Yours Truly (On Going)

XI

It has been a week since the incident and it has also been a week of having Paolo fetch me from my house to school and vice versa. All his romantic gestures are really flattering me and leading all my feelings for him.

And if you have been wondering, its a no. I haven't heard of Ian since the incident and I'm really glad. I also asked my professor to change my seating just in case.

"Let me carry that for you." Paolo said as he took my books from me and carried my bag. He has been like a chaperon following me and doing things for me. I'm not complaining but it's drawing too much attention especially from girls that like him.

All these girl's eyes are sore from watching us being like this for a week, well, except for Lily who has completely adapted to it really quick.

"Brixie, I heard your cousin is throwing a party this weekend, I know you're not intrested but again you're coming. You should too, Paolo." She said, as if she owns the party and just invites whoever.

I also heard from the others that Jessa is throwing a birthday party and only those that she consider elite can come but of course I'm her cousin I can go but still partys are a no go for me.

"You should come." Paolo muttered. Hearing him say I should go makes me want to think of really going there— his whole makes my everything go weak!

"Should I?" I asked. Paolo's actions are those that can only be read from novels, I can't believe I can actually experience one.

"You should, it's your cousin's birthday anyway." He said lending me the book that will not be used for the last subject.

I nodded at his idea of me going to my cousin's party, I mean, it's totally true that I should be there thinking it's my cousin's birthday and she'll love it if I would be there, right? But we'll see.

It's a thursday today and the last subject is just for homeroom activities that are missed by some but since I have completed it, there's nothing to worry.

I sat on my seat with Maurice being my new seatmate and I'm really loving her vibe, she's really talkative and doesn't really have any problem.

"Have you heared?" She suddenly asked.

"Is there something I don't know?" I asked. I'm really not interested in school issues but thinking that Maurice caught my attention for this, I think it's something I should know.

"Ian. He has been away for the whole week because he joined a mafia group and it has been in the rumors too that his father is giving him the leadership priviledge." Maurice said as she took her books out from her bag.

I wasn't suprised at all, knowing Ian for sometime, there has been a lot that happened and him being one like his father is not too shocking at all.

I continued doing what I should be doing and just nodded at what Maurice said, she must have been confused of my reaction that she stared at me for a minute.

* * * * * *

"Bri!" Lily yelled from behind. I wasn't paying any attention to my surrounding that I didn't notice her when I passed by her.

"Oh hey, Lil. Sorry, I was too pre-occupied on how I'll finish Sir Jogn's project due this monday."

"Pssh, you have sunday to do it, Brixie. It's only friday and you know what tomorrow is, right?" She squealed, her eyes sparkle as she thought of the party tomorrow.

I just giggled at how Lily is too excited with just the party alone and I was too anxious about going to the party too. You all know how I hate parties.

"Hey, Bri." Paolo said as he held my waist, took my bag and carried it. I stared at him at an ample time, enough for me to visualize the details of his face, the veins in his neck makes him look masculine but his smile makes him look very soft.

"Hi Pao." Lily waved at Paolo and hugged her boyfriend Jackson.

"Hey." I replied, still amused of how sweet Paolo can be knowing we don't even have any label. I'm totally confused of how he really feel towards me.

I stared at his eyes as he told Jackson about their game on sunday, his eyes were so black it's like sipping you into them. He turned his gaze towards me, smiled and kissed me on my forehead.

I couldn't imagine how surprised my face was when he kissed me on my forehead, I'm sure I turned red as tomato when he did that.

"Bri! What happened? Why are you so red?" Lily asked as she tried to check my temperature .

"Nothing, nothing. I'm fine." I said as I slightly turned my face away from Paolo. It'll be really embarrassing but I guess I can't escape his gaze.

"What happened?" Paolo said as he cupped my face and brought me towards him as he tried to inspect me.

"I'm fine, Paolo. Really." I said as I tried to calm myself and the butterflies in my stomach. How can I not feel "kilig" when Paolo's face is only an inch apart from mine?!

"You should be, I can't afford you being sick." He said as he held my hand and followed Lily and Jackson who were on their way to the cafeteria.

This time my heart can't stop beating so fast!

* * * * *

The loud noise from Jessa's house are peeping throught their window pane, the house was packed and every inch of Tita Mae's beloved tables were topped with foods of different kinds.

"I'm so glad you came, Brixie! I knew you don't love parties but it was still a good thing to invite Lily just so you can come too!" Jessa yelled but sounded as if we were just talking normally due to the loud sound.

"I should, Jess, it's your birthday." I said as I hugged her and greeted her. Jessa and I are of the same age and she's like a sister to me, but her parents are too strict she can only go out of their house on occassion. It was only until we were eighteen that she can finally do things she wanted— like this party.

I only live two blocks away from Jessa's so I came here a little early than the time just so I can help Jessa prepare but she prepared hours before the party starts so there wasn't much to do when I came.

"Hi Bri." I heared a familiar voice from behind. I turned around and saw Paolo walking towards me with a red cup in his hand. I'm guessing, he already drank a lot.

As soon as he was near me, he hugged me tightly and kissed me on my cheeks. I stared into him and I knew he was drunk. He looked at me and he smiled, he looked like a kid.

"Are you drunk?" I asked.

"Only a little." He said, showing me his fingers and gestured a pinch. I knew he was drunk but I never felt the danger I felt from the acquaintance, instead I felt secured when he came to me.

He went to the bar station to get himself a drink when he suddenly spilled it and slipped from it, that's when I knew he wasn't just "a pinch" drunk.

I forced myself towards him from people on my way and when I finally reached him, I smiled at the thought that after all the seriousness Paolo has got, he also has his silly version.

I kneeled on the floor and tried to pick him. He didn't notice me at first but when he did, he smiled his biggest smile.

"Since you've been around, I smile a lot more than I used to." He said as I picked him up from the floor.

"You are really drunk, Paolo. Come on, help yourself up. You spilled your drink and you slipped?" I laughed. I completely did not hear what he said just as I helped him.

He patted himself and looked deeply in my eye, that was the third time he did, and whenever he does, he's about to do something unpredictable.

"You know I love you right?"