Be Mine

33

Caloy insisted on walking her to her unit despite telling him that the lobby driveway is fine. They walk, hands still together, until they reach the front of her door. She can't help but to look at their hands and savor the moment of him rubbing her fingers. She looks up to him and smiles.

"Thank you, Caloy. You made me very happy today."

He smiled at her. "That was my goal, right?", he tells her.

"And you achieved it. So really, thank you." She can't explain the feelings that she had that day. It was a rollercoaster, but it was all good and she is extremely grateful for him.

"Anytime, Lia. Dadating ako sa tabi mo hangga't kailangan mo ako at hangga't kaya ko.", he tells her. She felt his hand trying to let go of hers and she does not want that, so she held it tighter. He gave her a look and realized that she needed to say something to him. Her mind has been denying it the whole day, but she knows her heart is sure about what she is currently feeling.

"Lia.. is there something – "

"Caloy, I know you said you will wait for me...", she interrupted him. She wants to say it now. It feels like she needed to already. She looked at him and Caloy is waiting for her to continue.

"I.. Caloy.." How do you tell him something that is going to change both their lives? "I'm.. I think.." She must stop stuttering and just say it to him. She is feeling both good and bad on how this may go. "I think I'm not ready..", she says. She looked at him and she saw how his face changed. Now she felt like crying. She can feel her eyes getting watery because she feels overwhelmed and she does not want to cry in front of Caloy. She felt him squeeze their hands and she wants more of that. She wants more of the comfort and security that she gets from him.

"Lia...", he calls her. She can feel the nervousness from his voice but she is nervous, too.

"I think I'm not ready, but I want to be...", her heart is just thumping too fast and she can't keep up, but she's deeply rooted to her decision. "So, I'm going to give you a chance."

"What... anong... anong ibig mong sabihin?", he asks. Lia feels like Caloy is confused and she is, too but she cannot forget that one night that they are together.

"Naalala mo nung nalasing ako sa bar?", he nodded. "Sabi mo, kapag napalaya ko na ang sarili ko at handa na ako, hayaan kita na alagaan ako.." She knew she was drunk but when he told her that, it got stuck in her mind. It stayed like a promise and she wants that promise to be fulfilled. "Caloy, I know na pinalaya ko na yung sarili ko pero alam ko na hindi pa ako handa but I want to give you a chance... I want this chance... because..."

"Because?", he awaits. Lia knows that when she says the next few words, there is no turning back.

"Because I'm starting to like you, too!"

She finally said it. There is no denying it. She proved that the day with him made a huge impact in her life and he deserves of giving him a chance. Her mind maybe confused but her heart is sure. Her heart is happy and that is what she wanted. She looked at Caloy, there hands still holding on to each other, and she can't explain how he is feeling. Is he okay?

"Lia..", she smiles. Why does her name sound nicer when he says it? She felt him move closer and the next thing that happened, she felt his lips on her head that made the butterflies in her stomach flutter endlessly.

"Thank you, Lia. I promise, you won't regret this."

She stepped back and smiles at him again. "Caloy, I am holding on to that promise."

He nodded. "Thank you for making me happy and as much as I want to stay tonight, I will let you rest."

She nodded. "I'll see you soon?"