Continuation..........
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ALIYAH
“Oh, hello. It’s you,” I said, smiling at him.
“Long time no see, Aliyah,” he replied, sitting beside me.
“Long time no see, Jeremy,” I said back, returning his smile.
“How are you, Aliyah?” he asked, observing me closely.
“Okay lang naman ako, Jeremy. How about you?” I responded, studying him as well.
“Ito, pogi pa rin,” he answered with a grin.
“Ang lakas ng hangin, no?” I joked, and he just laughed.
“Hindi ka pa rin nagbabago, Aliyah,” he said, playfully pinching my cheek. “Ang cute-cute mo pa rin,” he added with a smile.
“Stop, Jeremy!” I exclaimed, annoyed by the painful pinch on my cheek. “Don’t you ever touch my cheeks! Ang sakit-sakit mong kumurot; namumula na pisngi ko!” I added, rolling my eyes. He just laughed at my reaction.
“Ang ganda mo na ngayon, Aliyah,” he said seriously.
“Ah, so before, I’m not that pretty?” I teased, pretending to sulk.
“You were pretty din naman before. What I mean is, mas lalo kang gumanda ngayon,” he replied, gazing into my eyes. I immediately looked away, feeling a little flustered.
“Thanks,” I said, giving him a brief smile. Suddenly, the atmosphere around us grew quiet, as if an angel had just passed by.
“Aliyah,” Jeremy broke the silence.
“Hmmm?” was all I managed to say, unsure of why I responded that way.
“Meron ka na bang…?” he asked, but I didn’t immediately understand what he meant.
“Huh?” I replied, confused.
“I mean, may nag-papasaya na ba sayo ngayon?” he clarified.
“Meron naman, masaya ako kasama sila Maye ngayon. Bakit?” I answered directly.
“Hindi ganyan ang ibig sabihin ko, Aliyah,” he said seriously.
“Eh, ano?” I asked, still puzzled.
“Ang slow mo talaga kahit kailan,” he chuckled. “Ibig kong sabihin, in a relationship ka na ba?”
At napatawa ako sa tanong niya.
“
Ah, yun ba? HAHAHA! Wala, Jeremy. Mas nagfo-focus ako sa aking pag-aaral ngayon, tsaka masaya naman ako kahit nabubuhay akong single,” I explained, and he just nodded.
“Aliyah, may sasabihin ako sa’yo,” he said with a smile. I felt a flutter of nerves at his words.
“Ano yun?” I asked.
“Aliyah, alam mo namang kapag sa mga ganitong bagay, seryoso ako,” he said, and I listened intently to what he had to say.
“Aliyah, I just want to say na sa mahabang panahon na magkakilala tayo, nagiging masaya ako kapag kasama kita. Aliyah, I like y—”
