Cliche (Candy Stories #5)

Chapter 24 part 2

***

I got home earlier than I intended. Kapapalit ko pa lang ng damit at lalabas na sana ng kuwarto para ihanda ang mesa for dinner nang umilaw ang cellphone ko. All throughout the day, I mentally practiced to still my heart in case Maxwell send a message before I sleep. Kaso never nakinig ang puso ko pagdating sa kanya. My heart was pounding so loud, I could actually hear it nang awkward kong silipin ang screen.

May notification ng new email from Maxwell.

Ilang ulit akong huminga nang malalim nang kunin ang phone ko, maupo sa kama, at basahin ang message.

____

From Maxwell:

Good morning, Aurora! Nakauwi ka na ba?

Simula pa lang ng araw ko rito. May training kami sa international cuisine during the day at may mukbang yata mamayang gabi.

How's your day? Miss kita.

*

Nakagat-kagat ko ang labi ko habang paulit-ulit na binabasa ang email. Maxwell was casually telling me things I thought I would only experience in my dreams. I feel so happy, I'm a little worried. Baka bawal kasing maging sobrang saya.

I shook my head to chase the bad thoughts away and typed a reply.

___

From Aurora:

Hello, Maxwell. Yes, nakauwi na po ako. Uhm . . . naisip ko nang mag-send ng message sayo kanina before ako umuwi . . . kaso, hindi ko kasi alam kung okay lang yun. Hindi na lang tuloy ako nag-send.

Is it okay to send you messages like that?

My day's pretty good. Masarap yung food sa resto sa Tagaytay na nirebyu namin ni Celine. Maganda rin ang ambiance. Overlooking sa Taal Lake. They have great selection of seafood recipes. I think you'll like eating there. You can go with your family.

___

From Maxwell:

It's okay to send me messages about anything, as long as you like it, Aurora.

___

From Aurora:

Baka kasi maistorbo kita pag may ginagawa ka. I know you're busy? Kaya kapag ikaw . . . what would you prefer?

___

From Maxwell:

Gusto ko na gusto mong magpadala ng message. Pangarap kong makatanggap ng message mula sayo, tungkol sa kahit na ano, kahit na anong oras.

*

I swallowed and read his message repeatedly. When the meaning registered, I gasped for air.

___

From Maxwell:

At yung sa resto . . . puwede bang tayo ang pumunta?

___

From Aurora:

But . . . na-review na yun??? T__T

___

From Maxwell:

Haha.

Not to review it. Punta sana tayo para mag-date. Kung okay lang.

*

Hu-hu-hu. I was fidgeting on the bed kahit hindi ko siya kaharap. The butterflies in my stomach were in total chaos.