He Suddenly Came Back

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12: I like you

(Zoe's POV)

We decided to roam the city and indulge ourselves with the beautiful city lights before going home. Wala ng masyadong traffic kaya okay lang. I was busy wandering my eyes around when Clive spoke.

"Gusto mo na bang umuwi? Halos isang oras na tayong nag-iikot eh."

Pagod na siguro 'to sa kakadrive. Sabi naman na ako nalang ang magd-drive eh pero ayaw niya. Wala ata siyang tiwala sa akin. Sinabi pa niya na baka ipahamak ko daw yung sasakyan niya. Arte! Magaling kaya akong mag drive.

"Okay. Hatid mo na ako."

Nagdrive na siya papunta sa condo ko. I kept silent during the whole ride kase di naman din siya nagsasalita. Anong problema nito? Kanina lang ang kulit kult tas biglang tumahimik. Perhaps, he's tired. Kaya di nalang din ako nagsalita. Inabala ko nalang din ang sarili ko sa pagtingin sa mga dinadaanan namin at sa pakikinig sa music.

Few minutes later, nakarating na kami sa building pero di parin siya nagsasalita. Anong problema ni? Anong nangyari ba sa kanya at biglang nawala sa mood? Nabobother na ako ah.

"Okay ka lang? Bat ang tahimik mo ngayon?" tanong ko sa kanya pero di naman ako sinagot. He's being weird. Really.

I held his forehead, "Wala ka namang sakit." Sabi ko nung na confirm ko na di siya mainit.

Hindi padin siya nagsasalita. Ano bang problema niya talaga? I stared at him. Siya naman ay diretsong nakatingin lang sa labas. This silence is deafening. Damn it!

"Kung ayaw mong magsalita, papasok nalang ako sa loob."

I prepared my things and was about to go when he said something to make me freeze on my spot, "I like you."

Wait, what? What did he just say?

"W-what?" I don't even know why I am stuttering. It's not like he means something about it, of course he likes me, hindi naman kami magiging magkaibigan kung hindi niya ako gusto diba?

"You heard it, right. Don't make me say it again, please."

"I... I just want to clarify if I heard it right."

"I said I like you." He repeats, looking at me this time. He stared at me. His smokey eyes is directed to mine.

I blinked. Okay? I'm confused.

"What do you mean you like me? Like what?" I asked. Nagsimulang kumabog ang dibdib ko.

"You know what I mean."

"Of course you do, you wouldn't befriend me if you don't like me." Sabi ko na para bang proud na proud ako kase tama yung naging answer ko sa oral recitation kahit pa halos mabingi na ako sa sobrang lakas ng pintig ng dibdib. Ano ba to?

He sighed. Bahagya siayng napanguso. "I don't know if you're dumb or just a noob."

I creased my forehead giving him a hint that I don't really get what he's saying.

"Slowpoke. Gusto kita, type kita, may crush ako sayo, okay na? Kuha mo na?" sabi niya na medyo na iirita na.

"A-alright?"

"Alright?" pag-ulit niya sa sinabi ko na para bang di makapaniwala.

"Oo, alright."

"I just said that I like you tas sagot mo alright?"

Okay, how should I put this one? Anong sasabihin ko? Thank you for liking me? Ganun?

"Anong sasabihin ko?" Ang eng-eng mo Zoe? Bat sa kanya mo tinatanong kung anong sasabihin mo?

Ngumiwi siya sa akin at bumuntong hininga. "Okay, you don't have to say anything basta liligawan kita?"

Napaawang ang bbig ko. What the! I was shocked with what he said. "Ano?!" I blurted. "Pero..."

He put his pointing finger on my mouth to shut me, "I told you that you don't have to say anything."

I wiped it away. "Wag ka ngang nagbibiro." pilit akong tumawa. Lumabas na awkward iyon. Damn!

Tiningnan niya ako nang masama. "Who says I'm joking?"

Bumagsak ang balikat ko. I shook my head. "You can't, I won't let you."

"It's not a question Z. I am not asking your permission. I am just telling you and I am going to do it whether you like it or not."

"I have issues with relationship stuffs. So you can't..." I was left with no reason with the man I loved with a great deal. I know I moved on. Ni hindi na siya sumsasagi sa isip ko. But I still don't know if I'm ready to enter relationships again. After what happened... I was a complete wreck. I'm not totally healed yet.

"I know. " He answered like he knows every single detail about what happened. "But I don't give a damn about your issues. I'm still courting you anyway."

"Don't, Clive. You don't know what happened to me before."

"Trust me Z, I've known enough."

Magsasalita pa sana ako pero pinigilan niya ulit ako. He opened the door without me noticing it and made me get off the car. "Go now. Get yourself braced for what might happen tomorrow." He winked at me "Good night Z."

He drove away after that. Is he serious about that courtship thingy? Oh God, I hope not. I don't think I'm ready for that again.