Love In Progress

Chapter 16

Confession

"I like you too, Flint." pag amin ko. Uminiit ang pisngi.

"It's okay though, kapag nakamove on ka na. I know you were hurt and don't worry I wont force you." Agap ko. Naisip ang sinabi niya kagabi na magpapatulong siya sa pag move on.

Sa wakas ay tumingala na siya at tiningnan ako.

"You think my feelings for you are that shallow huh?" sabi niya.

Hinila niya ako paupo sa may swing. Ilang saglit kaming tahimik kaya kinabahan tuloy ako.

Is it right for me to do this? Opening myself to him like an open book. Hindi ko man inisip ang mga possibleng consequences, I just rushed to him and confessed. Nakakahiya.

He probably felt my uneasiness dahil malalalim ang bawat hininga ko.

Hinarap niya ako. "Sorry, I needed some time to process that. This is making me so happy that I can't believe it. Are you sure about your feelings?"

Kumunot ang noo ko at napayuko. "I'm sure that I wanna spend a lot of time with you. Ginulo mo nga buhay ko, you made me depend on you and now my system feels like something is missing without you in it." Mahina kong sabi.

Nararamdaman kong sobrang init na ng pisngi ko, paniguradong pulang pula na ang mga ito. Kung saan ko man nakuha ang lakas na loob para sa gabing ito, hindi ko alam.

Natigilan ulit siya. Hindi siya nagsalita, he looked at me, stunned. Nagpatuloy ako.

"However though, there is something important you need to know." Bumaling siya sakin at mas lumapit pa, giving his all attention to me.

"My... my grandma... is Cecilia Lee. Have you heard of her? She's known in the business industry to be a confident and assertive but also strong headed and rude business woman. It's what got her to where she is today though." Tumikhim ako, kinakabahan sa susunod na sasabihin. "She's also known for... arranging her children's marriage... and maybe... grandchildren..."

"Arranged marriage... grandchildren..." he echoed.

"So... I'm gonna let you do the final decision. I will respect your choice." I have no idea kung ano pipiliin niya. I lowkey wish he'd choose to fight with me, but I'd understand if he backs out. I won't regret confessing to him even though if he rejects me, it's gonna hurt so bad.

"You mean, may ka arranged marriage ka? May I know sino siya?" maingat niyang tanong.

"Wala pa naman. Nasa ibang bansa pa kasi si lola para sa business. Wala naman na arranged marriage pa saming mga apo niya. Pero that's how we see it will happen since that's what happened with our parents. My eldest cousin, my pinakilala sa kanya and luckily, they get along well and their relationship are going strong." Paliwanag ko.

"Okay... since you explained your feelings. I think I need too. Mischa, I genuinely like you. I know you think that im just fooling around, teasing you, saying I like you but I'm sincere. I don't know what will happen in the future but knowing that you're with me gives me strength. I apologize for making you feel uncomfortable, I think you're cute when you give your attention to me." Saglit siyang huminto at marahang tumawa "I don't know what your family plans for you but if you allow me to, I will fight for you."

Relief and hurt rushed through me. Hindi ko alam kung bakit naiiyak ako. My heart hurts knowing that someone is willing to fight for me, fight with me.

He searched for my eyes looking for an answer. He brushed my tears away as it starts to fall.

I looked at him then nodded.

He pulled me for a tight hug.

Nagtagal kami sa ganung position. Parehong tahimik lang, calming ourselves from all the overflowing feelings.

"So... am I your boyfriend now?" Maingat niyang tanong. Boyfriend. I have never imagined having one?

Tiningala ko siya "Not yet."

"Not yet" he echoed emphasizing the yet. "Okaaay... that's a progress." He shrugged.

"Bat ka kasi nagmamadali sa relationship? If only you let things go naturally and ask me the question after a few months I might have said yes in an instant. I was just starting to realize that I like you pala." I confessed.

"I get you." He said "Hindi ko lang na-consider yung side mo. For me kasi if I want something I grab the opportunity and just go for it, I don't see any reason to delay it. The faster, the better. But now, I get your point, I get that some people needs time to consider, plan and think about it before deciding."

"Sabihin mo lang lahat kasi ng tinanungan mo before pumayag agad. Or maybe they were the ones who asked you if you agree to be their boyfriend?"

He chuckled. "Well... I would say it was easy to get them to say yes."

"See! I knew it! Masyado ka kasing sanay na girls flock to you! It has nothing to do with being an opportunity grabber!"

"No?" he said defensively "Sobra naman ang 'flock to me'. Hindi totoo yan. Anyway, wag mo na isipin yun, ang importante nasayo lang ang focus ko." He grinned and continued "Are you feeling better now? Gusto mo nang bumalik sa team?"

"Sasama ka?"

He chuckled. Uminit nanaman pisngi ko, feeling so clingy.

"Tara" sabi niya at hila sakin patayo.

Naglakad kami papunta sa may pool area. I feel so much better and lighter pagkatapos malabas lahat ng feelings na yon.

Sa malayo palang naririnig na ang malalakas na tawanan ng mga kasama.

"Chingu!" Lumapit si Ellie nang namataan ako. Hindi natuloy ang sasabihin nang nakita kung sino ang nasa likod ko.

She grinned like implying something.

Naubos ang oras namin sa gabing iyon sa pag ni-night swimming at paglalaro ng board games. Yung iba nagkayayaan ding mag inuman.

Pagkadating na pagkadating namin sa kwarto nagsimula nang mangusisa ni Ellie.

"Kwento!!" Sabi niya habang tinusok tusok ang tagiliran ko.

Napasigaw ako ng konti dahil sa kiliting naramdaman.

Naglinis muna kami ng katawan at nagbihis bago sabay na humiga sa kama para makapagkwentuhan.

Nagkwento ako ng kaunti sa nangyari, leaving a lot of details out dahil nakakahiya. Hindi na din naman masyadong nangulit si Ellie dahil pagod na rin siguro.

"Chingu, I'm happy for you two‚ I can see how Flint takes care of you and how you lowkey likes him back." She drowsily said.

Nilingon ko siya at nakitang nakapikit na siya kaya hindi na ako sumagot at pinatay na ang ilaw.