"Are you tired, love ko? Gusto mo mag date tayo?" masuyong tanong ni Kai at inabot ang kamay ko habang nagmamaneho. Isang kamay nalang niya ang nakahawak sa manibela.
Love ko...
"Okay lang naman, 'di naman ako gano'n ka-pagod. Nag drama lang ako kay direk kanina kasi na-miss kita." napanguso ako at linaro ang mga daliri niya.
It's true! Normal lang naman siguro 'to, ano? I mean, he's still my best friend.
Oh, galit ka sa kanya 'di ba?
Napanguso ako at mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay niya.
Sana kasi ay hindi nalang ikaw 'yung anak ng kabit ni daddy. Sana hindi ako galit sa'yo. Sana hindi niyo sinira ang buhay ko.
He pulled over at the side of the road kaya nagtataka ko siyang tinignan. He chuckled amd stared at me.
"Well, I missed you too. Halika nga dito." hinila niya ako palapit sa kanya at niyakap. I noticed how my small frame fit perfectly with his body.
I felt him kiss the top of my head before he pulled away from the hug. He held my hand again and kissed the back of it.
Nagsimula na din siyang mag maneho maya-maya pero nagtaka ako nang mapansing ibang daan ang tinatahak namin.
"Saan mo ako dadalhin?" I asked curiously. Ngumiti naman siya kinindatan ako bago ibinalik ang tingin sa kalsada.
"Basta."
-
"Close your eyes, love. No peeking." bulong ni Kai habang nakatakip ang kamay sa mga mata ko.
"Baka mamaya nasa beach na naman tayo, Xavier, ha? Alam ko 'yang mga galawan mo." hinanap ng kamay ko ang tagiliran niya at pabirong kinurot. Natawa naman ako nang marinig ang pag-aray niya.
"This is different, I promise. Stand here. And don't open your eyes unless I say so, okay?" bilin niya. Nakagat ko naman ang ibabang labi ko at tumango-tango.
Naramdaman kong umalis siya saglit at parang may kinuha bago bumalik at pumwesto sa harap ko.
"Open." he muttered.
I opened my eyes and a bouquet of daisies was the first thing I saw in front of me. Tumagilid 'yun at sumilip ang nakangiting si Kai. "Surprise!"
Napatingin ako sa likod niya at namangha sa nakita. There's a lake! At sa gilid ay may sirang gazebo na gawa sa bato, mukhang luma na pero mas nakadagdag siya sa kagandahan ng lugar.
"W-wow, Kai. This place... it's beautiful." manghang-mangha ako sa nakikita ko, para siyang lugar sa mga fairytales!
"I knew you'd like it here." he smiled and handed me the daisies.
"Thank you." magiliw ko 'yong tinanggap. "And daisies are actually my favorite." I told him. Nakangisi naman siyang tumango.
"I'm aware. I read some articles about you." he winked playfully. Natatawa ko namang pinisil ang pisngi niya.
"Gaya-gaya." I muttered.
"I just want to know more about my girlfriend." he said instead.
He smiled and held my hand and guided me towards the gazebo. Ngayon ko lang napansin na may mga pagkain pala doon.
"Picnic date." he told me. Napa-palakpak naman ako sa tuwa.
"You prepared this?" I asked and sat down on the floor kung saan may latag na carpet, may mga throw pillow din.
"I cooked the food but I asked someone to set this up. I was just planning a movie date earlier but I decided that this would make you happier."
No, Kai. It won't. It's almost just the same thing. Because as long as I'm with you, I'm already the happiest.
Gusto kong matawa sa naisip.
Stupid. He's an enemy, Avery. You need to focus on your plan.
"You didn't have to exert this much effort, Kai. A movie date would have been enough." I told him. "But I appreciate everything. Thank you."
He smiled and sat beside me. "Anything for you, my love." aniya at hinaplos ang pisngi ko. Ngumiti naman ako at hinawakan ang kamay niya.
"I love you... I'll do everything for you." he said softly, staring directly into my eyes.
My heart thumped wildly. Did he just said he loves me?
Ngiti lang ang naisukli ko sa sinabi niya. I can't swallow what he just said!
Tahimik kong tinikman ang mga hinanda niya. Sinubuan ko din siya ng kaunti para hindi niya maramdaman ang pagkailang ko.
"Autumn..." tawag niya maya-maya. Umayos siya ng upo at may kinuhang puting kahon mula sa bulsa. Nagtataka ko naman siyang pinanood.
"I made you something. Since you said that daisies are your favorite and you've also mentioned in an interview that you like handmade gifts, I made this for you." aniya at inabot sa'kin ang kahon.
I opened it and my mouth parted when I saw a cute beaded necklace with a daisy pendant. It was so simple but the thought of him making it for me was enough to warm my heart.
Marahan ko itong kinuha at binigay sa kanya. "Put it on me, please?" I asked. Kinuha niya naman 'yun mula sa'kin at sinenyasan akong tumalikod na kaagad ko namang ginawa.
Nakangiti kong hinawakan ang pendant nang maisuot niya 'yun sa'kin. Siya naman ay pinaharap ako bago siya lumapit at inayos ang nagulong buhok ko.
"Did I ever mention that you're the prettiest girl in my eyes?" masuyong tanong niya, ngumiti ako at tumango. He told me countless of times already.
Matagal niya akong tinitigan, 'tila binabasa ako. He caressed my hair and sighed. "Autumn, I told you that I love you. Aren't you gonna say it back?" he asked softly.
I want to, Kai. But I know that I can't love the reason why I grew up without a father. I can't fall in love with you. I shouldn't.
I chewed my lower lip and looked away from him. I smiled sadly. "I don't know what love feels like."
That was all I could say, although it was true. Am I even capable of love? Do I deserve to be loved? I'm just this- A trying hard wanna be. Who would love a pretentious woman like me? Definitely not him. I bet that once he finds out about my schemes, he would regret all of this. He might even regret mentioning that he loves me.
I felt him come near me. He leaned forward and caressed my cheek which made me look at him again. We stared at each other for a while until he smiled and leaned more to give my forehead a kiss.
Napapikit ako at dinama ang labi niya sa noo ko. How I wish we weren't in this completely messed up situation.
He moved his lips to kiss my nose. Then, he pulled me closer until I felt his lips on mine.
It felt forbidden... but destined at the same time.
He broke the kiss and stared at me. "I can show you." he said softly and rested his forehead on mine.
-
Some parts are referenced from Ben and Mal's first date on Disney's Descendants :))
BINABASA MO ANG
Love and Pretensions (Published Under PIP)
ChickLitSingle Ladies Series #4 | a collaboration After failing as an actress, Autumn Avery continued to deceive everyone by acting as if she still had the perfect life, even after she lost everything. She wanted her life back. The fame, the fans, the wealt...
