Be Mine

41

From the moment he laid his eyes on Lia that night, Carlos cannot help but to get mesmerized again and again. As much as he can, he would stay by her side and feels bad whenever he is needed somewhere to double check on work. So finally, when he saw that Ella started to sing on stage, he took a chance on doing something with her for the first time. He watched Lia be a proud friend by taking pictures of Ella. He looked around and saw how some guests are heading to the dance floor and he does not want to miss that opportunity, too.

Lia is in the middle of taking a video when he whispered to her, "Do you want to dance with me?" She looked at him. He offered his hand, hoping that Lia will take it. She placed her phone down and the smile crept on his face when she took his hand and let him lead her to the dance floor. He wants her close, so he placed his hand on her back, held the other one still close to their bodies, and swayed to the song. He looked at her and just let himself get lost in her beauty.

The chorus of the song started, and he realized how the lyrics agree with the emotions that he currently has for Lia. "Cause all of me loves all of you. All your curves and all your edges. All your perfect imperfections.", he sings along. "Give your all to me. I'll give my all to you. You're my end and my beginning. Even when I lose, I'm winning. 'Cause I give you all of me. And you give me all of you."

Every word of the song is true. He admits it. He is madly in love with this beautiful woman in front of him. Every part of her makes him the happiest and he does not want to deprive himself of that feeling. He doesn't care if she is not ready for him because his love for her is too much that he can wait.

His heartbeat is running a marathon at the way he is holding her. He feels like he is holding a jewel that once he lets go of, he will have a hard time retrieving back. He placed his forehead on hers hoping that their minds will be as one. He hopes that she is thinking the same way as he is. He prays that his heart and mind are aligned to hers because he has decided to give his love to her. He is sure that his heart beats only for her and he cannot take it anymore. He does not want the night to end without her knowing what he genuinely feels.

As the song ends, he opened his eyes and found hers also closed. He calls her, "Lia..." and there, as soon as she opened her eyes, he knows what to do. He needs to profess his love because the longer he waits to tell her, the more wasted time is gone without her knowing what he certainly feels for her.

He took a deep breath and said those three magical words, "I love you."

They heard clapping from their surroundings, but they are still holding on to each other. He is waiting for her to say something, but she is just staring at him, maybe absorbing what he just said.

"Dapat naghintay ka pa. Masyado kang nagmamadali, Caloy. Baka nabigla mo siya.", he felt like he made the wrong decision when his mind started to overthink.

"Ca... Caloy... I...", she is stuttering. She lets go of his hand, but he held on to it and kissed it. She needed assurance and he will give her that. He felt her fear. He had no choice but to smile at her. He pressured her. He should have not done that.

"Lia.. It's fine.", it pained a little but the fact that she is not running away from him is still good. He is still hopeful. He still has her.

"I'm.. I'm sorry...", she says. He nodded. He is convincing himself that he understands and just kissed her temple.

"No, it's my fault.", he says. He led her back to their table, but she excused herself to go to the ladies' room. He lets her be because maybe she needed it. He is at fault. He feels like he ruined their night and feels stupid for doing so.

Lianna tried to walk away from the ballroom as fast as she can. She went inside the ladies' room and locked herself inside an empty cubicle. She took deep breaths hoping that it will calm her fast beating heart. It feels like her heart wants to jump out of her chest after hearing those words from Caloy.