Martini Kisses (epistolary) ✔️

n a r r a t i v e

part 1

Kai didn't mean to put her in this situation. This is the last thing on his mind when he started taking things seriously with her. Dealing with his family can be taxing even for him. And he knows how difficult his mother can get. How could he even think of placing the same burden on her?

But she's never said a word, never voiced out a single complaint about it.

Everytime he sees her at home waiting for him, she welcomes him with a sweet smile, one that has never failed to make his heart beat in a hundred different rhythms, in a hundred different ways.

But Kai knows. He sees it.

The weariness she tries to conceal beneath the mask of her smiles.

She's been juggling so many things all at once that it's starting to show on her despite her refusal to acknowledge it.

Something's wrong and he's afraid that she's spreading herself too thin for everyone else again.

She's not used to this, he knows. She's not one to have a set schedule for herself as she's always been whimsical and spontaneous, never in one place, never sitting still long enough, never doing the same thing.

Yet somehow, she ends up in one. Her love for her maestra, and her eagerness to be there for him, have kept her down, and he's not sure if it's for the better.

He'd ask, but he knows Milly.

She will never share her true feelings with him, not when she thinks she can still go on.

This is the least thing he can do for her now. At least by taking her out from the set obligations she set on herself, he can provide her some rest, some time to breathe for herself.

"You know, since you mentioned you don't really like eating outside, I'd thought we'd keep our relationship very private. I didn't peg you as the type to ask me out on casual dates to restaurants like this. It's very domestic and common, but you're not exactly the usual guy you'd meet on the streets," she says, staring at him after he hashes out their order to the waiter. "I still get surprised everytime you ask me out."

Kai returns the menu to the guy who scuttles back into the counter after and lifts a brow at her, stating, "Why is this still surprising? This isn't the first time we've gone out. If it's not obvious yet, I like taking you out."

A light grace of a smile dances on her lips. Her eyes sparkle. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Why is that?"

"Because I like seeing that."

"Seeing what?"

He nods at her. Does she really have no clue? "You, smiling like that. As if I did something good."

She pauses, blinking, as if she didn't expect to hear him say that, then she softens. "You did. I like it when you ask me out on dates. I've never really felt this before with others kahit naman sanay ako to go out with men before. But 'pag ikaw, you can take me anywhere and I get kilig pa rin. I think nga we got this backward." She laughs. "Nauna yung heat before the kilig. Maybe because you're my boyfriend now? You have this extraordinary ability of making me feel fuzzy inside."

"Do I, really?"

"Yeah... Wala sa hitsura mo, but you can be very sweet."

He doesn't say anything to that. Until now, he still doesn't know how to match her way of expressing her affection. Instead, he reaches over and clasps her hand with his.

"You look worn out. This is the least thing I can do for you. You should stop coming over and get some rest. Your classes are already taking too much of your time. 'Wag mo nang idagdag pa si Mama. 'Wag mo na kaming isipin. We'll be fine. We'll deal with it among ourselves."