The Mayor's Girl

chapter 5

"Can you hand me the tissue, Yanne?" Angel asked habang kitang kita ko ang smear ng spaghetti sauce sa gilid ng mga labi niya. I handed her the tissue and stood up to get my own food too.

"Dinner ka na?" I heard a deep voice ask me pagtayo ko palang. Liningon ko ang nagtanong and it was Vico. Naks, concerned?

"Ah, wala pa eh." I just answered while Angel kept on elbowing my leg. Grabe, malisyosa sobra tong si Angel tas pangalan niya panglangit.

"Sabay na tayo." He gestured his hand na parang nagsasabi na 'ladies first' and nauna naman akong naglakad patungo sa facilitators na nagbibigay ng packed dinner. May spaghetti, fried chicken, rice at maja blanca.

"Tagal ka na ba dito sa Manila?" Tanong ni Vico sa akin habang naglalakad. "Nope, galing ako Cebu." I explained at tiningnan ang mukha niya ng saglit.

"Ah, kaya pala yung accent mo and Taglish." He just looked at me as if may narealize siyang bago. "Ganon ba kalala yung accent ko?" Napahinto ako sa paglakad at tiningnan siya. "Di naman, obvious lang na you're not from here." He gave me his boyish smile that made my heart thump.

We arrived at the clubhouse kung san namimigay ng packed meals. I received one packed meal at isang C2 na bottle, same went for Vico. Maglalakad na sana ako pabalik sa pwesto namin ni Angel kanina. Tanaw ko lang naman siya. 

"Dito.." Vico signaled na sa kabilang direksyon kami papunta. Papunta sa may pool. I looked at Angel habang dahandahan na naglalakad papunta sa kabilang direksyon. Tumingala siya sa amin at kinindatan ako. Napatawa lang si Vico sa reaksyon ko sa pagkindat ni Angel. Ang gaga pumayag pa.

Naglakad kami papunta sa may pool at pinapasok ako sa isang cottage katabi ng pool ni Vico. "Bakit dito?" Napagiggle ako. Ang cute lang kasi.

Linapag niya ang kanyang pagkain sa kahoy na mesa ng cottage. He got a candle that was already there na sa table at sinindihan ito. He brought out a portable radio galing sa ilalim ng mesa and turned it on. Tumugtog naman ang Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship. (Italicized text ang lyrics ng song)

Pinaupo niya ako at umupo na rin siya. Medyo kinikilig ako, aaminin ko. Binuksan na namin ang aming pagkain at tsaka nagdasal siya. Napatitig lang ako sa mukha niyang seryoso. Ang gwapo, punyeta! Mapapamura ka.

Nagsign of the cross na kami at tapos na kaming magdasal. Yung kandila at radio ay nasa gitna namin. "Candlelit dinner na ba 'to?" Tanong niya na may pagkamot sa ulo. Napatawa lang ako. "Ang corny mo ha." Sabi ko naman sa kanya na may sabay na pag-iling.

Lookin' in your eyes I see a paradise
This world that I've found is too good to be true

"Gusto ko sanang ayain ka magdinner kasi gusto pa kitang makilala. Kaso, ano eh, may trabaho."  He scrunched up his nose na parang bata. Ang cute, ang gwapo, ang corny. I giggled, kilig na kilig na ako dito baka maihi ako.

Standin' here beside ya, want so much to give you
This love in my heart that I'm feelin' for you

"What do you want to know about me ba?" I asked him habang sumusubo ng chicken. Gutom na talaga ako guys, kakain ako habang lumalandi. "Everything." He said with so much sincerity habang tinititigan ako. Our eyes met and I melted at the sight of his face lit up by the candle.

Let 'em say we're crazy, I don't care about that
Put your hand in my hand, baby, don't ever look back

Kinikilig ako. Sobra. Mapupunit na ata yung labi ko kakangiti. "I also want to know you more. Laro nalang tayo 20 questions tapos dapat sagutin nating dalawa." I smiled at him and he nodded naman at my suggestion. 

Sumubo muna kami ng pagkain habang nag-iisip ng questions. "Favorite color?" I asked then looked at him habang ngumunguya. 

Let the world around us just fall apart
Baby, we can make it if we're heart-to-heart

"Blue." He answered after swallowing. "Peach. Champagne pink, to be exact." I said after swallowing my food too. "Napakaspecific naman. Arte." He teased then I rolled my eyes at him. Sumubo nalang ako ng spaghetti.

And we can build this dream together
Standing strong forever
Nothing's gonna stop us now
And if this world runs out of lovers
We'll still have each other
Nothing's gonna stop us, nothing's gonna stop us now

"Favorite movie?" He asked habang ngumunguya ako ng spaghetti. "The Notebook." I smiled, remembering Noah and Allie's unstoppable love. "A romantic.." He met my gaze and smiled. Ang gwapo, ang pupungay ng mga mata. "My mom used to love watching romantic movies. Naging hopeless romantic din ako kagaya niya." The image of my mom and a 5 year old Yanne squealing over Noah and Allie's kiss in the rain flashed before my eyes. 

I was so caught up in my thoughts na I just felt Vico's thumb wipe the spaghetti sauce off the side of my lip and his hand continued to wipe the tear on my left cheek that I didn't see coming. "I'm sorry." I apologized, nasira ko kasi yung moment. Happy and romantic lang kasi dapat to.

He just mouthed "it's okay" and held my hand with his. "Ano 'ba to! Bawal drama! Let's not talk about her." I just laughed off the issue. Timing naman, nasira yung radio at di na umandar. Vico joined me in laughing.

"Ako, The Blind Side." He nodded then patuloy kumain. We finished eating while panay getting to know pa rin. I know Vico's still wondering why I cried when I mentioned The Notebook but I'm still not ready to open up. Not yet.

He walked me to our room and I had a real smile plastered on the whole night. The moment we arrived at my room, I thanked him. "Thank you so much for tonight, Vico. I know it's not grand at all but I had fun." Tiningala ko siya at ngiting ngiti pa rin siya as if di siya napapagod. "Good night, Yanne. Until next time." He said while looking into my eyes. 

We stood there together for how many seconds just looking into each other's eyes. His eyes moved to my nose, my cheeks and now, my lips. Huminto ang mga mata niya doon at napabuntong hininga siya. He snapped out of it when he met my eye again and I flashed him a toothy grin. 

"Whatever it is, you have me." He said with so much sincerity then kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes and felt the warmth of his lips on my forehead. I was so grateful for what he said, his understanding attitude and his company. Thankfully, I won't be crying tonight.