Fascinated by You (GM Series #1)

14

"Come on, Van. Help me with these!" Pakiusap n'ya sa kaibigan. It was a few days before Maverick's birthday and she wanted to give him a surprise. Hindi pa kasi siya kuntento roon sa tshirt na bigay n'ya rito kaya naman gusto niyang mag-isip ng surprise para rito.

"Have you really given up with Kuya Caius?" Van asked instead.

She sighed and put down her tablet. "Wala naman akong pagasa run," sagot n'ya.

"Kaya suko ka na at kay Maverick ka na lang?" tanong ulit nito.

She shrugged. "I'm not choosing Maverick just because Caius is a hopeless case. You know I won't force feelings for someone I don't feel any," she answered.

"So, you're telling me that you love him now?" Van asked her again.

She smiled. "I'm always happy with him and I know I already have feelings for him," she just said.

"Mahal mo na s'ya," Van stated.

She didn't agree but she also didn't deny it. Kung aaminin n'ya nang mahal na nga n'ya si Maverick, gusto niyang ito mismo ang unang makarinig. For all he have done for her, maliit na premyo na lang rito ang bagay na iyon.

"Tulungan mo na lang kasi ako, please," pakiusap n'ya na lang ulit sa kaibigan n'ya.

Van rolled her eyes and give in. Sa isip n'ya, wala naman siyang karapatang panghimasukan ang personal na buhay ng kanyang kaibigan.

"Ano ba kasing plano mo?" Van asked her.

"Ganito..." she said and started discussing her plans to her friend.

Maverick said that he'll have a small celebration for his birthday, initiated by his sisters. His whole family and friends will be there. Alam niyang nakakahiya ang pinaplano n'ya pero tuwing naiisip n'ya lahat ng mga efforts na ginagawa nito para sa kaniya ay nawawala ang hiya n'ya.

For once, she wants to do something that will be remarkable for the both of them.

"You seem busy these past few days," Maverick asked. They were in his car, eating fast foods that they bought in the drive-thru.

She shrugged. "I'm just working on a project. Medyo nag hahabol na ako ng oras kaya minamadali ko na," she answered. Of course that's a lie!

"Hmm... Do you need my help with that?" Maverick offered.

She smiled but shook her head. "It's fine. Van's already helping me," she answered.

"You sure?" Maverick assures.

"Of course. Just focus on your studies, I know your midterm exams are coming," she said, smiling at him.

"All right," Maverick agreed.

Hinatid siya nito sa kanila at kung noon ay hanggang sa gate lang ito. Ngayon ay nakakapasok na ito sa loob ng kanilang bahay. Minsan ay doon na rin ito nakakapag hapunan.

"How do I look?" she asked Van. They were in their house to finalize her plans.

"You already look good, okay? Kumalma ka nga," Van answered, irritated. Kanina pa kasi siya sila hindi mapakali sa itsura n'ya.

Tonight is Maverick birthday celebration. Sa bahay lang nila ang celebration pero nandun ang buong pamilya nito at ang malalapit na kaibigan. She wanted to look good for them to like her. Ewan n'ya ba, kahit kalian naman ay hindi siya nag effort para lang magustuhan ng iba. Ngayon lang, ngayon lang siya nag effort ng sobra-sobra para lang magustuhan ng pamilya at mga kaibigan ni Maverick.

"Sure ka ba?" she asked Van again.

Van rolled her eyes again. "Oo nga! Maupo ka nga muna. Nahihilo na ako sa iyo," sagot naman nito.

She did and sighed. "Kinakabahan ako. Gosh!" sabi n'ya, shaking her hands.

"Marunong ka palang kabahan, ano?" Van mocked.

"Syempre naman, ano! First time ko kayang gagawin iyon, no."

"Kung kay Kuya Caius kaya, magagawa mo rin 'yan?" Van asked again.

Napairap naman siya sa kaibigan at humalukipkip. "Ikaw, huh! Napapansin na kita, puro na lang Caius ang bukang bibig nitong mga nakaraan. Parang dati ay dini-discourage mo pa ako sa kapatid mo at si Maverick na lang ang pagtuunan ko ng pansin. At ngayon nangyari na nga, sasabihin mo naman sa akin iyan," she said.

Van pouted. "Eh, kasi naman. Dati, sobrang undying ng pagkagusto mo sa Kuya ko, tapos nilandi ka lang ng nilandi ni Maverick, bumigay ka naman agad," she said. "Nakakapagtampo lang. Alam mo naman kung gaano ko kagustong maging kapatid ka," dagdag pa nito.

Maiinis na sana s'ya sa pinag sasasabi nito pero nung sambitin nito ang huling pangungusap nito ay natunaw agad ang inis n'ya. Kaya imbis na sungitan ito, she pulled Van and hugged it.

"You are still a sister for me. Si Maverick man o ang Kuya Caius mo ang makatuluyan ko," sabi n'ya. "At saka malay mo, hindi naman pala talaga si Maverick ang soulmate ko. Edi, babalik ako kay Caius," asar n'ya.

Van pulled away and pulled down some strands of her hair. "Ang landi mo!" sabi nito.

She laughed. "I'm just kidding. Seryoso ako kay Maverick, no! I won't go beyond this if I'm not," she said defensively.

"I know! Kaya nga naiinis ako kasi hindi ka naman ganyan kay Kuya Caius noon. You do efforts to see him but you never done things like these," Van said. "Hindi ka na baliw nang ganito kay Kuya Caius noon," dagdag pa nito.

"Hindi naman kasi nasuklian ni Caius ang feelings ko. Unlike Maverick na ipinaramdam sa akin na mahalaga ako," she answered.

"So, kung pinansin ka ni Kuya Caius ay hindi mo papansin ni Maverick?" Van asked again.

She nodded and laughed. "Malamang! Caius has been my dream, but Maverick. He's that someone I didn't wish to come to but still came. Naiintindihan mo ba?" tanong n'ya rin.

Van shrugged. "Whatever. Nasaan na ba si Maverick mo? Hindi pa ba siya dadating?" tanong na lang nito.

"He's on his way here. He'll be here any minute now," sagot naman n'ya.

They waited for another minutes until Maverick arrived. Mas lalo tuloy siyang kinabahan nang makita n'ya ang ayos nito. Maverick was all smiles seeing her, parang ngayon lang ulit sila nagkita matapos ang mahabang panahon.

"Hey," he greeted them.

"Hi. Happy Birthday," she greeted and kissed him on his cheeks.

"Thank you, baby," sagot nito.

They heard Van scoffed. Nailing na lamang siya sa akto ng kaibigan.

"Let's go?" Maverick asked.

She nodded and smiled at him. Maverick opened the door for the passenger's seat, ganun din sa backseat para kay Vanellope.