Relentlessly Yours [Completed]

Chapter 33

Nicola, Age Twente Seven
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I was surprised to see him jogging a few feet away from me the morning after the cupcake fiasco.

Wala sa loob na binilisan ko ang pag-jog at tinabihan siya. He didn't show any hint of surprise when he looked at me sideways.

"Are you following me again, stalker?" pagbibiro ko sa kanya.

He looked very attractive with the black headband he put on his forehead to prevent his hair from going to his eyes, a few beads of sweat were running down from his temple.

His black long sleeves sportshirt was clinging on his body like a second skin and I could see hints of his toned and muscular arms and more his prominent abs. Bumaba pa ang mga mata ko sa simpleng itim na jogging shorts niya papunta sa sapatos niya na may check logo and medyas na medyo may kahabaan.

Nag-init ang pisngi ko nang nakita ko ang naglalaro na ngiti sa labi niya pag-angat ko ulit ng tingin. He saw me checking him out. Nakakahiya!

Nangingislap ang mga mata na umarko ang labi niya. "You tell me. Ikaw ang biglang tumabi sa akin."

Tumawa ako ng bahagya. Silly, this guy.

"This is my routine and my jogging spot. Plus, I caught you stalking me once. Paano ako nakakasiguro na hindi mo minomonitor ang bawat galaw ko?"

He slowed down until we were now walking. Tinapunan niya ulit ako ng tingin. "You got me. Now what?"

I don't know if he was being serious or what but I just laughed. Of course he wasn't serious. Binibiro ko lang naman din siya.

"Now, you buy me a drink! May itatanong din ako sa'yo," nahihiyang sabi ko.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Ano 'yon?"

Nag-init ang pisngi ko at alam kong napansin niya iyon dahil dumako ang mga mata niya doon.

"Basta! So, ibibili mo ba ako ng inumin?"

"I'll buy you anything you want, Calliope," he said with all seriousness and I can't help but laugh again.

"What if I ask you to buy me a house?" I tested.

"Try and find out."

Natatawa na umirap ako at naglakad papunta sa nakita kong bench sa gilid. He followed me silently and sat beside me with a good amount of distance. Wow, hindi naman ako mabaho ah?

"So..." paninimula ko. "Why do you call me by my second name? Ikaw lang ang tumatawag sa akin ng ganon," tanong ko sa kanya.

He stared at me for a moment. "It's still your name isn't it?"

"Well of course but..." I sighed. "It did something to me you know...when I heard you call me by it," pag amin ko. "Sumakit ang ulo ko ng di ko alam. I thought maybe it held a significant value in my past pero hindi na sumasakit ang ulo ko ngayon kaya siguro ay nabigla lang ako," he was still looking at me silently. "Have you always called me that?"

He looked away for a moment as if contemplating his thoughts. "Yes," he sighed. "Yes I did."

I gave him a smile. "Well, okay. I don't mind. Tama ka. Pangalan ko pa din naman iyon."

I leaned back against the bench and pulled my hairtie from my pony tail. Tinali ko ulit iyon ng mahigpit. Maluwag kasi kanina.

He nodded once his eyes studying my every move..

"So, about your question..."

Natawa ako. "Ah...hindi mo pa nga ako binibili ng inumin eh!"

"Fine, let's go."