Air Ball

XXI: Love Drunk

JILL

"Ano sabi ni baby rubber band kay mama rubber band nung sumali si mama sa contest?" I asked.

"Ano?"

"Go, Ma!" I laughed so hard at the joke I read on Twitter but apparently, Jeric didn't think it was that funny. Either there is something wrong with my humor or I am that bad at delivering jokes. I don't know which to choose.

"Why aren't you laughing?" I asked him. It looks so silly that I'm almost losing my breath while he was just staring straight at the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel.

"Yun na yung joke mo?" His tone was mocking but I could see his lips trying to curve upward.

"If I know natatawa ka rin sa joke. Ang benta kaya sakin nun!" I exclaimed.

"Halata nga e."

"Uuuuuy tatawa na 'yan. Tatawa na 'yan. Tatawa na 'yan." I said it quickly and repeatedly. What made it more annoying is that I was poking his arm the whole time.

"Pag di ka tumigil dyan, hahalikan kita." He threatened.

"Nagddrive ka kaya. Umayos ka nga dyan, baka mabangga tayo." I retorted.

"I can easily pull over." He drove to the farthest left of the express way and stepped on the brakes. "And do this." Before I had the chance to react, his lips already caught mine.

"Magjojoke ka pa?" Mischief and challenge was in his tone as he began driving again.

"Pano kung sabihin kong oo?" I am not one to back down from challenges. And really, teasing is a fundamental part of our relationship.

"I guess I'll have to pull over more often then." He smirked which made my cheeks pink. "You're really cute when you blush."

"Feeling gwapo ka na naman?" I reacted.

"Hindi ako feeling gwapo. Alam kong gwapo talaga ako." He laughed.

"Buti ka pa alam mo." I snickered. "Ikaw lang ata nakakaalam e."

"Lakas mo mang-asar ng ganyan e in love na in love ka nga sakin." He said with that overflowing confidence of his and paired it with a grin.

"Parang ikaw hindi a." I quipped.

"I'm not." Jeric replied. "I'm head over heels, crazy in love with you."

My face broke out into a wide smile and I know I might have looked like a Ceshire cat. "You went 'Tears For Fears meets Beyonce' on me."

"No, that was Jeric Teng meets and falls in love with Jill Saavedra." He continued driving but a smile was plastered on his face, but I know the one on mine was bigger.

"Babe naman e!" My face was as red as a tomato and as hot as chili peppers.

"What?" He chuckled. "It's the truth."

"Whoever came up with 'the truth hurts' has got some explaining to do." The smile lingered on my face for a few more moments.

When we reached the exit and stopped on a red light, my hand immediately reached for Jeric's face to turn it to my direction. He was surprised with the sudden action but I gave him no time to recover when I pressed my lips into his. After all, we only had a few seconds before the light turns green again.

I bit my lip when I pulled away to stop the goofy grin my lips are about to form.

"Tigil mo yan. I take that as invitation to kiss you again." He joked. I think.