How Great Is Our Love

Kabanata 34

Many students are scattered in the whole park of our school some were even couples. Ewan ko kung saan kami nabelong ni Keith, sa students ba o sa couples? Siguro sa students because technically we're not lovers.

Nag i-indian sit kami ngayon dito sa ground ng park, mas gusto ko kasing ganito ang upo kesa sa mga benches.

"Okay ka lang?" Keith asked. "Kanina ka pa walang imik." I continued picking fake grass from the ground before spearing him with a stare.

"Yeah." I mumbled then get back to what I'm doing.

The grass in the ground looks like well maintained by some professional gardener but if you'll try to pick some grass, you'll see that it is just only an imitation.

"Seriously, anong problema?" Keith lifted my chin.

I look directly at his eyes. The color was crystal brown, look so transparent but it has a wall, a wall screaming that I shouldn't go beyond.

"Kung mamimiss mo ako sa dalawang linggo, mas mamimiss kita." He smiled playfully, showing off his perfect white teeth.

I forced a smile because I felt compelled to do it. He gave a sigh before opening his black Jansport backpack.

He put three boxes neatly wrapped in Christmas wrappers in front of me.

"What is this for?" I asked,

"Early Christmas gifts, since hindi ko iyan maibibigay sa mismong araw." I did not wait for a second to drop, I immediately opened the biggest box.

"Gummy candies." I stated in surprise. I look at him and he was just smiling showing his perfect white teeth. Mapagsabihan nga ito minsan na mag audition bilang endorser ng toothpaste.

There's a sticky note attached on the first container so I read it silently.

I give you these not because it's your favorite but because it looks like you.

Mukha ba akong oso?! I speared him a glare but it went down to his lips, he was biting his lower lip and I do not know if he's even aware how seductive it was. I looked away and opened the circular container of the gummy candies.

"Damn! I want to kill you Ciudadano." I said between eating.

He laughed and it brought shivers through my body.

I opened the second box and it was full of glow in the dark characters. Again, there's another note folded into half so I read it.

I'll be your light in times of darkness, baby.

The fuck! How could be this guy so corny but sweet at the same time?

"Saan mo hinugot ang mga kakornyhang ito ha?"

"Corny daw, maroon na ang kulay ng mukha mo o." He pointed out my face so I held it.

"Hindi kaya." I denied.

"Oo kaya." He said trying to imitate my tone.

I opened the rectangular box, the smallest among the three. It's a necklace with a sapphire heart shaped pendant. It's so elegant. Like the other three gifts, this one also contains a note.

If I'm important to you, wear this necklace. If I'm not, suotin mo pa rin! Wala kang choice ka Gab! Hahahaha. Joke lang. >.<

Hinampas ko nang malakas ang dibdib niya, ang raming alam e. But he held my both wrists to stop me from harassing him. We stared at each other's eyes. His eyes are sinful, yung tipong mapapagawa ka nang krimen anomang oras na sabihin niya.

I couldn't take the stares he's giving anymore so I hopelessly bit my lips before asking a favor.

"Can I....hug you?" He chuckled. The sound was warm and rich. He didn't wait for me to wrap my arms around his body, he did it for me.

I shrugged off the disloyalty I'm thinking about him, I felt silly for clinging to those for so long.

"Hatid na kita? Padilim na o." Lumayo ako sa kanya at tiningnan ang paligid na may mga ilaw na.

Inilagay ko sa bag lahat ng bigay niya tapos naunang tumayo. Inilahad ko ang kamay ko sa kanya na agad din naman niyang tinanggap.

Hindi na niya binitawan ang kamay ko habang naglalakad papunta sa parking lot ng school.

"Keith, no other woman please." I said sharply. He stopped under the lamp post and look at me with one arched brow. "I mean it. No other woman aside from me, no...."

"Goodness Gabbie." He cut me off. "Do you really think I could? No scratch that. Do you think I would?" I looked away, ashamed from what I just asked. But I couldn't hold any of those uncertainty in my heart.

"Sorry." I murmured.

"Do I make you feel like cheated?" He faced me and I shook my head. "I promise you, ikaw lang. Walang iba, walang magiging iba." I bit my lower lip hard enough, I could already taste rusty flavor because of blood.

He cupped my face and closed my eyes until I felt the unusual feeling everytime his lips met mine.

Unlike the other kisses this one is longer, more gentle and tender.

My knees are trembling if he's not supporting my back, I'll surely fall. I moaned when he suddenly bit my lips. I opened my mouth when his tongue was trying to enter. His tongue roamed around my mouth tasting each corner. God! I could live just like this forever. The sensation he always bring is so unusual yet so sapid.

I was in the midst of hallucinations when he stopped. I looked at him and try to find his lips again but he put his index finger to stop me from what I'm doing.

"Baby, enough. Gabi na, mapapagalitan ka na naman sa bahay niyo." I glared him and rolled my eyes.

"Ganyan ka pala kapag nabibitin?" He's stopping himself from laughing I know it. I groaned in frustrations and walk away.

Narinig ko siyang tumawa, at alam kong papalapit siya at hindi nagtagal naabutan niya ako, hindi naman kasi ako tumakbo.

"Baby learn to control please, because I'm trying hard to control myself." He brushed his thumb near my lips and gave me a quick kiss in the lips.

Namilog ang mga mata ko nang nakita kong nakatingin ng diretso si Manong Steve sa aming dalawa ni Keith. Tinulak ko si Keith at tumakbo sa sasakyan namin.

"Ma..nong." I said, trembling.

"Pasok ka na, gabi na." Ngumiti si Manong Steve na parang walang nangyari, walang nakita.

Sinunod ko ang sinabi niya, pumasok ako sa loob ng sasakyan at nilingon ang likuran. I could see Keith silhouette under the light of the lamp post.

Habang nagbabiyahe kami pauwi hindi ako makapag isip ng maayos, kinakabahan ako sobra kahit anong gawin kong pag-aalo sa sarili ko hindi pa rin humuhupa ang kabang nararamdaman ko. Natatakot ako baka aatakehin na naman ako ng asthma pero mas natatakot ako sa sasabihin nina Mama at Papa. They will surely be disappointed, I will be a disappointment!

Hinilamos ko ang dalawang kamay ko sa aking mukha.

"Gab, kumalma ka nga. Hindi kita isusumbong. Pangako." Nagakatinginan kami ni Manong Steve sa salamin. Ano nga ba ang magagawa ko? Magtiwala sa kanya na hindi niya ako isusumbong sa mga magulang ko, yun lang.

Nagpakawala ako ng mabigat na hangin at itinuon ang paningin ko sa labas. City lights were already lit up. How beautiful cities are when at night.