Find me in your pages | THE WATTYS 2023

Chapter 17:

I was finally back makalipas ang ilang araw. Lola Bereng gave me peanut brittle that she made as a parting gift. Babalik naman ako sa summer to pay them a visit. I stayed inside my room with maze since I missed him. Buti na lang inalagaan sya ni Cleo nang maigi while I was gone. "I've missed you baby..." bulong ko kay maze habang yakap ko Ito sa aking kama. "I'm sorry I was gone for so long."

Maze nuzzled close on my arms and he'll it felt so nice to have a fluffy bunny around me. "Cleo will be here again to give you headpats. It's nice to know that you liked her company." Bulong ko muli kay Maze, trying to communicate with my bun after a long trip. I'm glad I can rely on her while I was gone.

The doorbell rang after a few minutes at nagmadali naman ako kaagad dahil sigurado ako na si Cleo to.

"Hey Xerena!" Bati ni Cleo sa akin pagkabukas ko pa lang nang pintuan. She instantly gave me a huge hug as she went inside. "I've missed you so much!"

"I did too. Get inside, I'll order something for us to eat."

"Sure sure! I'll order some starbs na rin as drinks!" She offered, I couldn't refuse kasi magpupumilit din naman sya. The typical type of Cleo. "Uhm you're acting cold...I just noticed ngayon! Is it because of my confession? Are you...feeling awkward around me na?"

"What? No. It's not that. Madami lang akong iniisip and my mind is still on vacation...so yeah. Don't mind me too much." Masyado ba akong tahimik that's why she saw it that way? Or was I actually being cold unconsciously around her? "Why'd you ask?"

"Nothing...I just noticed na you used to be more talkative with me and the others before kasi..." She sat on the couch with a frown on her face. Dealing with confessions is hard for me, pero ayoko naman na isipin nya na I returned feelings by talking too much or showing interest. "Do you like someone else ba?"

"I don't. No one caught my eye just yet. I don't think anyone would...siguro may chance ka pero hindi pa talaga ako sigurado." Pagpapaalam ko kay Cleo, gusto ko, malinaw ang lahat. I don't want her to expect too much from me.

Napangiti naman sya agad sinabi ko and I was curious why. It's not even a positive or a negative thing. "At least I have a chance with you di ba? It's much better than having no chance at all."

"You really like me that much, Cleo?"

"Mhm!"

"Pero bakit?"

"Do I need a reason to like you?" She paused for a while at tiningnan ako. Eye contact, she knew what she was doing right now. "I don't think that's necessary. When you like, or love someone...The only thing you should like about them is them as a person. I like you for being you. I love you and even your flaws. I've never gotten the chance to say it but I was in love with you since then, but you were with Nikolai. I've liked you for long enough that I thought I moved on but I haven't. Can't even say if I could call this feeling love. But maybe I do love you, Xerena."

Natigilan naman ako nang dahil sa sinabi ni Cleo sa akin. Her eyes told me everything that I needed to know. She means it. Every word that slipped from her mouth. "So you were waiting for us to break up?"

"That's terrible! I'm not like that naman! So jologs kaya nang ganyang people!" Reklamo ni Cleo na para bang bata na nagdadabog. "I tried to stop my feelings when you got together with Nikolai. I tried to move on, and I thought I did...But my feelings grew instead."

That's why she said face my own feelings rather than run away from it. She felt that way with me. "I'm...sorry if I get quiet when we talk to each other. I just get a little too speechless..." banggit ko kay Cleo habang napakamot ulo na lang.

"Are you kinikilig with me na ba? Omg you're blushing! Did I make you blush?"

"Blush isn't even real what are you talking about—"