The Captured Moments: Scandalous Series 3 [ON-GOING]

Chapter 19

"What did you say. . ." napaawang ang labi niya habang nakatitig sa akin.

"Gusto kita."

Mula sa maliit, hanggang sa palaki at lumapad ang ngiti niya. Sinuklay niya ang buhok at ilang beses siyang napakurap. His long lashes were delicate, framing his brown sparkle eyes.

"Can I court you?" excited niyang tanong.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Bakit? Hinalikan na kita. Bakit kapa manliligaw?"

Nakagat niya ang labi saka umiling. He looked amused. "You know woman. . . you are really different."

I shrugged. "Each individual is born unique."

"Right, back to our conversation, I'll court you." siguradong sabi niya.

Umiling ako. "Huwag na."

Hindi siya makapaniwalang pinagmamasdan ako. "What? Why?"

"Hindi ba for formality lang 'yun?"

"Yeah, but I still want to." He insisted.

"I insist, huwag na."

"So. . ." nawala ang ngiti niya at nanlalaki ang mga mata na tumitig sa akin. "You don't want me to be your boyfriend."

"Ikaw ang boyfriend ko." pag papaalala ko sa kaniya.

"But, that was different. . ." parang batang turan niya.

"Can we just skip with the formality? Time is gold, Ethan. Let's just seize the moment. You like me and I like you, ano pa ba ang problema?" seryoso kong tanong. Kasi naman. Gusto naman pala namin ang isat-isa bakit pa patatagalin?

"Damn, I want to kiss you." bulong niya. Parang bituin iyong mga mata niya. "But seriously, I'll still court you every day."

Ngumiti nalang ako. So. . . this is what it feels after hearing someone you like confess to you. I want to keep Ethan. Pwede ba iyon? Can I gatekeep this guy in front of me? Am I dreaming?

"So. . . we are officially dating? Like for real?" mapupungay ang mga matang tanong niya.

Napangiti ako at tumango. "Oo, tayo na."

He grinned. His eyes sparkled. His cheeks were blushing. Halos mapunit na iyong labi niya kakangiti. He pressed his lips against my forehead and clasped our hands.

"Let's go, baby." natawa ako. Ang cute niya. Para siyang batang nabigyan ng candy tapos ayaw niya na itong bitawan.

Tumakbo kami ng malapit ng matapos ang pila. It was a great night. Pakiramdam ko ay naglalakad ako sa ulap. Kung panaginip lang ito, ito siguro ang pinakapaborito ko.

Minsan tinatanong ko kung normal ba itong nararamdaman ko kay Ethan. Na ang sarap sa pakiramdam kapag inaalagaan niya ako tapos tinatago ko sa tawa iyong mga hirit niya. I would ask myself if I was just too comfortable? Pinipilit ko nalang isipin na mabait lang si Ethan. Kasi. . . I don't want to put any labels on his actions.

I don't want our friendship to become tragic.

Ethan is a person who would calm you whenever he's around. Without putting too much effort, he can make you smile. Not because he cracked a joke, but because he is always a 'G' type of person.

He doesn't ask that much but he will take you to places where life can be good there. He will ask you to eat, not because he was always hungry but because he knows that eating was my therapy habit.

All this time, I realized he was doing those things for me. Because he knows me, but he didn't try to cross the boundaries. Instead, he worked for it. He made things easier and lessened the heavy weight I was feeling.