Never an Ever After (Never Series #1 | COMPLETED)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13
Threats

"H-Ha?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Parang kanina lang ay iniisip ko ang tungkol dito tapos ngayon ay sinabi na niya sa akin. Nabasa niya ba ang isip ko?

Napatitig ako sa kaniya. He was staring back at me with his hand still holding mine. Para akong lumilipad. Ganito pala sa feeling kapag nagpapaalam sa'yong manligaw? Because the guys in my past didn't bother asking me if I wanted to be courted. Basta nalang silang nanligaw and lately ko lang na-realize na importante iyong tinatanong ka sa ganoong bagay hindi 'yong mag-de-decide nalang sila.

Paano kung ayaw kong magpaligaw, 'di ba? So, wala akong choice kasi nanliligaw na sila? Grabe, kapag binabalikan ko tuloy 'yong mga oras na kinilig ako roon, nangingilabot ako. It was cringing. It was not supposed to be like that. You get to decide who courts you, who's gonna be your boyfriend, and even in other civil matters as long as it has you involved. 

Tao ka, buhay mo 'yan, karapatan mo ang mag-desisyon para sa'yo.

Nang mabalik ako sa present ay napakurap ako. Gusto ko munang siguraduhin kung tama ang narinig ko. Baka nag-a-assume lang ako. After all, hindi ako sanay na hinihingi ang permission ko.

"C-court as in... as in ligaw?"

He let out a low chuckle as he nodded. He even wet his lips. "Yes, Guia. I want to make ligaw," he clarified while suppressing a laugh. Napaikot ang mga mata ko dahil ang conyo niya na naman.

His other hand made its way to my nose, pinching it a little.

Gago, kinikilig ako. Pierce was the first guy na nagpaalam sa akin. I couldn't be more happy. He's just... He's too good to be true... Natatakot ako na baka panaginip lang ang lahat... 

Or was I just used to settling for less kaya ngayong may nagpaparamdam sa'king I was more than that ay hindi ako makapaniwala?

Grabe.

Lord, ito na po ba? 

Kung ito na, I'll grab this na. I'll work extra hard to make things work.

"So...?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay nang ilang segundo na akong nakatulala lang sa kaniya. I blinked away the thoughts and focused on what was happening in front of me.

He looked as if he realized something. I saw how panic appeared in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I might have sounded demanding. I'm not rushing you, Guia. Take all the time you need to decide..."

"Yes," putol ko sa sinasabi niya. Wala naman akong rason para humindi. Jowang-jowa na ako plus, he's my type. So, ano pa ang kailangan? I don't need time to think things over.

Lumawak ang ngiti sa labi niya. He looked relieved. Tapos ay inilapit niya iyong kamay kong kanina niya pang hawak sa tapat ng bibig niya.

With his eyes still trained on me over his glasses, he kissed my hand. Halos mapapikit ako sa lambot ng labi niya. I felt ticklish for a moment. My heart was hammering inside my chest. Sakto pang kumanta iyong To the Bone ni Keanna Mag. Bumagay sa intensity ng scene iyong kanta. It was intimate.

"Thank you, Guia," sabi niya.

Magsasalita pa sana siya pero dumating na iyong mga pagkain namin kaya we began digging in.

I was watching him every time his eyes are elsewhere. I just couldn't believe he's right here in front of me. Parang kahapon lang noong nakita ko siya sa lobby ng condo. Parang kailan lang noong maramdaman kong iba ang hatak ng pagkatao niya sa akin.

While my eyes never left him, something inside me stirred. I don't know if it's just because of the effect of the current situation, but I'm starting to think that I wanted us to last.