All I Want (Capture Series 1)

Twenty-Five

For a second, I felt like I was in 2019. Bago pa mangyari ang lahat, bago pa magkaalaman ng katotohanan. Back when we were together, where we can freely kiss each other.

Only for a second.

I immediately knew that we're not in 2019. If we were, he would not be standing far away from me. He would be in front of me, holding my waist, tucking my hair behind my ear, then he will kiss me or maybe I will. As soon as I did it, he would kiss me back. Not even once did he managed not to kiss me back every time I kissed him. If we were in 2019, Kairo would not be here. He would be hiding in wherever he was. His presence is the living proof that we were not in 2019. Kai made everything that's happening now possible.

Kaya ngayon, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit gusto niyang bigyan ko siya ng kiss. Napakurap ako nang ilang beses. I swallowed hard.

"W-What?"

The furrow on his brows resurfaced. "Kiss," he repeated while raising both of his brows like I should've known what he was talking about.

Ayos ba kami? Tama ba yung iniisip ko na maayos kaming naghiwalay? Naghiwalay ba kami? Did we really broke up? Stupid! Of course, you broke up with him! Apat na taong walang usap. Ano 'yon? Cool-off?

Then why the heck...

I cleared my throat then stood up straight.

"No," I said with conviction.

Medyo napalayo ang ulo niya sa gulat sa sinabi ko. Being in a relationship with anyone is not my priority right now so I am sorry, Theo. No. Hindi naman pwedeng ganun-ganun na lang lahat.

"No?" he repeated.

"Yes. It is nice seeing you again but I cannot just do that," I shifted my weight, feeling uncomfortable that I have to say that.

"Huh," he scoffed. "As far as I remember, I am invited here. My family is here. Javiers are invited right? I am a Javier. Can't I have my own villa?"

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Invited? Oo. Villa? Pwede naman siyang bigyan. Eh anong connect noon sa pinag-uusapan namin? Bakit...

"Y-You can but... what does it have to do with me... g-giving you... k—"

"Do you want me to call the receptionist, Oli? Or alam mo kung saan nakalagay yung susi?" Kai interrupted, emphasizing the word 'susi'.

Napabaling ako sa kaniya. He was looking at me seriously. Nang marealize kung ano ang ibig nilang dalawa sabihin ay napahinto ako. Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig, o mainit, or maybe both! Hindi ko alam! Ang alam ko lang ay gusto kong tumakbo paalis dito sa lobby. Or better, paalis netong resort!

Keys! Susi, Oliana! Susi! Keys not kiss! Stupid!

Ano-anong mga sinabi ko? Wala naman akong sinabi na nag-give away sa naisip at naramdaman ko diba? Diba?!

I immediately forced a smile to hide the embarrassment I was feeling. Pakiramdam ko ay nagwawala na ang mga laman-loob ko sa sobrang kahihiyan nila. If only they could walk around inside me, they will probably tear my brain or maybe my heart apart.

"Of course! Of course, alam ko kung saan nakalagay yung keys!" I chuckled. "It just that... I cannot just give you the keys because... I need to check you in on our system first and... inform my mother, yes, inform my mother and your parents that you're already here."

Gusto ko sumigaw.

Nakatitig lang sa akin si Theo habang nakataas ang isang kilay. Actually, hindi lang sa akin. Nagpapabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa amin ni Kai pero mas matagal nga lang sa akin.