Eternal Flame

2- Fangirling

It wasn't my intention, yet my hand automatically fly towards his right cheek, and not in a very gentle way. Huli na nang ma-realized ko ang nangyari. Pero hindi iyon ang isyu ngayon, the real catch here was the man carrying me.

I turned my attention to him when he scoffed. "So, this is what I've got from saving you. Instead of a thank you, I got a hard slap."

"Masakit ba?" alinlangan kong tanong.

Tumaas ang isang sulok ng kaniyang labi bago sumagot, "That's out of the question! Sino ba'ng nasampal ang nasarapan?"

"I'm sorry," I said. I mean it, but I am overflowing with joy that I was out of it and couldn't care enough.

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili na abutin ang kaniyang pisngi na namula. Pakiramdam ko ay nakalutang ako sa cloud nine nang sumayad ang malambot at makinis niyang balat sa aking palad.

"You're real?" I blinked my eyes a couple of times, and he was still there. "O my gosh, you're real!"

He scrunched up his forehead. Bigla rin siyang pumalatak sa hangin. "Of course, I am. Ano ba'ng akala mo sa akin, multo?"

Nilapag niya ako mula sa pagkakarga at umiling-iling. He was standing in front of me, and I couldn't help myself but stare at him. Napuno ng galak ang puso ko at hindi napigilan ang sarili na lumundag payakap sa kaniya. Mahigpit kong naiyapos ang aking dalwang braso sa kaniyang leeg. After that, he stiffened.

Meanwhile, I literally jumped for joy. Paulit-ulit akong tumalon habang pahigpit nang pahigpit ang pagkakayakap ko sa kaniya. Niluwagan ko ang pagyakap sa kaniya nang bahagya siyang umubo.

Iyong mga braso ko, nanatiling nakakawit sa kaniyang leeg habang walang pakialam na tinitigan ko ang mukha niya nang malapitan. Ilang pulgada lang layo ng mukha namin sa isa't-isa. Salong-salo ng ilong ko ang mabangong hininga na nanggagaling sa kaniya.

A moment of silence passed between us. He looked at me, eye to eye, speechless. Ako naman, nag-umpisang kumilos ang kanang kamay. I reached for his thick, dark, and beautiful eyebrow. I caressed it with so much care, from the tip to the core between his nose.

Mula sa pagitan ng kaniyang kilay, tinunton ng aking daliri ang balingusan ng kaniyang ilong hanggang sa tungki nito. Dumako ang paningin ko sa mapupula at hugis pana niyang mga labi. I ran my thumb on his lips, then mine stretched to both sides of my ear.

"Wooh, I can touch you!" I said with my eyes widening.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Clark Russel Felipe, right?" I asked instead.

"How did you know me?"

Kumalas ako sa pagkakayap sa kaniya at pumihit patalikod. Napasuntok ako sa hangin ng ilang beses. I curled up and cover my mouth with both hands while giggling. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam na makita ang hinahangaan mong celebrity? I can't contain my happiness, and it was exploding endlessly. Wala akong pakialam kung na-wi-wierdo-han man siya sa ikinikilos ko.

So, hindi pala nagkamali si Belinda noong sinabi niya na nakita niya si Russel.

"Hmmm..."

Humarap ako sa kaniya nang tumukhim siya. He squinted his eyes on me while his eyebrows heavily arch. Alam ko na hindi niya naiintindihan ang ikinikilos ko. Maybe he was thinking that I am a bit unwell. Well, I am. Sino ba naman ang hindi mawawala sa katinuan kong makikita niya ng personal ang taong hinahangaan.

"Hi! I'm Catherine Sabales, your biggest fan," I said, extending my hand towards him for a handshake. I was smiling from ear to ear while waiting for him to accept my hand.