Fragmented Rhapsody

Fragment 15

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"First kiss...mo ba 'yon?"

"After we kissed...you're asking me that?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kaniya. The awkward atmosphere after the kiss is one thing – Octavian's weird questions are another.

"Tinatanong ko lang naman," he calmly asked, but a bit alarmed.

Why is he asking me that? Halatado ba talaga na hindi ko alam kung paano? I tried to kiss him back – I just didn't know if I did it right. Wala na akong oras para isipin pa ang mga bagay-bagay kanina. The kiss just felt so good and right that I didn't care anymore about anything at all.

"That's my first kiss..." I pouted and looked away.

Nag-iinit pa rin ang mga pisngi ko. Sobrang linaw pa rin ng nangyari sa utak ko. I didn't even move an inch from where I was ago. Si Octavian lang naman ang lumayo kanina dahil sa gulat sa nangyari. He didn't believe it at first. The dumbass thought he was imagining things.

"Really?" he asked again with a doubtful tone.

Kinunutan ko siya ng noo sabay humalukipkip. Hindi ba siya naniniwala? "Mas alam mo pa –"

"Eh, ba't ang galing?"

"Y-you –" suminghap ako at inabot ang buhok niya, " – ang daldal mo!"

He scoffed a bit but ended up laughing. "Sinasabi ko lang naman..."

"Just keep it to yourself."

He puckered his lip sexily and took a step forward nearer me. Inabot niya ang bewang ko at hinapit ako papalapit sa kaniya. Wala pang isang oras pero ramdam ko na ang pagbabago sa pagitan naming dalawa. Just being with him now gives me all the versions of warm and fuzzy.

"Liligawan kita...?" sabi niya nang may ngisi sa labi.

I glared at him. "Hindi ka sigurado?"

"Liligawan kita," agap niya nang siguradong-sigurado na.

Ngumisi ako sa aking kaloob-looban. Patagalin ko kaya ng dalawang taon ang panliligaw niya?

"Okay. Sinasagot na kita."

Namilog ang kaniyang mga mata sa gulat. He looked very much surprised and I suddenly had the urge to capture this moment in my phone because it's one of the few times Octavian was caught off-guard.

"Grabe," he chuckled, still wide-eyed. He pinched my nose softly. "Okay, sige...thank you?"

I bit my lip and stared at him, smiling. "You're welcome."

"Liligawan pa rin kita kahit tayo na. I want you to know how I'm serious with this, baby."

That was our conversation before he volunteered to bring me home. Pero tumanggi ako. I already texted our driver and he's already waiting in the parking lot of the university. Naiintindihan naman ni Octavian iyon at ayos lang para sa kaniya.

When I got home, I entertained a call from my father. He already landed from the business trip but he'll be staying in Manila for a few more days. He's going to file for candidacy. Pinal na talaga ang kaniyang desisyon at wala na rin akong magagawa roon. After all, my father knows what he's doing. I'm going to support him no matter what happens.

Octavian:
I just got home <3

Kusa akong napa-iling nang mabasa ang text mula sa kaniya. Kanina pa ito and because I was in a call, hindi ko nabasa agad.