You, Again | ✔

[X] Shell Pink

"Nico... malelate ka na. Gumising ka na riyan," I said while tapping his shoulder. Kanina ko pa siya hinahanap at naabutan ko siyang nakahiga at natutulog sa sahig ng clubroom namin.

"Emi...?" sabi niya at kinusot ang mga mata.

"Yep, it's me. Gumising ka na. Malelate ka sa graduation niyo. Malapit ng mag-ala-una o. 30 minutes na lang magsisimula na ang ceremony niyo."

"Ayokong grumaduate. Maiiwan ka rito. What if that stupid Neil will attack you while you're alone here?"

"And that stupid Neil is your younger brother."

"Kahit na."

Napatawa na lang ako ng mahina. Nadiskubre ko ang mga natatagong personality ni Nico simula noong maging kami one year ago.

First, he's surprisingly unreasonable.

Mabilis siyang magselos—not that I mind though. In fact, natutuwa ako kapag nagseselos siya. Noong maging first year kasi dito ang kapatid niyang si Neil ay nag-joke ito na may crush daw sa 'kin at aagawin ako sa kuya niya. Nico took it seriously that's why he's very wary of his brother.

"Nico, I love you, okay? YOU," sabi ko at pinisil ang magkabila niyang pisngi. "That's why I--- mmff!" he suddenly pulled my hand and gave me a quick kiss. Now, I was on top of him and he's just laughing like a child while wrapping his arms around me.

"I love you too, Emi," he said between his laughters.

My heart races everytime you touch me, Nico. And I'd be happy to know that yours do the same.

Wait, now that I think about it...

"Tama nga ang sinabi niya," sabi ko at hinawakan ang pisngi ni Nico. Mahina akong tumawa. "You're really making an awkward face after a kiss."

Pagkatapos kong sabihin 'yon ay animo'y nanigas si Nico. Matagal na hindi siya nagsalita at nakakunot lamang ang noo nito na parang may malalim na iniisip."Emi..." sa wakas ay nagsalita siya.

"Sino ang nagsabi sa 'yo niyan? Isang tao lang ang nakapagsabi sa 'kin ng ganyan."

I rested my head in his chest. "Someone told me that."

"Someone?" tanong niya.

"Yep. An important someone."Naramdaman kong mas lalong humigpit pa ang pagkakayakap niya sa 'kin. Being loved by someone you love is really the happiest thing here on Earth.

The second thing that I discovered about him is that he's super clingy.

There are times when I'm painting and he's just there watching me or clinging to me—his chin rests in my head and his arms around my shoulders. He likes holding hands, giving me a piggy back ride, and sleeping in my lap.

"Come on, Nicolai. May graduation ka pa," sabi ko habang pinipingot ang ilong niya at umupo ng maayos. "By the way, sigurado ka bang memorize mo na 'yong valedictorian speech mo?"Inabot ko sa kanya ang kamay ko at tinulungan siyang tumayo.

"Oo naman. Ilang ulit na nating prinaktis 'yon e."

Tinulungan ko rin siyang suotin ang toga niya."You're like my mom, Emi."

"Hey, I'm not your mom. Ikikiss mo ba sa lips ang nanay mo? Would you do this and that to your mom as well?"Napatawa siya sa sinabi ko.

"I'm just kidding. Just kidding."

Ah, God, I love his face when he laughs, his voice when he says my name, his arms when he hugs me, his lips when he kisses me. Everything.

"Nga pala, Emi. My gusto akong ibigay sa 'yo."

"Mhm?" napatigil ako sa paglagay sa kanya ng graduation cap. "Ano 'yon?"

"Give me your right hand." Ibinigay ko naman sa kanya. "Close your eyes."

"Teka bakit naman?"Bigla niyang hinalikan ang ilong ko.

"Just close them." I didn't fight back. Sinunod ko ang sinabi niya. Naramdaman ko naman bigla ang pag-init ng mga pisngi ko. Damn, he just keeps attacking me without any warning. Wala tuloy akong time para makapagprepare.

I froze when I felt something cold in my ring finger. Te-teka...teka— Is this really—!"Now, open them."

Sinunod ko naman siya at mabilis na tiningnan ang kamay ko. A silver ring with a little sunflower in the middle rests in my ring finger. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko kay Nico at sa singsing.

"N-Nico, you know that I don't usually wear rings, right? So, does this mean..."

"A reservation." He grinned at me. "Plus a very effective way to ward off the little bugs around you."

Third, when he loves you...he will love you unconditionally, deeply, endlessly.

Napailing na lamang ako at hindi ko napigilang ngumiti. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko na may singsing at binigyan iyon ng isang munting halik."It's not on your left hand yet so just bear with it, okay? Sa 'kin lang ang 'I do' mo."

Mabilis akong tumango at hindi ko maipagkakaila na sobrang saya ko ng sabihin niya 'yon. "Anyway, talagang malelate na ako sa graduation ko."

Napatawa na lang ako ng bigla siyang nagpanic. "Tara na!" Hinila ko ang kamay niya at sabay kaming lumabas ng clubroom ng tumatakbo.

Because there's a love I can't forget... I swear I would never fall in love again.

Ilang ulit ko na bang sinabi 'yon sa sarili ko? Ilang ulit ko na kayang itinatak 'yon sa isipan ko? Hindi ko na mabilang...at ayoko nang bilangin pa.Yes, I said that I won't ever love anyone again. But falling in love with the same person twice doesn't count.

Right now I found my happiness. And I will do anything to keep this happiness beside me. This is not what I imagined it would be, but this is still the happiest ending that I could ever wish for.

*******************  FIN  *******************

[Author's Note:]

May part sa story na 'to na nagstay si Nico sa clubroom hanggang umaga. Normally, hindi pwede 'yon. Kung ano man ang ginawa ni Nico para makastay doon na walang humuhuli sa kanya, well, I'll just leave it to your imagination guys. Maybe he borrowed or stole the key, or sneaked out when the guard wasn't looking, or maybe the owner of the school is his relative.Waaaah~ Anyway, thanks for reading! I hope you like The Flowers beside You.

To tell you the truth, I spent two days writing this. Tapos inunti-unti ko lang sa pag-upload *wide evil grin* The idea came up when I'm about to sleep. Tapos nang sinimulan ko, inabot na ako ng umaga. Tsaka sunod-sunod na 'yon. Haha! Nakatulog lang ako ng maayos ng natapos ko na talaga. Fight-o! And I'll admit that this story was short and a bit manga-ish... wait, wait.. it's a lot manga-ish. HAHAHAHA! Malakas ang impluwensya ng mga shoujo manga na nababasa ko e. Sarreh! But anyway, thanks for reading. Pati sa mga nagvovote at nagcocomment. At pati na rin sa mga silent readers.

Tons of thank you's for y'all! \(Ӧ v Ӧ)/

By the way, check out the other stories in my account:

- The Bad Guy's Kiss (ongoing)

- No Other Than Her (completed)

- Stray Heart (completed)

- Payong (completed)

- The Story of Six (completed/published)

- Finding JC (oneshot/published)

- Her Wig (oneshot)

- Pick Me! (oneshot)

- Lovesaver (oneshot)

Loveyoulots! Banzai! ( Ӧ ᴥ Ӧ)ᶴ