Playing Provincial Proxy (MSS#3)

32. Picture in Panties

Playing Provincial Proxy

Kabanata 32

Suminghot ako. "Where did you get this?" Nasa magagandang rosas pa rin ang aking mga mata. Inamoy ko sila kanina, and they smell so good! Mas mabango pa nga sila sa akin, e.

Xinna eyed me curiously the whole time. There's this hidden amusement in his glances. "Did you... just cry?" he asked, full in doubt. May kung ano din sa mga kilos niya kung saan hindi niya alam kung ano ang gagawin.

Suminghot ulit ako. My heart's pounding wouldn't just let me rest. "I didn't..." Nagtapang-tapangan ako. Deretso ko siyang tiningnan sa mata. I saw my reflection in his dark caramel eyes that are filled with genuine curiousity and passion. He looked at me like I'm the sole and only thing that's worthy of those eyes. He could've look around the varieties of beautiful flowers that surround this garden, but, no, since I arrived here, he only looked at me. And all of the very appreciation I could manage to show, I gave it to him in one smile, "I'm just touched, Xin. You know... I grew up in a province... a place abundant of various flowers. But this is the very first time I've received this one. Thank you."

He reached for my hand across the table. The softness of his palm seems very vulnerable against my callused ones. Yet, he holds it like it's the very foundation of his strength.

"Really?" he asked, his voice as soft as the tiny mumbles of grasshoppers in the garden.

I nodded. "Yes," I breathed. Arren never gave something to me. All we did was to make a hundred dates, ate in simple and elegant restaurants. We talked about what happened in our days, planned on how we would tell our parents about us, traced back the memories of our childhood days and would laugh. My relationship with him was all about big things. We failed to converse and appreciate good small things just like this... ugh... why do I keep on comparing them anyway.

Kumislap ang mga mata ni Xinna. "Did Arren court you?"

"Ha?" Hindi ko inaasahang babanggitin niya ang pangalan ni Arren. To think that it is the first time he called him by his name! Not a jerk, ex, and any other names.

Pinisil niya ang aking kamay at tumungo ang tingin doon. "Naging kayo nalang bigla, ganoon?"

"Uh... noong umamin siya at umamin rin ako..." mahina kong sinabi.

Inangat niya ang tingin. Kumembot ang labi niya. "Ibig bang sabihin niyan tayo na rin?"

Biglang nanlaki ang mata ko. Hindi lang dahil sa gulat... "Tayo na?" I sounds too stupid.

Xinna chuckled in an amused way. Nagliparan ata ang mga magagandang paru-paru sa aming paligid noong humalakhak siya. "Gusto mo tayo na?"

Hindi agad ako nakasagot. Sandali lang naman! Just the thought that Xinna is already my boyfriend... it's just too much! Too much for my mind to process! Parang masyadong mabilis... o masyadong imposible...?

Nagising ang aking lumulutang na diwa sa alapaap noong pinagsiklop niya ang aming mga daliri. Nilalaro laro niya iyon. "Come on, Rall. Don't be pressured. I told you, I'll wait. Nakaya ko ngang maghintay noong wala pa akong pinanghahawakan, ngayon pa kaya na alam kong malaki ang pag-asa kong magiging akin ka?" Ngumiti siya. "When I heard your confession last night, I felt like I've just performed a successful operation,"

Natawa ako. "Talaga?"

Walang alinlangan siyang tumango. "Oo naman. Pati nga kalasingan ko nawala rin," pilyo siyang ngumiti.

God, why is this man so cute and handsome at the same time?

Sa sobrang saya ko, nawala sa aking isipan na babalik pa pala ako ng gymnasium. Maraming estudyante ang naroon! Hindi ko maiwasang mag-alinlangan. May kung ano pang nagsasabi sa akin na hindi pa ako handang malaman nila ang tungkol sa amin ni Xinna. Kapag magkasama kaming pumunta roon at makita ang dala kong bulaklak... hindi ko alam kung bakit naduduwag akong harapin ang mga panghuhusga nila. Ayaw ko ring husgahan nila si Xinna nang dahil sa akin.