This Time

Chapter 10

He drove the car slowly this time, because he said he wanted me to be safe the roads are slippery kase medyo humahamog na. Hindi ko alam kung paano puputulin ang katahimikan sa loob ng kotse kaya kinalikot ko nalang ang phone ko.

I noticed that he keeps on checking on what I'm doing.

"Messages mo 'to, nagba-backread lang ako kasi ayaw mo magsalita ngayon eh." i continued scrolling through my phone although I'm not reading them, im just scrolling back and forth.

"You're not even reading them, I wonder if you really reads my texts. Hindi ka nagrereply." salamat naman at napagsalita ko rin si Zander.

"Magsasalita ka naman pala eh, bakit ba tahimik ka kanina pa?" I immediately asked.

"I just can't believe na nasabi ko rin yung mga nilalaman ng puso ko. I hope we can still be friends." I didn't reply, bakit friends lang Zander? Apaka manhid mo!

The car suddenly stopped at the middle of the road. Zander looked at the rear-view mirror. Wala namang bumangga. Good thing malapit na kami sa amin at wala ganong dumadaan na mga sasakyan at hindi kami nakagawa ng traffic.

"What happened?" I said.

"I don't know." He said as he was still checking what's wrong with the car. I just stared at him the whole time na nasa labas sya. With all that grease in his hands and clothes, I don't know why I find him hot at that state.

Suddenly, rain started pouring and Zander is all wet.

I handed him the umbrella but he refused as he is already wet so what's the point of an umbrella. He went inside the car all wet.

"Tawagan ko nalang si Marlon gusto mo? He knows what to do at this situation." he agreed and I alled Marlon to come and pick us up at the street.

The silence began again. Zander is still staring at the dark. He's so mysterious.

But suddenly, he broke out the silence.

"By the way, may gusto pala akong ibigay sayo." he pulled a bracelet in his pocket and gave it to me.

"I made that bracelet, I want it to be special kasi kaya ako ang gumawa. I'm planning to buy the Gucci one but Isaac said it would be more special if I made it myself. Kaya ganyan ang itsura. Do you still like the Gucci one? I will buy it for you." I'm about to cry to what he have said, he wanted to give me a gift that is so special.

I hugged him and cried. The emotions are too much to take. I just can't.

"Why are you crying? Is it ugly?" he said worriedly.

"No Zander, this is beyond beautiful. I love this, thank you for this." I hugged him tighter and he also responded.

But suddenly someone horned at us and knocked at window. Kinalas ko ang yakap ko sa kanya at agad itong binuksan, si Marlon lang pala. Panira talaga!

"Ate sakay na kayo sa tricycle. Ako na bahala sa kotse ni Zander." sigaw ni Marlon dahil napakalakas ng ulan at hindi kami magkaintindihan.

Kinuha ni Zander ang payong sa kotse at pinayungan ako palabas at papasok sa tricycle, pinaubaya ni Zander ang kotse kay Kuya at pinahila nya ito papuntang talyer.

Papunta naman kami sa bahay at isinuot ko ang bracelet na suot ni Zander, napaka ganda nito, kulay blue dahil nabanggit ko kay Zander na blue ang paborito kong kulay dahil kulay ito ng langit.

Nasa bahay na kami at tulog na pala si Mama kaya hindi ko muna sya ginambala.

"Are you sure I can really stay here for a while?" he asked.

"Oo naman, saka sa lagay mo ngayon hindi ka pa makakauwi. Ang lakas ng ulan oh." he agreed habang nag oobserve sa paligid, I don't know why he always do that pero he always look cute when he do that.

Ipininaghanda ko ng sabaw si Zander, nagluto ako ng sinigang dahil iyon lang ang naturo sa akin na ulam. ni Mama. buti nalang at may mga sangkap pa dito kaya naihanda ko na ang mga ito at inilagay nalang sa isang pot ang ininit.

Napansin kong natuyo na si Zander sa ulan. Kaya kinuha ko muna s'ya ng tuwalya at damit ni Marlon para makapag bihis.

"Magbuhos ka muna, ito damit magpalit ka baka magkasakit ka eh. Magbibihis lang ako." iniwan ko na si Zander sa baba para magbihis naman din ako dahil medyo nabasa ako. Hanggang ngayon naiisip ko parin ang mga pangyayari mula kanina, totoong umamin na sa akin su Zander, binigyan pa ako ng bracelet. I just cant believe he fell for me. Pero I think it's also time na umamin na rin ako ng nararamdaman ko sa kanya.

Nagbihis na ako nagpunas na rin. Nagpalit ako ng damit pantulog. Bumaba na ako sa ibaba para i-check si Zander. Pero hindi ko inaasahan ang mga nakita ko...

"Bakit ka nakahubad!" paghiyaw ko sa kanya habang tumalikod ako. Wag kayong OA, pang-itaas lang ang wala si Zander.

"I just finished taking a bath, bakit ka kasi biglang bumaba?" he coldly said.

"Sorry ha!"

"Bakit ka ba nakatalikod jan. Is it your first seeing a topless man na may abs?" he said so flirty. Bwisit na 'to pero in fairness, maganda ang katawan ni Zander. Hindi sobrang laki, hindi rin naman patpatin, tas yung pandesal sakto lang din! Tama na nga!

Umuusok na ang pot at nakalimutan ko na may niluluto nga pala ako. Agad kong pinatay ang apoy at isinalin ito sa isang mangkok para mahigop ni Zander ang sabaw.

"Humigop ka ng sabaw para mainitan ang katawan mo." inabot ko ang mangkok at agad naman nya ito hinigop kahit medyo mainit, hindi ko maiwasang tumingin sa katawan ni Zander, na di-distract ako!

"Magbihis ka na, I also have something to tell you. Hindi tayo pwede mag usap ng nakaganyan ka." I sat beside him. He wore the shirt I gave him and stared at me.

"What is it?" he said.

"Zander, gusto kita." I bravely said. His eyes widened at parang hindi pa makapaniwala.

"Zander I also love you. Hinihintay lang kitang unang magsalita kasi I'm afraid na baka hindi mo din ako gusto. Zander you always make me happy, you always make me feel wanted. Ipinaparamdam mo sa akin na importante ako sayo, kaya siguro nahulog ako. Everytime na kasama kita, It's always like paradise. The moment is just filled with happy memories. Ngiti mo palang Zander kumpleto na araw ko, tapos hindi na yon masisira, ganon kalakas dating mo sakin. Lagi mo akong pinoprotektahan, kahit sa mga maliliit na bagay and I'm not even complaining, kasi I like it, I like it when I can feel your care about me. Everything in you Zander is just perfect. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit sa akin ka nahulog, simpleng babae lang naman ako. I'm a nobody compared sa mga babaeng nagkakagusto sayo." I started crying not because im frustrated, pero dahil sa saya. I finally said what my heart screams for.

"Don't you ever say that you are a nobody. I love you just the way you are, I love you as you are now. I love you as Maria Margarita Rosales." he hugged me. And he started crying also. I patted his hair, he's such a baby.

"But, kailangan mo muna akong ligawan Zander, baka magtaka sila Mama na bigla akong boyfriend." I laughed as I said that, And I'm shocked what Zander have said...

"Of course, I want to know you more, and be a better person for you to be worthy sa pagmamahal na ibibigay mo. I promise not to hurt you for the rest of my life. If an eternity is enough to show you how much I love you, I will grab all the time we had and reminisce it always. If it takes a lifetime ng panliligaw, I'm willing to wait for you." he said those words sincerely, he held my hand and kissed it. I just smiled at him and leaned at his shoulders.

This night was full of memories and love. I will promise to keep this all in my heart. Zander was the first man to say those kinds of words to me. He's so romantic but sophisticated at the same time. Why did I didn't met him earlier in my life, edi sana noon pa ako masaya.

Ace Zander Ahn. I love you, so much.