Fascinated by You (GM Series #1)

12

"When's your birthday?" she asked Maverick, they were walking in the mall while their hands were intertwined.

"Why? Are you going to surprise me?" he asked instead.

Inirapan naman n'ya ito. "Just answer me, okay?" ani n'ya.

Maverick laughed. "Twenty first of this month," he answered.

Her eyes widened. "Oh, it's near na pala!"

He shrugged. "I'm turning nineteen and you're still sixteen," sabi naman nito.

"What's wrong with that?" she innocently asked.

"It's wrong because you're still a minor," sagot nito.

Napanguso naman siya. "When age become a problem?" tanong n'ya ulit.

Maverick stopped walking, he turned to her while brow is arching. "Akala ko ba ay alam mong hindi pwede ang edad natin at pwede akong makulong kung ipipilit ko ang sarili ko sa'yo?" tanong nito sa kan'ya.

"Pinipilit mo ba ako ngayon?" she asked as well.

Maverick shook his head. "Stop being cute, baby. Baka mahalikan kita dito," sabi na lang nito sa kan'ya.

It was her turn to laugh. "All right, Move," sabi n'ya rin tapos ay nanguna nang maglakad. Maverick followed her immediately, holding her hands again, tighter this time.

"It's the first time you call me that," sabi nito.

She shrugged. "Would you rather want me to call you Maverick?" she asked him."Or Epal? Jerk?"

"I would love it if you call me baby as well," he answered instead.

Natawa naman siya at nailing. "Ewan ko sa'yo," sagot n'ya.

They went around the mall, kumain sa Japanese restaurant, watched a movie and went shopping.

"Ano nga kasing gusto mo?" she asked Maverick, but the latter kept on shaking his head.

She was asking him to choose something as her gift for his birthday. Pero ayaw namang pumili nito.

"Hindi na nga kasi kailangan. I'm content of being with you," inismiran naman n'ya ito.

"This isn't the time with your sweet words, lover boy. Sige na kasi, huwag mo na akong pahirapan," pilit n'ya.

Natawa naman ito. "I'm serious, baby. Wala na akong ibang gusto kung hindi ikaw," sabi pa nito.

Gusto niyang mag sungit ngunit hindi naman n'ya mapigilang mapangiti. Ngumuso na lamang tuloy siya para itago ang kilig.

"Seryoso din kasi ako. For once, I want to give you something," kulit n'ya pa.

Ever since they started going out, it was always Maverick that's giving. At kahit gustuhin man n'yang makihati, panay naman itong tumatanggi. Leaving her no choice but to give in. And now that she has a chance to give him something, she won't miss it again.

"Please?" pakiusap n'ya pa.

Maverick sighed. "Okay," sabi nito. They were in a signature clothing shop because she wanted to give him something he could wear often.

"This one," sabi nito sabay kuha ng kulay gray na sweatshirt sa rack ng mga damit.

"Ayan lang?" tanong n'ya.

"Yeah. I'm good at this," sagot naman nito.

She shook her head again. "Pili ka pa," ani n'ya. Maverick was about to protest but she glared at him, telling him that she'll go real mad if he kept declining her offers.

"Right," sabi nito tapos ay nanguha pa ulit ng isang polo shirt. Akala n'ya ay tapos na ito pero pagbalik nito ay may bitbit ulit itong gray na sweatshirt.

"Meron ka na niyan," sabi n'ya sabay turo sa sweatshirt.

Maverick shook his head. "This is yours. Para couple tayo," sabi nito.

Natawa naman s'ya. "Corny mo," sabi na lang n'ya.

In the end, si Maverick rin ang nag bayad ng para sa sweatshirt nila at iyong t-shirt lang ang nabayaran n'ya. Maverick and his ego.

"May gusto ka pa bang bilhin?" he asked her. He was already holding five paper bags on his hand.

She shook her head. "Okay na yan," sabi nito. "Let's wear the shoes during Fridays, okay?" dagdag n'ya. Bukod kasi sa sweatshirt, they also bought a 'couple' shoes. A white rubber shoes.

"How about the sweatshirt?" tanong naman nito.

She shrugged. "Siguro pag may bagyo or pag malamig na? Sa December?" she replied.

Natawa naman ito sabay abot sa kamay n'ya. Holding it tight. "Gusto mo pang kumain?" tanong ulit nito.

"Busog pa ako. But we can dine in if you're hungry," sabi n'ya, compromising on him.

Maverick shook his head. "Mag drive-thru na lang tayo. Uwi na ba tayo?" tanong ulit nito.

She looked at her wristwatch, it's almost 6pm and she wasn't able to tell her dad that she'll be out for that long. Nag text lang s'ya na lalabas saglit, hindi naman n'ya inaasahan na aabutin pala siya ng ilang oras.

"Yeah. Baka hinahanap na rin ako ni Dad. Hindi ko kasi nasabi na matagal akong mawawala," sagot n'ya.

Instantly, she saw concern on Maverick's face. "Pagagalitan ka?" tanong nito.

"No. Hindi naman nagagalit si Dad tuwing mag gagala ako, but I always make sure that I'll tell him where I'm going so he won't worry about me," she answered.

Maverick smiled. "Very good," sabi nito. "Hatid na kita," sabi pa nito.

And when Maverick said hatid na kita, he really meant that. Dahil hinatid talaga siya nito hindi lang sa tapat ng bahay nila kundi hanggang sa loob! He said he want to talk to her dad, explain why she took hours outside.

"I told you, Dad doesn't mind wherever I go as long as I inform him," she said.

"I know, but I still want to talk to introduce myself to your Dad," he said.

"Why?" she asked, eyes wide open.

"To tell him that you're safe with me. That he doesn't have to worry about you because I'll make sure that you're always safe," sagot nito.

She was nervous, she can't deny that. It was the first time that she'll bring home a guy to introduce to her dad. Pasalamat na lamang s'ya at wala pa ang kuya n'ya sa nahay, kun'di, siguradong mas mahirap ang sitwasyon n'ya.

But hearing Maverick's words, she slowly calmed down. Knowing that she brought a good man to their house.

Her dad came after a moment. Nasa wheelchair ito habang tulak-tulak ng private nurse nito. Her dad is suffering stroke from the heart attack he got months ago.

"Dad!" she walked to her dad and kissed it on the cheek. Diretso naman ang tingin nito sa kasama n'ya.

"Good evening po," Maverick greeted.

"Good evening," her Dad replied.

"Uhm... Dad, this is Maverick po," pakilala n'ya.

"Boyfriend mo?" her dad said.

Halos mabulunan naman siya sa sariling laway sa sinabi nito.

"Hindi pa po. But I'm courting her, I hope you let me po," sagot naman ni Maverick.

"Ilang taon ka na?"

"I'm turning 19 in a few days po."

"My daughter's still 16. Alam mo naman sigurong hindi pa pwede ang edad n'ya," sabi ng daddy n'ya.

Maverick nodded. "I'm very much aware of that po. But I'm not rushing anything between us. I won't mind waiting for another year until I can finally have her," Maverick answered.