CALEB AND Autumn were holding hands when they entered the Strauss' house.
Nasa receiving area ng bahay ang lahat. Caleb's family and Autumn's parents were there. Even Manang Flo was present. Masayang nagtatatawanan at nag-uusap ang mga ito habang sumismim ng wine.
Natahimik lamang ang lahat nang pumasok silang dalawa.
The look that they gave them proved to Autumn that they definitely knew that something was different.
"You're back," acknowledge ng ama ni Caleb na si Troy. "And something is 'bit different. Caleb?" Puno ng pagdududa at panunukso ang mga mata. It's as if the man already knew what happened.
"Caleb, what's that thing on your lips?" Narinig ni Autumn na tanong ng kanyang ama sa binata.
Nang balingan niya ang mga labi ni Caleb ay parang gusto na lamang niyang malawan ng ulirat. Caleb's lips were evidently smudged with her red lipstick. May bahid ng pula ang ibabang labi ng binata. Great! Now everybody knows that we've been making out. Urgh!
"Is that...Oh my God!" Nanlalaki ang mga ng ina ni Autumn ng ma-realize kung ano 'yon.
Bumitiw siya kay Caleb at nilapitan ang ina. Autumn felt so embarrassed with herself. Kailan pa siya naging ganito kahiya-hiya sa harap ng kanyang mga magulang? "Mom. I-I can explain... Please-."
Naputol ang dapat ay sasabihin ni Autumn nang yakapin siya ng mahigpit ng kanyang ina. "My baby is all grown up. I knew that this day would come."
Nagulat si Autumn sa reaksyon ng kanyang ina. She really thought that her parents would go hysterical if they discover that she had her first ever boyfriend. At si Caleb pa!
Boyfriend. Gustong mapangiti ni Autumn dahil sa salitang iyon. She and Caleb finally have a different label. They weren't just best friends anymore. They were a couple.
Ibinalik ni Autumn ang mahigpit na yakap ng kanyang ina. Kahit ang ama ng dalaga ay nakisali na rin sa kanilang mini group hug.
Nang iikot ni Autumn ang tingin ay nakangiti at nanunukso ang reaksyon ng lahat. Kahit si Daniel ay may isang nakakalokong ngisi na nakaplaster sa mukha nito. All of them definitely anticipated this.
"SO CAL, you finally grew some balls and confessed to our little girl here."
Umani ng wagas na mura si Daniel mula kay Caleb dahil sa sinabi nito. Nasa entertainment room silang tatlo sa bahay ng mga ito. They were playing with the Xbox 360. Nakaupo sila ni Caleb sa pandalawahang couch habang nasa sahig naman si Daniel.
Tila hindi pa makapaniwala si Autumn sa mga nangyari kagabi. The surprises were hardcore overload. Tila walang katapusan ang mga sorpresa sa espesyal na araw na iyon ng kanyang buhay. Her parents went home, she had the best party ever and Caleb became her boyfriend.
Somehow, the latter seemed to occupy most of her thinking time. Medyo weird pa rin kasing isipin para sa dalaga na ang kanyang best friend ng mahigit isang dekada ay boyfriend na niya ngayon. At hindi lamang iyon, her boyfriend was a fallen angel. How cool and sick is that?!
Nang umamin kagabi ang binata ng totoong damdamin nito sa kanya ay sadyang nagulat ng husto si Autumn. It hit her like bullet train. But at the same time, a one of kind happiness filled her heart. Deep within her, Autumn wished that this day would come. Na darating ang araw kung kailan niya maamin sa sarili at sa binata na higit pa sa isang kapatid o kaibigan ang nadarama niyang pagmamahal para kay Caleb.
Even Autumn herself didn't realize it until Caleb confessed to her. Noon niya lamang nadarama na hindi lang isang kaibigan ang pagtingin niya rito. That she also loved him with all her heart.
BINABASA MO ANG
THE WATCHERS TRILOGY: Caleb (book I)
Romance"One day, he just woke up realizing that Autumn wasn't just his Mortal Half, she was his other half." Some angels are meant to walk amongst us. Some have a purpose to fulfill; a duty to uphold; and a human to protect. But what will you do if you rea...
