Nights Like This

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Feelings

Knowing that Rex Niccolo likes me came as a shock. But learning that my family knows about it... mas malala. Agad naman akong naniniwala na hindi na nga siya pwede sa bahay dahil talagang hindi ko na siya nakikitang bumisita roon.

Pero bakit kaya pinagbawalan siya ni Papa sa bahay? Is my father being protective of me or what? Kung oo, bakit at para saan naman? Also, why does my family knew about Rex Niccolo's feelings first? Unbelievable...

Marami pa akong tanong sa isip pero sinarili ko na lang iyon. I don't have answers for it, anyway. At ayoko nang magtanong. Mula sa pagkakagulat ay nakabawi rin ako at nag-relax na lang.

Binalingan ko si Rex Niccolo na nakatingala na sa akin. Hindi niya inalis ang pagkakapatong ng mga braso sa board ko.

"Bakit sa akin ka nakatingin?" tanong ko.

"You're my view."

"There's the view," I said and pointed at the setting sun. Magandang panoorin ang paglubog ng araw kaya dapat iyon ang tinitingnan niya at hindi ako.

"I prefer you," he said softly.

"You're such a smooth talker. Ganyan ka ba sa lahat ng nagugustuhan mo?"

I think from now on, anything that he does or say will automatically translate to me as flirting. Kung hindi naman siya umamin, hindi ako mag-iisip ng ganoon. Even if Kaila was literally shoving that fact to my face before, I still dismiss that thought.

"Ikaw lang naman ang gusto ko," malayong sagot niya sa tanong ko. Hindi ko na nga lang uulitin at baka parehong sagot lang ang makuha ko.

"Thank you for liking me," sarkastiko kong sabi.

He chuckled and didn't say a thing anymore. Nanahimik na rin ako sa mga sumunod na minuto. Hindi ko alam kung sa'kin pa rin ba siya nakatingin dahil hindi na ulit ako bumaling sa kanya. Even when I said I want to go back already, I still wasn't looking at him.

A silly thought dawned on me. Dahil sa iniisip, hirap tuloy ako na tingnan si Rex Niccolo sa mga mata.

I just noticed that he chose a very scenic setting to confess to me. It's almost romantic, actually. Far from the confessions I've received before. Noon naman, kapag may nagsasabing gusto nila ako, it's either they said it out of drunkenness or they just blurt it out randomly. Nothing special and nothing memorable about it.

Pero itong kay Rex Niccolo... matagal yata bago ko makalimutan.

"Ako na niyan," aniya sabay kuha ng paddle at board ko. Sasabihin ko pa lang sana na hindi naman iyon mabigat at kaya ko naman pero nauna na siyang maglakad. I was left staring at his back – which is bare, by the way, 'cause he's just in his black shorts.

Rex Niccolo has an active lifestyle. Kahit yata hindi ko alam ang mga activities na pinagkakaabalahan niya, masasabi ko na aktibo talaga siya. His lean physique just speaks of it. He has all the muscles in the right places. Plus he's tall! I don't think I'll ever shut up about his height. Kapuna puna talaga iyon. It just made him look more attractive in general.

"I'll shower first and we'll have dinner together," deklara niya.

"No, thanks. I'm too tired to even go out again. Room service na lang ako."

"Alright, I'll call it in."

"Huh? Ako na lang ang tatawag."

"I'll do it."

"Bakit ikaw? Ako naman ang kakain, ah?" katwiran ko. He's being too kind. Dahil ba may gusto siya sa'kin?

"Yup. What do you want?"