LOVE IS WAR(M).

10

Laurice.

"Bakit ka nagleave sa call kanina?" Bigla kong basag sa katahimikan sa gitna ng byahe namin. Bahagyang napaawang ang bibig ni Sebastian na parang hindi niya inaasahan ang tanong ko but he still managed to answer.

"I was preparing for the dinner." He responded simply.

My brows furrowed a little when I heard his answer. It doesn't seem so convincing to me somehow, I don't know why so I decided to ask another question.

"W-were you mad?" My voice sounded so awkward when I said it. Napatingin nalang ako sa labas ng window ng car para itago ang kahihiyan na bumakas sa mukha ko.

"About what?" Tanong niya naman.

He sounded so calm kaya kahit papano ay tila nabawasan ang hiya na nagsisimulang mamamayani sa katawan ko. Ngunit kahit ganoon, tila parang may kung anong bumara sa lalamunan ko. I knew the answer to his question but my mouth can't seem to utter a word.

Napansin ko sa peripheral vision ko ang sandaling paglingon niya sa'kin nang mapansing hindi ako nagsasalita. "Oh, is it about your crush?" He asked, intentionally emphasizing the last word.

Dahan-dahan akong napatingin pabalik sa kaniya. Nabigla pa ako nang magtagpo ang paningin naming dalawa.

"Eyes on the road please, you're driving." I tried to change the topic.

Hindi ko pa pala kayang makipag-usap sa kaniya about sa bagay na 'yon, akala ko naman kaya ko na pero hindi pala. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ieexplain sa kaniya na hindi ko naman talaga crush si Tristan, na ganoon lamang ang sinabi ko kay Cassie para hindi niya mahalatang si Sebastian talaga ang crush ko. I don't want him to know that I had a crush on him that early at the same time, baka lumaki pa ang ulo niya!

"I didn't know you were into humurous guys." His voice sounded so sarcastic as he turned his gaze back on the road again.

"Hindi ko naman talaga siya crush, e!" Nabigla ako sa sarili kong pagsagot pero hindi ko nalang binawi kasi totoo naman, hindi ko naman talaga crush si Tristan. But damn, why did I have to sound so defensive?

"Really?" Sebastian didn't sound convinced.

I just heaved a deep sigh and my mouth just formed a bubble out of frustration. I don't know what to say anymore, I wanted to defend myself at the same time but I don't want him to know na medyo dati-dati ko pa siya crush. Baka isipin niya ring tinatopic ko siya kay Cassie, 'no!

"Ikaw, baka may nakilala ka talaga rito kaya ka bumabalik every December." It was my turn to ask him about what Samuel said earlier this time. I tried to forget about it but I can't just erase it from my mind.

"Hmm, is Laurice trying to gaslight me?" His voice sounded amused but teasing at the same time.

Nanlalaki ang mga matang napatingin ako sa kaniya. "What the hell? Of course not! Bawal bang malaman?" Bara ko naman sa kaniya. I wanted to say 'Of course I have to know, we're literally dating each other!' but I just kept my mouth shut.

"Just kidding. Ikaw talaga, napakapikunin." He let out a soft chuckle after saying that. Inabot pa niya ang ilong ko para kurutin ito.

"Ouch!" Reklamo ko naman.

Napahinga naman ng malalim si Sebastian bago magsalitang muli. "I didn't date anyone here in New York, Laurice," Panimula niya.

"If that's what you wanna know." Dagdag pa niya. His voice sounded so calm like he wants to explain things gently to me. My heart felt warm even if it's just a little thing that I noticed from him.