Eyes of a Stranger (Season Series #2)

Summer 27 : Home

Silence prevailed between the two of us. No one wants to break it. We're both staring deeply into each other's eyes. He was mirroring the surprise that was in my eyes earlier. After a minute of staring into his eyes, I was taken aback. Ngayon lang onti-onting nag-proseso sa aking isipan ang lahat ng sinabi ko sa kaniya.

Agad akong napaiwas sa kaniyang mga mata at napatingin sa baba. Shit... Why did I just confess? Natigilan ako nang marinig ang mahinang tawa niya. Nakahawak siya sa kaniyang bibig at makikitang nakangiti siya dahil sa kaniyang mga mata. Napakurap ako nang makitang namumula ang tenga niya. Is he blushing?

Nakatingin lang siya sa akin habang nakahawak sa bibig niya. Bahagya pa siyang humarap sa kaniyang gilid kaya mas lalo kong nakita ang pamumula ng kaniyang tenga. Sinubukan niyang ikalma ang kaniyang sarili bago ako muling hinarap. Tumikhim siya at ibinaba ang kamay.

"Sorry, I just.. I.. I..." Hindi niya magawang tapusin ang gusto niyang sabihin.

Gano'n ba talaga ang epekto ng sinabi ko sa kaniya? For some reason, I couldn't help but be proud of myself. Who would believe that I have an effect on the Miccenji Akomi Lim? I mentally smirked at that thought.

Huminga siya nang malalim at nanatili na lamang nakatingin sa akin. Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang mahina kong pagtawa dahil sa reaksyon niya. He looks shocked and amazed at the same time, as if this is his first time hearing a confession.

"Quit staring, Akomi." I said.

"I can't help it. You might vanish if I look away," he whispered.

I silently laughed at what he said. "What am I? A dream?"

"A perfect one."

I was about to open my mouth and say something when I realised what he said. Naglaho nang parang isang bula ang lahat ng tapang ko sa katawan dahil sa sinabi niya. He said that with such a serious face while also flashing his smirk.

"Gutom na 'ko," bulong ko at tumalikod na sa kaniya. Narinig ko pa ang kaniyang mahinang pagtawa nang magsimula akong maglakad palayo.

Hindi ko na siya pinansin pa nang maramdaman ang kaniyang presensya sa aking tabi. Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad hanggang sa makalabas ng museum. There's no restaurant or fast food near the place where we are, so we have to find one. Bumalik kami sa sasakyan niya. I can still see the smile that he was trying to hide with his hand resting on the car's door. I don't know if I should be happy or annoyed because of that smile of his. He also kept glancing at me.

"Eyes on the road, Mr." I told him.

"Right, sorry, I can't help it," he answered. "Your beauty is tempting me to focus on you."

"Oh, God," I whispered, laughing.

Narinig ko rin naman ang pagtawa niya na sinabayan ang mahinang tawa ko. We didn't talk the whole ride, but the awkward atmosphere between the two of us changed. It feels so light compared to earlier. Pinark niya ang sasakyan sa harap ng isang restaurant. Dito palang ay mahahalata mo ng mamahalin ang mga tinda.

"Do you want to eat here?" I asked and looked at him. Nasa loob pa rin kami ng sasakyan.

"Well, it depends on you, do you?" Balik na tanong niya.

"Stay here." Bago pa man siya makapagsalita ay bumaba na ako ng sasakyan niya. Umikot ako papunta sa kaniyang pwesto at binuksan ang pintuan. "Let's switch, I'll drive."

"What? Why?" Hindi siya bumaba at mukhang ayaw pumayag na ako ang mag-drive.

"Don't you trust me?"

"What- of course, I do!"

"Then, I'll drive." He was about to open his mouth to say something in return, but I already said something that made him stop. "Please, Akomi."

He looks stunned because of my plea. I'm not making a cute face, but I made my voice really sound pleading. Why can't he let me drive anyway? Such a gentleman, I guess. No wonder I fall harder for him. I mentally laughed because of that thought.

"You don't have to plead. I'll let you drive if you tell me why," he calmly said.

"Just trust me," sagot ko naman at nginitian siya.

Napahinga nalang siya nang malalim at walang nagawa kung 'di ang bumaba ng sasakyan. Pinasakay niya muna ako at sinarado ang pintuan bago umikot at pumwesto sa passenger seat. Sinuot ko ang seatbelt at binuhay ang makina.

"Where are we going? I thought you were already hungry?" He curiously asked.

Hindi ko siya sinagot at ngumiti lang. I drove off and made my way to the supermarket near his dorm. Pinark ko ito sa gilid ng entrance nang makarating kami doon. Halata sa mukha ni Akomi ang pagtataka habang tinatanggal ang kaniyang seatbelt at nakatingin sa supermarket na nasa harap.

Bumaba kami ng sasakyan at pumasok sa loob. Kumuha ako ng cart na kusa niyang kinuha mula sa akin at siya ang nagtulak.

"Anong ginagawa natin dito?" Tanong niya habang nilalakad namin ang daan papunta sa mga fresh foods.

"To buy some ingredients." Tanging sagot ko. "Mas gusto ko ang luto mo."

Nagpatuloy ako sa pagtitingin ng mga gulay at iba pang sariwang pagkain na nasa aking harapan. Ramdam ko ang kaniyang tingin sa akin. Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at nagpatuloy sa aking ginagawa. Kalaunan ay tinulungan niya na rin ako sa pamimili. Halos magtalo pa kami sa kung sino ang magbabayad. But since he can't win over me, we decided to split the payment.

"I'll never win over you, will I?" He asked when we were already inside his car.

"Hmm.. no." Tumawa siya sa naging sagot ko.

Pumasok kami sa loob ng dorm niya at inayos ang aming mga pinamila. Pumunta kami sa kitchen at doon ito inilapag lahat. He wore a black apron. I looked at the yellow apron he handed me. Nagpabalik-balik pa ang tingin ko sa kaniya at sa apron na inabot niya. He signalled for me to accept it, and so I did. I wore it and stood beside him.

Nanatili lamang akong nakatayo 'di kalayuan sa kaniya at pinapanood siya. I can't help but stare at him as he puts all of his attention on what he's doing. God, how can someone look this good even if he's just cooking? He looks.. unreal. I love everything about him. I don't even know why I fell for him. Basta namalayan ko nalang na gusto kong nakikita siya. Baka ako pa mismo manligaw sa kaniya. Or much better, propose agad. Pakakasalan ko 'to.

Hindi ko naiwasang matawa dahil sa ideyang iyon. Napatingin naman siya sa akin na may pagtataka kung bakit ako natawa.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Hmm..." Tila nag-iisip na saad ko at nag-cross arms. I leaned against the wall beside me and tilted my head to its side. I looked straight into his eyes as he looked into mine. Slowly, a smirk formed on my lips, and I said the words I had in mind. "Will you marry me?"

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