I hear Yael's footsteps. He was following me behind the moment I turned back at him to get in his car. It's almost half-past 1 AM, and I should go back to my unit. Hindi ko alam kung pagbubuksan ba niya ako ng pintoan dahilan nang kung bakit siya sumusunod sa akin hanggang sa pag-ikot ko papuntang shotgun seat.
I feel someone tugging the unbuttoned cuff of my top to stop me. Bago ako humarap, itinaas ko muna ang aking braso para makita ang paghawak niya sa akin. His thumb and forefinger pinch the cloth. He adjusts his hold by moving the two fingers downward because the realization hits him that he might defy one of our rules.
He jerks his hand away from me and rests his hands on his back.
"It's not included in your rule," he says. It wasn't applicable to me now, my plan is no longer useful because before I could even execute my plan, he already welcomes Ashton back to their team.
I never opened up our rules again at sabihin sa kanya na wala nalang iyong rules but on the other side, I wanted to see how far would he go to satisfy his ego. Napag-isip rin ako na baka mag take advantage siya sa opportunity, knowing we have an agreement without having those rules now.
"I like you, Grace." he blurted out. My forehead creased. "Let's give it a try. It was not hard to like me."
The last sentence sounds like he's desperately pleading to me in a whisper voice. His eyes are fixed on mine, and I deliberately look into his.
I had no idea if he's being serious or not and for pete's sake, ilang araw palang kaming magkakilala at ngayo'y magtatapat na siya sa akin.
I always stand myself as brave and mean to him but are there any words that won't hurt his feelings or ego? Whatever would I say, it will hurt him.
"It was hard to like you because I don't like you in the first place, Yael. I only see you as a friend at kailan mo lang akong nakilala. Hindi mo pa ako kilala. This is something new for you because as you said, I'm all different from all the girls you had dated before. This is your e–"
"Again, my ego is not whispering to me. I silenced it, it was my heart that was whispering to me. I'm making a move out of my own. Alam ko iniisip mo na masyado akong mabilis, but believe me, I had been so enthralled by you. If you could give me a chance, I'll be the best boyfriend. I'll only look for you, not for the other girls. I'll pour my attention to you, alone.. No one knows how many anniversaries we could celebrate. No one knows."
I don't get why he pushed this idea of us being a real couple. I'm not expecting we could be more than that. Pwede siyang maging kaibigan ko pero hindi ang boyfriend. There are other girls out there, who are more beautiful than me. The qualities he sees in me ay mahihigitan ng ibang babae.
"I'm serious, Grace," he added.
"Let's head home now, Yael."
Hinarang niya ang dalawang braso sa pintoan ng shotgun seat.
"If you'd answer me right now, uuwi tayo." I puffed out a breath.
I don't know what he's planning to do, I already cleared to him that I only see him as a friend. I'm started to get annoyed at gustohin nang makauwi nalang. I'm really tired right now, I need some sleep.
"Okay.. Nabigla ka pa ata sa sinabi ko. I'll ask you some other time, I will wait," he said. Yael opened the door. "I'm sure you'll give me a chance. Probably after a 1 week, you will like me.. or loved me, instead."
Hindi ako sumagot. I'm too lazy to talk dahil antok na antok na talaga ako. Pinaandar na niya ang kanyang sasakyan papalayo sa lugar. I leaned my head against the car window. While he drove me home, namamalayan ko ang pagpikit ng mga mata ko.
