His Runaway Bride

Chapter 10: Red Flag

Jillian Klairo

Buong buhay ko, simula noong pumanaw ang Tatay ko ay lagi akong mag-isa. I have been always afraid to let people in, until Del Russo. I did not care enough if people are going to leave me if I push them away or even apologize for not expressing my feelings, until him. He became that important to me, that should scare me but I am not. I am having progress because I actually broke my toxic cycle. For the first time, I kept someone around, and he's the least person that I expected to do that. To actually stay, be patient, and freaking adjust for me.

We've officially been friends for a while, and if he was patient before, he became even more today. Slowly, I am opening up myself to him. Lately, I have been finding myself talking about things that I've never talked about with anyone before. Such as, how shitty the walls of my apartment are, what bothers me, and stuff about my past. He would listen and he would tell me that he understood why I shut him out before.

And that never happened to me before. It is undeniable that for the past few months and now, I trust him and I am comfortable with him. That's a huge thing for me. Sa mga nagdaang linggo din, hindi ko alam kung lagi lang talaga kaming magkasama o may kakaiba sa mga mata niya. Yeah, nagagandahan ako sa kanila dati pa, pero lately, there is that effect on me, whenever it flickers on mine, how his natural lips curved into a boyish smile makes me feel weird in my stomach, or how his laugh sounded so better than before.

What the fuck is happening with me?

I find myself staring at him, and wondering that the Creator really has favorites. Kasi naman e, ang gwapo---oo inamin ko, gwapo talaga si loko. His brown hair is not so straight but it has curls at end, his jawline, his freaking height, and his cologne. Tapos matalino pa? Ang kaso nga lang ang yabang at lagi akong pinagti-tripan, so, I guess there's that.

However, I cannot deny that I am feeling something more than a fascination with this Filipino-Italian Del Russo. He makes me feel like I am not surviving, he makes me feel alive, somehow. For once in my life I felt that, and somehow being only friends with him does not sit right with me.

My god, what is happening with me? Jusko, seven months pa lang kaming magkakilala and yet, I discovered and felt so much with him, just because I saw his dick second day of school.

"Iniisip mo ba kung gaano ka-gwapo kaya ka nakatitig sa akin? Tsk, Nerdy, sinasabi ko na nga ba. Aminin mo na, gwapong-gwapo ka sa Del Russo na ito." Mayabang na sabi niya at ini-flex pa ang biceps niya sa harap ko. I can see it since, naka-light pink siya na chino shirt, paired with his usual slacks and black shoes.

I faked a gag. Of course, I am not gonna give him the satisfaction of knowing that I actually find him attractive. His ego needs a fucking diet.

"Neknek mo," Sagot ko at inirapan siya. Katatapos lamang namin na mag-lunch at kasalukuyan kaming narito sa labas ng building. I brought my usual friedrice, na hindi niya kinakasawaan.The sun was up and glaring today. Which makes me very grateful for the tall tree that I am currently leaning on, it also provides shade and fresh air.

Kasalukuyan kaming nasa ilalim ng Narra. Nakaka-burn out kasi sa loob ng eskwelahan dahil for the past months we've been studying indoors, kahit sa mga day-off ko, we would study inside the library or student center...and we needed a change of scenery.

"Duh, hindi lang ikaw ang Del Russo, may Ethios at Miguel Del Russo pa." Sagot ko na ikinakunot ng noo niya.

"Miguel is eleven, Jillian."

Bahagya naman na nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"Oh, hindi mo naman sa akin sinabi agad," I just recently knew about him. "Hmm..how about your other brother Ethios? Hmm.... such a sexy name." Nakangising sagot ko na ikinasimangot niya.