Smoking Beauty (COMPLETED)

Epilogue

"I thought you quitted smoking," puna ko kay Rosem na nakita kong nakatambay sa entrance ng private sports gym nila at may hawak na yosi.

"Akala mo lang iyon." She straighted herself, but failed to look intimidating. "Ngayon pa na medyo maluwag na sa akin sina mom and dad?" She's obviously being a brat again.

"Tsk, you never learn." Inagaw ko mula sa bibig niya ang yosi and replaced it with my lips on hers. Woah!! Paradise!!

"Hoy Trystan! Nakikinig ka ba? Kanina pa ako talak ng talak rito e." Bigla akong nagbalik sa realidad. Hehe. Imagination ko lang pala iyon.

"A-Ano nga ulit ang dahilan kung bakit mo ako pinapunta rito?" Nasa harap kami ng private sports gym nila. Sana nga totoo na lang iyong na-imagine ko kanina. Hayys.

"Kabibili ko lang nito, okay lang sayo kung subukan natin?" sabi ni Rosem na ipinagmamayabang ang tennis racket at bola.

"Marunong ako nyan, gusto mo turuan kita ngayon?"

"Bakit hindi? Mag-isa lang ako lagi sa tennis arcade. Iba pa rin kapag may kalaro diba?"

"Yep, sumali ako nung highschool ako sa tennis club. Now, my knowledge in this sport wouldn't be wasted. It would be an honor to play with you."

"Masyado ka namang pormal. Mahilig ka talagang sumali sa mga grupo ano?"

"Syempre naman, dyan mo kasi matututunan ang maraming bagay."

"Gaya ng?"

"3Ps."

"Ano iyon?"

"Pakikipagkilala, pakikipagkaibigan at pakikisama. Ikaw, hindi ka ba nababagot sa pagkukulong dito?" Crap. That question came out like a curse from my mouth. Is she offended? "Ah..I didn't mean-"

"Kaya nga ako tumatakas tuwing gabi dati diba? Naisip ko nga na nagiging pabigat na ako sayo. Hindi ka ba nasasayang sa oras mo sa akin imbes na gamitin mo sa iba?"

Hayyy, eto na naman kami. "Hey, I didn't even once thought like that. At iyong nabanggit ko tungkol sa pagkukulong mo, kaya ko lang naman iyon nasabi kasi ilang araw ka ng hindi pumapasok sa school."

"E kasi si Senna..." Ouch, siya pa rin? "Tsaka ikaw.." At least I'm not forgotten.

"Senna is well taken care of by one of my friends. Tumigil na rin siya sa bad habits niya."

"Nino?"

"Ni Cyfer. Are you jealous?"

She shook her head. "I already realized my mistake. Ipinagkamali kong love ang admiration ko sa kanya. Mabilis kasi siyang maging close sa iba, and so is Cyfer. They seem..good to be together."

"I thought so too. Pero tingin ko mas bagay tayo." I chuckled. "So tama na ang drama?" sabi ko at hinimas ako ang ulo niya.

"Nanggugulo ka naman ng buhok e," sabi niya at inalis ang kamay ko sa ulo niya, latting my hand in contact with her warm ones in the process.

"Let's continue being friends like this. I won't force you into anything you aren't yet prepared for."

Napigilan siya saglit pero agad ding nakabawi. "Tawid ka na nga para makapagsimula na tayo."

"Sure," sabi ko.

She didn't say anything against me or my feelings. That's what I think with every snap of the ball. She isn't acting with any discomfort. That informs me that she isn't actually against it. Just the slightest bit of recognition makes me happy. It's enough for me, even if everything is just starting from here.

Maya-maya ay nag-waterbreak muna kami.

"Pasensya ka na talaga kung natakot ka noon kay dad." Ilang beses niya na bang sinabi sa akin ito? Hindi ko na mabilang.

"Yeah, I almost died last time and I didn't what else I have done wrong than the night we were at the club. Akala ko bayad na iyon nung sapak na inabot ko sa dad mo sa prisinto."

"Sira! What happened awhile ago, it's because I told them the truth about you."

"So you told them that I'm a fake boyfriend?"

"Except that. I told them that we broke up, and I said it's you who asked for it because you wanted me to go home."

I chuckled. "I would have really done that if we're a true couple because I don't want your parents to doubt me that much."

"But we're not!"

"Want to make it true then?"

She looked away.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi niya para iharap sa akin. "If we're a couple, I would have kissed you right now."

She stared at me innocently then held my hand on her cheeks. "But we're not."

"Get your hands off me then!" She growled hotly, plucking my hands away.

"Did you really think I'm gonna kiss you?"

"Of course not! Let me go!"

And just with the thought of letting her offhook, I lost my sanity and grabbed her against me, sealing her lips with mine. That was a swift one.

"What was that for?" she tried to exclaim but miserably failed because she's out of breath. Tama nga si Cyfer, she's a virgin. She doesn't even know how to kiss. But even if she's sloppy, it's still good to kiss the one you love.

"I'm not letting you go, never."  I said between pants and embraced her again.

"Ehem!" narinig ko mula kay tito. Wah!!! Andito pala siya. Naku po, mapanganib ito.

Agad akong napakalas kay Rosem. Isipin ko pa lang ang pagkuha ni tito ng shotgun noong nag-over- the-bakod ako at umakyat sa puno nila para makausap si Rosem ay katakot-takot na at ayaw ko ng maulit pa. "Don't worry tito, I'll take care of her."

"Siguruhin mo lang."

END