A Dare For You, East ✓

✧.* epilogue *.✧

"Hey," bati ko pagkapasok niya sa kotse ko.

I smiled seeing her wearing the hoodie i gave to her. She looked down on her outfit before she smiled shyly at me and sat on the shotgun seat. I insisted to buckle her seatbelt before I did the same on mine.

"Hi, Mira! Ganda natin ngayon ah?" bati ni Troyce na nasa likuran, sa backseat. Tipid na ngumiti si Mira at nilingon siya.

"Thank you, Troyce. Ikaw din, you looked handsome tonight."

Sumimangot ako at sinamaan ng tingin si Troyce na ngayon ay nakangisi lang sa akin, nang-aasar.

"Mira," I called her. She turned to me and softly smiled.

"Why?"

Nagtatanong lang naman siya pero bakit ang lambing ng tunog sa tainga ko? I sighed. Ang lakas ng tama ko sa'yo, Mira. Huwag mo na akong pakawalan. Natawa ako sa naisip.

"How about me? Handsome ba ako tonight?"

Natawa si Troyce sa backseat at sinapak-sapak pa ang upuan ko. "Gago, 'di bagay, dude."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Huwag kang mag-mura. Nandito si Mira, oh."

Umiling si Mira. "Okay lang," tumikhim siya bago magpatuloy. "Anyways, you looked more handsome tonight. I mean, palagi ka namang gwapo sa paningin ko," sabay iwas niya ng tingin sa akin.

Napatikhim ako at natawa. "Oh, my Mira. Masiyado mong pinapasaya ang pasko ko," iiling-iling kong sabi bago paandarin ang kotse. I propped my elbow on the side and played with my lips. "Did Tita allowed you to meet me tonight? Baka mamaya tumakas ka lang ulit, huh?" natatawa kong tanong.

"Nope. Nagpaalam ako and they let me meet you basta you'll drive me home lang before mag 12 in the midnight."

"Ay, cinderella ka, Mira?" singit ni Troyce.

Natawa si Mira at umiling. "I need to celebrate christmas po kasi with my family."

"Ahh.. akala ko magta-transform ka rin, 'e."

Pagkatapos ng ilang minutong pagmamaneho ay tumigil na rin kami sa tabi ng isang lawa. We sat on the bench while Troyce, he insisted that he'll buy our foods to eat. Sinama ko na ang isang 'yon tutal wala rin namang ka-date, kawawa naman. Payag din naman si Mira na sumama siya kaya walang problema.

"Mira."

She turned to me and smiled. "Bakit?" tanong niya bago tumanaw muli sa tahimik na lawa sa harapan namin. The sounds of the calm lake made us relaxed on our seat. Even the cold breeze of the night is calming too.

"You have something to tell me, right?" tanong ko.

"Oh, y-yes," nag-iwas siya ng tingin sa akin at kita ko ang pamumula ng pisngi niya. Bakit naman?

"Hmm? What's that, Mira?"

Liningon niya ako at tumikhim. "Uhm, can you say 'I love you'?" tanong niya bago nag-iwas muli ng tingin at mas pinamulahan ng pisngi. Napaayos ako ng upo at nagtaka sa gusto niyang mangyari.

"Huh? Bakit?"

"Just.. say it."

Okay?

"I love you, i love you, i love you, i love you," I chuckled and stared more at her.

Staring at her this close can always make my heart double a single beat. When i'm with her, my heart can always attest how i'm deeply in love with this cute little girl beside me. The raging beats of my heart almost had me a heart attack whenever she smiles at me.