SINO (Julian del Pilar x Reader || TAGLISH)

C H A P T E R E I G H T

Julian lied awake that night, thinking whether what he's doing is okay or not. Pakiramdam n'ya parang ang bilis. Nakita nya din na medyo nagulat ka din sa mga ginawa nyang bago. Masasanay din yan.

He can't forget that night. Yung gabing nagtagay kayong tatlo ni Goyo sa bahay nila. 'Di inakala ng magkapatid na sa pagkaubos ng isang pitcher ng mixed drink n'yo, dun ka nalasing. Yung lasing na halatang magkakahang-over the next day.

Naguusap kayo ng mga bagay bagay, and Goyo poured out the last shot into Julian's glass. Maybe it was the drinkers' way to clap at the last shot, and you and Goyo clapped as Julian drank it. Then the cheering died down slowly, and you caught yourselves staring at the stars.

You sighed. "Alam n'yo, these stars might be our ancestors looking down at us getting drunk." you said out of nowhere. You then laughed. Goyo shot Julian a look that said "Lasing na 'to."

The boys stood up. You looked at them, your eyes a little heavy. "San kayo pupunta?" you asked, struggling to stand up. Punyeta umiikot na. You felt yourself falling, and then got caught halfway. Julian struggled to support you, and you threw your arms around his neck. Of all those times na you two hugged, ito yung time na Julian saw your face up close. If you weren't drunk, you would see the fascination in his eyes. That's when he actually saw you.

"Hmm, Julian..." you slurred. Julian hugged your waist, still supporting your body weight. "Alam mo, matagal na matagal na matagal na matagaaaaal... na kitang mahal."

Julian looked at Goyo, and Goyo has his mouth slightly opened. "Mahal na mahal kita, Jules..." Then your eyes closed.

"Alam mo to?" Julian asked Goyo. "Mamaya na nating pagusapan, kuya. Magligpit na muna tayo." Julian sighed, and carried you into the living room. "Dito ka muna. Babalikan kita." he whispered. Sumunod si Julian sa kusina, kung saan tumatayo si Goyo. "Kailan mo pa to alam?" he asked. "Kuya, kalma. Sasabihin ko naman talaga sa'yo, kaso you're too busy with something else."

"Ano? Kay Lory?"

"Oo."

Biglang tumahimik ang dalawa. "Matagal ko na rin s'yang mahal eh. Akala ko naman kasi hanggang bestfriends lang turing n'ya sakin." binatukan ni Goyo si Julian. "Eh 'di sana you made your move! Hindi mo ba nakikita sa mga mata n'ya na mahal ka n'ya?"

Hindi umimik si Julian. Goyo sighed. "Hindi mo nakita. Nag-iba focus mo."

"So. ano ba gagawin ko?" Julian asked. Tinignan ka n'ya sa sofa, nakatulog. He sighed. "So, you're asking me kung anong gagawin mo?" Goyo said, slightly laughing. Julian punched him on his forearm, causing Goyo to laugh. "Seryoso kasi ako. Baka 'di pa kasi huli ang lahat."

"Okay..." ang sagot ni Goyo, "Palipasin mo yung sembreak. Tapos, when second semester starts, dun ka na magmake ng move."

Pagkatapos nilang magligpit, dinala ka na ni Julian sa kwarto mo. Kinumutan ka nya, and for a while, he just stared at you. Years of friendship, pero hindi n'ya man lang nakita ang mga kinang ng mata mo kapag tinitignan mo s'ya. He felt stupid. He sat down beside you sleeping form, closely studying your face. Ba't ba hindi kita niligawan noon pa lang?

~~~

For the second day, you found yourself just standing by the doorway, with your backpack, books, and all, and just staring at Julian outside your gate. Nakatalikod sya, at tumitingala sa langit. You felt your heart skip a beat, seeing his skin dipped in the soft morning light. He is just beautiful. Unfailingly beautiful.

Humarap sa'yo si Julian, at nakita ka n'yang nakatayo lang dun. He waved at you, causing you to stop your train of thoughts. You wore your widest smile while walking out of the gate, the same smile you would wear whenever it's just the two of you. "Good morning!" you chimed.

He was smiling widely, too. "Good morning, pretty." Pakiramdam mo parang mahihimatay ka na o lilipad na ewan. You cant hide the fact that your cheeks were heating up. "A-anong pretty? Eto?" You asked, pointing at your face. "Oo, yan." he replied, taking your books from you. "Ako na bibitbit nito."

ANONG NANGYAYARI, JULIAN? ANO BA TO???

~~~

"HA??"

You and Joven were in the study area of the campus. Nagkafree time yung tatlo, kaya nagvideo call sa inyong dalawa. Unang nagusap sina Joven at Vicente. Halos mangiyak -ngiyak si Joven habang kausap ang kasintahan. "Mahal, 'wag kang umiyak. Before you know it, nakauwi na 'ko dyan. We'll be together soon." ang sabi ni Vicente. Joven nodded, and almost dalawang minuto silang nagkikissy face sa camera ng phone.

"Oo nga, Remy." You said. Remy sighed. "Hoy, ikaw! Mag-ingat ka! Kung masasaktan ka na naman sa ginagawa ng del Pilar na 'yan, uuwi talaga kaming tatlo dyan ha!" Feli yelled. Eto yung mga ate mong overprotective. "Hoy, Vicente! Narinig mo ba yung kwento ng bunso mo?" she yelled again. Binatukan ni Remy si Feli. "'Wag ka ngang sigaw ng sigaw!"

Vicente came to the screen. "Bunso ha. 'Pag sinaktan ka, pwede bang bugbugin ko na 'yan?" You sighed. "Kumalma nga kayong tatlo. Alam ko namang wala kayo dito, pero kaya ko na ang sarili ko. Hindi ko alam kung seryoso ba si Julian o ano, pero if ever na hindi to magiging okay, edi wala tayong magagawa. I really appreciate you guys being so protective of me, pero I have to deal with this one by myself." you said.

"Okay, okay.... pero uuwi pa rin kami kung mangyayari yung 'di namin gustong mangyari." ang sabi ni Remy.

~~~

On the walk home, Julian was so close to holding your hand. You can feel his hand brushing against yours. "Jules?"

He looked down at you. "Bakit?"

"Gusto mo bang hawakan ang kamay ko?"

He was obviously caught off-guard. Even though in the dark, you could see him blushing. "Uhm... Oo?"

"Ba't mo ba to ginagawa, Jules? Parang biglaan lahat eh. I'm happy naman na bumabalik yung dating Julian na kilala ko, yung bestfriend ko. Pero is it me, or may something ba talaga?"

The both of you stopped in your tracks. Your heart pounded against your rib cage. Sagutin mo na, Jules. Sagutin mo na.

"Well, I guess..."

Ano na, Julian?"

"I guess I'm beginning to fall for you."