A Close Second

Twenty Eighth

Hello!
Rewritten
---

BEATRICE

"Who says I'm pretending now?"

Tinignan ko lang siya, halos nabato sa sinabi niya habang nakatingin ng diretso sa akin. He seemed serious

"Oh, come on, Andrew! Parehas tayong nandito sa kwartong ito nang sabihin mong itigil na natin ang pagpapanggap."

Tinignan niya ako, his gaze challenging habang inirapan ko siya.

"Where have you been the week? Nagpupunta ako sa inyo to see you, but you weren't at home." sabi niya, lowly.

I looked at him. Why would he be even go to my house? Wala naming nababanggit sakin si Yaya Pasing.

"You were with Jake, were you?"
"Bakit ka nagpupuntang bahay?" tanong ko ditto
"Why won't I?"  tanong nito. "My girlfriend lives there."
"Nahihibang ka ba o nakalimutan mo ang usapan natin dito mismo." Nangigigil na tanong ko. "You said na ititigil na natin ang kahibangan na ito."
"You're putting words in my mouth. All I said was I wanted to stop pretending." Sabi nito, stepping forward.

Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko as my eyes locked with his, his infinite dark eyes almost sucking me into them.

"Ang sinasabi kong ititigil ko ay yung pagpapakilala at pagpapaniwala natin sa pamilya ko na tayong dalawa. Pero nagbago na ang isip ko." Sabi niya sa akin. "Iniisip ko noon, I want to make it right."

Marahan siyang lumapit, making me gulp. His dangerous aura present again but this time I don't know if I'm scared or excited or nervous. I match his step, locked in almost a dance with him advancing and me retreating.

"Dapat liligawan kita, as in sa harap ng ibang tao, sa harap ng magulang mo, sa harap ng magulang ko, at kahit sa harap ng mga kaklase at kaibigan natin. But I can still do that with you being my girlfriend."

I bump into the ballet bar, realizing I had retreated to the wall. Napalunok ako while he's up close. He traps me almost so easily dahil hindi ako makagalaw.

"I want you to know I'm serious, Tris. That I'm serious that I want you, and I want you to be mine."

Then next thing I know, his lips covered mine.

---

"Klaro na?" tanong ni Mikki nang makabalik ako.

I ignored her, just taking my bag habang naramdaman ko naman si Andrew sa likod ko na nakasunod. Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Greg at hindi ko ulit ito pinansin.

"Hala ka, nagtampo na." Sabi ni Amar. "Mikaela kasi."
"San ka pupunta?" Nico asks.

Hindi ako sumagot, kinuha ko lang ang phone ko, a book and my wallet bago tumalikod, making it clear that I wasn't gonna talk to them in any way.

"Huy, Madam." Sabi ni Greg.

I did not appreciate the fact that they had the gall to put me on the spot like that. No matter what the outcome is.

"I want you to know I'm serious, Tris. That I'm serious that I want you, and I want you to be mine."

His lips moved with the slightest pressure, and his other arm wrapped around my waist for support. Good thing too dahil nanlambot ang mga tuhod ko at napspikit nalang ako.

His lips were soft, and really gentle.

And yet, I could feel his urgency, and something else. Before I know it, ako din, tumutugon na sa mga galaw ng labi niya.