IT WON'T STOP

5.

[ Amara’s ]

I found myself getting ready to look so good and cleaning my house more after our call. 

"Hey," she said after doorbelling. Her hair wasn't tied up anymore; it's long and straight. She's barefaced and simply wore a plain white fitted t-shirt and cargo brown pants. She looked so good.

"Hi, why do you need me?" I smiled. She looked extra good today! Mababaliw siguro fans niya kapag nalaman nilang ako lang naman pala pinopormahan ni Machiko Lim. Eme.

"Because I need you," Pumasok siya kaagad, so I closed the door. "Nice house; you live here alone?"

"Yes, for now. My parents are both in the US. Noong nandito pa sila, we used to live here together."

Tumango siya sa sinagot ko while she's exploring the first floor. She was looking at my pictures in some of those frames. Then, she suddenly saw some of my paintings and sketches.

"You do art?" Her eyes were amazingly twinkling while staring at my pieces. It made my heart feel soft.

"Yeah, hobby lang." Lumapit ako sa kaniya habang nakangiti.

"Wow, it's amazing!" She looked at me. "I want to learn, but I mostly spend my time in training. Dance and sing."

"You're doing great, Machiko. You can actually come here if you want me to teach you," I joked, and her smile grew wider.

"Sounds really great." She was nodding while still staring at my artwork. "But... you're going back to the US, na?" she questioned, looking serious already.

"Oo, I have modelling projects there all prepared na." Tumango ako habang nakatingin sa kaniya. "But I can adjust for another week, so I can teach you."

"That's too short," she sighed.

Her reactions made me chuckle. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that."

"I'll be busy next week. There's an upcoming concert." Her tone sounded sad now. I shouldn't have said that.

"Really? Oh my gosh, I should watch!" I tried to hype her up, and she just gave me a small smile.

"A free ticket will be my gift for you before you go back to the US." 

"Stop it; you're making me stay here longer, Machiko." I laughed; I wasn't even lying about that. She walked closer to me, and our faces were an inch away. 

She suddenly stole a soft kiss from my lips! It was like a feather that just touched my lips for a second.

"And that!" I smiled, feeling not just butterflies but a whole damn zoo in my stomach already. "You're convincing me effortlessly."

"If free tickets and kisses can make you stay longer in the Philippines, I will give you those every day."

So, this is what love looks like? I thought to myself while we were making staring at each other's faces with so much admirations.

"Grabe, lakas mo naman sa'kin," I laughed. "Now, I really understand your crazy fan girls out there." Napaupo ako sa sofa. She was laughing.

"Don't act like you're not an international model who has way more followers than I am." She sat down beside me.

"Were you searching for me the whole time?"

"So what if I did? You used to date some of the Hollywood actors—"

"Yawa," I cursed, and I touched my forehead stressfully. She did nga!

"I'm jealous." She looked at me seriously, and I laughed so hard. "What's so funny, huh?"