"Gabi na, lalabas ka?" Tanong ni Dash na may hawak na sandok. Inismiran ko lang siya. "Hala, Tita! Tingnan mo 'tong pamangkin mo, oh! Makikipagdate raw---"
"Fuck you, Dash!" Mariing saad ko pero tumawa lang siya.
Inirapan ko siya at tumungo kay Tita. Nasa gate na pala siya at nang makita ako ay ngumiti siya nang abot hanggang tenga.
"Kanina ka pa hinihintay. Kakain kayo sa labas?"
My cheeks flushed as she walked towards me with her teasing tone. She looked at me from head to toe, and that's why I can't stop myself from being conscious with my simple outfit. I'm just wearing a maong short and a printed white shirt. I'm also wearing flat sandals.
"Ah... Opo."
"Ingat kayo. Nagbilin na ako d'yan. Kapag may problema, chat mo agad ako."
"Okay. Thank you, Tita Kate!" I smiled.
I scanned myself again before opening the gate. The guy, with his faded jeans and simple white shirt, stood up straight as he saw me. He smiled at me, revealing his deep dimples in both of his cheeks.
"I thought... You're busy." Reklamo ko pero natawa lang siya.
"I rather be with you than stress myself with my plates." He chuckled and opened his car.
Hindi pa rin ako sanay sa tuwing lumalabas kami at dito sa mamahaling sasakyan niya ako pinapasakay. Hindi ko maiwasang isipin ang level namin sa isa't isa.
He's filthy rich and smart. And contrary to me, I am merely average. I need to work before I can get what I want. Kahit ang mga mamahaling damit na gusto kong bilhin ay pinagtatrabauhan ko. Tuwing weekends kasi ay umu-extra ako sa coffee siya na malapit sa lugar namin.
"I'm sorry. I'm bothering you. Most probably, you're working on your plates by now." I sounded so guilty, and I couldn't look at him directly.
"Nah. Don't worry. I'm okay with this. Besides, I'm overwhelmed."
His veins flexed as he manuevered the wheel. He glanced at me and smiled boyishly. Damn his dimples!
"Overwhelmed? With what?"
"'Coz you asked me out for the first time."
I bit my lower lip and raised my eyebrows at him, but he just laughed.
"Damn, gorgeous!" He whispered, but I still heard it.
Hindi ako umimik hanggang sa marating namin ang lugar. Nang makahanap siya ng lugar kung saan ang may free parking ay kinuha ko ang panali ko sa buhok dahil paniguradong mainit sa lugar lalo na maraming tao sa Night Market na halos dikit dikit ang mga food stall.
I ran my fingers through my hair and tied it in a bun. I also fixed my side bangs and glanced at the rear view mirror. I was busy checking my whole face there when I remembered that I was with someone. The distance between us is almost a few inches and the moment he looked at my lips, the butterflies in my stomach suddenly fluttered. My cheeks heated when his hand touched the strand of my hair and put it behind my ears.
I flinched because of that, which resulted in me bumping my head against him.
Shit! Wrong move, Zaiden!
"Aray!" Napasapo ako sa noo ko nang maramdaman ang sakit dahil sa pagkakauntog sa kanya.
"I'm sorry. Are you alright?"
"Sorry..." I just said, and he immediately stepped out of his car.
Nauna na akong naglakad habang siya naman ay nakasunod lang. Nang marating ko ang pinakaunang stall malapit sa kung saan kami nag-park ay tiningnan ko siya at napangiti.
"Have you eaten yet, right?"
"Nah. Not yet."
"Great!"
"Hey! Wait!" I felt his hand touch my stomach.
I stopped myself from breathing. I was falthered by his sudden move. When he realized what he did, he immediately raised both of his hands as if he's surrending at me.
"I-I'm sorry. It's just... I don't want to lose you here. Today there are more people around the area, so---"
"It's okay."
I held his hand and ran my fingers into his palm until we were holding hands now. I blushed because of that. I bit my lower lip and avoided his gaze as we started to walk.
Halos busog na busog ako nang makabalik kami ng sasakyan. Binigyan niya ako nang tubig at tumayo sa tabi ko. Nakaupo ako sa shotgun seat habang ang paa ay nasa lupa pa rin. Nakabukas ang pintuan ng sasakyan at nakatayo naman siya sa may gilid ko.
I checked him as he drinking his water. I could visibly see his Adam's apple moving, and after that I lost my control. I walked away to gasp for air.
Fuck! He's hot! Why do his lips look so soft?
What the fuck is wrong with me!?
"Hey! Where are you going?"
"Stop! Don't come here! I... I-I need to breathe..."
His brows wrinkled and he walked near me as if he didn't hear what I just said.
"I said---"
Hindi ko magawang tapusin ang sinasabi ko nang hawakan niya ang pisngi ko na para bang sinusuri. Inayos niya rin ang buhok ko na nagulo kanina sa pakikipagsiksikan namin sa kainan kanina. Nagulat ako nang papayan niya ako gamit ang panyo niya.
"W-What... are you... doing?"
God, I'm stuttering!
"You feel better now? I'm sorry. Maybe the place feels suffocating. Should I take you to the hospital?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya.
Uminit muli ang pisngi ko nang mapagtanto ko paano siya mataranta nang sabihin kong hindi ako makahinga. Paano nga bang hindi ako makakahinga sa pagmumukha niya palang ay halos himatayin na ako.
Iyong dimples pa niya, masyado aking tinutunaw!
"I'm fine... You can let me go now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Just tell me when you feel weird, 'Kay?"
"Hmm." Tumango ako pero hindi niya pa rin ako pinapakawalan sa hawak niya.
"Zaiden. I need an answer." Maawtoridad na saad niya.
"Yeah, I'll tell you."
"Good girl." He said and held my waist as we got back inside his car.
YOU ARE READING
Love Of Distance
Teen FictionForeign Love Series #1 | An Epistolary Zaiden Merell Montealegre was an exchange student and wanted to change her life in Taiwan. Upon discovering her new country, there's this guy who's always there with her, not minding the barrier in between them...
