siyang CEO.
Bago umalis, yumakap muna saakin yung bata. So sweet.
"How 'bout kuya Mummy? Hi kuya!" Narinig ko siyang nagsalita bago sila pumasok sa loob ng building, kaya bumalik na ako sa inuupuan ko.
Pagkaupo ko ulit sa tabi ng fountain, naisipan ko magwish, hindi naman masama maniwala minsan diba?
Kumuha ako ng piso sa wallet, 'yon lang ang nakita kong barya sa wallet ko. Tumayo ako at humawak sa piso gamit ang dalawang kamay, pumikit ako at nagwish.
Sana, maging maayos na ang lahat, family problems, yung sakit ni Mama, at sana maging successful ako sa future.
Dinilat ko na mga mata ko, may naaninag ako na tao sa kabila ng fountain, pero hindi ko pinansin. Hinulog ko na yung piso, hoping for it to come true.
Nananahimik lang ako nang may tumabi saakin.
Ashton?
"I see you wishing a while ago, it's not like I'm stalking you." He said coldly.
Nginitian ko nalang siya, I feel awkward.
"I see, my friend is courting you, sasagutin mo na ba siya?" He spoke once again.
"Huh? Ah, sinabi ko muna na, we should take things slow."
"I see you find this uncomfortable," He whispered in his deep raspy voice. "So let me change the topic, you believe in wishes?"
"Hindi, naisipan ko lang, hindi naman masama magwish diba? I feel like I just needed it." Sagot ko naman sa kanya, totoo naman.
"Will it disappoint you if they did not come true?"
Bakit ba siya tanong ng tanong? Hindi naman kami ganon kaclose.
"I part of me will, pero if it came true; then I would be happy." I smiled at the thought.
"Then, if I could wish for something, sana, sumaya na yung tao sa tabi ko." Then he turned his head to look at me.
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Author's note;
Hi Serenities, the long wait is finally over! As I promised, I will update on my free time, I know this is not enough but I did my best, and I will try to update more chapters in both stories. I hope you would still patiently wait and remain as my Serenity hehe~ I love you dearest Serenities!
Votes, comments and shares are HIGHLY appreciated! ♡