24 Hours Challenge: EX EDITION

IV. Baby

Gal

I just stared at him, hindi makapaniwala.

"I'm sorry, what?" I blurted out.

He narrowed his eyes at me. It's like he didn't expect me to say that. What? Did he expect me to just say yes?

"I asked you to be my girl..." he said slowly and carefully. Tila ba sinisiguradong maririnig ko na siya ng maayos sa pagkakataong 'to.

Napasinghap ako.

"A-At bakit naman?" bulalas ko. This time, tuluyan nang napakunot ang kanyang noo.

"Anong 'bakit'?" he fired back. Itinaas niya ang kamay namin na magkahawak. "You asked me for a 'damn proposal', right?"

I paused, my lips forming a small 'o'.

Right. Sinabihan ko nga pala siya na mag-propose man lang sa'kin. What the hell.

I gave him an awkward smile.

"Klaruhin mo kasi. 'Wag 'yong dire-diretso kang nagtatanong," sabi ko. He just rolled his eyes heavenwards.

"Come on, just say yes already."

"Ikaw, ang rude mo, 'no!" reklamo ko. Anong akala niya? Na ganoon lang kadali ang pagkuha sa 'yes' ko? "Gawin mo 'yon ulit!"

He furrowed his eyebrows.

"Seryoso ka ba?" tanong niya, parang napapagod nang ulitin yung sinabi niya kanina.

"Oo! 'Tsaka dapat mas sweet at with feelings na ang pagkakatanong mo. Galingan mo kung ayaw mong ma-basted!"

LOL. Feeling ko naman ang ganda-ganda ko. Pero puwede ba? Minsan lang 'tong mangyari kaya lulubus-lubusin ko na.

He shook his head, giving off a tired, disbelieving smile. Ang guwapo rin nito kapag nakangiti, e. Nakakainis.

"Fine. Whatever."

Mas humarap siya sa'kin ng maayos at hinawakan ang isa ko pang kamay. Kaya ngayon, ang dalawang kamay ko na ang hinahawakan niya.

He took a deep breath and looked straight into my eyes. Unti-unti namang napawi ang ngiti ko dahil sa ganoon niyang titig. He looks so serious. In fact, too serious.

Bakit ang seryoso ng mukha niya? Hindi ko naman sinabing maging ganito kaseryoso.

"Galeley," I felt my body stiffen when he mentioned my name. "I don't know why the universe set us into this trap, but I want us to make this day seem real as we possibly can. Starting off with this 'proposal'.

"And we both know we had some history together," I winced a little upon hearing that, and he grinned. "but I never really had the chance to ask you this back then. So, assuming that this day is our 'second chance'," he laughed at what he said but then continued, "I'm going to ask you this now."

In a split second, his expression turned gentle, like he meant every single word.

"Be my girl?"

Hindi ko pa rin maiwasang magulat kahit scripted 'to at alam ko na na 'yon at 'yon ang itatanong niya. Ewan ko. It just sounds so different when it's coming from him.