I Can See Your True Colors

Chapter 6: After That Kiss

YUMIRAH

ISINUSUMPA SIGURO ako ng best friend ko. Naisip ko na ring posible siyang lumapit sa mangkukulam upang ipakulam ako. Grabe siguro ang inis na nararamdaman niya sa akin.

Kung tama ang iniisip ko, I wouldn't blame him because I really couldn't. If he wanted to pull my hair and strangle me to death, I would understand. Kilala ko siya, kaya alam ko ang pinanggagalingan niya. Kahit hindi ko matukoy ang kasalanan ko, sa palagay ko, may karapatan pa rin siyang mainis.

After that kiss, things had changed. Anyone who read our conversations online would sense it. Parang ang hirap mag-isip ng itsa-chat. Para kaming hindi mag-best friends, parang strangers sa isa't isa na hindi komportable. He also didn't video call me, so did I. After what happened, I couldn't help but feel ashamed. Besides, I thought he was trying to avoid me, so I was trying my best to act accordingly.

I still couldn't believe that I already had my first kiss. To lose it this early was never part of my plan. I once told myself I would only give it to the person I loved. Unfortunately, hindi ko na-keep ang promise ko. Well, I love Rafe. He's my best friend, one of the most important people in my life. But not in a romantic way. Ngayon lang nagsi-sink in sa akin na maling basta pumayag akong magpahalik sa kanya kahit kailangan.

I hated to admit it, but I liked it.

I never knew how it felt to be kissed by someone until that moment. I never knew it felt so good until our lips touched. Gano'n ba talaga ang unang halik? O naging posible ang magandang pakiramdam dahil sa taong humalik sa akin?

If the answer was the latter one, how was that even possible? If I wasn't mistaken, that was also my best friend's first kiss. Kung wala siyang nakaraang experience, paano niya nagawang magpalipad ng sparks sa mga sandaling 'yon? Or maybe they weren't sparks, but just excitement.

Time flies so fast. Pasukan na naman. And this was the week that the YES-O was going to be really busy. Salamat sa gulayan, my best friend and I wouldn't be seeing each other this morning. Siguro tuwang-tuwa siya kasi hindi niya kailangang magkunwaring walang galit sa akin.

I was walking through the doors while looking down when someone shouted my name. When I lifted my head, I found Adonis running toward me. Halos mapunit ang kanyang pisngi sa lawak ng ngiti niya. Lulubog, lilitaw. Gano'n siya, kaya hindi ko sineryoso ang panliligaw niya sa akin. If that was his way of fooling me, he absolutely failed.

"Yumirah!" I moved backward to keep some distance. Hindi pwedeng malapit siya sa akin. "Mas maganda ka pa sa umaga. Ang pambungad ko man ay gasgas, ang iyong kagandahan nama'y hindi kumukupas."

"Good morning, Adonis!" Sinubukan kong tapatan ang lawak ng ngiti niya. Mukha na siguro akong clown. "Kumusta?"

"I've missed you." Lumunok ako, pinigilang mapangiwi. Ilang babae na kaya ang nasabihan niya no'n? Halatang sanay na ang labi niyang bigkasin 'yon. "Ako, hindi mo ba na-miss? Do not be shy to express how you feel around me. You can be honest with me, Yumirah."

"Siguro, oo?" hindi siguradong tugon ko. Kapag sinabi kong hindi, malulungkot siya. And why would I feel shy if I didn't feel anything toward him. I wasn't interested. At all. "Ang saya mo ngayon, ah? I guess na-enjoy mo ang weekend."

"Sino'ng hindi magiging masaya kapag nakita ang taong gusto nila? Presence mo nga lang, sapat na para pakiligin ako." I was trying to change the subject, but he wouldn't let me. Magandang bungad 'to sa umaga. "Besides, natapos ko na ang tambak na activities. Ibig sabihin, mas may time na ako para sa 'yo. Ano'ng gusto mo? Would you like to eat lunch with me?"