Gunita [EDITING]

veintidos

I blinked. Twice. Thrice. I even had to pinch my legs para masigurado kung nananaginip ako o kung totoo talaga 'yung narinig ko kay Uno. Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata—waiting if he'd laugh and say that he's just joking...

Kasi, ayokong umasa.

Ayaw ko.

I'd rather succumb to my own sadness that I'm sure wouldn't last forever, kasi alam ko namang hindi lang siya 'yung lalaki sa mundo, jeez. Sure, I like him... I really, really like him, but not to the extent that I'd forget my self-worth! I survived for years without him, it's not as if I'd die if I won't get some reciprocation for my feelings from him.

But... his face remained stoic, as if waiting for a reply coming from me. And if ever I am correct, ano ba'ng malay ko! I couldn't even find the right words to say, or what to react!

This Uno T. Sanchez, really...

He's just... capable of making me speechless every damn time.

"Ah..." I trailed, still trying to search for applicable words, pero wala talaga akong mahanap. Pakiramdam ko, biglang lumipad lahat ng inaaral ko from Elementary pati lahat ng binasa ko kani-kanina lang. "J-joke lang 'yun 'di ba?" I added, faking a laugh afterwards.

Uno smiled.

"Kailan pa'ko nagbiro, Brandi?" he replied, still smiling. "You're just... capable of making me feel everything at once. At first, I was really against it, but... you... you just keep on making me feel better about what's going to happen next. You made me want to care for you. Ang hirap pigilan, Brandi. Kasi tuwing pinipigilan ko, mas lalong lumalalim... mas lalo lang akong nahuhulog. Shit, I'm not even vocal with what I feel... but for you, I just made an exception. I'll keep on making exceptions. Fuck what I'd feel, I'd set them aside just as long as it's you." He fixed his glasses, still looking at me. I wanted to break the contact, but his stares... they were so different that I couldn't even look away from him.

"I like you... I really like you. I've been liking you ever since God knows when, and I have no plans of hiding it already, Brandi... I thought you already knew what I was feeling... but, I'm here right now in front of you, and I hope it doesn't change anything," he said, biting his lower lip, and oh my God, if that isn't enough for me to define sexy, then I don't know what it is then.

Holy shit.

I feel corrupted.

Uno just keeps on driving me insane, and I'm not even complaining.

"But... Irish..."

He smiled.

"She's not your problem. Never will be," he stated. "Because I'm all yours to begin with."

I bit my lower lip.

"You liked her for a long time, Uno... how can I possibly believe any of this?"

He chuckled, "I don't play games, Brandi. If I say I like you, then I mean it. And stop clasping your hands together, it's unfair."

My forehead creased, "Unfair?"

"Yes. I want to hold your hand, but I still can't. So... just don't do it in front of me," he replied, looking at his watch. "I still have 4 hours to wait before our class starts, I'm just waiting for a reply, Brandi."

I gulped. Pakiramdam ko tuloy nasa korte ako habang siya 'yung Lawyer na nasa harapan ko. Hindi ako makapag-isip nang matino.

Biglaan kasi.

Paano pag biglaan ding mawala?

Nakakatakot din...

"What if... I can't answer now?"