[ON-GOING HEAVY REVISION] The 7 Steps Away From Mr. Paasa

Chapter 17

Chapter 17: He's much better

"Mahal mo ba ako?" Ang tanong sa akin ni Andi.

Sobrang seryoso ng mukha nya. Matalim ang titig nya, gusto kong matunaw. My heart was beating wildly, I can't even breathe properly. Ramdam ko ang pagdaloy ng lahat ng dugo sa katawan ko. What is he saying again? Ano nanaman ba yan Andi? Bakit ba paborito mo akong tanungin ng ganyan?

"Ano ka ba? Natanong no na yan di ba?" Ang sagot ko sa kanya. Umiling sya.

"It was different. I was asking you before if you like me. Ngayon, I'm asking you if you love me. Love as in a man to a woman." Ang sagot nya sa tanong ko. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Somebody save me, right now. Naguguluhan na ako sa nangyayari. Andrew please.

"Jilliane!!!" Ang sigaw ni Trixie mula sa labas. Bigla syang pumasok sa office ko, hingal na hingal. "Jilliane, you have to come with me!"

Kinabahan ako. Anong nangyayari at nagpa-panic sya? My gosh. Sana wala namang masamang nangyari. Tumakbo ako palabas kasabay ng paghila sa akin ni Trixie papunta sa lobby ng company.

I frozed.

I saw Daniel, holding a big lavander bear with a bouquet of roses on his other hand. He walked towards me with his trademark charming smile and sincere eyes. Hindi pa nakaka-recover yung puso ko sa lakas ng beat nya. And there here's Daniel again infront of me, making me confused on what's happening.

He gave me the bear and the roses.

"Jilliane Lim, this is for you." Ang nanginginig nyang sabi. Lumuhod sya sa harap ko at saka iniabot ang mga iyon. Halos malaglag ang panga ko. What is he doing? I cannot even blink sa ginawa nya.

Unconciously, kinuha ko ang nga iyon. And then he stood infront of me.

He smiled sweetly. "Jilliane, honestly, I have something to confess." He stared on my eyes deeply while smiling full of charms. Oh my gosh! Could it possibly be-

"I love you Jill."

Nagliwanag ang buong paligid. Hindi ko maipaliwanag kung bakit parang tumigil ng biglaan ang puso ko. Bakit parang tumigil ang oras noon? Namawis ang mga kamay ko, nanuyo ang lalamunan ko. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE HEARD THIS WORD FROM A GUY TO ME. If I'm just dreaming, please, wake me up.

People who gathered around us cheered. Sigaw sila ng sigaw. Mas kinikilig pa ata sila sa akin eh. I looked at Daniel's face. He was so red. He gave me an awkward smile. Kinakabahan siguro sya. I don't know how to react! Hindi naman kasi ako prepared eh!

"I know, hindi pa tayo ganun katagal na magkakilala. But I just want you to know na, I want to know more about you. Gusto kong malaman ang likes and dislikes mo. Gusto kong malaman ang mga iniisip mo. Gusto kong maintindihan ang bawat kilos mo. I want to know more about you. I want to love you more." Ang sabi nya sa akin.

ANG HABA NG HAIR KO!

I don't know how to react! Iiyak ba ako? Tatawa ba ako? Maglulupasay ba ako? I can't think of any reactions na bagay. Hindi nagpa-process ng maayos yung aking brain. Masyado akong na-shock sa lahat ng bagay na nangyari. Hindi ako makapagsalita o makagalaw man lang.

"Don't worry. I'm not forcing you for anything. Gusto ko lang malaman mo." Ang sabi nya habang nakangiti. "That, I love you and I'm willing to wait hanggang sa dumating na yung araw na handa mo ng sagutin yung sinabi ko. Just please, let me love you. Let me make you feel how special you are."

Unconciously again, I nod. He hugged me while saying thanks.

Not knowing the reason why, hinanap agad ng mata ko si Andi. He must be somewhere here. Alam ko eh sumunod din sya sa pagtakbo namin ni Trixie. Where could he possibly be? Hindi ko sya mahanap anywhere. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero gusto ko syang makita. Gusto kong makita yung reaksyon nya. Part of me wishes that he's dying dahil sa selos, another part of me is saying na he doesn't care. But he wasn't anywhere near me. Hanggang ngayon, I'm still assuming na he cares when the reality is, he doesn't.