Conquering Territories: Completed

Special Chap: Aris

I woke up with a smile plastered on my lips. The memory of what happened yesterday still lingers inside my mind. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nangyari. Hindi ko alam kung panaginip lang ba ang lahat ng nangyari kahapon.

After what happened, Irvin stayed here for a moment. Pinag-usapan naming dalawa kung paano, bakit, at ang mga bagay tungkol sa aming dalawa. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na siya si Vin na sumusulat sa akin. All this time I was thinking that it was Ravin from my class.

My cheeks heated up after realizing what I did. I avoided and felt awkward with Ravin for nothing. Wala naman talaga siyang kasalanan. Sadyang masyado lang akong naiilang.

I was about to prepare myself when my phone rang. A smile was formed on my lips as I read the name. It was Irvin. Butterflies rampaged inside my stomach as I answered his call.

"Good Morning." His baritone voice welcomed me. Hindi tuloy mawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko habang naglalakad palabas ng kwarto.

"Good Morning. Why did you call?" I asked. We just met yesterday. He just confessed yesterday so, what's the point of calling me?

"Well-" Irvin's voice became shy, "-I just want your voice to be the first thing I hear this morning."

Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapakagat labi dahil sa sinabi niya. I could feel my cheeks heating up because of the sudden line. Hindi ko naman inakala na may ganito pala siyang ugali.

"Ewan ko sa'yo." I hang up the call with a big smile plastered on my lips. I knew Irvin already knew what that thing means. Sa halos araw-araw ba naman ba magkasama kami, hindi na nakakagulat na may alam na siya sa mga salitang kanto sa Pinas.

With a big smile plastered on my lips, I went out of my room and headed directly to the kitchen. Kuya Leon was busy preparing our breakfast. Agad siyang napalingon nang maramdaman niya ang presensya ko.

"Ang saya yata ng ngiti mo ngayon?" Kuya asked with a smile on his lips. Hindi ko magawang itago ang ngiti ko dahil sa naging tanong niya. Mabilis pa rin ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa boses na narinig ko kanina. That guy really do have an effect on me.

"Wala lang 'to, Kuya," sabi ko bago siya tulungan sa paghahanda ng almusal. Akala ko ay hindi na siya magtatanong pa pero, hinintay lang pala niya na maka-upo kaming dalawa.

"Bakit nga ba ang saya mo ngayon?"

I shyly scratched my nape as I heard that question for him. My mind immediately thought about his possible reactions but then, I remembered his words from the other night. Hindi naman siguro magiging masama ang reaksyon niya.

I held out a deep breath before I told him the things he was waiting for. "Irvin confessed to me. Manliligaw daw siya."

Inaasahan na siguro ni Kuya Leon ang mangyayari kaya hindi na siya nagulat pa. He just smiled. A genuine one.

"Kaya naman pala ang saya ng kapatid ko, may manliligaw na." I couldn't help but to cover my face with my palms. Heat immediately filled my cheeks.

"Tigilan mo nga 'yan, Kuya." Kuya Leon chuckled after hearing those words. Tuwang-tuwa talaga siyang pinaglalaruan ako.

He looked at me with his eyes glistening. "Matanda ka na, Khay. Alam mo na sa sarili mo kung ano ang mga bagay na gusto mo." Kuya Leon eyed me seriously. "Sabihin mo lang kapag may ginawang katarantaduhan 'yon. Hihiramin ko yung itak ni Tatang Pedro."

With that, our breakfast ended. Hindi pa rin mawala ang ngiti sa labi ko habang papunta sa campus. Siguro ay aakalain na ng iba ay nababaliw na ako. Those words from Kuya Leon somehow touched me. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay hanggang mamaya ang ngiti ko.