Can't Help Falling In Love

Kabanata 27

Kabanata 27

Single

Nakahiga lamang ako katabi si Kevin. His right arm is under my head while caressing my hair, his other hand is playing with my fingers.

I have never thought of something like this with Kevin, like ever. Well maybe, there are those nights that things like this will cross my mind, but never... In my existence I'd thought any of this is even possible.

"What are you thinking?" Aniya at idinala ang kamay ko sa kanyang labi para halikan. I smiled at the sight of him. Halatang inaantok din, then he yawned.

"Kahit kailan hindi ko naisip na magkakaganito tayo..."

Niyakap ako ni Kevin at hinalikan ang gilid ng aking ulo. "I have always dreamt of you and me... Like this..."

Bahagya akong bumangon para tingnan si Kevin. "Totoo?"

I saw his ears turned a little red. "Yeah. All these time."

"Bakit? Bakit ngayon lang, Kev?"

"Tinatanong pa ba yan? Tingin mo ba kung hindi na-trigger yang feelings mo dahil nag-sex tayo ng di sadya, magkakaganito tayo?" Tumawa ako at umiling. "No, right?"

"Takot ko lang na mamatay ako sa mga kamay mo ng di ko manlang nasasabi kung gaano kita kamahal. So, I waited..." Aniya at hinuli ang aking mga mata. "This is where my patience got me... Now, I have you." He smiled at me, pero sinapak ko sinapak ko siya. "Ouch! What the hell? Why do you keep on hitting me? Damn, girl..."

I chuckled, touched. Maybe he was right, kung ordinaryong araw... sasabihin ni Kevin sa akin na mahal niya ako ay baka sinapak ko lang siya. Because it would sound ridiculous as fuck. Like, what the hell? We knew each other since we were kids. Alam namin ang lahat sa isa't isa. Our strengths and flaws, ending up together might be some joke. We might end to be a big joke.

"A few years ago, when I was in France for a business trip, I came across this lady sa baba ng Eiffel tower. She was alone, umiiyak siya so nilapitan ko siya.." I scoffed. "Ang landi naman talaga."

Tumawa si Kevin. "Just keep quiet and hear what I've got to say.."

"I asked her what's making her cry... She told me that she saw with her very eyes how her boyfriend cheated on her. And then she started lecturing me about love and forever. This was what she said.."

"Stay single until you find someoe who you want to make efforts. The effort you're willing to make to surprise her, the effort on planning dates. The effort you are willing to make and sacrifice. Investing time and energy into things you care about." Ani Kevin. "And that forever starts with the effort and commitment someone invests."

"Stay single until you find someone who take things slow, the one who really wants to know about every sharp edge you have and about the past you regret."

"Stay single until someone you flirt with like your first love. Someone who you want to protect like a sibling, who you fight with like a married cople but you always make up an talk like best friends." He said while looking at me straight in the eyes. "Because forever start with being friends first the falling into love carelessly but knowing someone wil catch you as you fall together."

"That moment, that very moment all I could ever think of was you... And I was like, I give up. I was never gonna get over you."

"And then you began dating all those girls.." I said. He nodded. "And that's when I started dating all those to girls to mask my unconditional love for my best friend, goddamn."

I couldn't help it, tears fell from my eyes. Mabilis na nasalo iyon ni Kevin. "I'm glad I stayed single all this time." Sabi ko at niyakap si Kevin.