Love At First Shot (Accidentally In Love)

Chapter 10: Hesitation

"Bakit hindi mo na lang sabayan si Wesly?" ani Cecilia habang inilagay ang isang basket ng mangga sa loob ng sasakyan.

                "Oo nga anak." Segunda ng ama. "Nakakatamlay magbiyahe kapag wala kang kausap."

                Hindi na siya tumutol. Ang alam ng mga ito'y magkasintahan sila ni Wesly. Ayaw rin niyang maisip ng mga magulang na nag-aaway sila. Binuksan niya ang pinto sa front seat ng sasakyan ni Wesly at isinuot kaagad ang seat bealt. Sa side mirror ay tanaw niya si Wesly na nakikipag-usap sa dalawang matandang lalaki. Pagkatapos nito ay saka pumasok ng sasakyan at pina-andar ang makina.

                "Obviously my parents wanted me to ride with you." She said without looking at him.

                He soflty laughed. "They like me, don't they?"

                "They thought you'd be bored of driving alone." She preferred not to answer his question.

                "I see."

                Sinimulan na nitong paandarin ang sasakyan. Kumuway na siya at nagpaalam sa magulang. Kinuha niya ang phone at headseat sa loob ng bag nang magsalita ito.

                "About what happened earlier. I want you to know...that..."

                "That was nothing. Another thing to forget about." Putol niya.

                "Look. I want you to know that I'm not sorry for kissing you." He paused. "And you kissed me back."

                "Please let's just not talk about it. Just drive."

                Sandaling umalingawngaw ang katahimikan.

                "Mom wants you to come for tomorrow's dinner. I'll just tell her you're busy and you couldn't do it."

                "I'd be glad to."

                "I don't want you to say yes just because Mom asked you to. I mean. . . you can say no." Ibinaling niya ang tingin dito.

                "Are you saying that because you don't want me to be there?"

                "No. That's not what I meant. I know you have a job and you're not obliged. . ."

                "I'm saying yes. That's it."

                "I just don't want you to think that..."

                "No. No. No. No."

                ". . .that we're taking so much of your time."

                "If kissing you is the only way to make you stop, I'm telling you, I'm gonna do that." Inihinto nito ang sasakyan sa gilid ng daan. He also unbuckled his seat belt and moved closer to her. "May sasabihin ka pa ba?"

                Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at hindi nagsalita. Nang simulan nitong paandarin ulit ang sasakyan hindi niya mapigilang magsalita ulit.

                "Nakakahiya lang talagang isiping..." She didn't finish what she's about to say because Wesly already grabbed her head and kissed her. The kiss was like a punishment. And if he will keep giving her this kind of punishment then she would like to be punished for the rest her life.

* * * * *

                "What do you think is a better gift I could give to a 43-year-old Nun?" Tanong Wesly habang nakikipag-usap kay Monica sa telepono. Naroon siya ngayon sa mall at naghahanap ng regalong ibibigay sa tiyahin bago ito pumuntang Taiwan para sa voluntary mission.