String of Love

Chapter 16

STRING OF LOVE (SOL) 16
ִ𐙚 -  picture

*

Rheeyna.

"Ate, cr lang ako." Paalam ni Rayne kaya tumango ako. Tapos na ang movie na pinapanood namin kaya nasa labas na kami ng sinehan, at ganon parin kasama ko parin 'tong lalaking 'to. Sa tuwing binubungangaan ko nga siya may napapatingin at binubulong na 'boyfriend ata ni girl yun, pero bakit ganon nya tratuhin?'

"Hey, I have a question" Khaize said.

"What?"

"Do you like me?" He asked while looking directly into my eyes.

"What the hell?!" I gulped, then said, "I don't like you"

He smiled. "Don't hesitate to confess. I know you're the one who put the love letter in my bag."

"Anong love letter? Kelan ko binigay 'yon?" Takang tanong ko.

"Kahapon siguro, sa may library." Sabi niya at nung may maalala ako ay natawa na lang ako. Humawak pa ako sa tyan dahil sa kakatawa ko.

"HAHAHAHAAHHAHAHA!" Tawa ko habang si Khaize naman ay nalilito at hindi malaman ang dahilan ng pagkatawa ko.

"Why are you laughing? May nakakatawa ba?" Naguumpisa na siyang mairita.

"W-wait HAHAHAHAH!" Patuloy ko sa pagtawa.

"I'll kiss you if you don't stop laughing" He stated, causing me to stop.

"the fuck?!"

"See? You stopped. Takot ka pala sa 'kin" Sabi niya.

"Ako? Takot? No way... " Sabi ko sakaniya habang nakatingala. Syempre mas matangkad siya sakin.

"Then why did you stop laughing?"

"Nagulat lang ako, isa pa I can laugh whenever I want and you can't stop it. Plus, I'm not scared of you because I know you can't do it." Nakangising sabi ko.

"If you can laugh whenever you want, then I will reciprocate it with a kiss whenever you try to laugh at my serious question." He said. "Oh wait.. Who said I can't do it? Should I try now so you believe that I could do it?" His smirk widened as he began walking towards me, causing me to step backwards until my back met the wall. He then cornered me using his arms

"What do you think? Should I give it a try?" Nangaasar na dagdag niya.

Bakit naubos ako ng sasabihin? Shutek!

"L-letche! Lumayo ka nga" Sabi ko at pilit na tinutulak siya.

"Ayoko nga. Make me." Sabi niya habang nakangiti. Damn his smile! Ngayon ko lang natitigan ang ngiti niya and I found it cute.

"A-alis na sabi!" Nauutal na sabi ko.

"Bakit muna namumula ka?" Makulit na tanong niya habang nakatitig parin sa mata ko. Magsasalita pa sana ako nung may nakita kaming nag flash samin, napatingin si Khaize don at doon din ako nakakuha ng tyempong itulak siya. Inayos ko na ang sarili at lumingon don sa babaeng may hawak ng camera.

"You guys are such a cute couple!" Said the girl.

"Ah, miss, excuse me lang po. He's not my boy-" Hindi ko pa natatapos ang sasabihin ko nung akbayan ako ni Khaize.

"Yeah, right. We are a cute couple because I have adorable girlfriend" Tugon ni Khaize sakaniya habang nakangiti, habang ako naman ay nagpipigil ng inis. Ayaw ko gumawa ng skandalo rito.

"Can you take us another picture, Ms?" sabi ni Khaize at malapad namang ngumiti ang babae.

"Yes po." Sabi niya, at niready na ang camera niya. "Smile po kayo" ngumiti naman ako kahit pilit lang, saka ayun, pag bilang niya ng 1...2....3 doon nag flash ang camera samin.

***

Khaize Pov.

I'm lying on the bed, staring at the photo taken earlier at the mall. There are two pictures that I'm holding. The first one captured the moment I cornered her, I smiled as I remembered how she blushed. The second one is where I asked the girl to take a picture again.

Pasimple ko na lang kinuha ang picture roon sa babae, I even paid the girl to thank her, kasi dahil sa kanya ay may picture na kami together.

But my smile fades as I remember when she told me that the love letter I saw in my bed wasn't from her. It was from Cassandra, the muse.

flashback.

After the girl took our picture, Rheeyna went to the restroom, and while she was away, I took that chance to get the picture from the girl.

"Miss! Miss!" Habol ko sa babae.

"Ahh, pwede ko bang bilhin na lang ang picture na kinuhanan niyo?" tanong ko.

Sinabi niya kasi sakin kanina na hindi raw niya maiibigay ang picture, kasi may pag gagamitan daw sila non. It's their project, I guess.

"Ah kasi sir, hindi po pwede e. Pwede ko naman pong isend nalang sainyo yung picture through gmail." She said.

"But Miss, gusto ko yung polaroid photo na 'yun e. Bibilhin ko nalang. Please, ate?" Pagmamakaawa ko.

"Sige na nga." Sabi niya, at natuwa ako. Nag labas ako ng pera para sana bayaran."Wag na po. Stay strong gift ko nalang po sainyo yan" She said but I insisted.

"Kuhanin nyo na 'to, Miss. Mamili ka ng gamit mo, pang thankyou ko na rin 'to" Pagpipilit ko kaya wala na siyang nagawa. Inabot na niya sakin ang dalawang pictures at tinitigan ko 'to. Sinabihan niya pa ako ng stay strong samin.

Bumalik na ako sa pwesto ko habang tinitigan parin ang picture. Ang cute namin tignan.

"Khaize!" Dinig kong sabi ni Rheeyna na papalapit na kasama ang kapatid niya kaya dali-dali kong binulsa ang picture. "Tara na!" Mataray na sabi nito.

Habang naglalakad kami para mag hanap ng kakainan nung may maisip ako. "Rheeyna, bakit pala hindi mo alam 'yung love letter? Hindi ba't ikaw ang nag bigay non?" Sabi ko.

"It wasn't me" Maikling sabi niya kays napatigil ako. Tumigil din sila at lumingon sa 'kin.

"Huh? Hindi ikaw?" Tanong ko at tumango naman siya.

"Ate, mauna na ako. Ako nalang ang maghahanap ng kakainan, ang bagal niyo e" Reklamo na naman ng kapatid niya at nauna ng mag hanap.

"Pero nakita kita malapit sa bag ko kahapon, kaya imposibleng hindi ikaw 'yun."

"It was Cassandra. I saw her yesterday, lumapit siya sa bag mo then she put something inside your bag." She stated.

"Tsk! Nawala tuloy excitement ko. Hindi pala ikaw 'yun" Sabi ko.

"Ano bang nakasulat don?" She asked. Inabot ko naman sakaniya ang papel, binuksan niya yun at inumpisahang basahin.

"Dear Khaize, I have liked you since the day you entered our room. I like your looks and your nonchalant vibes, I like everything about you. I didn't put my name here pero sana malaman mo na ako 'to." Pagbasa niya. 

"Grabe ang pangit naman ng confession na 'to. Ang iksi-iksi at ang cringe pa." Sabi niya. "Ano 'to, love at first sight?" She laughed.

For the second time, I was drawn into her laughter and I couldn't take my eyes from her. Darn it! She looks really pretty when she smiles and laughs.  I hold back myself from smiling, because I might get caught.

end of flashback..

Today's mark our day, and I'm happy to think that she's getting closer to me. I really couldn't stop myself from smiling. The heck!