You Snatched My Heart

Chapter 13- Close to You

" Ah, Devon about the.."

" The kiss?" putol ni Devon sa sanay sasabihin ni James at nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. Kakatapos lang ng laro at kasalukuyan silang naglalakad sa gilid ng Araneta.

" Don't worry about that. I'm cool with it. It's not even my first kiss or something, so not a big deal. It was fun though, seeing myself on the big screen just like in the movie." then she looked at James flashing her bright smile, ngunit hindi maipintang mukha ang isinalubong neto. Halos magkadikit na ang dalawang kilay sa pagkakakunot ng noo.

" What do mean not your first kiss?" he did not even bother to hide his annoyance from what he heard.

" What I want to say is, you don't have to be sorry because it was nothing, just a kiss." still keeping her big smile to lighten up the conversation.

" Well sorry to disappoint you miss, but I'm not. I don't feel sorry, not at all. Honestly, I liked it." sa pagkakataong iyon ay ang dalaga naman ang nagulat, ngunit hindi nya iyon pinahalata.

" You, what? Ah, forget it. Case closed then." at nagpatuloy si Devon sa paglalakad. Agad naman etong hinabol ni James at nilagpasan. Humarap sya sa dalaga at naglakad paurong habang deretsong nakatingin sa mga mata ni Devon.

" I don't think I would forget that." kinindatan nya eto sabay takbo habang nakangiti. I will never forget that kahit pa magka-amnesia ako. Nasabi ni James sa sarili habang tumatakbo.

" Hey, Devon hurry up. Let's have some coffee." sigaw ni James sa kasama nang makita nya eto nakatayo pa din na tila tulala. He was happy to see that kind of reaction from her. He can say, hindi lang sya ang naapektuhan nang halik na iyon, maging si Devon ngunit pilit lang netong itinatago.

" Hey, stop staring. That's rude." sita ni Devon kay James na kanina pa nakatitig sa kanya. Magkaharap silang nakaupo, pumuwesto sila sa labas ng Starbucks kung saan nila napagkasunduang magkape. Caramel Macchiato at Devil Food Doughnut ang napili ni James samantalang kay Devon naman ay Chai Tea Latte at Croissant, hindi kasi sya mahilig sa matatamis na pastries. She don't even eat chocolate, not even a bite kasi para sa kanya masyado iyong matamis.

" Oh, I'm sorry. Naalala ko lang kasi how you cheered for James Yap earlier. I never expected you, of all people, would act that way. I mean, it's not bad huh. Actually, you look so cute nga eh, that fangirling side of you, definitely cute. Lalo na while you are shouting I love you papa James! Ahh.. goosebumps." ginaya nya pa kung paano eto sinisigaw ni Devon kanina, na halos lahat ng tao sa coffee shop ay napatingin sa kanila.

" Are you mocking me right now huh, KIDDO?" may diin ang pagkakasabi ni Devon sa huling salitang nabanggit. Walang pakialam sa mga tao sa paligid.

" You call me, what?!" and just like that Devon able to turn the table, there's no more trace of smile on James' face instead it turns red.

" Kiddo?" inulit eto ni Devon sa tonong patanong, na lalong kinainisan ni James. Hindi napigilan ng dalaga ang bumunghalat ng tawa sa nakikitang hitsura ng isa.

" Stop calling me that, or else..."

" Or else, what, huh baby James?"

" Or else, I... I will leave you here alone." alanganing sagot ng binata, hindi kasi eto ang gusto nyang sabihin mismo, his mind speaking sometimes else but he did not bother to say it out loud because Devon may not like it.

" Not a problem, kaya kong umuwi mag-isa. Anyways, bayad naman na etong coffee diba?" nakangiti pa din eto habang nagsasalita. Sinusukat kung hanggang saan ang pasensya ng binata sa mga biro niya.