Love Me Like I Do

25.

"Hey, how was your day?" Johanssen asked while we were strolling around the countryside. He insisted on touring me around. Sino ba naman ako para humindi?

"It's fine. Kind of busy but absolutely fine. How's yours? Wait, what's with the sunglasses and bonnet?" Hindi naman tag-ulan para magcover up sya. So ano'ng meron sa outfit niya? Para tuloy siyang artistang takot makita ng paparazzi.

"News about me in Liechtenstein spread like wildfire in the KU media. I have to hide my identity here." Napahinto ako. I didn't think of that one. Ni hindi ko naisip na baka nga may nakakakilala sa kanya rito sa dinaraanan namin. Ang alam ko lang ay hindi pa siya nakikita ng kahit sino sa constituents nila. But of course the media would recognize him. How could they ignore Johanssen Granville? 

"You know what? Maybe this is a bad idea." I said. Baka makasama sa kanya itong paglabas namin.

"What? Me going out with you? Come on. I am not a teenager. And neither am I a celebrity." He protested. 

"Not a celebrity? If being a known and hot business tyrant didn't make you celebrity, then yes, you are not one. But who are you kidding? You are even covering yourself up." Napailing iling na lang ako habang pinipigilan ko ang pagtawa dahil mukha siyang naagawan ng candy pagkasabi ko no'n. He is cute and funny.

"You are mean. I thought we could agree on this. And besides, this is my first time to roam the country, my country. You know the history." Apparently, the marquess and marchioness were not allowed to roam around to avoid catching unwanted attention. It became a law that no member of the royal family should be allowed to escape their castles except for royal gatherings. Iniiwasan ng pamilyang Leichhardt na magkaroon ng mga anak sa labas ang kahit na sino sa royal family kaya iyon ginawa. 

"Why didn't you get your royal guards?"

"They will drive attention to me. I wish this wedding will be done soonest so I could go back to L.A." Sinipa niya ang bato na nakaharang sa dinaraanan namin. He winced pero hindi ko na pinansin. Ayaw kong mapahiya siya. Kaya nga lang medyo natawa ako at mukhang narinig niya iyon kaya padabog siyang naglakad palayo sa akin. Hinabol ko siya dahil busangot ang mukha niya. Nakakatawa parang bata.

 I have to remind myself to be modest as much as possible dahil kapag tumatakbo ako katulad ngayon ay pinagtitinginan ako. Sobrang hinhin ng mga babae rito. Ang makitang may tumatakbong babae na hinahabol ang isang lalaki, mukhang bago at hindi kaaya aya para sa kanila.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Okay, I will not mock your outfit and failed performance a while ago."

"You're mocking me again." I smiled at him. Bakit ba siya nagtatampo? Nakakatawa naman talaga ang asal niya. I never thought Johanssen Granville is childish. 

"You're so cute." Hindi ko na napigilan pang sabihin. Para siyang bata na nagkatawang hunk. Pero imbes na sumagot siya ay tinalikuran niya ako. Ano na naman ang nagawa ko?

"H-hey. Are you mad at me?" May mga dumadaan sa gilid namin at doon ko pa napansin na mukhang nakaagaw kami ng atensyon mula sa madla.

"No." Matigas niyang sabi. Ano bang problema nito?

"Hey." Pumunta ako sa harap niya and though he is frowning, I can see the supressed smile. Baliw ata ito. I never thought I could see this side of his.

"You're not perfect you know. So if you winced because you kicked a stone, that's fine. You can kick a smaller stone next time." Tinaliman niya lang ako ng tingin. Nakakatawa talaga siya. But I didn't laugh. I am amused of this side of his. Sobrang gaan niyang kasama.

"My Lord." Bati ng nakakasalubong namin at napapatingin sa akin. Wala naman silang komento pero ewan ko ba. May kung ano sa mga mata nila na hindi ako komportable.