Just Let Me Love You

Twenty Two - Past

Beige Crimona Samaniego

"A-aaron?"

He walked closer and he was out of the shadows. His hands were in his pocket and he stood straight in front of me, looking casually formal.

"Hi Beige," he smiled.

I turned my whole body to him. "What are you doing? I-i thought you were playing inside."

Shemay, bakit ako nauutal dito? Di naman porket gwapo siya, mauutal na ko. Marami na akong nakauasap na kasing gwapo at mas gwapo pa sa kanya, pero di ako nauutal. Ano nanaman ba to?

Tumawa siya ng tipid. "Si Dexter yun," he smiled. "Siya nag-guitars."

I nodded. And then silence. Shemay ang awkward.

"So kanina ka pa dyan?" Parang dura sa bilis kong tanong sa kanya.

He sighed. "You probably didn't know that I was here, and I wasn't also expecting there'd be anyone who'll stay here," he paused, "..and perform such envious act for you."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Nakita niya, obviously. Nakakailang na nakakahiya. Hindi na nga ako sanay sa ginawa ni Ice sakin kanina, mas lalo naman akong hindi sanay na may makakita ng ganung trato ng lalaki sakin.

"Is he courting you?" Straightforward niyang tanong.

I pressed my lips and nodded hesitantly.

"Is he serious?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya nang naka-kunot noo. But he seemed serious with his question. I don't know what to answer so I played safe. "I-i don't know.."

Kumunot yung noo niya sakin. "Why?"

Agh! Hindi ako sanay na ganito si Aaron! Mas okay yung palagi siyang nakangisi, yung malakas mang-asar, easy-going, at tawa lang ng tawa. Sino nga ba namang mag-aakalang makakapagseryoso pala ang isang 'to.

Hindi ako sumagot sa tanong niya dahil hindi ko din alam kung bakit hindi ako siguradong seryoso nga si Ice sakin. You can't blame me for feeling so. I have trust issues and I don't want to get hurt.

He shrugged. "Because I think he is," he said.

Napatingin uli ako sa kanya. "R-really?" Shemay! Hindi ko alam kung nauutal ako dahil naiilang ako sa kanya, o dahil maaring seryoso nga si Ice sakin.

He nodded. "What made you say so?" I asked.

"He's never been with anyone before."

Alam ko naman yun. NGSB si Ice, that's not a secret.

"Sa totoo lang, nagkagusto na ko sayo nun nung nagkasabay tayo papasok ng hotel."

Ay shemay. I am so screwed. He can't like me, darn.

"Attraction at first sight, kung may ganon man. Kaso nang nakita ko si Ice sa tabi mo nun, na agad kang binakuran, sabi ko wag nalang." He said. "Ayokong kunin sa kanya ang kaligayahang minsan lang siya magkaron."

Now I'm starting to wonder. "How do you know Ice? Magkakilala ba kayo?"

Tinignan niya ko. "I thought you knew?" Tinanggal niya yung coat niya saka ipinatong sa mga balikat ko.

I can't show na natuwa ako sa ginawa niya so I just smiled shyly at him. "No I didn't," I answered him.

"Childhood friends kami kasi yung dad ko yung family lawyer nila Ice nung panahong may krisis sila sa negosyo. I often stayed in their house because Ice wanted a playmate."