As Red As It Gets (MichaelMellxReader)

Chapter Ten: Kiss

Both of us caught our breath. I glance at his lips for a second and at the bottom of my eye, I saw Michael's adam's apple bob up and down.

"So," My eyes quickly diverted back to his own as Michael breaths heavily "What's dance in tagalog?" He asked.
"Sayaw" My breathing not any better.
"And song?" "Kanta or Awit"
"What about," His gaze shift to my lips and back to my eyes. Michael leans forward as I feel myself do the same thing.

"Michael! Katherine! I'm back!" The door chimes ringing filled my ears and was followed with Michelle's voice. Both mine and Michael's eyes widen. My hand immediately dettached from his but my other arm however, was still over his shoulder. My foot slips as we were standing on a newly mopped floor. Michael almost fell with me but he quickly held on the shelf beside us, making a bottle fall off and roll away. Michael still had his hand around my waist as mine was gripping on his arm.

"Micha?" She called again so we snapped out of our trance. Both of us went over to the tasks we abandoned, Michael with the mop and me with the items. Luckily, I had my stuff done before we both got a little bit...yeah.

I grabbed the empty basket and turned my head to see Michelle standing there. She picked up the bottle that rolled over at her feet and placed it back on the shelf "So what did I miss?" Michelle smiled at the both of us.

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The walk back to Michael's car was silent, the car ride was too. Michelle waved us goodbye as we walked out the store. Neither of us said anything until I broke the awkward ear piercing silence.

"Halik" I suddenly say, turning away from him and staring out the window "W-what?" I turn my head to him, my lower body still facing the car door "Halik means 'kiss', as an answer to your question earlier before your mother arrived. If that was even what you were gonna ask" "Oh. Yeah" He nodded as his bottom lip was tucked in between his teeth. His fingers tapping on the steering wheel as he drove. I turn my head back to the window and let the silence consume us once again.

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Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

We stood by the door as we waited for someone to answer. I had my keys but I decided that it might be better if my parents would greet us first instead of the other way around.

"So uhm, is there anything I need to know before I come in?" Michael asks as he tugged on his hoodie sleeve "Well," I let my tongue click before clearing my throat "There are these two words, po and opo uhm," I quickly took a look at him and diverted my eyes back to the white painted wood in front of us "It's used to uhm- it's used for showing respect to elders or just someone older than you" I see him at the corner of my eye, nodding. I nodded back and looked up "Po is used after sentences to seem respectful like if you're gonna ask for this, don't forget to add po in the end" I cleared my throat again "And uh, opo is the same thing but opo only means yes but in a respectful way" "Alright, I think I got it" I sense a smile in his voice as he said it confidently "I mean, you don't need to use them so suddenly. I'll just say that you're still learning. They really won't mind if you wo--" "I want to, Katherine. I got this" He laughs a bit before it died down.

Michael rolled his foot heel to toe as his teeth was back to biting down his bottom lip. Absentmindedly, my hand slides down to his to pull it away from fidgeting the hem of his hoodie. Michael's teeth finally let his lip go as he looked at me with a small smile. I gave one back. Both of us laughed, the incident that happened earlier fading as the awkwardness surrounding the area washed away.

Both of us stood up properly and fixed ourselves as we heard the lock click.
There stood my mother with a cheeky grin om her face "You must be Michael" "Indeed so, ma'am" Michael nodded "Come in, come in. My husband just made dinner" She stepped aside for us to walk in. I swear before I did, she shot a wink at me.

Mom walked to kitchen as we were left by the door. Both of us took our shoes off as we walked to the dining room. We were greeted by my dad who shook Michael's hand. We sat down on our rectangular table, Michael and I on one side while my parents on the other. A filipino dish was set and it was like the night before. Sinigang. Not complaining, this is actually my dad's best dish yet.

"So, Michael. How old are you?" Dad asked as soon as he sat down "Oh, uh. I'm 16, sir. Turning 17 on march" Michael smiled as his hands rest on his lap "Ah, you're Kathy's age. Only a lil bit older. And please, don't call me 'sir'," Dad laughs "Call me tito and Kathy's mother tita" Michael nods and repeated the words. Obviously unaware on what the names meant. He turned to me with his head low, leaning to me "Kathy?" He whispered "Oh, shut up" I rolled my eyes as he grinned and sat back up.

The night actually went by pretty fast despite all the questions my father shot at Michael like a machine gun. After a little while, he let him off the hook and instead told stories back in the Philippines. Including my most embarrassing memories. Because, parents. Am I right?

During dinner, I noticed that Michael kept wiping the palm of his hands on the fabric of his jeans. Which I assumed that it was sweating from nervousness. I mean who wouldn't get nerbous over meeting someone's parents when you've just met. I tug on his sleeve and placed my hand over his. Giving it a light squeeze, it made him turn to me but I was facing forwards.

The night was full of jokes and laughs as dad and Michael got along quickly. I assumed that Michael wasn't nervous anymore so I took my hand back to my lap. Only for him to place his hand over mine instead.

"Well, Michael. It was great meeting you" Mom smiled as we all stood up from the table after we finished eating "It was a pleasure, tita. The sinigang was well cooked, I suddenly remembered how my mom used to make it" Michael smiled and bowed a bit, pronouncing the filipino words quite perfectly "Thank you, it's a family recipe. Now, off you two. It's getting late" Dad smiled and dismissed us and picked the plates up to the sink. Michael said his goodbye and walked with me to the door.

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"So" Michael coughed as he stepped outside as I followed "Soooo" I raise my eyebrows, smiling as we stood on the steps. With the door closed, my back was against it "Uhm, I was wondering if uh" He stammered. His head hung low while he turned his heel and was tugging on his sleeve again, a habit I seem to notice he does "Yes?" I took a step forward to him, making him shoot his head up and stammer more "Do you take the bus? Wait no, your parents drive you. That was a stupid question, uh..." I smile and chuckled. My hand immediately goes for his and refrained him from picking on his hoodie.

Michael's breath hitched and took a deep breath "If you're good with it, I mean I think I got your parents to like me so can I uh drive you to school instea-" "I mean, you drive me home anyway so why not. Just as long as you're okay with it and we get there on time" I grin and took my hand away to place them inside the pocket of my hoodie. Michael chuckled and bit his lip again, mimicking my position.

A comfortable silence surrounded us as we stood there for a good minute as we slightly swung side to side and bopped to an imaginary beat only the two of us can hear "Oh, by the way" Michael stopped and fished for something in his pocket where he took out a white folded paper "Some dude told me to give this to you. I didn't read it but the way he shoved it into my hands, it seemed important" As soon as I took the paper out of his hands, he placed them back in his pocket.

I looked down at the note he handed me which had a letter M written on the front. My eyes squinted as speculations formed in my mind. My eyes diverted from the note to him as he had his attention elsewhere. I place the note in my back pocket and straightened my back. Michael takes notice of this and does the same, his eyes gaze turning from the tree to me.

"See you tomorrow morning, Mell" "Likewise, Grey" We exchange smiles then I was back in. I feel my feet run to the window to see him run to his pt cruiser with his hands still in his pocket really low, making his hoodie longer than it already is. Once Michael was in his car, he fist pumped the air a couple of times before actually leaving our driveway. What a weird geek. In a good kind.