bad romance

+5

Hindi masyadong marami ang tao sa amusement park ngayon.

Gabi na rin kaya maraming mga ilaw na nakakalibang panoorin. Beside me, Neia's wearing an oversized jacket over a jeans and a shirt. Her face is also shadowed by the bullcap she was wearing--kaya pag tumitingala siya sa'kin nakaunat buong leeg niya.

Tyinetyempuhan ko pa kung kailan ko siya pwedeng tawaging cute. I want to see her blush again. Parang nung isang araw ko pa siya huling napagblush.

She was currently on her phone, and base sa natatanaw kong capslock mukhang sina Selene ang kausap niya.

"Bakit?"

"Nang-aasar," maikling sagot niya, sabay irap nang maliit. "Akala niya siguro wala akong pang-blackmail sa kanya."

Umakbay ako sa kanya hanggang sa nakadikit na ang kalahati ng katawan ko sa kanya, na halos yakap ko na siya. I bent my head and let my lips skim her ears. "Akala ko ba pag-babe time, babe time?"

Her reaction was instant. Agad namula ang tenga niya at napatalon siya sa gulat, sabay hampas ng kamay niya sa tyan ko. I laughed at her reaction and caught the hand that tried to hit me again, intertwining our fingers and pulling her closer.

"You're so annoying," irap niya.

"Sige lang, irap ka lang," I pressed a kiss on the back of her hand. "Sa ganyan ako kinikilig eh."

"Weirdo."

"Sungit."

Sabay lang naming tinawanan ang isa't-isa. Our hands were swinging between us in that way obnoxious couples do. Buti na lang medyo madilim na at hindi na kami pansinin, kundi frontliner na naman kami. Ang unfair ng mga tabloids madalas, kung i-feature kami you'd think we were indecent. Eh mas disente pa nga kami kesa kila Jonas.

 Tsaka wala pa naman kami ginagawa talaga. 

"Why bring me here again? Sa sobrang usual natin dito iisipin na nila ineendorse natin 'to," Neia said. She sort of had a point, but instead of having adventures ginagawa na lang naming tambayan talaga. Wala atang ride na hindi namin na-try, but I know Neia was more considerate compared when we first went here. I know that was punishment.

That was so long ago now.

"Nagsasawa ka na dito?" magaan kong tanong. She looked around before shrugging at me. "Hindi naman. We made a lot of good memories here."

"We did," tango ko. "Ferris wheel tayo."

"Naks, ang lakas magyaya," she teased some more. "Hindi na nangangatog tuhod mo?"

I narrowed my eyes at her playfully. "Tignan natin kung sino mangangatog tuhod mamaya."

"Ano?"

"Wala, sabi ko tara na."

I pulled her along, walking ahead so she won't see the look on my face. Napahawak ako sa loob ng bulsa ko habang pasakay kami sa loob ng ferris wheel. My thumb caressed the exterior of the velvet box while my fingers tapped it through the fabric of my pants. If all goes well...

"Two years ago you were so scared of this ride," giliw na saad ni Neia. The happiness makes her face lighter despite the lines of weariness on it. Well, I sure hope she's happy. I try to do my best to keep her that way, the way I promised myself I would.

"I was," I agreed. "I really hated heights."

"Then bakit ka sumama sa kahit anong ipilit kong ride? Eh lahat yon, matataas ah."

Nagkibit-balikat ako at sumandal. Takot pa rin naman ako pero hindi naman na masyado dahil may mas malaking bagay akong kinatatakutan sa ngayon. But I can't tell her that yet. "Punishment ko yon, di ba? Galit ka talaga non eh."