All Along

His "Ever-Since"

"Ge, what do you want to drink? Coffee, tea or water? Atsaka oo nga pala... I was thinking pwede ka na ding matulog dito. I mean, that's if di mo muna feel umuwi. Also, kasi late na oh. It's already 11:25, di na safe na magisa ka lang sa labas"

"Water na lang siguro, S. Baka di ako makatulog kung iinom pa ako ng kape. As for staying the night, dont worry about me..kaya ko naman ang sarili ko.. Pero thank you sa pagaalala. Napaka-sweet naman talaga ng favourite girl ko na eto." with matching pisil sa pisngi ni Sierra. "Sa sobrang sweet, mukhang masyadong nai-in love si Samuel ah. At talagang hahalikan ka na kanina kung di pa ako nag-interrupt. Ano yun, S? Gusto mo na din sya?" paguusisa ng binata,  hoping Sierra doesn't say YES to his question.

"Ano ka ba, Ge. Di ko nga din alam kung anong pumasok sa utak ni Samuel. Nabighani sa ganda ko siguro. Ha ha ha! But in all seriousness, hindi ko alam.. I'm not sure kung anong nafe-feel ko para kay Samuel. Right now, parang kilig lang naman. Ang babaw noh! Parang grade school lang! Ha ha ha!"

Gerome felt a sense of relief. "May chance pa ako!" isip nito.

"Gerome, hoyyyyy! Bakit wala kang reaksyon. Baduy ba?"

"Ha? Ah, eeee... I can't blame him...maganda ka talaga, S"

"Aba, totoo ba yang narinig ko, Ge? Did you just call me maganda? Inaantok ka na siguro. Or baka naman nalulunod ka na kakainom mo ng tubig. Ha ha ha!"

"Baka nga antok lang toh. Kaya, i'll take your offer at dito na lang ako matutulog tonight. I'll just call our house and leave a message para alam nila that we're back safely"

Gerome quickly phoned home and did just as he said.

Inisip ni Gerome, "Tonight is the night. Wag ka ng magpaligoy-ligoy pa, Gerome. Tell her how you feel!"

Just then, Sierra came up behind him and punched him on his arm.

"Grabe ka! So talagang joke lang yung sabi mong maganda ako!? Pwes, di ka pwedeng matulog dito, Gerome Randall Angeles! Hmpph!"

"Ano ka ba, S...di ka na mabiro. Maganda ka naman talaga, tapos.. mabait, thoughtful at napaka-sarap kasama. And those are just few of the reasons kung bakit mahal na mahal kita. Alam mo ba yun?"

Nahihirapan ng pigilan ni Gerome ang feelings nya. It's as if puputok na talaga yung dibdib nya kung di pa nya ilalabas lahat ng nasa puso nya. Sa totoo lang, nung umalis si Sierra for NYC, devastated talaga sya. Seeing Sierra leave and knowing that she'll be away for more than 4 years broke his heart..It was like losing a part of himself.

"Masyado kang nagiging mabait, Ge. In love ka na ba sa akin? Ha ha ha!" sabay yakap ng mahigpit sa best friend. 

Gerome could feel his heart beating uncontrollably.  Parang may kumukuryente sa buong katawan nya as Sierra cradled her head into the nook of his neck.

"Alam mo, S.. lahat ng sinasabi ko, totoo. I know I always tease you at lagi kitang binabara pero that doesn't mean I don't care. If anything, it's because you're really important to me; iba yung koneksyon natin. And that's why we're comfortable with pulling each other's leg. Ikaw yung other half ko, my best girl." 

Gerome was feeling brave. He shifted his position and looked at his best friend... only to find his best friend sound asleep. He can't help but stare at her face. Di nya ma-control ang sarili at hinawakan ang mukha ng best friend; from her forehead to her cheek and down to her lips.

"God, she looks like an angel. Kaya naman gusto talaga sya ni Samuel.... HAAAAAY! Ang hirap naman nito... Karibal ko pa ang isa sa pinaka matalik kong kaibigan. Ano bang tamang gawin sa sitwasyon na toh? Do I choose being a good friend or doing what will make me happy? Buhay talaga.. nakakabaliw pagisipan tong mga ganito. Iaakyat ko na nga 'tong si Sierra sa kwarto nya. At makapag-pahinga na rin para matigil na tong pagiisip ko."

Gerome proceeded to carry Sierra up to her room, making sure he doesn't wake her up. He opened the room of her door and and as he was laying her down on the bed, her lips brushed unto his. Nagulat sya at muntikan ng mahulog si Sierra from his arms. Nawala sa sarili si Gerome at binilisan ang pag-baba sa best friend.  He tucked her in and left her room in a haste.  

Since familiar naman si Gerome sa bahay nila Sierra,  he knew exactly where the guest room was. So he made his way down, two doors down from Sierra's room and plopped himself unto the bed.

"Gerome! Kalma ka lang. Kilig na kilig ka na di maintindihan! Daplis lang ng labi ni Sierra, halos di ka na mapakali? KALMA!" pangangaral ni Ge sa sarili.

Gerome spent the whole night tossing and turning. Thinking of the "lip accident" made it hard for him to sleep. Iba yung feeling na nadama nya when her lips touched his. Magical. The innocence of it all made his body tingle with happiness.

"Ang baduy! Grabe! Tulog na, Gerome. Eto talaga, antok na toh"

***The next day, Sierra woke up wondering how she got to her room.

"Hala! How did I get here? Atsaka, nasaan na kaya si Gerome? Hmmm.. Malamang nasa guest room pa yun. Ma-check nga."

As Sierra reached the hallway, Mommy Dawn saw her and gave her a good morning hug.

"Oh anak, good morning. Come and have breakfast with your dad and I downstairs. Tell us all about your trip to Baguio"

"Good morning, mom. Sige po, I'll just call Ge...nasa guest room po pala sya. Late na po kasi kahapon at pinatulog ko na lang po dito yung mokong na yun. Ha ha ha!"

"Ay anak, umalis na si Gerome. Tama rin because may out of town meeting sila Angel at Ian so he should spend time with them for now. Isang linggo't mahigit din wala ang parents nya e. Part of the new expansion sa company. Susunod kami ng dad mo dun actually, pero sa Wednesday pa naman. So come and spend time with us."

"Okay, mom. I'll just get my phone at i-tetext ko lang si Ge. I'll come and follow you na lang"

"Alright, baby girl"

*Sierra to Gerome* Pssst panget! Di ka man lang nag ba-bye. Salamat nga pala at inakyat mo na ako sa kwarto kagabi. KO na pala ako. Hahaha. Buti na lang sexy ako at di mabigat, so madali mo lang akong nabuhat! LOL! Anyway, out of town pala sila Tita and Tito...tapos susunod pa parents ko, kaya samahan mo ko when they're gone, okay? Seeeeee you soon best friend! Love you!

*New Message*

"Di ko aayawan yang offer mo, S. Spending time with you will help me make my move. Yun! I've made my choice....May the best man win na lang between Sam and I"  

*Gerome to Sierra* Good morning Ms. Ganda (oh, wag masyado mag-feeling!) Sorry naman, nagtext kasi si mommy at nagtaka kung bakit wala pa ako. She checked the house voicemail AFTER she texted me. Anyway, down ako dyan! Tayong dalawa naman ang laging nagdadamayan ever since pag wala ang parents naten. Tambay ako dyan sa inyo pag free. O kaya labas tayo anywhere you want...matagal ka din wala sa Pinas so there are many new places and things to explore. See you best friend. Love you the most! ;)

*New Message*

"Baliw talaga tong best friend ko. Kaya mahal ko to eh.." natatawang sabi ni Sierra.

*Sam to Sierra* Good morning Beautiful! Hopefully you rested well. Labas naman tayo mamaya. I want to take you to this new Italian resto that my friends told me about.

*Sierra to Sam* Good morning din, Sam! Naku, bolero ever! Sige. I'm excited for that. I love Italian food!

*Gerome waiting for Sierra's reply*

"Aba, walang reply tong si S. Baka nakatulog ulet. Well, daanan ko na lang sa bahay nila mamaya."

*New Message* Gerome? I was wrong. Di ko pala kayang wala ka. Let's make "us" work. Please.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update update din pag may timeeeee :) Scattered brain to the max. Haahha. Anyway, since long weekend dito sa'min ... eto muna ang update ko. Hope you guys enjoy! God bless :)

love love xo ♡