Drowning In Your Love

24

Eighteen

"The first thing mama asked me eight years ago is what I think of you..."

"Then? What did you say to her?"

"That you're adorable."

"Okay, wait, stop. I don't think I can't listen to this anymore."

Hezekiah chuckled. Ako naman ay sobrang init na ng mukha.

"I'm just getting started..."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. I glared at him while pouting. "You're just teasing me. Hindi naman talaga 'yon ang sinabi mo kay tita Hermoine eh."

Tumawa ulit siya.

Gosh! Even his laugh is so damn attractive.

"Ayaw mong maniwala? Do you want me to call her right now?"

"No!" Agap ko.

Mas lalo lang akong mahihiya kung kausap namin ang mama niya.

"Just...continue..." I whispered.

"What? I can't hear you, Tiana."

Sinamaan ko ulit siya ng tingin dahil obvious naman na narinig niya ang sinabi ko kahit mahina iyon, inaasar niya lang talaga ako.

"They asked me if it's alright for me to marry you when we grow up..." Hezekiah continued.

I'm just listening to him very intently. I'm trying my best not to blush or anything.

"I don't see any problem with that, so I said it's fine...Paglaki pa naman natin."

"Hindi mo naisip na baka may magustuhan kang iba?" Tanong ko, kahit na medyo nagaalangan. Baka kasi masaktan ako sa isasagot niya o ano.

"You're the only girl that sticks in my mind since I was thirteen, Tiana."

Oh, my De Alteiri.

"At hindi ako sasangayon sa gusto ng magulang ko kung hindi ko rin talagang gusto."

I pursed my lips.

"And if by chance, ikaw ang magkagusto sa iba-"

"Hindi!" Mabilis kong alma sa sinabi niya kahit hindi pa niya natatapos. "Hindi ako magkakagusto sa iba, Nigel." I added and then droop my head.

Nag-angat rin ulit ako ng tingin sa kanya dahil hindi siya nagsalita. I saw a ghost of smile on his lips while he's looking at me very intently.

"We can't be sure with that..." Aniya.

"Well, I'm sure." Agap ko naman at nilaban ang titig niya.

"You're still young, Tiana. You might change your mind one of these days."

"Compare to me, mas madami kang kakilala at madami ring babae ang nagkakagusto sa iyo. I don't have any close boys around me. Kahit mga classmate ko ngang lalaki ay hindi ko kaclose."

"Then let's leave it that way."

Hindi ko masyadong naintindihan ang sinabi niyang iyon pero hindi ko nalang din masyadong inisip.

The next few months, mas lalong naging busy si Hezekiah sa pag-aaral niya. Pero kahit ganoon ay hindi niya pa rin nakakalimutan na tawagan o itext ako kapag may free time siya. And I really appreciate that.

Mas lalo kong naramdaman kung gaano ako kahalaga sa kanya. And he also never fail to make me see how significant this arranged marriage is for him.