Taking The Risk (Risk Series #1) (UNDER MAJOR REVISION)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Alam ko na kung bakit mukhang kinayod na manok 'yung sulat ng mga doctor. Pumapangit na rin 'yung sa 'kin. Oh my gosh, mukha nang kinayod na manok.

I stared at my handwriting. Grabe kasi 'yung notes ko, halatang minadali kasi walang masyadong time. Mukhang na-a-apply ko na siya as my penmanship.

"Sa tingin mo, maiintindihan kaya ng pharmacist 'tong sulat ko?" wala sa sarili kong tanong kay Fiona na katabi ko sa gazebo.

"Abah, ewan ko, try mo, ipabasa mo," she said and just highlighted everything on her book using her complete rainbow highlighter set.

"Ang panget na ng sulat ko, like my penmanship used to be cute. Not like this, this is horrible!" I whined.

Napabuntong hininga si Fiona. "Gosh, ako ngang panget sulat since birth, nagreklamo ba ako?" She shook her head.

Napanguso ako. I groaned. I tried to write down anything but I just scribbled like sanay na ako. I tried to do calligraphy and thankfully marunong pa ako.

"Ang OA mo, Lina," napailing-iling na aniya.

I pouted. "Bakit wala ka sa mood?"

"Ikaw, kailan ka pa naging blooming at puro sunshine? Nadiligan ka na ba ni Koen at kaya ka ganiyan?"

Nanlaki 'yung mga mata ko. "Pota ka!" Pinalo ko siya sa balikat niya.

Grabe naman 'yung diniligan?!

She sneered. "Sus, pa-virgin, 'di ka pa nagpapadilig? Ilang taon ka na!"

I closed my eyes.

Natawa si Fiona. "Kanina ko pa kasi napansin mukhang nasa good mood ka, lagi ka na lang kasing bad mood dahil sa struggles mo dito sa school, baka may himala nang ginawa si Koen kaya ka ganiyan."

I gasped. This is girl's imagination is just---

"Ikaw, kanina ka pa bad mood."

"Busy kasi ako," aniya. Napahawak siya sa sentido niya. "Information overload na 'tong utak ko. Bakit nga ba ulit ako nag-med school?" Nakangiwing tanong niya.

"Kasi pangarap mong mag-doctor nung bata ka pa lang."

"Dapat pala talaga nag interior designing or architecture na lang ako..."

"It's never too late, pwede  ka pa mag-drop out!" pagbibiro ko.

"Oo, para ma-get out naman ako sa bahay," irap niya. She let out an exasperated sigh. She glanced up at me. "Malapit na 'yung Valentines, ano gagawin mo? Date?" biglang tanong niya.

I shrugged. Wala naman kaming balak ni Koen for Valentines, saka ano ba 'tong iniisip ko wala pa nga kaming label!

Pero baka may binabalak 'yon.

Sa isang hotel...

My cheeks heated.

Nope, nope. Why is my head thinking like this? Hindi ako pervert!

I quickly shook the thought away.

The hell's wrong with me, kailangan ko na ba mangumpisal?

***

Koen wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, he even rested his chin on my shoulder as I cook for dinner in his condo.

"Gumagaling ka na magluto, ah," he commented.

His soft yet deep soothing voice was relaxing. His warm breath crawls to my skin. His warmth made me feel so relaxed and safe for some reason.

I love it when he does this to me. Nawawala lahat ng pagod ko simpleng yakap at salita niya lang.

"Wife material na ba ako nito?" pagbibiro ko.

He kissed my nape.

Gosh, bakit ganito minsan si Koen?

"Pwede na kitang gawing katulong," he chuckled. Nakikiliti naman ako sa hininga niya.

Pasimpleng inapakan ko siya sa paa. "Grabe, katulong talaga?"

Tinawanan niya lang ako. "Pwede na rin naman pang wife material, hindi naman ako choosy..."

Shit naman, wala pa nga kaming label pag-aasawa agad? Masyado ata kaming advanced mag-isip.

Why naman ganito, Lina?

I cleared my throat. "Label."

He hummed.

"Koen, hindi mo pa nga ako girlfriend,e." I pouted.

Ang demanding ko na ba? Masyado ko ba siyang minamadali?

Ligawan stage pa lang. It's been weeks when he started courting me, even at school kahit na medyo busy kami at sobrang hectic ng schedule ginagawan niya ng paraan, kahit walang ganoong time para makasingit dahil sa pag-aaral. Nililigawan niya pa rin ako. He'd sometimes sing for me sa condo ko to make me fall asleep, which was part of his panliligaw daw. In school naman he always treats me food and he'd always leave his condo earlier before school just to buy me some breakfast with snacks.

Ang animal, ginagawa akong feeding program. Pero thankful na rin ako kasi hindi ko na kailangan magmadali every morning para mag-prepare ng breakfast.

Sinasabay niya ako sa pagpasok, lagi, then sa car na ako mag-b-breakfast kasi nakabili na nga siya. Minsan, every weekend he'd take me out on a date. Our first ever date was on Intramuros, I don't know, It just seems fun so I suggested it and he agreed then kumain kami sa isang restaurant after n'on, typical date.

But it was so special for me because I enjoyed every single second that I spent with him.

Koen always helps me with everything in school din. And I am beyond thankful that he existed, hindi ko alam kung anong mangyayari sa buhay ko kung hindi ko nakilala si Koen.

I bit my lip. My cheeks were warm.

"Oh, I haven't asked you yet," he said.

I hummed and nodded.

"Do I still have to?"

"Of course, Koen."

Tumikhim siya at niyakap ako. Pinatay ko na 'yung kalan.

I faced him. His face was near mine that we almost kissed and I could feel his breath. He smiled and his dimples showed.

"This place is not romantic," ani Koen nang may ngiti sa labi.

I rubbed my nose on his. "I don't mind."

"Okay..." He held my cheeks. "Paulina..."

Kinikilig na ngumiti ako.

"Will you be my girl?"

It might be cheesy or cringe for some, but, shit, gusto kong tumili.

"Yes," mahinang sabi ko.

Walang pasabing hinalikan ako ni Koen. It was a gentle kiss, I kissed him back. We were just biting each other's lips softly.

Then humiwalay na rin.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, staring straight into my eyes.

I buried my face on his chest to hide my tomato-red face. I was smiling while trying to feel his heartbeat.

I wanted to kiss Koen more pero kakain nga pala kami. Agad na kumain kami ng dinner. Then after n'on we just watched Netflix na parang wala na naman kaming gagawin kahit ang totoo niyan tambak na kami ng gawain sa school.

"May balak ka ba this Valentine's?" I asked him. I was resting my head on his shoulder as we watched my favorite anime sa couch.

"Secret." He smiled.

I gave him a deadpan look. "Sabihin mo na!"

"Nagiisip pa ako ng pwedeng gawin, actually, it's a Sunday on fourteen. Siguro kain na lang tayo sa labas then punta ulit tayo sa kung saan mong lugar gusto pumunta?" Tinignan niya ako.

Tumango at ngumiti ako. "Sure!"