How am I so into you? (RICCI RIVERO)

Chapter XX: I'll wait

R I C C I

"Revel? Sino kasama?" Tanong ni Zaun.

"Archers and kung sino pa ininvite nila. Don't worry, ako bahala sa'yo. " pagcomfort ko sa kanya. She must be feeling anxious lalo na she hasn't met them before besides Brent.

"Sama ka na, Zaun."pagpipilit ni Brent. Anong Zaun? Sinamaan ko sya ng tingin sa rearview mirror.

"Zaunea pala heheheh" good.

"-ah eh titignan ko pa muna. Sabihan ko nalang kayo ha?" Sagot nya. That means no. Obviously.

I looked at the rearview mirror with Brent already looking at me through it and mouthed "ouch".

I hope I can still change her mind.

"Cci, may tubig ka? Nauuhaw ako eh. " recovery ni Brent. Thank you, Paraiso.

"Gatorade lang, nasa bag" sagot ko at tinignan yung gym bag ko na nasa tabi ni Zaun.

"Ay ako meron. Ito nalang oh—" akmang kukunin na ni Zaunea yung water nya in her bag for Brent but I said "Hindi na, wag na, Gatorade nalang. Mahawaan ka pa ng rabies nyan. " and I zipped her bag na.

Natawa naman sya samantalang si Brent nakasimangot. "Sige na nga, pasalamat ka nandyan si Zaunea" sabi ni Brent

"Pasalamat talaga ako." Bulong ko kay Zaun.

"Pasuyo naman Zauny. Andiyan lang sa ibabaw pagkabukas mo ng bag. " I told her."

She zipped my bag open then she stopped.

"Why do you have this in your bag? " she asked me in full confused eyes after seeing her book in my bag. Why not?

"Why not? It's a good book. I even let Brent borrow the other copy. "
________________________

Z A U N E A

Can you imagine Ricci Rivero actually reading your book about him? Kasi sana imagination nalang kasi I can feel my cheeks burning in front of him and Brent.

I am still not buying it so, "Weh, talaga? What's your favorite line? Sige nga. " i asked him challengingly while handing the bottle f Gatorade to Brent.

He had the cockiest smirk and said in full drama acting " 'Claudia, I will do everything, just please stay. Rip me up apart and I'll still bring my pieces back to you.' Tsaka yung 'Let me be with you, let me be home" He even took my hands while acting. I will always stay,Ricci. Always. Char, sana ako nalang si Claudia.

"Woah! Malupit ka ah! Lagpas kalahati ka na ha?" I teased him.

It was really impressing that Ricci reads. We don't see that on and off the court kaya I'm really surprised.

"Yeah, I don't want it to end nga eh. I have so many questions ngayon palang. I hate that Bradley guy, he's crazy. " he said it sadly na parang he really is into the book. I couldn't say anything, I'm more than overwhelmed lalo na it's coming from him.

I took my hand off of his. The drama is done. Casual talking lang ulit. Bawal pa muna PDA.  But he pouted sadly. So I whispered close to his ear, " It's something to be earned" and I smiled at him playfully.

"You gotta stop. " seryosong sabi nya. Napahiya naman ako. Anong stop?

"Stop what?" i asked with meeting brows.

"Saying things that make me want to kiss you. Or Brent will watch 8 episodes of it. Your choice. " he answered without even looking my way.

Tangina, that better be a joke. I'm frozen shut.
_

We arrived na sa UST just in time.

"Bye Zaunea! Ingat! " Brent bid me good bye while Ricci was still beside me.

"Ano oras dismissal mo? If we can't pick you up, I'll let Kuya Vince instead. " he said. Ayoko ng ganito, this is too much for a friend to do. Friend.

"Ha? Hindi na Pao, okay lang ako. I promise. I'll be alright. Saka may pasok ako sa Diem ngayon eh. " i told him, to comfort him from worrying.

I'm really down with commuting. Matagal na kong ganito and di naman ako kasama sa budget ni Mrs. Rivero para pagaksayahan ng gas.

"Ha? Eh Zaun, I really want to do this. Please, payagan mo na ako. " Ricci said with sad eyes.

"Let you what?" i asked him.

"Let me take care of you. " why does his words always feel like it's hugging me?

"Ricci kasi.." I'm not very comfortable in saying this pa pero this is the best decision.

".. I don't think my parents would be happy na ganun." Alam ko hindi naman nya ginagawa yun in a serious matter or ligaw talaga pero it's better that way. I don't want to disappoint my parents.

Alam ko I'm so stupid for bringing that up for Ricci. Ricci Rivero. I'm such a turn off. This will probably be the last time he'll talk to me.

But Ricci being Ricci, he hugged me in front of busy people of España, Manila and said, " Don't be shy, Zaun-zaun. I can wait. And I will. " I can even feel his breath on the back of my ear. That almost made me melt.

I hope he really would kasi tangina asang-asa na ako. Ba't nya ba ako ginaganito?

He took off the hug and whispered. "If that hug made you uncomfy, I'm sorry. I just want them to know your someone to me already. "

I smiled. "Haynako, sige na. Baka matraffic pa kayo! Wag nyo na ko sunduin ha?" Medyo nahihiya ko pa ring sabi.

"Hay, sige na nga. But promise me you'll text me when you arrive home okay? I'll call you if sa LaSalle na kami. " He's the cutest. The thought of this being over is making me teary already.

"Thank you, Pao-pao. You guys take care okay?" I told him and glanced at Brent watching us from behind. Kawawa naman to, third wheel.

"We will. Sige na, pasok ka na" so hindi talaga sya umalis hanggang sa nakapasok ako. What a gent.

_

After class, I went straight to Diem to submit a few feature stories I wrote. Since hindi pa naman ako regular dito, my works get to be chosen lang din to be featured sa news site nila.

"Good morning Sir!" I greeted Sir Paco when I passed by his office.

"Ay, Zaunea, halika nga. " He never calls me Zaunea.

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