Aaron
He stayed quiet, like he was trying to piece everything together. Then, he broke the silence, his voice sharp and full of confusion, "Ano? Tinatanong kita."
Ibinaba ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya, my eyes catching the striking colors of his eyes. Even in the dim light of the parking lot, his eyes stood out, drawing me in like they always did.
Damn it, he's so pretty.
But I needed to focus. I have to focus, or I might end up doing something stupid - something reckless.
I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to ground myself.
Fuck, baka mahalikan ko 'to nang wala sa oras; bumalik pa 'yung itim sa mukha ko. Ni hindi pa nga hilom iyong binigay sa akin noong nakaraang gabi ta's madadagdagan ulit?
My hand unconsciously reached for the faint bruise on my eye. Ang lakas pa naman sumuntok nito.
Bumuntong-hininga ako, medyo frustrated pero pilit na pinapakalma ang sarili. "Hindi ko alam... I just felt it. I don't even know how it happened." Halata ang panginginig sa boses ko.
I really don't know.
Nakatingin lang si Kakashi sa akin, mga kilay niya nagdidikit, halatang naiinis at naguguluhan. He remained silent, but the weight of his silence felt heavy - like he was struggling to process everything I had just said.
But damn, he really wasn't making this any easier.
"So, you just felt it? Iyon ang paliwanag mo?" sarkastikong tanong niya, ang mga mata niya ay matalim na nakatuon sa akin. "Ine-expect mo bang paniniwalaan kita kung ganiyan ka rumason?"
A sharp pang shot through my chest, but I held my ground. "You don't understand," I replied, desperately trying to steady my voice.
"I know it sounds crazy, but what I feel is real and I can't ignore it anymore. I didn't plan for this, okay? It just... happened," I added.
He scoffed. "At paano ko naman malalaman na hindi mo lang ako pinagtitripan dahil wala kang magawa? Eh, tang ina! Tinagurian kang playboy ng El U, Supremo!"
My heart raced with frustration as I struggled to find the right words. "So, you think I'm lying? You think I'm just playing some kind of game?" I shot back.
"Anong gusto mong isipin ko?" tanong niya.
"I literally just told you this isn't a game for me!" bulalas ko.
"Malay ko ba kung naubusan ka na ng babae kaya ako naman ang isusunod mo?" he fired back.
"Do you really think of me that way?" masinsinang tanong ko. "Do you honestly believe I want this?"
He fell silent.
"Maybe you see me as just some fucking asshole, a guy who sleeps with every girl he meets. That I'm nothing but jokes and fun, a certified babaero, lasinggero, hambog - everything you think I am," tuloy ko, halo-halong emosyon ang lumalabas sa bibig ko.
"Maybe it's because I've been a dick to you from the start, and I own that," dagdag ko, tumaas pa ang boses. "But I've stopped hitting on girls since you came into my life. Did you even notice that? Damn it! I've been clean since you showed up!"
Nagbago ang tingin ko nang makita kong bumalik si Kakashi sa kanyang walang emosyon na ekspresyon. I wanted to reach out, to shake some sense into him, but I knew I had to be patient.
"Seryoso ako ngayon... seryoso ako sa'yo, Levi."
Hindi ko nga maisip na lahat ng ito ay lumalabas sa bibig ko. I'm saying things I've never admitted to anyone, and it's terrifying.
