Limerence (Dauntless Series #2)

Chapter 32

"Why are we still not kissing?" I uttered after a long moment of silence. I faced him so I can assure that he's not gonna make some excuses. You know, once someone is guarding you, you get tensed and all. The pressure will only push you to speak of the truth, and that's what I'm doing to Marceu.

"I thought you're fine with it?"

Hinampas ko ang kaniyang braso. Sa gulat ay bigla niyang nahawakan ang busina. I didn't mean it but I won't apologize. "But it took me three long years waiting for your lips to touch mine! Just let me feel that butterflies in my stomach again!"

He shook his head in disbelief, but still laughing. "For all I know, you kissed somebody else while you're away."

My eyes widened at what he just said. If I try to explain and deny his conclusion, that will only make me defensive. But I want to be honest with him either.

Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo. I heard him clicked his tongue and chuckle afterward. He got me there. I have no other reasons to argue and tell him the truth.

"I did... with Liam."

Tumango siya. "Nasabi niya sa akin."

"Nag-usap kayo? Kailan?"

"When he was bound to go back to France. Just a quick conversation."

Natahimik ako. I wonder what other things did they talk about. Ako ba ang laman ng mga pinag-usapan nila? Ano naman iyon, bukod sa nangyari sa amin ni Liam?

"I'm sorry, Marceu..."

"Why do you keep saying sorry even if it's not your fault? I am not mad, if that's what you're thinking. You are a single woman when it happened and you are free to kiss anybody that you like. I am not gonna hold you accountable for that." Nilingon niya ako. He's not being sarcastic or mean or bitter and that's the mystery for me. O baka sa loob niya, nagseselos talaga siya at pinipigilan niya lang na ilabas iyon dahil ayaw niyang makita ko na nagseselos siya.

"Well, do you?"

"I think you forgot, Saoirse. I told you I'd rather be single than kiss another woman that's not you."

Napangiti na lamang ako roon. He knows when to shut me up with a great tactic that also happened to be my weakness.

We are on our way to Manila to visit some museums and its historic walled area, Intramuros. We decided to go to the museum first and later in Intramuros because I wanted to see its beauty during the nighttime. Matagal ko nang gustong pumunta rito ngunit lagi namang busy ang mga kaibigan ko at kung mag-isa
lang ako, baka maligaw pa ako.

Kumain muna kami sa isang fastfood chain sa likuran lamang ng National Museum of Anthropology. Maraming tao pagdating namin doon. Iginala ko ang mga mata ko para maghanap ng bakanteng upuan at nang may makita ay agad kong hinila si Marceu roon bago pa man kami maunahan ng iba. Sa tabi namin ay ang katawan ng isang puno na nasa loob ng transparent glass. I commend the company for not cutting the tree. It is a refreshing sight and definitely a center of attraction for everybody.

Si Marceu na ang nagpresintang umorder ng makakain namin. He's standing out in the middle of the crowd because of his height. Mas matangkad siya ng kaunti kay Seamus so he's probably a 6 footer. Ang babae sa kabilang pila ay tiningala si Marceu. Agad itong bumaling sa mga kaibigan niya at may sinabi. Kumunot ang noo ko nang makitang humagikhik ang mga ito.

I cannot accept the fact that my boyfriend is still oblivious even when people are shamelessly gawking at him. Diretso lamang itong nakatingin sa mga menu kaya hindi napapansin ang nangyayari sa gilid niya. Pumangalumbaba ako at natawa na lamang.