16 & 16

21: 16 And 16 Forever

"Bilis na, kwento mo na!" I say, slapping Sie playfully on the arm, "Diba nagpromise na tayo na magsasabihan na tayo ng lahat lahat?"

Sie looks at me with a slight smile on her face as she shakes her head sideways.

"Hay nako, purket alam mong 'di kita matiis," She says as her smile grows wider, "Oo na, ikwkwento ko na. Basta kwento mo rin 'yung sayo, okay?"

"Yown! Lakas ko talaga sayo," I say, clapping my hands, "Oo naman, kwkwento ko rin 'yung akin, promise. 'Di ka mawawalan, Carballo."

Nakatambay kami ni Sie ngayon sa dorm namin ni Bella. Nasa klase pa si Bella, so kami lang ni Sie nandito. Saturday morning na ngayon, and may kanya-kanyang training kaming dalawa mamayang hapon. For now, nakahiga lang kami sa kama ko at nagkwkwentuhan.

It's been a week since nag-aminan kami ni Sie, since we told each other how we really feel for each other. Ngayon, para tuloy-tuloy na talaga ang pagbubunyag, pinipilit ko si Sie i-kwento sakin 'yung story on when and how she realized na may gusto siya sakin.

"Nakakahiya naman," She says, covering her face using my pillow, "Edi malalaman mo kung gaano na ko katagal may gusto sayo?"

"Wow, marunong ka pala mahiya," I joke as I pull the pillow away, "Bilis naaa. 'Di kita pagtrtripan, swear! Makikinig lang ako sa kwento mo, kasi I'm genuinely curious."

"Genuinely curious ka diyan," Sie laughs, "Gusto mo lang kiligin kaya mo gusto malaman, period."

"Dami mong satsat!" I say, nudging her, "Dali na, kwento na."

One thing I love about how Sie and I interact is that, even though we know we have feelings for each other, parang best friends pa rin turing namin sa isa't isa. Puro biruan, tawanan, at asaran na may halong kilig pa rin. Sobrang gaan lang ng lahat.

She pulls my blanket closer to her, up to the area on her face above her nose. Kaya ngayon, mata lang at bangs niya 'yung nakikita ko. Mukhang nahihiya talaga siya i-kwento, may pagtakip pa siya ng mukha eh.

"Naalala mo 'yung unang beses na na-injure ka?" Sie asks, voice slightly muffled because of the blanket that's over her mouth, "Nung Inter Barangay League?"

I don't answer her right away, because my brain instantly starts to do the math. Unang beses na na-injure ako? That was back in...2019.

Oh my God.

"2019?!" I exclaim, eyes widening, "Sie, five years ago pa 'yun! Five years ka nang may gusto sakin?!"

"Wala na, mayabang ka na, y/n," Sie says, now putting the blanket over her face entirely, "Ayaw ko na i-kwento. Ang laki na ng ulo mo."

I laugh as I pull the blanket back down, revealing her face na namumula na. Sobrang cute.

"Nagulat lang ako, 'to naman. Wala na kong comment, go na," I smile, trying to behave myself, "Kwento mo na. Shut up na ko."

She inhales and exhales, before opening her mouth to speak.

"Ganto kasi 'yun..."

[CASSIE'S POV]

[FLASHBACK: 5 YEARS AGO - AGE 16]

"Okay ka pa?" I ask y/n, watching as she wipes sweat away from her forehead.

"Mhm," She nods, giving me a thumbs up, "Ikaw, Sie?"

"Okay na okay." I smile, then turn my attention back towards the net. Dapat naka-game face ako ngayon, pero napangiti ako. Sobrang favorite ko kasi talaga kapag naririnig ko na tinatawag ako ni Y/n by my nickname. Parang iba 'yung tunog pag galing sa bibig niya.