TRY . jinlia

020

[ CHOI LIA'S ]

Agad kaming bumalik na dalawa sa kwarto pagkatapos naming maghugas ng mga pinggan at mga pinaglutuan. I tried stopping her from helping me but she was so stubborn. Buti nalang ay naisip agad ni Papa na magpahinga na kundi baka inasar lang kami no'n.

"Your Papa's funny," usal niya pagkatapos kong isara ang pinto.

I scoffed. "Gano'n siya kapag may bisita. You know, show off, gano'n," nakangiwing sabi ko at umupo sa dulo ng higaan ko. She sat beside me after. "Hindi ka pa ba uuwi?" tanong ko.

"No. I think I'll stay here for tonight," sagot niya at inangat ang paa sa kama.

I sighed. "Are you sure?" paninigurado ko bago siya hinarap ng konti.

I saw her smirk. "Bakit? Aren't you happy that your crush is here?" pang-aasar niya. I glared at her before copying her position.

"Let's not talk about that. Pwede ba 'yon?" naasar kong sabi at umurong konti papalapit sakaniya. She did the same thing with her smirk still plastered on her face.

"Hmmm... now you gave me an idea. Can I ask you a question?" may bahid ng pagkakaseryoso ang boses niya nang tanungin iyon.

I think I know where this is going.

Yumuko ako at pinaglaruan ang mga daliri ko. I took a deep breath a minute after before nodding my head. "Yeah, sure. What do you wanna know?" mahina ang boses na tanong ko, medyo nahihiya.

Hindi siya agad nakasagot, natahimik kaming dalawa. I could only hear our breaths. At kung mas papalalimin ko pa ay tanging ang tibok lang ng puso ko ang naririnig ko. It was fast, nervous but thrilled in a good way at the same time. Only Shin Ryujin can make me feel this way. Only she can make my heart crazy, burn, and melt. Only Shin Ryujin.

"How did you like me?" Ryujin's first blow.

Lumunok ako, lalong natataranta. I bit my lower lip before taking a deep breath. "I-I... don't know, honestly. I've known you for years already, but when I saw you performing on that stage that one night, parang... na-love at first sight ako sa'yo. Your eyes, your smile, captured my entire heart that night," tumawa ako saglit.

"And t-then, you went near me that night, in the party. You barely even know me but you tried to accompany my introvert ass," but you didn't because of Yeji and after that, we're here.

I was playing with my fingers roughly without me even noticing it because of the nervousness I feel. Napansin ko lang iyon nang hawakan ni Ryujin ang mga kamay ko dahilan para matigil ako. I noticed how my fingers were color red but the most noticeable happening on my hand is Ryujin's warm hands were on top of mine.

Umiwas ako doon ng tingin at hinayaan lang siyang hawakan ang mga kamay ko. I love the warmth her hands give to my body, anyway.

"It was your kindness that captured my heart that night. And then again, when you let me borrow your shirt. And back then I knew I already had a crush on you. And you and Yeji happened, after that, I had the need or want to take care of you and that's why I'm here," I answered, almost out of breath. "That's the short story, I don't wanna elaborate more because I goddamn suck at words," I chuckled.

Tiningala ko siya at nakitang nakangiti ito ng maliit ngayon. I felt my heart tingle when she started caressing my fingers.