Between the Spaces

Kabanata 15

Donny

After lunch time, hindi na ako pinansin ni Kisses. I went back to the car at sya naman dumiretso na sa classroom. Tinanguan ako nila AC telling me na sila munang bahala sa kanya. Sinamahan naman ako nila Inigo, Kyle at Edward sa sasakyan. 

"Binigla ko ba sya?"tanong ko sa kanila, hindi naman sila sumasagot, "Labo naman nito bro." dagdag kong sabi 

"Hindi naman malabo. Actually, it's a swift move. Ngayon ka nga lang namin nakitang ganyan eh."sabing ganun ni Kyle

"So if I were you, tuloy tuloy ko na. Kaysa naman maagaw pa ng iba diba?"sabing ganun ni Edward

Nakabalik na kami sa classroom pero ganun parin si Kisses. Hindi parin sya namamansin sa akin at minsan, she rolls her eyes at me. Mabuti nalang at pagkauwi, hinintay niya parin ako after practice. Pinagbuksan ko siya ng pinto sa sasakyan saka siya pumasok nang wala paring kibo. 

Papalabas kami ng school campus nang makita namin si Markus, he waved at Kisses, and she did too. 

I sighed. Maybe she likes him? 

"Kisses, magpapagas lang ako."sabi ko sa kanya and she just nodded, maya maya, may nadaanan kaming fastfood, I told her I'd just buy something for Solana. She nodded again. 

I'm trying to find another reason to make this ride long. "Kisses, daan muna tayong mall?"tanong ko sa kanya

  "Umuwi na tayo Donny."sagot niya sa akin

"Galit ka ba?"tanong ko sa kanya and stopped infront of a church na nadaanan namin, "Magsalita ka naman." I sighed again, she turned her way to me at tiningnan ako sa mata

"Ano? Ano yung sinasabi mo na you make me crazy chuchu. Ano ba Donato?! Wag mo nga akong i playtime!" sabi niyang ganun at hinampas ako sa balikat

"Hindi kita pineplay time okay?! Sinong nagsabi sayong pineplay time lang kita?"tanong ko sa kanya

"Tsaka, tigil tigilan mo ako dyan sa mga kalokohan mo Donny ah. Isusumbong kita kay Tito Anthony!" sabi niya at tinuro ako 

" Alam naman na ni Daddy to.The moment he knew na hinahatid kita sa inyo, he already felt it. When I asked him if I can take you to our family gathering, he knew then and there that I feel something for you!"sabi ko sa kanya, "Magsumbong ka Kisses. Basta ako, walang makakapigil sa akin. If Markus wants to be with you, get this close to you, then, my answer is no!" dagdag kong sabi

"For what?! Kailan ka pa nagkaron ng karapatang maging ganyan?" tanong niya sa akin trying to control her emotions

"Until this feeling started, Kisses.  Ayaw mo talagang maniwala sa akin no?" tanong ko sa kanya trying to prove a point

"Kase hindi malinaw." sabi niya

"Anong hindi malinaw dun?" tanong ko sa kaniya na naguguluhan narin

"Ikaw!" sagot niya and pouted and then I drove back to Kisses' house

"Ako? E sinabi ko na nga na nababaliw na ako sayo hindi parin ba malinaw?" I asked her in frustration

"Stop it Donny." she said sweetly

"Ang ano?" tanong ko pabalik sa kanya

"Yan!" maarte niyang sagot, I can see that Kisses has already controlled her emotions, hindi na siya yung masungit na Kisses kanina

"Na nababaliw ako sayo? Ayoko nga!" sabi ko na natatawa nalang

"Okay. Ibaba mo ko dyan." pagkasabi niyang ganun, I stopped laughing

"No."

"Ibaba mo ako Donato. At wag mo akong tawanan lang ng ganyan."

"No Kisses. Ihahatid kita sa bahay niyo at magpapakilala ako kila Tita at Tito ulit."

"Donnyyyy."

"Kisses!!!!"

"Sa bahay mo o sa bahay ko?"

"Donato ano ba!"

"Gusto nga kita. Bakit ba ayaw mong maniwala?!"

"Anong gusto mo? Maniwala ako agad sayo? Bakit ako? "

"Bakit hindi, Kisses?! I prayed for you. I prayed for this. I'm sorry kung gusto kita okay? Pero don't expect me to just stop just because hindi ka naniniwala na gusto kita. " I exclaimed, again, I stopped driving and looked at her, "Come on Kisses. Just let me okay? Hindi ko naman sinasabi or iniimply sayo na magkagusto ka din sa akin agad agad."

I waited for her to answer because for sure she has something on her mind ready to be told. When she already had the guts to speak, she told me. 

"Paano pa kita titingnan nang hindi nahihiya niyan kung ganyan yung mga sinasabi mo?" she asked shyly and looked down, I smiled at the idea

  "Edi masanay ka na. Kisses, I wouldn't have this any other way. It's now or never." sagot ko sa kanya, she just nodded, "Ano? Okay na tayo?" I asked

Tumango siya. Not knowing what she's been thinking. 

"But promise me no sweet charades sa harap ng ibang tao. Donny, don't get me in a situation for me being awkward with you." sabi niyang ganun

  "I can't promise that. Syempre lalo na pag nakita ko si Markus na sobrang lapit sayo? Ayoko nga!"sabi ko sa kanya

"Donnyyyyyyyyyyyyy." and then she gripped my arm, nanggigil. Napapa aray ako pero natatawa rin at the same time. 

"Kung gusto mo pa nga buong pamilya ko yung isama ko para manligaw sayo eh."I told her, very proudly. 

Kase sigurado naman ako, na wala naman talagang problema sa family ko.

"Donnyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy." sagot niya ulit covering her eyes

 "I like you Kisses."I flirty told her, umiling siya and pretended not to listen, "Seriously Cookies, hindi ko rin naman alam kung kailan to nagsimula. Maybe the spaces between us pushed me to come and talk to you? Those spaces needs to be filled with moments like this. And then all of a sudden, we became friends. I swear I never thought of anything other than the friendship. Until one day, I saw you with Markus and there's a pain inside my heart that I can't explain. Dun ko lang nalaman na nagseselos pala ako. Tapos yung dream first date mo, na ginawa ni Markus. And then this. I'm afraid I might lose you." mahabang sabi ko sa kanya

"You might lose me because of this." 

  "I won't let it happen." 

Wala nang umimik sa amin pagkatapos nang pag uusap na yun. Maya maya we were already in front of their house. I asked her if it's okay to get inside. She refused. I understand. Maybe kailangan pang mag sink in ng mga sinabi ko sa kanya. I bid goodbye. 

"Go home safe." sabi niya sa akin bago ko pa man naibaba yung bintana ko, I watched her get inside their house. 

I sighed again for the hundredth time today. 

So this is how you confess feelings to someone. 

Bago ako umalis, I texted Kisses rightaway. 

"You are my home now, Cookies."