"Date ulit tayo!"

Bungad sa akin ni Kaid. He invited me to go on a lunch earlier, but I didn't expect that this will be a date again. He even reserved the whole restaurant for our date.

"Bakit ka naka-titig sa restaurant? Ayaw mo ba rito? Okay, magpapa-reserve na lang ako ng ibang restaurant. Ano bang restaurant ang gusto mo?" he asked, smiling.

I immediately shook my head. "Don't worry, I like this restaurant. It's just that I didn't expect na magde-date ulit tayo. We're almost dating everyday now, huh?"

"Mas maganda kaya 'yon. The often we date, the higher the chance you will answer me,' he chuckled might as well as me. "Whoa, english din 'yun, ah," he said in between his chuckles. 

"How much are you sure that I will answer yes at hindi rejection ang matatanggap mo?"

"99.9% sure. May .1% na hindi sure kasi it's up to you kung gagawin mong 100% na yes ang sagot mo. Besides, hindi naman kita pipilitin na sagutin mo ako. Choice mo pa rin 'yun sa huli. I'm just making sure na sulit ang mga naging at magiging date natin."

We smiled to each other, and to my astonishment, he held my hand as we entered the restaurant. Hindi ko pa nga nabati 'yung gurad kasi naka-titig lang ako sa kamay namin na magka-hawak, still can't believe it.

Suddenly, it made my heart beat faster than a normal heartbeat. And I also felt my cheeks reddened. Kinikilig ba ako? Nang mas higpitan pa niya ang hawak ng kamay niya sa hawak, it just made my heart beat even faster.

Confirmed, kinikilig nga ako.

We sat and Kaid ordered our food. "Para kang kamatis diyan, Dariantha," Kaid teased me, and that just even made my cheeks reddened more! "Uy, kinikilig siya. Malaki yata ang tiyansa kong yes ang makuhang sagot mula sa'yo, ah."

"Our foods are here," I told him nang dumating na nga ang foods namin. Saved by the foods! 

I felt awkward while eating with him while he just continued teasing me. I even forgot my plan, but thank God, he kept on reminding me about it without him knowing. "Sige na kasi, Dariantha. Hindi naman masama kung aamin ka na kinikilig ka, e. Amin amin din 'pag may time."

"Hindi nga sabi ako kinikilig," I lied. "Let's just eat." He stopped teasing me pero I can still see the smile on his face. After we ate, he invited me to go to the park. When we arrived, I was surprised because I can't see any people here except from us. "Hey, Kaid. Why aren't there people here?" I asked him.

It is Saturday today at ganitong araw ang maraming mga tao rito, but looking at it now. Wala talagang tao!

"Pina-reserve ko rin itong buong park," he grinned that made my forehead twitched. "Ito naman, siyempre, joke lang 'yun. Pinakiusapan ko lang 'yung mga tao na 'wag muna pumunta rito para solo muna natin ang buong park. Galing ko, ano?"

"Huh? How did you make them obey you?"

"Secret na 'yun," he winked at me bago siya maglatag ulit ng picnic blanket sa damuhan. But of course, we're not going to eat here kaya niya ginawa 'yon. We just ate a few minutes ago.

"What are we going to do here, then?" I sat when he also sat. 

Instead of answering, he faced me with a serious face. His funny side faded that made me swallow the lump in throat. "Dariantha, gusto kitang tanungin." 

He then looked at my eyes.

"Can you be my girlfriend?"

It echoed in my whole mind. And before I can even think, bigla na lang akong tumango. Besides, this was true plan. I will answer him yes today pero naunahan niya lang ako nang magtanong siya

"Ano nga ulit sagot?" nanlalaki ang mga mata na tanong niya.

"I said yes," I told him.

"Puwede paki-ulit, please?"

"Yes, I can be your girlfriend," I smiled.

"Yes! Girlfriend na kita!" Tumayo siya at hinila ako. He hugged me after. "Hindi mo alam kung gaano mo ako napasaya, Dariantha. Nanaginip ba ako? If yes, sana hindi na ako magising."

Binatukan ko siya. "You're not dreaming, this is a reality, Kaid. I just answered you. At oo, I'm your girlfriend now."

"Totoo nga! Girlfriend na nga talaga kita! So ano gusto mo itawag ko sa'yo? Babe? Baby? Darling? Sweethearts?"

Instead of answering, we ended up laughing with each other. We talked more before he invited mo to go somewhere. Noong una, hindi pa ako pumayag, but Kaid as Kaid, napa-payag niya rin ako.

He's holding my hand while driving at puro ngiti lang ako. Yes, I already like this man beside me. Like pa lang, hindi pa love. But maybe, soon, I will also love this man. I'm just happy that I can call him 'my boyfriend' now.

Even him, the smile on his isn't fading. Kahit medyo traffic, he's still smiling na para bang nanalo siya sa lotto. He covered my eyes when we arrived at our destination. Minutes later, he opened it and...

"Hi, guys! Gusto kong sabihin na kami na ni Dariantha!" he announced it to our friends, and they looked shocked.

I even saw how Ackley clenched his fist, jaw clenched. Dalton punched my boyfriend. And Lynn was so happy. 

Kinuwento ni Kaid ang nangyari kung paano ko siya sinagot. When I diverted my gaze to Ackley, he's just staring at me, no emotion can be seen on his face. I forced a smile to him bago ko nilipat na lang ang tingin ko kay Lynn.

Actually, if it's Kaid who called them, I don't expect Ackley to be here kasi nga, they looked like enemy. Pero baka siguro bati na sila? Uh, I don't know at all.

"Bayaw, nakaka-ilan ka na," angal ni Kaid nang suntukin ulit siya ng kapatid ko.

"Bakit hindi ka muna humingi ng permiso sa akin before asking sister to be your girlfriend?!" he exclaimed.

"Bayaw naman, hindi naman ikaw ang gusto ko maging girlfriend kaya hindi na ako humingi ng permiso," he grinned, but it faded when he received a punch on his gut again. "Sorry na, bayaw. Wait."

"Ano?!"

He first took a deep breath. "Bayaw, okay lang ba kung tanungin ko sa kapatid mo na can she be my girlfriend?"

Bigla namang naibuga ni Lynn ang iniinom niyang tubig sa mukha ni Kaid. "Hala, sorry," she laughed.

"Sorry tapos tatawa ka? Sira ka na, Lynn?" he angrily asked. Kaid started to wipe off the water and Lynn's saliva on his face. "Kadiri ka, Lynn. Buti na lang, walang tao bukod sa atin kung hindi baka viral ka na."

"Your fault," she said in between her laughs. 

He winced before he looked at my brother again. "O, ano na, bayaw? Nagpa-alam na ako, ha."

"G*go!" he shouted.

He just laughed it off and diverted his gaze to Ackley. He's smirking now. "Ackley, bro, bakit naman ganiyan ang mukha mo? Hindi ka ba masaya para sa amin?"

"I will never be happy if ikaw lang din ang magiging boyfriend ni Dariantha," he shrugged. "Besides, you're not even qualified to be his boyfriend. 'Wag ka mag-alala, magbe-break din kayo," he smirked nang makitang nawala bigla ang ngisi sa labi ni Kaid.

I looked at him. "What are you saying, Ackley?" kumunot ang noo ko.

"Nagbi-biro lang ako, Dariantha. It's up to him if he will take it seriously."

Bigla namang tumawa si Kaid. "Siyempre, alam kong nagbi-biro ka lang dahil hindi naman niya ako sasagutin kung hindi kami bagay, Ackley." He wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Bayaw, kailan ba puwede si Tita Delayza?" he turned to my brother again.

"Why?" he raised his brow. Magsasalita na sana si Kaid when he saw that Lynn wrapped her hands around Dalton's shoulder tapos may binulong. "Tigilan mo nga ako, Lynn. Remove your hand around my shoulder."

Then, I remembered what I saw yesterday again. Siguro naman they will say it if they are really dating, right? I sighed as I shrugged that thought.

"Dalton, pleaseㅡ"

"Anong sasabihin mo, Kaiden?" he halted her. Napa-buntong hininga na lamang si Lynn bago tanggalin ang mga kamay niya sa braso ni Dalton.

"Gusto ko kasing i-meet si Tita as boyfriend ni Dariantha. So, kaila nga siya free, bayaw?"

His forehead twitched. "Boyfriend ka pa lang niya, Kaiden, you're not still her fiancee. Kaya wala ka munag karapatan i-meet si Mom."

I heard na natawa kaunti si Ackley sa upuan niya. "Grabe ka naman, bayaw. Mapanakit ka, ha." He even acted that he's hurting by holding on his chest. 

"Hindi ako mapanakit, nagsa-sabi lang ng totoo." Hindi na napigilan ni Ackley ang tawa niya. He burst out laughing so loud. He even held his stomach when he can't breath anymore because of laughing. 

Nakita kong magsa-salita na sana si Dalton para sawayin sana siguro si Ackley, but he stopped. Hay, Dalton. I think you're not mad anymore to Ackley, and you're just acting because of you're pride.

"Ackley, stop it," I told him. Ako na lang dahil wala naman yata silang balak.

"Sorry, Dariantha. I just can't stop myself sa pagtawa." And because malapit lang ako sa kaniya, ginulo niya ulit ang buhok ko. "Sige, I'll go na," he smiled before he went outside.

Huh? It's not even 30 minutes since we arrived. Ang aga naman yata 'nun umalis? Baka may gagawin lang siguro.

I went back to reality when Kaid snapped his fingers in front of me. "Kanina ka pa nakatingin sa pintuan, gusto mo na ba umuwi?"

I shook my head. "Hindi pa. I just remembered something, sorry," I lied.

Inabot na kami ng dinner doon, so we ate dinner before going home. Inihatid ako ni Kaid sa bahay using his car.

"Bye, girlfriend!" he waved his hand.

"Bye, boyfriend!" I smiled before I went inside our house.

~💐To be continued💐~