Love Inspiration

*8*

*8*

Sports Festival ngayon sa school. Kaya busy lahat sa sports activities.

"Can we atleast eat? I'm starving." Irra said. Nakaupo kami sa isang bench malapit sa field. Kakatapos lang ng game ng Cassiopeia vs Easton. Kaya nagpahinga muna kami saglit at kasalukuyang nagpapahangin.

Tumatagaktak naman ang pawis ko kahit na naka university shirt at pants ako. Sobrang init ngayon.

Tumingin ako kay Irra. "Bessie, what do you wanna eat? Let's buy?" I asked and smiled at her.

"Anything will do. I'm starving, Hollie. Hindi ko na kayang tumayo sa kinauupuan ko. Pwede bang hintayin nalang kita dito?" May kinapkap si Irra sa bulsa nito at binigay sa akin yung perang pambili niya. Kinuha ko naman iyon.

"Okay! Kahit anong pagkain lang ba?"

"Yes. Thanks!" She smiled and waved at me. Nanatili si Irra na umupo doon sa bench at kinuha yung earphones niya sa bag niya. At pagkasuot niya nun ay parang nasa loob na siya ng sarili niyang mundo.

"Sige. Bibilisan ko. Babalik din ako. Bye, Irra!" I said kahit alam kong hindi niya na ako naririnig. Nagsimula na akong maglakad papunta sa binibilhan ng pagkain.

What to buy? Hmmm.

Pumunta ako sa bilihan ng fishball. I craved for these foods. Madalang lang kasi akong kumakain nito. I always eat in restaurants.

Binilhan ko ng french fries si Irra at fishball naman para sa akin. Bumili din ako ng sago't gulaman para may mainom naman kami. Dahil sa sobrang dehydrated namin sa sobrang init.

"Thank you." Sabi ko ng nakuha ko na yung sukli ko.

Dala-dala ko na yung pagkain namin ni Irra ng bigla akong may nakasalubong.

"Ms. Cordelia?" Eero Wyatt smirked at me.

Ngumiti ako at kumaway kay Eero. "Yes? Hollie nalang. Sobrang pormal mo naman..." I laughed.

"Okay, Hollie." Eero smiled again at kita ko doon yung mapuputing ngipin niya katulad sa mga toothpaste commercials.

"What are you two doing?" Our gaze met and I felt guilty about it.

"We aren't doing anything..." Eero still teasing Ryne.

Yumuko ako dahil alam kong he's sending me his ice cold gaze. Ayaw ko siyang tignan. Kapag titigan ko siya... Alam ko sa sarili ko na sigurado na ako sa nararamdaman ko sa kanya. And I'm afraid with these feelings.

"Come with me." Ryne said and held my arms. Natapon yung gulaman na hawak-hawak ko papunta sa aking pantalon. Ngunit wala man lang siyang pakialam kahit na mabasa yun.

Tinignan ko naman siya ng masama.

Binawi ko din sa kanya ang kamay ko. "Saan? Babalik pa ako sa kinaroroonan ni Irra."

Napatigil si Ryne sa paghigit sa akin.

"What? You still have a thing for Irra?" I asked him, still curious about his feelings.

Hinintay ko siyang magsalita para sagutin niya yung tanong ko. Ilang minuto pa yata ang hinintay ko bago niya ako hinarap.

With his gloomy aura, I guess I have the answer I'm looking for.

Nanlulumo naman akong naglakad palayo sa kanya. Sa isip ko, I need to bring this food to Irra. I know she's hungry.

Hindi ko alam kung nakasunod pa rin ba si Ryne sa likuran ko pero patuloy lang akong naglalakad hanggang sa nakarating sa kinaroroonan ni Irra.

She smiled at me as she saw the food that I'm holding. Ibinigay ko naman yun agad sa kanya.

"I'm sorry. Nabawasan yung inumin natin."

Tumango-tango lang siya sa akin dahil busy na siya sa pagkain ng fries na binili ko para sa kanya.

Kakaininin ko na sana yung fishball ko nang nakita ko si Irra na nakatingin sa akin.

Irra looked at me with a what-is-Ryne-doing-here look while she's busy eating her fries.

Nilingon ko siya. "Bakit mo ako sinundan, Ryne?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Habang hinhintay ko yung sagot niya ay kumain na ako ng fishball na hawak hawak ko.

Ryne stared blankly ahead. To Irra and then to me.

"The answer is no. I already love someone else."

"Huh?"

"You asked and yet you're feigning ignorance."

Hindi ko siya ma-gets. I gave him a confused look. Kumunot noo naman si Ryne sa akin.

"I'll borrow her for a minute, Irra."

"Sure!" Irra grinned at us but I know that playful grin so well! She's teasing me!

Dinala niya ako sa isang secluded place. Yung lugar na wala masyadong dumadaan na mga tao. To have some kind of privacy. Well, he's a star! That's a given.

We stayed silent. Ako yung unang nagsalita.

"Ano yung ibig mong sabihin?" Tukoy ko sa sinabi niya kanina. Hindi siya nagsalita kaya nainis ako. "I know it must hurt that you can't admit what you like. But how can you face your feelings if you're going to lose to them?! Are you going to crumple them up and tose it out?" I said, hindi halatang naiinis ako.

I hate this side of him! Suddenly saying a word or phrase and then not answering back when I question him. Hindi ko siya maintindihan!

Magsasalita pa sana ako pero sinalubong niya ako ng halik sa aking labi.

Nagulat ako doon! Why the sudden kiss?

He kissed me slowly and softly. As if sanay na siyang humalik! I don't know how to kiss for Pete's sake! I tried imitating the scene from one drama that I watched but I failed miserably at it! I bet Ryne's laughing at me for being a lousy kisser.

We both panted for air when our lips parted.

"W-why d-did you kiss me?"

"Is it so bad for me to want that? To kiss you? Your lips taste sweet, Hollie." He looked at me with maybe some kind of adoration? It's been so long since I saw that in someone else's eyes as he/she looks at me.

His hands caressed my cheeks. I looked at his eyes. Hinahanap kung ano yung purpose niya kung bakit niya yun ginawa.

Ryne left me breathless with that kiss.

"You said you love someone else. So why are you kissing me? You should've kiss that someone else instead of me." Yumuko ako. Ryne made me looked at him using his thumb.

"Why should I kissed that someone else, if that someone else is you, my dear Hollie."

My mouth opened widely.

He likes me?

"You liked me?" I asked, unbelieving.

"No." He chuckled. My smile faded. "But I love you, innocent Hollie." He snaked his hands on my waist.

This happens so fast! Kami na ba? Yung kamay niya sa baywang ko! Oh my gosh! Ryne is holding me close to him!

Okay, my fangirl side is screaming with happiness! Is that bad? Maybe I'm hyperventilating now?

Am I dreaming with my eyes wide open?

"Now you're mine, Hollie."