Morning Blushes

chapter twenty-eight

As soon as we finished the dishes, we faithfully moved to the cupcakes. My mouth is watering with the sight of these cute caramel cupcakes in front of me. Oh, heaven.

He took one and shove it in his mouth after peeling off the liner. He's got icing on the corner of his mouth. How silly.

I pushed the tissue towards him. "Dungis mo." 

I laguhed at him. Kunot na ang noo niya pero natawa na rin.

"Bakit di mo pinunasan?" He said after wiping his lips.

"Wala sa'kin ang kamay ko."

He laughed with a toothy grin. "Ang cute mo, Avyanna."

To avoid responding to that, I took a bite of the cupcake I'm holding. He's watching me with his chin resting on his hands. I suddenly felt awkward. Ang sarap niyang lagyan ng icing sa mukha, bwisit.

"Storror," I read his shirt. "That's quite familiar."

"They're a parkour team in Britain."

"Ah, right. I remember watching some videos. The one with monkeys is so adorable!"

His head tilted. "You watched their videos?"

"Well, it was only for research purposes," I defended.

I remember watching those videos when I was so curious about him the first time he jumped on the rooftop. I was just so out of my mind lalo na't ngayon lang ako nakakita no'n.

"Research? So I interest you?" He wiggled his brows playfully.

I giggled. "Silly. I haven't seen a monkey."

"I thought I was a fairy." Ngumuso siya. "Gorilla pala."

I laughed harder. "But that was unique, you know? No one would dare to name their child from a gorilla."

"My brother's name was derived from a biblical context. Ba't biglang naging gorilla ako?" His face crumpled.

"Don't worry, I like your name more." I chuckled at his ridiculous pouting face.

"Oh," I pushed one cupcake to him. "For consolation."

I looked around our place. I almost didn't realize where we are when I'm talking to him. So, I tried to appreciate the surroundings more.

This is a marvelous garden. This is quite big for a backyard garden and it has a stunning gazebo. I can just go here and relax all day. I've never been this joyful and relaxed and still and chill and peaceful. Sometimes, I tend to picture the perfect dinner when Mommy's scolding me for not being the best. I'll just think I had the dinner I'm dreaming of. Is there any lovelier than this? This is figuratively a whole new world; a dazzling place I never knew. 

Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Navi. He's also looking around. Ngayon ko lang siya natitigan nang mabuti ulit. If this is the first time you'll see him, you will be intimidated by his piercing dark eyes and slightly unkempt dark brows. He could be a villain in some superhero movies but he is certainly a prince for a fairytale. I didn't know finding comfort in those eyes would ever be possible.

"This place is truly nice. Mag-uwi kaya ako ng isang halaman dito?" he said, observing the entire place.

"What are you planning for college?" I asked out of the blue. "Everyone's busy scheduling their admission tests already."

"I always wanted to be like my father, you know. An engineer."

Engineer Navi De Guzman. Damn. That sounds so fine.