Purro: Your not so Ordinary Love Story

viii

CHAPTER EIGHT
~♦~

"Asher." Inulit nung lalaki yung pagpapakilala niya sa akin, he offered a handshake. A first in my life.

"Sage." I accepted his hand.

"Kuya, if you want to hold hands with her, I'm fine with it. Stop with the handshake." Julien stated in a bored tone. He didn't look up and just continued reading. He flipped another page.

"Shut it." Asher said to his brother with a forced smile. Hindi ko napigilan ang mapangiti because of the adorable brothers.

"That's the first time you introduced yourself to a girl." Pagpapatuloy ni Julien sa pang-aasar sa kuya niya.

"Says someone who made a girl answer his phone and accompany him while reading." Umupo na sa tabi ni Julien yung kuya niya then ruffled his hair. The little boy patted his brother's hand away, gaining a laugh from the latter.

"She's pretty, nice and looks intelligent that's why I like her." Kung hindi lang siguro ako nakapagpigil ng emosyon ay kanina pa ako umiyak.

No one ever said those words to me ever. Hindi ko alam na ganito pala yung feeling kapag sinabihan ka ng positive words. Ang sarap din pakinggan na tinatawag nila ako by my real name. It's like I've been reborn again.

Nakakasama lang ng loob kasi hindi man lang nila na-appreciate yung ganda ko nung mataba ako. Why can't people see the beauty beyond the physical features? Oo, aminado naman ako na hindi ako yung kabogerang maganda pero hindi din naman ako yung sukdulan ng pangit.

"Can we invite you for lunch?" Tanong ni Julien sa akin without looking up.

"Huh?" Hindi lang ako binigla, napatulala ako ni Julien. How can he invite a random girl for lunch with them?

"I know you heard it. Yes or no?" Straight to the point na tanong ni Julien. I can foresee that he'll become the coldest prince ever.

Mabilis akong tumingin kay Asher na kumindat lang sa akin before focusing on his brother again.

"I don't think...my schedule would-"

"Okay. I'll accept that 'NO' for today but I won't tolerate it the next time I'll invite you." Padabog na sinara ni Julien  yung binabasa niyang book like a boss and stood up. He looked at his brother then down to the books splattered beside him.

"You'll buy all of these?" Gulat na gulat na sabi ng kuya niya. I bet his pockets are not prepared to buy everything.

"Would you not?" Balik na tanong ni Julien sa kuya niya. Asher scratched his head then looked at me as if he's embarrassed by the way his brother is acting.

"Oh...of course...uh...we should." Asher mouthed the word 'sorry' to me before picking up the books. I helped him right away.

"Sorry about his behavior." Bulong sa akin ni Asher the minute I sat down and collected some of the books.

"Kuya, I can hear ya." Julien said in a playful tone before walking off. Parehas lang kaming tumawa ni Asher sa inasta ng kapatid niya.

"Thanks." Asher pulled the books out of my grip so that he can help me stand up. Feeling ko sasabog na yung buong katawan ko sa kilig.

"Thank you din." I immediately expressed my gratitude habang nakakapagsalita pa ako.

"You can't really have lunch with us?" Tanong ulit ni Asher. Shemay konting pilit pa iiwanan ko na 'tong shop talaga.