Phase 11
Tahimik ako buong oras sa sasakyan hanggang sa malaman ko na lang na nasa tapat na kami ng bahay nila Stelios. I feel so high, high in a way I couldn't feel my feet on the ground where I'm sitting, my heart is overflowed with all the sweet thing I've never thought I could have in just one night. I really did raise my white flag, but not for him. I raised it inside my head because I'm still in the middle of something else to think about us.
I blinked my eyes as I fixed my eyeglasses, I turned to him and sighed mildly. His eyes stayed on me for a long while of silence between us, I stretched my lips into a light smile and nodded to bid my goodbye. Hinawakan ko na ang seradura ng pinto.
"Papasok na ako." sambit ko sa mahinang boses. "Good night, Primiel..."
Tumaas ang kilay niya at sumulyap sa pagbubukas ko ng pinto, wala pa man ay bumuntong hininga siya bago iyon binalik pasara kaya napasinghap ako sa kaba. Humawak siya sa sandalan ng upuan ko, I looked at him and wrinkled my forehead. Kinagat niya ang ibabang labi niya at bahagyang kinamot ng daliri ang kaliwang kilay na makapal, tila problemado sa ilang bagay na hindi ko malaman.
"You still mad?" he asked gently but his voice was naturally rough and deep that made my heart tumble.
Tumingin ako sa kanya, isang tipid na iling ang ginawa ko. "Hindi, pero hindi rin ganoon kadali na magiging boyfriend kita."
His eyes broadened a bit, it was a late notice for me. Halos sumabog ang mukha ko sa kaba at hiya na dala noon, uminit ang mukha ko hanggang batok. Para akong pinapaso na lumabas ng sasakyan at magtago sa kumot. Nanatili akong kalmado pero sa loob-loob ay nahihimatay na ako, nagtiim bagang ako dahil nangunang lumabas ang tipid na ngisi sa labi niya.
"I know, Loraes." he nodded slightly. "Of course I know how to ask this..." he cleared his throat while looking at me. "Puwede bang manligaw?"
My breathing faltered at that, I decided to look outside the windshield while stopping myself from reacting like a fool when someone asks this kind of thing. My heart is trembling terribly that I might faint on the spot but a gasp slipped out my mouth as I lazily looked at him like it's not surprising at all. I pouted and tilted my head, nakita ko agad ang pag-angat ng pareho niyang kilay at pagparte ng labing mapula na tila gulat sa walang kuwenta kong reaksyon, he gasped mildly. Para siyang kabado bigla, bagay na ngayon ko lang napansin sa kanya.
"Are you really that way too good when it comes to courting a woman, Primiel? Kasi kung hindi—"
"Tss, of course. I can even court you forever, Loraes. Kahit maging girlfriend na kita, liligawin pa rin kita kaya hindi na dapat tinutuloy pa 'yang sasabihin mo dahil kaya ko."
Napatulis lalo ang nguso ko sa sinabi niya, hindi ko napigilan ang pagngisi. Tinaas ko ang kilay at tumango na lamang.
"Alright, then."
"Alright? I can start courting you?"
I nodded again. He lifted his head a bit and craned his neck, marahan siyang humawak sa batok niya habang inuunat ang leeg at nagpakawala ng isang nabunutang tinik na pagbuga ng hangin. I pulled my smile in while watching his relieved expression. Pigil ang ngisi sa labi niya nang balikan ako ng titig, he's just staring at me frigidly but my heart can feel how it made him happy.
"Hmm, I know I shouldn't ask this..." he trailed off.
"What is it?" takang tanong ko.
"Have you accepted someone to court you? I mean, may manliligaw ka ba ngayon?" seryosong tanong niya.
Tumango ako, agad nangunot ang noo niya.
"Oo, ikaw, 'di ba?" inosente kong tanong pabalik.
Pumikit siya ng mariin at nagyuko ng ulo, agad niyang minasahe ang tulay ng matayog niyang ilong kaya naweirduhan ako.
