Love Deferred

Chapter 12: Great Friend Indeed

Lying on his back looking at the ceiling, Steven can't erase the sensation he felt when Dani kissed him on the cheek.

Damn! It's just a simple kiss on the cheek and yet nagkakaganito ka na? Ang hina mo naman Steven Chan! Akala ko ba moved on ka na? May papromise-promise ka pa sa sarili mo na di ka bibigay tapos ngayon, isang halik lang, nagiba ka agad? Sermon ni Steven sa kanyang sarili habang nakasimangot ang mukha nito.

He bit his lip and continued to replay what happened earlier in his head.

(Flashback)

Steven's POV

"Gusto mo bang bumaba muna?" alok ni Dani sa akin.

"Gabi na. Saka alam ko namang gusto mo na ding magpahinga. I need to go na rin."

"Ah...okay." I saw the disappointment in her eyes when I rejected her offer. Dati kase ay lagi muna akong bumababa for a tea or coffee pag hinahatid ko si Daniela. Tapos itutuloy namin yung kwentuhan namin.

Gusto ko sanang bawiin yung pagtanggi ko kaso nangako ako sa sarili ko na di na ko magiging katulad ng "dati" pagdating sa kanya.

She removed her seatbelt carefully while I was looking at what she's doing. Nang naalis na nya ito ay tumingin sya sa akin as if communicating with me through our eyes. She forced a smile and about to open the door. But before she did, she paused for a while and I saw her took a deep breath and exhaled fast. Without a warning she kissed me on the cheek and muttered, "Thanks for tonight."

Without a warning she got off my car and didn't look back. Habang ako, naiwan sa kotse ng nakatulala.

I was there for at least 10 minutes bago ako nagdrive pauwi. Buti at nakauwi ako ng ligtas dahil halos di ako makaconcentrate dahil dama ko pa rin ang pagdampi ng mga labi ni Daniela sa aking pisngi.

(End of flashback)

"Tanginaaaaa!!!" sigaw ni Steven, still frustrated on what's happening within him. He thought of calling someone who could help him right at this moment.

He grabbed his phone on the table beside his bed and looked for his friend's number.

After ng ilang ring ay sumagot din ang nasa kabilang linya.

"O, Tebong, anong meron?" tanong agad ng nasa kabilang linya.

"Toooooll!!!"

"Anyare sayo? Huy!"

"Naguguluhan na kooooo!!! Rumurupok ako tol! Tangina!!!" reklamo ni Steven.

"Wag ka ngang magmura! Saka magsalita ka ng maayos! Pwede ba?"

"Tanyaaaa!!! Hinalikan nya 'ko!!!"

"Tangiiiiinnnaaaa!!! Sinooooo???" gulat na sagot ni Tanya.

"Huy! Sabi mo walang magmumura? E nagmura ka din eh!" natatawang sagot ni Steven.

"E di quits na tayo! Ha ha... Okay, let's start over. Anong nangyari at sino yang humalik sayo?" mahinahong tanong ni Tanya.

Huminga muna ng malalim si Steven bago sumagot.

"Daniela kissed me." he said calmly.

"Whaaaaaaaaatttt??? Oh my freaking shirt!!! Talaga??? Saan? Paano? Kailan?" tuloy tuloy na tanong ni Tanya.

"Hep! Tap! Tap! Tap! Isa-isa lang, okay? Marupok ang kalaban."

Si Tanya naman ang huminga ng malalim this time.

"Okay... Saan?" she started.

"Sa kotse ko."

"Kailan?"