Cliche (Candy Stories #5)

Chapter 24 : Dance at your pace

***

I was prepared to wait, but Monday came without a reply and I was pouty. Muntik ko nang bawiin 'yong email ko kay Maxwell, but I reminded myself to be patient. Siya nga, sobrang tagal na nagpasensiya at naghintay sa 'kin.

But I couldn't stop overthinking. Was I too aggressive in my message? Audacious ba ako to assume that he still feels the same? Pa'no kung biglang nagbago na pala kasi 'yong feelings niya? Bakit ang bilis naman? O baka, busy lang ba siya? Hindi ba siya nagche-check ng emails? Mas okay ba sana kung sa social media na lang niya ako nag-message?

Hu-hu.

"Why the pout?" tanong ni Celine.

We were at another restaurant for a review. Sa Tagaytay 'yon. From where we were sitting, kita ang Taal Lake. Magtatanghali na pero dahil ber months na at mataas ang lugar, hindi pa rin gano'n kainit. I think mas tumulis 'yong pout ko dahil napangiti si Celine.

"Hey . . . what's the problem? Hindi pa nag-reply si Maxwell?" she asked.

I was ready to protest and deny and save face but . . . "Oo. Hindi nag-reply. Siguro, hindi niya like 'yong email ko."

She giggled. "Silly. That's impossible. Baka siguro nahimatay siya sa disbelief? Hindi pa natatauhan hanggang ngayon?"

I continued to pout.

"Pa'no kung bigla siyang umuwi 'tapos nasa doorstep mo na pala siya mamayang gabi? Oh-em-gee . . ." She squealed with her imagination and I panicked.

"No!" I whined. "Possible ba 'yon? Matagal ang flight! He wouldn't make it to my doorstep tonight! And I'm not . . . ready . . ."

Celine eyed me with mischief. "You're not ready? You sort of proposed to him, girl."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko pero hindi ko siya makontra. I did . . . sort of . . . proposed. "Mali ba 'yon? Was I too aggressive?" Hu-hu. "Sinabi ko lang naman 'yong nasa isip ko."

"He's pretty straightforward, 'di ba? Ready or not, wala kang magagawa kapag bigla siyang lumitaw sa doorstep mo because of your confession."

Hu-hu. "I'm scared . . ."

"Why? Boyfriend mo 'yon."

"Boyfriend ko na siya?!" I asked in shock. "B-because I sort of proposed?"

"He confessed a lot of times that he loves you. If you tell him you love him . . ."

"But I didn't tell?" Sobrang lakas at bilis ng tibok ng puso ko na hindi ako makahinga. "I didn't tell! I just . . . I just asked him that?"

"What is that?" Celine said and sipped on her water.

"You're just making me panic so I'd make you read my email."

"Hindi ba puwede? We're friends . . ."

"Cheeky girl," sabi ko at nag-make face. "No. I already told you the content—more or less."

"Bakit kasi more or less? Puwede naman exact," she said playfully.

"No . . ." I whined.

She was still giggling when her phone rang. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita ang screen, bago siya mapangiti. Sisilipin ko sana kung sino'ng tumatawag pero kinuha niya agad ang phone.

"Yes, hello." Ang lapad ng ngiti ni Celine. There was mischief in her eyes when she looked at me. "Uhm . . . Ano? You what?" She laughed after. "You're both crazy. You want me to confirm what?" She laughed again.

Sa ilang sulyap ni Celine sa 'kin, pakiramdam ko . . . si Maxwell ang kausap niya? But why would he call her? Dapat me!

Sumimangot ako.