Drawn to His Flame

Kabanata 35

Join

Napadaing si Hiro nang batukan ko siya. "What the heck, Hiro? Kailan mo ba ako seseryosohin?" bulyaw ko sa kanya.

He furrowed his brows while he massaged the part of his neck that I hit. "Mukha ba akong nagbibiro?" he grunted.

"Oo! Ano bang trip mo ha? I was asking you for help and you began talking about us dating. Kilabutan ka nga," pahayag ko sa kanya.

"Imposible ba talaga 'yong mangyari?"

"You were saying?" tanong ko dahil parang may sinabi siya pero hindi ko iyon narinig. Nakita kong umayos lang siya ng pagkakaupo bago niya niyakap ang unan na hawak niya kanina. Inagaw ko iyon sa kanya kaya napatingin na rin siya sa akin habang nakakunot-noo.

"Ano 'yong huli mong sinabi?" I interrogated again. I thought he's going to whisper the answer to me because I saw him getting closer but I sighed when I realized that he only did that to snatch the pillow back.

Hiro indeed ignored my question because his full attention was now on the show that he's watching. "Okay, whatever. Sabihin mo na lang sa akin kung ano ang naisip mong paraan para makapaghiganti ako."

"Nasabi ko na nga sa 'yo," sagot niya nang hindi pa rin ako nililingon.

Malakas akong napasinghap. "The only way you're referring is for me to date you?" I incredulously asked and my brows rose when I saw him casually nodding at me. "The idea alone is absurd, Hiro. Huwag mo nga akong pagtripan," I reacted again.

"Iyon lang ang naiisip ko ngayon. Okay lang naman kung ayaw mo. Hindi naman 'to sapilitan," sagot niya.

I looked at him and hoped that I could just read his mind because he's being so mysterious right now. "But why dating? I really can't see a connection so enlighten me," pakiusap ko.

"May gusto lang akong kumpiramahin. Kung papayag ka man, we'll stop if my hunch was wrong. Pero kung tama man ay ikaw na ang bahala kung kailan tayo titigil," he explained. "And who knows, you might want to date me for my life," pahabol niya kaya napairap ako. Mas lumawak ang ngisi niya dahil doon.

Natahimik ako pansamantala nang may maisip akong posibleng rason kung bakit ito ang naisip ni Hiro na gawin namin. "Nandito rin sa isla 'yong ex mo 'no?"

His forehead creased because of what I said. "What?" nalilito niyang tanong.

"If you're planning to make Arriane jealous because you saw her with her boyfriend today, then you should've get yourself a girl. Siguradong papalpak ka kung ako ang gagamitin mo."

"Stop making things up, Regan," tanging sagot niya kaya natawa ako.

"It's obvious that you're still not over her. I can help you win her back if you want. Unahin na lang muna natin 'to—"

"Bakit mo ba ako parating pinagtutulakan kay Arriane? Nasabi ko naman 'di ba sa 'yo na may iba akong gusto?" Naitikom ko ang bibig ko nang mapagtaasan ako ng boses ni Hiro. Ito talaga ang napapala ng kakulitan ko.

"I'm sorry," I apologized while I played with my fingers. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nahihiya ngayon sa kanya. Parati ko kasi talaga siyang tinutukso pagdating kay Arriane. I knew that their relationship wasn't real in the first place but I just noticed that Hiro didn't commit again after that so I thought that he really did love his ex.

I can sense him shifting on the couch before he spoke. "No. I'm sorry. Napikon lang. And about what I suggested, just forget it."

Umiling ako. "Let's do it."

"Huwag na. Mag-iisip na lang ako ng ibang paraan," tutol niya.

I blew out air before responding. "We've been together for years so it won't really feel awkward to me. Gawin na natin. Wala namang malisya, 'di ba?"