The Mayor's Girl

chapter 20

After arguing with V, we finally made up. Papunta na kami sa condo ko nang biglang tumawag si papa.

"Pa?" I pressed the green button. Napatingin naman sa akin si Vico at sinenyasan ko siyang teka lang. "Yanne, nasaan ka?" Ang boses niya'y sinadyang palakasin dahil nga sa ingay ng background niya. Nasa site ata 'to.

"Car ni Vico, pa. Pauwi na rin." I felt Vico's stare at me. Hinayaan ko lang siya. Ba't kaya biglang napatawag 'to? 

"Ah, ganoon ba? Sige mag-ingat kayo, hija. Balitaan ko nalang ako pagdating mo sa condo." Binabaan niya ako agad ng tawag at ang weird. Anong balitaan siya? Ako na nga mismo nagtetext sa kanya kasi sobra niyang busy para isipin pa ako.

Hindi nagtagal, dumating na kami sa building ng condo ko. Agad kaming bumaba sa sasakyan at umakyat na sa unit ko. Weirdly, Vico was just behind me. Hindi siya sumubok na hawakan ang kamay ko o akbayan ako.

Pagdating namin sa unit ko, kinuha ko ang susi mula sa bag ko at binuksan na ang pinto nito.

Napa-awang ang mga labi ko at parang nag-init ang mukha ko sa nakita. Ang dining table namin ay napalibutan ng mga kandila at petals ng rose. May wine at steak din sa mesa at napaka-romantic ng ere.

May isang piano sa sala at nilagpasan ako ni V para puntahan iyon. Naestatwa pa rin ako sa kinatatayuan ko. He did this? All this? For me?

Nakatayo siya sa harapan ng piano. Huminga siya ng malalim at umupo. He started to create a tune. Five seconds in and I knew what it was. It was the piano solo sa umpisa ng the Notebook. Naluluha ako agad.

His attention was on the piano keys alone and he sang it from his heart, with utmost concentration and sincerity. How many more surprises, Victor Sotto? Don't you think I'm in love with you enough already? Hindi pa ba sapat itong nararamdaman ko at mas nahuhulog pa rin ako sa'yo?

Nagsimula akong maglakad papalapit sa kanya. May halong drag ito dahil gusto ko mang ipakita kay Vico kung gaano ako ko siya ka-mahal pero ayaw ko ring istorbohin siya sa pagppiano niya.

Ang mga mata niya'y nasa akin na ngayon. It spoke volumes of how he felt for me at this moment. Naabot ko na ang kinaroroonan niya at hindi ko alam ano ang mararamdaman ko, sa totoo lang.

I placed my hands on his shoulder and I felt his warm lips brush my knuckles. Pinaghalong saya, kaba, nerbyos at kilig ang nararamdaman ko. Para saan nga ba ito?

Bigla siyang tumayo at hinarap ako. "Maria Yanne Torres," Simula niyang tawag sa akin at para na akong nalulunod sa mga damdamin ko para sa kanya. 

"Will you be mine?" Napa-awang ang mga labi ko sa tanong niya. Tumango ako at tumulo na ang luhang naipon sa mga mata ko kanina. Tango lang ang naisagot ko pero sa utak ko, nasabi ko na ata lahat ng "oo" sa benteng lenggwahe. 

His face lit up and he immediately enveloped me in his arms. I laughed out of happiness as his warmth welcomed me like it was a home. Like it was my home. 

"I am so in love with you." He said it in a whisper yet it gave me so much assurance, content and bliss all at the same time. 

He let go of me and suddenly the world was at a halt, only V and I mattered in this moment. He cupped my face and slowly drew himself nearer.

Napa-awang mga labi ko at agaran itong nasundan ng mga mata ni Vico. I didn't have any hesitations as I tiptoed and allowed our lips to meet sooner than he intended.

It was light brush. A feathery one yet it set off sparks inside me. It felt like my heart was both happy but on fire. We parted for a little bit, overwhelmed with what just happened. 

"Was it your first?" Ang boses niya'y napapaos at nahihiya akong tumango. I was nineteen and from a conservative family. I didn't want to give it away to anyone. It had to be someone special. In this lifetime, Vico was my special.

"I love you." His emotions were evident on his eyes as it bore into mine. Kumakalabog ang puso ko dahil sa saya at kaba. Hinawakan ko ang batok niya at siniil ulit ng halik. He was taken aback at first but he immediately responded.

The kiss felt like a love letter. A declaration of feelings, a confirmation of a gut. I felt him smile against the kiss. He knew I felt the same, if not, mas matindi pa nga.

He held the back of my head of support as he continued sucking on my lower lip. He allowed me to sit on the piano's bench. After a few moments of fireworks and flames, of excitement and contentment, we parted to breathe.

He had so much joy in his eyes as I laughed at his boyish smile. I knew deep inside me this was no Manila boy fling. I fell. And it was hard. I fell hard for this man. 

I bit my lip and finally said it back. In the truest and rawest form of me. 

"Gihigugma tika."