The Feelings (The Series #2)

Chapter 45

Sacred words — Chapter 45

"You really drove all the way here?" I asked, still not getting over his efforts.

He nodded.

"Madaling araw na," I told him, like it was the big deal.

"So?" he responded ironically. "I can feel that you really wanted to talk to me. I'm doing us a favor. I wanted to talk with you, too."

I blinked a couple of times. Just to remind myself if the Ares Montoya is real in front of me. Because, I'm not used with this kind of Ares. This Ares was mature. At tuwing nakikipag-usap ako sa mature na Ares, parang kinikilabutan ako. Seriously. I feel like I'll age quickly, whenever I'll deal with the immature Ares—lagi kasi kami nag-aaway noon.

But, now... An improvement.

"Okay..." I told, as I began. "About what happened in Tagaytay..." I trailed. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano pa ituloy. I wasn't even sure what I will say! Parang ang hirap tanungin sa kanya kung... totoo ba talaga iyon. And every time I remember it, I go crazy!

Ares didn't respond. He remained quiet while his eyes were just steady with mine. Parang hinihintay niya ako magsalita. It seems like he wanted to let me lead the conversation. It feels that he wanted me to express what I really want to say to him.

"I don't know, Ares," I say. "Totoo ba talaga 'yon?"

He shrugged. "Well, yeah. It happened, kaya totoo," he answers. "You want me to tell you about it again? We went to Tagaytay, we ate food, we went to a church, I kissed—"

"Woah, woah, woah!" tigil ko sa kanya. Does he really need to go to that part?! Iyong kiss?! Hindi pa nga ako maka-get over dun, e! Siya kasi iyong nanghalik kaya parang wala lang sa kanya. "Naaalala ko naman, e! Don't elaborate everything!" I hissed. "What I wanted to ask... Totoo ba talaga iyong sinabi mo?"

He arched his eyebrow, like he was waiting for me to tell it in detail. Gago ba siya? Napaka-obvious na rin naman iyong tinutukoy ko! Ares is really full of himself! May mga parte talaga sa kanya na hindi pa nagbabago!

"You still... like me?"

From the words I just said, formed a grin on his face. He crossed his legs, and moved his face closer to mine.

"You didn't gave me an answer to what I've said," sabi niya, at bahagyang napatawa. He leaned on the chair's backrest. "How about you, Xavierre? Gusto mo pa rin ba ako?" he throws back the question.

Tanga! Hindi kita gusto! Mahal kita.

I pressed my lips. Still afraid of what I'll say.

Honestly, I really wanted to laugh at my-fucking-self. Ano ba talaga iyong inuwi mo rito sa Pilipinas, Xavierre, ha? Pangarap o love life? But... Ares is also a part of my dream. So, it means, I came back home for my dream with the love of my life.

Inirapan ko siya. "Arte mo," giit ko. "Tanong-tanong ka pa, pero obvious na na tayo pa rin naman ang magkaka-tuluyan sa gabing 'to."

After what I said, I saw how his jaw dropped. Tila hindi maka-paniwala sa mga sinabi ko. Wait... Akala ko ba, alam niya na matagal ko na siyang gusto? I thought he was just messing with me, na nagpapakipot pa siya na hindi niya alam, and he just wanted to just let me say it personally.

Hindi niya pa rin alam na gusto ko siya? Na mahal ko siya?

What the hell. I loved him! Dapat tinatak niya 'yun sa kukote niya!

"So... You really still do l-like me?" he asked once again, disbelievingly.

I rolled my eyes again. "I still love you," I corrected. "And isn't it obvious, you idiot? Matagal akong hindi nakapag-move on sa 'yo."