Ladders Of Love

Chapter Eight

Naka-upo sa kama ko si Asher habang ako naman ay nakatayo. Nakatalikod sa kanya at nakaharap sa salamin. Nahihiya ako!

Pumasok kami sa kwarto dahil may dumaan habang nag-uusap kami kanina. But I still can't forget what he said earlier.

"Astrid." He called. I slowly turned around. He signaled me to come to him kaya lumapit ako sa kanya. Not too close but close enough to talk.

I almost squealed when he held my hand and pulled me closer to him. Kaya ngayon ay nasa gitna ako ng binti niya. Parang tangang nakatayo habang siya naman ay nakaupo. I bit my lips when I felt his warm hand in my lower back. Napaawang ang bibig ko nang niyakap niya ako. His hands were wrapped around my waist at nakatingala siya sa akin. I gulped.

"Did you mean what you said earlier?" Tanong niya. I bit my lips and nodded. I saw his smile widen. He looks happy.

"Good. Because I meant what I said." Hinila niya pa ako ulit kaya napa-upo na ako. His legs were spread kaya may natitira pang space para makaupo ako. I almost shivered when he held my waist.

"So what's next?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Anong what's next?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

"Are we dating now or what?" I bit my lips when I felt his thumb slightly rubbing against my navel. What the hell.

"Pinagsasabi mong date? Tanga. I still believe in courtship." Hinampas ko ang kamay niya kaya napatigil siya sa pag-himas sa pusod ko.

"Ouch! Okay. I'm courting you know, Astrid." He kissed the top of my head. I blushed. Dati noong college ako, pinapangarap ko lang na mahawakan o madampian man lang ng balat ni Asher. I can't believe this is happening.

"You love me? You want to have babies with me? Sana all. Hindi ko alam na ganyan ka pala ka corny, Asher." Pang-aasar ko. His ears turned red.

"Shut up, Astrid. It was embarrassing." Hinigpitan niya pa ang yakap sa akin.

"Teka nga!" Kumawala ako sa braso niya at tumayo. Nakapamewang ako sa harap niya and he was just staring at me, "Kinaklaro ko lang ha---"

"Hatdog." Hinampas ko ng unan si Asher. Ang sama ng ugali! Nagsasalita ako!

"Tumahimik ka! As I've said, kinaklaro ko lang na hindi pa tayo, okay? Kung makayakap ka diyan, kala mo naman." I scoffed. Tumayo din siya at humarap sa akin.

"Hindi pa? So there's a chance?" He was smiling like an idiot. I rolled my eyes playfully.

"Kunwari nalang wala akong narinig." I covered my ears. Lalabas na sana ako nang hawakan ni Asher ang bewang ko at hinarap ako sa kanya.

"Answer me first, is there a chance?" Pinitik ko ulit ang noo niya.

"Tanga ka? Kakasabi ko lang ng I like you too kanina ah. Alam mo naman kung gaano ako ka-obsess sayo nung college." Sagot ko. He grinned.

"I know. I liked you first, Astrid. Hindi mo lang alam." My forehead creased.

"Huh? Ako kaya! Mas nauna akong nag-confess sayo nung college tayo." He chuckled like he remembered something hilarious.

"No, dumbass. 1st year pa lang tayo, I really liked you na. You're pretty and intelligent. You're a strong woman too. Remember when a guy bullied you? You punched his face. That day, I realized that you were the one." My jaw almost dropped. Tangina, alam niya yun?

"K-kung ganun nga, why didn't you tell me?" I asked. He cupped my face.

"Kasi... Gusto ko na sabihin sayo na mahal kita pag may maipagyayabang na ako. Pag may trabaho na ako, may sasakyan at may sarili nang pera. Now that I have all of them, I can finally tell you how much I love you." He kissed my forehead.