For His Entertainment

Chapter Eight

"Ally, do you have a sec?" Tanong ni Theodore nang magkayayaan na ang barkada bumalik sa kani-kanilang rooms.

I looked at Irene and nodded at them para ipahiwatig na they better go ahead. They nodded back. Nang muli akong tumingin kay Theodore, his eyes were expectant. Pero nawala agad ito kasama ng kan'yang pag-ngiti. I smiled back.

I need fresh air. The liquor is still kicking and sobrang intense ang mga nangyaring dare, I can't get over. Spencer kept on calling my mobile pero hindi ko iyon sinasagot. I'm enjoying the night, the freedom, let the consequences invade me tomorrow.

We started walking along the seashore. Niyakap ko ang sarili ko habang naglalakad. The sea is calm, while the moonlight shone bright upon it, upon us, its reflection drew crooked lines among the waves. Ang ganda. This place is so serene, and peaceful.

"Sumasali ka na pala sa mga dare." Theodore broke the silence between us, at nagpapasalamat naman ako doon dahil muntik ko nang makalimutang kasama ko pa pala siya.

"Nah. First time ko lang 'yun." I smiled, not really sure kung saan papunta itong usapan namin.

"Sorry pala... 'Yung about sa kiss." Nahihiya niyang sambit.

"Sus! No biggie." I laughed. Well, it's just a kiss anyway. We're not living in the old age.

"Okay." Kinamot niya ang batok niya and cleared his throat, hinting to me that he has something to say.

"Yes?" Tinanong ko na nang mukhang gusto naman na niyang kainin ang sasabihin niya. He looked back at me, his dark eyes suggestive, and suddenly, I felt his warm hand holding mine.

Theodore really looks good. He has a clean cut and prominent nose. He's also tall so he's towering over me. We were both Sophomores when he entered the org. He didn't really like it at first, pinilit lang daw siya ng best friend niyang babae na ngayon ay graduate na, but eventually, he learned to love it. His eyes are big, expressive, and transparent. Dito pa lang alam ko na kung saan patungo ito. I wanted to change the topic pero hindi ko magawa. I wanted to know what he's thinking.

"Ally, uhm. I've known you for three years already. And I'm not really sure kung nahalata mo na ba, but..." He paused "I like you. I really do. And I want to court you."

Napalunok ako sa narinig. Alam ko na 'to so it didn't really surprise me, but I kept on pushing the idea away. Hearing it aloud is something else. For a few minutes, silence engulfed us. There was only the relaxing sound of the waves and the cool breeze embracing my skin.

"Lasing ka ba?" Was all I managed to say.

He chuckled, "Nope. I am fully aware that what I'm doing now is exactly what I've always wanted to do for the past three years."

Kinagat ko ang labi ko. Inangat niya ang palad naming dalawa at hinalikan ang likod ng palad ko.

"So... Will you let me?"

"Liligawan mo 'ko?"  I asked again, trying to confirm what I just heard. Baka ako 'yung lasing?

He nodded.

Shit. Ngayon na lang ulit mayroong naglakas loob manligaw sa akin. Matapos maging strikto si kuya nang malamang may mga nanliligaw sa akin nung high school, wala nang nagbalak since then. Ngayon na lang. Ngayon ulit. And damn, kilala naman ng isang 'to si Kuya, pero ba't okay lang sa kan'ya?

We stared at each other for seconds, his eyes expectant, mine. . .Shocked. I don't know how to react to this, yet. Kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit ako tumango sa tanong niya. Is it because of the liquor? Is it because I didn't want to disappoint anybody? Is it because I don't know how to react to this? I honestly don't have any idea. And now, all I'm seeing is a Theodore in front of me with a full and genuine smile. His smile was so comforting, and I knew immediately that I was right. Theo is a nice person with the best ntentions. It would be unfair not to give him a chance, right?