One Lyric Away

6th track: don't let go

"Tiffany, anong pakiramdam mahalikan?" I asked. Dalawa lang kami ngayon sa kwarto, umalis kanina si Ashton kasama sina Gian kaya naiwan kami ni Tiffany sa loob.

She paused for a moment, and then she met my gaze. Tinitigan niya ako nang mariin na para bang iniimbestiga ang bawat parte ng mukha ko. Then in a glimpse, she squealed and hugged me tight.

"Nahalikan ka na! Nadiligan na rin ang mahiwagang labi mo, sis! Ka-proud ka!" Halos masakal at mahilo ako sa kakayugyog niya sa akin.

"N-No. I was just asking," I lied.

"No, sis. Alam kong nadiligan ka na, dapat malaman na'to ni ate Aira," umakto siyang pumindot ng kung ano sa phone na ikinataranta ng buong sistema ko.

Tiffany knows me very well. Alam na alam niya kung nagsisinungaling ako o hindi. I hate her instincts.

"So, how does it feel, Astrid? Is he good?"

"A-Ano ka ba-

"Sis, hindi ko akalaing magpapakabad bitch ka after the break up. I'm against pero susuportahan kita if ever mang-

"Gaga, no! I mean, walang bad bitch ganon or kuno-

"Answer me, then. How does it feel?"

I gulped. She's teasing me, as if she wanted me to spill everything.

"Minty," I answered softly.

"Minty? Anong minty?"

"His lips taste like mint. Medyo malamig," walang preno kong sagot.

"Mentos o Judge?" She asked.

"Snowbear," hindi ko alam pero bakit ganito kami mag-usap?

"Bakla siya," she laughed. "Pero seryoso. Girl, huwag mo nang pakawalan. Nagtootoothbrush yan!" Parehas kaming natawa sa naging reaksyon ni Tiffany. It's a fact though. Kiko's mouth really tastes like ice and mint.

We talked about stuffs regarding him. Tiffany's not a fan of good boys kaya alam kong hindi niya masyadong bet si Kiko from my narration and point of view.

Sinimulan ko kung saan ko siya unang nakita. From the waiting shed hanggang sa kung ano ang recent na nangyari sa amin.

Pero, nagkukwento lang naman ako. Normal na kwentuhan nang magkaibigan about boys, and nothing serious. No feelings involved. This is just a conversation between best friends, trying to describe another friend. College thing convos featuring tilian at hampasan ng pagmumukha.

I mean, I don't like him romantically. I would never fall for a friend.

"He likes you," she uttered.

"No, hindi kaya," I defended.

"No, sis. He really likes you. I've never seen this Kiko at kahit na medyo baduy pangalan niya for a boyfriend, I know he likes you based from your stories," she winked. Ano bang sinasabi niya? Naguiguilty ako sa mga assumptions ni Tiffany na walang supporting evidence.

"So, explain the kiss," napalunok ako at nabato sa kinauupuan.

Maybe the kiss was a mere accident?

Baka nadala lang kami sa view from the rooftop at sa moment kaya nagawa namin yun? I don't know, maybe it was all out of emotion?

"Hindi ka nun hahalikan kung hindi ka niya gusto. Good boys know how to deal with their kisses. Hindi sila mapusok," nanahimik na lang ako at hinayaan siyang gumawa nang kung anu-anong lead na akala mo, nagsasagot ng isang serial killer game.