Between the Spaces

Kabanata 22

Donny

"Heyyyy. What's wrong with being in love with me?" tanong ko sa kanya na nakangiti, this time, I can't help but reach her to hug her, "Why are you scared?" hesitant and so, I called her again, "Love?"

"Sorryyyyy." She replied, I hushed her for her to stop from crying, caressing her back,

"Why nga? What's wrong?" tanong ko sa kanya and looked at her eyes, pinunasan niya unti unti yung luha niya habang nakayuko padin, "Cookies, please tell me what's wrong. Stop crying na. baka sabihin ni Tito, inaaway kita dito." Sabi ko sa kanya

"I'm inlove with you, Nonnyyyyy. Would it be okay if I tell you that?" she said cutely but with tears from her eyes, natawa ako, kinilig, all of my broken veins were getting back together now, "Wag mo nga akong tawanan! Huhu. Nakakainis ka naman eh." Sabi niya at hinampas ako, her hand landed on mine,

"Love, it's more than okay. Parang sasabog yata yung puso ko ngayon sa mga sinasabi mo." Sabi ko sa kanya, "Please don't be scared, let's do this together."

"Nakakainis ka naman eh!" sabi niya at hinampas ulit ako

"Oooo. Bakit na naman?!" tanong ko sa kanya na natatawa parin, "Akala ko ba love love mo ako? Bakit ka nanghahampas?" umiling siya at inabot yung bag niya sa back seat. I just watched her do it, waiting for her to say something more

"Kisses?" tawag ko sa kanya,

"Hmm?"

"Would it be okay too if I call you my love?" ako yung nagtatanong pero ako yung halos mapunit na yung labi sa kakangiti, she grunted as if it's the corniest thing she has ever heard, but she nodded after all

"Love." Tawag niya din sa akin, i wanted to jump in happiness

"Love." I replied. "Are we girlfriend and boyfriend now? Officially?" reassuring what is happening, Kisses looked at me and held my face and caressed it with her thumb,

"Yes, Nonnyyyyyy. We are."

Kisses

Nasa loob yata kami ng kotse ni Donny ng mga 15 minutes. We are officially a couple now, and it feels so good and scary at the same time. When I got out of the car, Donny was standing beside me wanting to walk me inside our house.

"Sasabihin na natin ngayon kila Tito. Let's make this official, na kahit sa parents natin dapat wala tayong secrets." He told me while holding my hand, "Okay love?"

"Yes Nonny."

"Why aren't you calling me love?" tanong niya sa akin

"Nahihiya pa akooooo." Sabi ko at umiwas ng tingin sa kanya

"Aysus. You will be calling me love for the rest of our lives, anyway." Hirit niyang sabi sa akin

"Wow. Napaka sure mo naman!"

"Hmmm." Sabi niya at nangiti

Nasa loob na kami ng bahay nang maabutan namin si Mommy at Daddy sa dining na nagkukwentuhan at umiinom ng kape,

"O! nandito na pala kayo!" sabi sa amin ni Daddy, pinuntahan ko siya and kissed him on the cheek, I hugged Mom also

"May gathering ulit sa bahay niyo, Donny?" tanong ni Mommy sa kanya

"Ay nako, Tita. Wala naman po. Namiss lang kase siya nila Hannah at Solanna tapos timing naman po na nagluto si Mommy for tonight kaya ininvite namin si Kisses." Sagot niya kay Mommy, Mom nods in anticipation.

No one speaks right after, kaya tiningnan ko si Donny. He looks at me and looks at my parents too. I saw him taking a deep breath so I gave him a smile.

"Tito, Tita. Can I tell you something po?" tanong niya, I stood beside him, closer

"Sure Donny. Ano yun?" tanong ni Dad sa kanya

"I like Kisses po." Straightforward niyang sagot, natawa naman si Mommy

"Of course you do!" sagot naman sa kanya ni Mommy

"Mommy!" sabat ko sa kanila

"And what now, Iho?" tanong sa kanya ni Daddy

"I told Tita Carrie about this po, few days ago, na nililigawan ko po si Kisses ilang buwan na." he told them,

"Hmm. Alam ko naman na yun." Sabi ni Daddy, I can't wait anymore kung ano pa ang sasabihin ni Donny kaya sumingit na ako sa usapan nila

"Dad, Ma, I'm inlove with Donny." The three people infront of me were shocked with my bravery, even Donny. But he smiled anyway and held my hand, in front of my parents

"Ganun ba?! Congratulations mga anak!" sagot naman ni Mommy sa amin at pumalakpak pa, Daddy, on the other hand, kept his eye on our intertwined hands

"Donny," sabi niya, "Alam ko naman na mabait kang bata. At nakikita ko naman pano mo inaalagaan yung anak namin. I know your family too. You're doing good so far." Sabing ganun ni Daddy sa kanya

"Thank you po, Tito, Tita." Sagot niya sa kanila

"But please. I'm not giving away my daughter, not yet. Wag munang magpakasal. Masyado pa din akong bata para magkaapo." He said laughing

"Daddy! Ngayon lang po kami officially together bakit po kasal agad!!!" reklamo ko sa kanya and felt shy because of what he said, nakitawa din si Donny sa kanya

"Tito, hindi pa po. I assure you that. And we promise to be honest with you at all times." Donny told Daddy, seriously

"O siya! Pano ba yan, hindi na yata kami maghihiwalay ni Anthony dahil sa inyo no?" sabing ganun ni Daddy and automatically dialed on his phone at tinawagan ang Daddy ni Donny informing him what just happened. The people on the other line was so happy with the news.

Pagkatapos ng ilan pang minuto, nagpaalam na si Donny na uuwi.

"Hatid mo na si Donny, Princess." Sabi sa akin ni Mommy

"Sige po my. Balik ako agad." Paalam ko sa kanya,

Donny and I can't stop purselves from smiling when we were already outside the house walking our way to his car.

"Stop smiling, Nonny!" sabi ko sa kanya

"I can't help it! Tsaka, ikaw din naman ah!" sagot niya naman, hindi ko siya sinagot, I was just looking at him, he is very happy I can say

"I hope I made you happy today, my love." Sabi ko sa kanya nung nasa tapat na kami ng kotse niya

"You did. You did." He told me, he looks at my face like he memorizes every detail of it,

"I love you Kisses." Butterflies were all over my stomach again,

"I love you, with all of my heart." Sagot ko naman sa kanya

"With all of my hypothalamus." Bawi niyang sagot at natatawa

"You still remember!" amazed kong sabi sa kanya, "That's my boy!" at nag high five kami

"So, uwi na ako, love." Paalam niya sa akin, tumango ako,

Akala ko papasok na siya sa sasakyan pero he motioned himself a big hug in front of me,

"Just give me one," sabi niya, eyeing me to hug him, hindi na ako nakapag isip ng matino, I went closer to him and hugged him,

"This is our first official hug as lovers." Sabi niya sa akin, we were both savoring the moment, feeling the every beat of our hearts, "I love you, I love you, I love you, Delavin."

"I love you, I love you, I love you, Nonnyyyy."