"I want to believe I am close to those descriptions." I chuckled nervously.
"You're that girl, Latrice."
I looked at him confusedly.
"You're my other-half, Latrice."
"But, of course! You used to tell me that when we were in college. I am your other half. But that's only because I am your bestfriend. Right?"
"Listen. This morning you caught me staring at you while you were asleep. Yes, I was doing so for I had taken in the truth that I am in love with you."
"I have been in love with you for years now."
"I don't understand, Manuel."
"You don't have to understand; you only need to feel it."
"But --"
Thenceforward, he enclosed me in his arms and placed his lips on mine.
He is kissing me!
Manuel is kissing me!
I wanted to resist, but I didn't want to cut the kiss.
At first, I was hesitant to respond.
However, when he deepened the kiss -- I finally closed my eyes and kissed him back.
It's no longer my first kiss, but it's definitely incomparable to the first one.
He was so gentle. I like the feeling of his lips on mine.
'I like the feeling of his lips on mine' echoed on my mind.
It couldn't be! We shouldn't be kissing.
We are best friends.
We are not supposed to risk our friendship.
I don't want us to feel distant to one another just because of a kiss.
So, I cut the kiss and pushed him away from me.
"Latrice."
"I have to go to the CR for a while.
I locked myself inside.
I couldn't believe that Manuel and I had kissed just a few seconds ago.
I don't know how to face him after that incident.
After few minutes, I stepped out the CR as if nothing had happened. Manuel was still on the couch.
"Latrice."
"Let's forget about it. Let's just pretend it did not happen."
"Is that what you really want?"
"Yes. Good night, Manuel."
I climbed up my bed and hid under the comforter. Sleep was elusive to me that night, but I didn't let Manuel notice that I was awake up to the moment he went to bed. I wasn't sure if Manuel couldn't sleep too, but it was only the heavy rain outside that I was hearing. I guess I had fallen asleep only around 2 in the morning. As for Manuel, I did not have any idea of what time he fell asleep.
__*__*__*__*__*__*__
MANUEL's P.O.V.
I don't regret that I kissed her.
Actually, it was something that I could not get off my mind until now.
The kiss we shared was perfect.
The moment was perfect, too.
But I am bothered at the moment. If she didn't want what I did, then she should have not responded to my kiss? As a matter of fact, she was as zealous as I was. But why did she cut the kiss? What happened? What had she come to realize? Doesn't she love me the way I do? Does she hate me now?
Should I apologize to her? But I don't feel sorry that I kissed her.
She has gone to bed now and covered up herself with her comforter. I also decided to go to bed, but I didn't drift off right away. I could sense that she was still up, yet I didn't bother her anymore.
A great deal of questions was running in my mind. I am planning on what's supposed to be done in the morning. Based on the condition outside, I could not go home instantaneously tomorrow.
I had planned on getting up early, so I could order us breakfast. I would not bring up the occurrence and act as if nothing happened. Well, that's my plan for now.
I was already heavy-eyed after a couple of hour, so I gave in to slumber.
__*__*__*__*__*__*__
WHEN I woke up, I searched for my watch and looked at the time. It was already 6:00 in the morning, but it was like 4:00 AM still. Maybe it was because of the heavy rain outside.
Latrice was still cozily asleep on her bed. I bet she had a long night.
I called up the reception area and asked for breakfast service. I didn't have the heart to disturb Latrice yet.
I waited for her to be awakened before I requested for the food to be brought into our room. She came around 30 minutes after 7, and I called the receptionist at once.
She timidly smiled at me when she got up from bed. The minute she finished at the lavatory was also the minute we heard a knock on the door. I let the attendant serve the food on the table. After he left, Latrice and I ate breakfast.
At 10AM, we were set to check out. We already moved out the hotel when it has stopped raining, so that I could play on the weather.
I dropped her off their house but decided to just stay in the car.
Before Latrice stepped out, I thanked her for staying with me while I was here in the city.
I never missed to inform her that I had enjoyed my stay because of her presence.
She just smiled and hugged me. After that, she opened the door and stepped down.
The moment she got inside their house, I drove away from their place.
Back to reality!
I wonder when I could be with her again.
Well, I wish it would be in the nearest future
I started off the trek in going back to Zambales.
