Us Again

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Chapter 4
    
                                                             
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I was stunned and puzzled because of what he said. Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya. He confessed to me. I didn’t know what to say and react. Sa sobrang bigla ko ay hindi ko namalayan na lumabas si Lincoln sa kwarto ni Pew. He's standing by the door looking at us.

“What happened? Is she okay?” Lincoln asked Gabe.

“I confessed to her,” mahinang sagot ni Gabe sa kaniya. He sighed and tapped Gabe’s shoulder.

“Why? How? Paano?” mahinang sambit ko. I’m still confused. My brain refuses to absorbed what he had said.

“Come with me, Blue,” sabi ni Lincoln. I stood up and followed Libcoln. Before I went to the door, I looked back at Gabe and he smiled at me. Umupo si Lincoln sa isa sa mga upuan sa patio at umupo ako sa tabi niya.

“How are you feeling?” tanong niya sa’kin.

“I don’t know. I’m so confused. I actually liked him, too, pero I’m not yet ready,” sagot ko.

“Hay, Blue. I actually thought you had an idea. I thought this would be easy for him pero hindi pala. The only advice I can give you is to give yourself time to think and decide. You like him but you’re not ready? That’s okay. I’m pretty sure he’s willing to wait for you. Take it slow. I know this is shocking for you kaya ‘wag kang basta-bastang gumawa ng desisyon. But before you decide, I’m asking you to think about your relationship with Riri. If you ever come up with a decision, please ‘wag sanang magbago ang relasyon niyo ni Riri,” he sincerely said. I smiled at him.

“No matter what happens between me and Gabe, labas na don si Riri,” I replied. He smiled back at me. He stood up and fixed his hair.

“That’s good to hear. Siya lang kasi ang inaalala ko dahil alam kong maapektuhan siya. Thank you, Blue. Anyway, let’s get inside baka hinahanap ka na ni Gabe,” he offered his hands to me which I gladly accepted. He pulled me up at pumasok na kami sa loob. Naabutan naming nakayuko si Gabe nang pumasok kami. He slowly looked up at us and he greeted me with his warm smile.

“I’m so sorry, Blue. I didn’t mean to scare you, o biglain ka. It’s just that, I think this is the right time for me to confess. Isang buwan na lang at graduate na tayo kaya if ever man na hindi mo ako bibigyan ng chance ay we can go our separate ways since we both have different plans for the future. But even then, we can still be friends. It’s up to you, Blue,” he looked me in the eye while saying those words.

Hindi ko pa rin alam kung ano ba ang tamang gawin o sabihin sa sitwasyon na ito. I gave him a faint smile and pulled him into a hug. Alam kong nabigla siya because his body tensed up. Binitawan ko siya at tiningnan sa mga mata. His eyes are full of hope pero ramdam ko ang kaba niya dahil rinig na rinig ko ang tibok ng puso niya.

“I honestly don’t know what to say right now… But, thank you. Thank you for admiring me. I like you, too, Gabe, but I don’t think I’m ready. Can I ask for some time to think and decide?” I asked him. I saw his face lit up and a smile formed on his face.

“Of course. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali. Can I hug you again, Blue?” tanong niya. Ngumiti naman ako sa kaniya at tumango. Hinagkan niya ako. Nahiya naman ako dahil saktong lumabas ulit si Lincoln at naabutan niya kami sa ganoong posisyon. Tiningnan niya kami na para bang mga weirdo. Lincoln shrugged his shoulder and went inside Pew’s room.

“Close talag sila, ‘no?” sambit ni Gabe.

“Yes. Ever since nagkakilala sila ay nagkasundo na sila. They share a lot of  interests, ‘e. One time, I thought Lincoln was here because Pew kept mentioning and calling his name, pero naglalaro lang pala sila at nag-uusap daw sila via call. Nagalit nga ako sa kanilang dalawa dahil binigyan ni Lincoln si Pew ng PS5 'e ang alam ko mahal 'yon,” natatawang sagot ko.

“Yeah. Hayaan mo na lang si Kuya. Naghahanap talaga 'yan ng kalaro at kasundo niya sa laro dahil wala talaga siyang ka-bonding sa bahay when it comes to online gaming since I’m not fond of those. I prefer to be outside and play outdoor games,” sabi niya.

“Kaya pala magkasundo kayo ni Tito kasi mahilig kayong maglaro ng golf. Speaking of Tito, nasaan pala siya? Hindi ko siya nakita sa bahay niyo these past few days,” sagot ko.

“He’s out of town because of a business meeting. Matatagalan din daw siya kasi he’s gonna visit an old friend of him don. He’s been pretty busy lately I think because he’s gonna step down as the CEO of the company and Kuya’s gonna take over. Kaya nga at after graduation ko ay nag-file ng 2 months leave si Kuya because he wanna enjoy his free time before he took over the company and he also wanna spend time with us,” sagot niya. Lincoln is a sweet, caring, and responsible son and brother. He doesn’t show it often pero all of us know that he is genuine.

“Let’s buy lunch,” aya niya sa’kin. Tumango naman ako nagsabi na magbibihis muna ako. I went inside my room and he went to tell the others. I don’t know why, pero bigla akong kinabahan. Bigla akong nagpaic kasi hindi ko alam kung ano’ng isusuot ko. I suddenly have this feeling na I have to dress up and look good. I had to remind myself that we are not going on a date to calm myself.  I wore a mid-thigh denim short and a shirt. I paired it with a sling bag and a sandal. Ginamit ko ang perfume na bigay sa’kin ng lola ko na hindi ko pa nagagamit. Nasasayangan akong gamiting pang-araw-araw dahil branded ito.  I looked at the mirror and hoped that I look good.

I went outside and saw Gabe at the door waiting for me. Ngayon ko lang na-realize na ang casual pala ng suot niya. He’s also wearing a sandal, shorts, a printed shirt, and an aviator. Ba’t ang pogi? I mean, dati pa ay pogi na siya, pero ngayon ay ibang klase ang ka-pogian niya. He looked like he’s glowing.

“Let’s go?” aya niya sa’kin. Tumango ako sa kaniya bilang sagot. I went to Pew and Winkle’s room to say goodbye. Lumabas na kami ni Gabe at sumakay kami sa sasakyan niya.

“Oy bago ba ‘to?” I asked him. I never saw this car before. He opened the passenger door for me and waited for me to get in before he got in the driver’s seat.

“Nope, kay daddy ‘to. Hiniram lang namin kasi parehong coding ‘yung sasakyan namin ni Kuya. He also wants us to drive it para naman daw hindi lang stuck sa bahay. By the way, you look cute,” he said and smiled. I felt my cheeks burning up. Kinikilig ba ako? I’ve never felt this kind of feeling before. I’ve never had any romantic experiences because I focused more on my studies and siblings. Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya dahil nahihiya ako. I looked at the side mirror and my cheeks are red. He chuckled at my reaction kaya naman mas lalo akong nahiya.

“Ahhh. Why are you so cute? Alam mo ba, apat na taon kong kinimkim ang mga compliments ko sa’yo. Yes, I’ve complimented you before pero iba talaga ngayong hindi ako nag-aalinlangan. Pwede ko nang i-todo at hindi ko na kailangang isipin na baka ma-weirduhan ka,” he said. Mas lalo akong namula sa mga sinabi niya.

“Thank you, Gabe,” I replied to him sincerely. Ngumiti naman siya sa’kin.

“Saan ba tayo pupunta?” tanong ko kasi ‘yung daan na dinadaanan namin ay hindi naman patungong palengke.

“Sa mall,” maikli niyang sagot sa’kin. Hindi naman ako umumik at tumingin na lang sa paligid. Halos 15 minutes lang naman ang layo ng subdivision namin sa mall at wala halos traffic sa lugar namin kaya hindi ganon kalayo ang biyahe.

“We’re here,” Gabe said and parked the car. Nabigla naman ako nang dali-dali siyang lumabas ng sasakyan ‘yun lang pala ay pagbubuksan lang ako ng pinto. Natatawang bumaba akong bumaba ng sasakyan.

“May I hold your hand, Blue?” tanong niya sa’kin. Inabot ko ang kamay ko sa kaniya bilang sagot. He took it and we walked inside the mall while holding each other’s hand. Nang dahil sa mga ginagawa niya ay hindi ko alam kung matatagalan pa ba ang pag-iisip ko.

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Thank you for reading!

xoxo,

Stroberhie
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