Next to You (COMPLETED)

14 - Yours

Weekend came fast and I am getting ready para sa reunion ni Colton. I wore the dress he bought for me which fits my body perfectly. My cheeks heated kapag naiisip ko kung paanong sakto yung size na nabili niya para sa akin. I mean, di naman niya ako tinanong about my clothes size.

Tonie is so happy dahil sa progress daw ng relationship namin ng boss niya. He even volunteered to curl my hair and do my make-up. Dapat daw, magandang-maganda ako para mas lalo daw main-love sa akin si Colton.

"We are not together. Wala kaming relasyon."

"Yes, wala pang kayo but we all know that there is something. He invited you to be his plus one sa reunion niya. Sino ba usually ang sinasama sa mga ganitong event? Your significant other. Then, ininvite mo din siya to accompany you sa wedding ni Mary diba? That all means something. Don't me, Mirianne. Alam kong kahit papano, you like Colton more than a friend already.

I decided not to comment anymore. I have been assessing my feelings lately as well. Yes, I admit. Colton is starting to enter my heart slowly.

I am all set and just waiting for Colton to pick me up. The reunion will be held in a hotel na malapit lang din sa office namin. I went to my room to get my bag and I heard Tonie opening the door. Looks like Colton arrived already. I can also hear my cousin teasing his boss.

"Grabe. Ang pogi mo boss. How can you be mine po?" malanding sabi ng mahadera kong pinsan.

Napailing na lang ako sa mga hirit niya. I also heard Colton laughing hard.

"Isumbong kita sa boyfriend mo, sige ka."

I went out of my room and immediately saw the victim of my cousin's teases. Punyeta, tama si gaga. Ang pogi nga ni Colton!

His eyes turned to my direction and stared at me. My heart beat suddenly increased it's pace! Pano huminga?

He did not even hide the fact that he is checking me out from my head to toe!

"Wow. Ang ganda mo."

My heart! You need to calm down. Di rin nakatulong ang mas lalo pang pang-aasar ni Tonie.

"Yiiieeee. Baka naman di mo na iuwi ang pinsan ko after, sir Colton? Well. Okay lang naman sa akin. I give you my blessings. Pag may nabuo, ninang ako ha."

Pinanlakihan ko ng mata si Tonie. Namula din ang buong mukha ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Gagang to!

"Tumahimik ka nga. Mga pinagsasabi mo. Uuwi ako mamaya. Tara na, Colton para makauwi din tayo maaga."

I can feel Colton's stares simula ng sumakay kami ng elevator hanggang makapasok kami ng sasakyan niya. When I asked him to stop staring at me, he chuckled and said

"Sorry. Can't help it. You look so beautiful."

We arrived at the venue just in time. A few minutes after we came, nag-start na ang program. I learned that Colton was the their batch org president kaya pala 'pres' ang tawag nila sa kanya. They even joked if ako na ba daw ang first lady and every time someone will ask him who I am, gusto ko na lang lumubog sa lupa sa sagot ni Colton.

"Pres! Pogi ka pa din hanggang ngayon. Girlfriend mo ba kasama mo?" tanong ng isa sa mga ka-batchmate at vice president ng organization nila noon.

"Di ko siya girlfriend pero boyfriend niya ako."

What the!?

"Huh?" halos sabay-sabay na tanong ng mga kaklase niya na kasama namin sa table.

"Ang labo, Pres. Paanong boyfriend ka niya pero di mo siya girlfriend. MU kayo? Mag-isa kang umiibig, ganun?" tanong naman ng kaklase niyang pinaka-maloko daw sa kanila noon, si Ariel.

Nagtawanan ang lahat at kahit namumula ako at nahihiya dahil sa sagot ni Colton ay di ko napigilan ang sarili kong tumawa din.

"Tsk! Loko-loko ka pa din hanggang ngayon. Basta. Mahirap ipaliwanag basta alam kong kanya ako, yun na yon."

"Wooooo!! Si President Colton lang malakas!"

Naging sentro kami ng asaran pero I never really felt pissed or anything. I am happy, actually. And yes, sobra akong kinilig on how Colton answered questions about me, about us. How come this guy was always basted sa mga niligawan niya noon. I mean, seriously? If he can be like this, who can not like him?

Masayang natapos ang reunion nila at kahit wala akong kakilala sa event na yun bukod kay Colton, I never really felt out of place. His friends and former classmates are all accommodating. They never really left me out kahit na nagkukwentuhan sila ng about sa nakaraan nila. Everytime I am lost of the conversation, Colton explained the whole thing to me so I will have an idea of the topic.

Another highlight of the event was the awarding. Sobrang saya dahil puro kalokohan ang award. Best in Late. Best in Absent. Best in Cutting Classes. Pafall ng Batch. At kung ano-ano pang nakakatuwang mga awards. Colton bagged the Best in Guidance Award dahil takbuhan daw ito ng karamihan for advice.

"Nagpa-advice ako sa kanya about sa crush ko. Effective naman mga tips niya sa akin. Ang galing magpayo pero siya laging basted. Bakit ganon, Pres?" hirit ulit ni Ariel nang makabalik si Colton sa table namin at muling nagtawanan ang lahat. Kahit ang mga nasa ibang table na nakarinig sa hirit ni Ariel ay nakitawa din.

"Manahimik ka, Ariel. Baka ma-impluwensyahan mo pa si Mirianne na bastedin ako."

It was past 12 nang makabalik kami sa condo building ni Tonie. On our way home, we also bought some drinks and bff fries from Mcdo. Nag-crave daw kasi siya. He parked his car near the condo but he asked me to stay for a while before going in at samahan ko daw siyang kainin yung pagkain na binili niya. I agreed because honestly, I feel like the time we had today was not enough. I still want to be with him. And I can actually feel he wants the same.

We just stayed inside his car and although we are not really in a special location, I feel extremely happy. Minsan talaga it's not about the location or the setting, it is the person whom you are with that makes everything perfect no matter where you are.

Nag-kwentuhan lang kami about sa nangyari sa reunion. I was teasing him because of the award he got and sa mga ibang bagay pang natuklasan ko about sa kanya. After a lot of laughing, the atmosphere got serious.

"Thank you for coming with me. I hope you had a fun time."

"I did. Your friends are all great. Masarap silang kasama. They are all nice."

He was silent for a while and just stared at me. I stared at him as well and we end up laughing again.

"Uh.. about sa sinabi ko kanina. I hope you are not angry."

"Alin doon?"

"Well. Yung about sa naging sagot ko sa t'wing may nagtatanong kung girlfriend ba kita," he answered while scratching his nose. I noticed he does this gesture kapag kinakabahan siya.

"Oh. That. It's fine. I mean, yeah. It's okay." I said smiling.

"Alright." He sighed. "It's getting more late, thank you again for coming with me. I really had a great time in the reunion, more so dahil kasama kita."

"I had a fun time, too. Thank you din. Huwag mo na ako ihatid pa sa taas. I can manage, para makauwi ka na din agad." I said as I opened the car door.

Before I was able to open it though, he held my arm so I had to look back at him.

"The thing I said to them. I am serious, Mirianne. I am yours." he said while looking straight in my eyes.

I felt something fell.

My heart.

*******

We are close to the end of the story. Hope you all stick with me until the end of this book. Also, while waiting for the update on this book, you can check and read my new story, Koi No Yokan. Multiple chapters will be posted for that story every day. :)

Stay safe and healthy everyone! 💕