🌺

"Did you just kiss me?!" George blurted out while touching her lips. Saying that she was shocked at what he did was an understatement. "On the lips?!"

"Pretty much," Dos simply replied—unaffected. He still had one arm propped on the wall.

"B-But... But..."

She was currently having a mental and emotional breakdown because of that. Hindi tuloy siya makapah-habi ng sasabihin dito.

"That was my first kiss!" That was all she could blurt out. "I-I'm fourteen! That's... that's not allowed!"

Rinig niya ang magaang pagtawa ni Dos sabay ayos ng tayo sa kanyang harapan. He lightly brushed his lower lip with the back of his forefinger before turning away.

"If it's any consolation, it was my first kiss too."

Napasinghap siya. She could clearly see a light shade of crimson slowly showing on his cheeks. Was he blushing?!

"I won't say sorry I did that but I would like to clear that I originally had no intention of kissing you," anito making her forehead crease. Sakto namang napabaling ito sa kanya. "At least not until you turn 18."

"Then why'd you do it?!" She was still panicking—or maybe not but her heart's still beating so fast she didn't know why so she settled on that. "Why did you kiss me if you had not intended it pala?"

"Dahil ang kulit mo," seryosong sagot nito. "I had to prove to you that I like you."

"Prove? Are you dumb? There's flowers or chocolates," she said rolling her eyes. "Or maybe both. Duh."

Again, he chuckled. "So, ayaw mo?"

Her mouth gaped—not knowing what to actually answer. She'd lie if she say she didn't like it. Even if it was just for a few seconds, she felt so much electricity travel inside her body. Hindi niya maintindihan pero, she felt so many butterflies rambling inside her stomach. Tapos her heart was drumming so loudly she almost went deaf. Or she did and all she's hearing from Dos right now is a product of her imagination.

Ganito ba? Is this what those Disney princesses feel when their prince kisses them? So does this mean it's happily ever after na?

"Georgina," pukaw nito sa kanya making her jump a bit. As she turned to face him again, he had this clear expression of pain and helplessness. "Did you... did you not like it?"

With that ay inilayo ni Dos ang tingin sa kanya't napahawak sa batok. All of a sudden ay parang hindi na si Dos ang kaharap niya. It was like he turned into this unsure and shy boy with a pained look on his face. That made her feel a sudden sharp stab on her chest.

"I apologize for being too forward—"

He didn't let him finish and tiptoed to kiss him on his cheek. Both her hands were on his shoulder as her support.

"It's okay," she said softly. Her cheeks burning from embarrassment but it was okay. If he could be honest with his feelings, shouldn't she be honest too? "I... I kinda liked it..."

Her words came out like a whisper but it was enough for him to face her again. His eyes weren't cold and empty anymore. Instead, they were warm and so full of hope.

Suddenly, her hear started beating fast again.

"Kinda?" She bit her lower lip and nodded. "Wow. You know how to bruise one's ego really well, Georgina."

"Y-You caught me off-guard kaya!" she immediately defended herself. And of course, the kinda part was a total lie. "I mean, I liked it pero... bawal kasi. I'm just fourteen. I shouldn't be doing this."

Dos heaved a sigh. "I know. But you're too stubborn so it wasn't all my fault."

"Excuse me?" His statement suddenly made her raise an eyebrow. "So are you saying it's my kasalanan pa pala?"

"I don't know," he said shrugging. "You tell me, Georgina. Malay ko ba kung isa itong elaborate plan mo para halikan kita."

Her mouth gaped at the same time he flashed her his signature smirk. The teasing one. And there's even an added bonus with that hint of kapilyuhan in his eyes.

"Ugh! You're so annoying!" She pushed him playfully making him chuckle again. "I hate you."

"No," he said catching her arm and pulling her towards him. "You like me."

His deep, playful voice suddenly made her blush again. Grabe talaga this guy! Now she understands why the girls at school are fawning over him.

Not only is he gwapo but he's also a natural charmer. It wasn't the usual princely-type of charm but it was the dark knight kind of vibe. All girls—including her, are suckers for the the dangerous and bad boy kind. Like that vampire guy in that TV show. Damon something.

She just rolled her eyes nang hindi na niya maitago at ma-contain ang nararamdamang kilig. This guy, really.

"Feelingero much."

"Bakit, hindi ba totoo?"

Again, she just rolled her eyes. But this time, she secretly smiled.

She still couldn't believe it. Dos. Kissed. Her. Was she dreaming? Hallucinating? Or did she accidentally travelled to a different world where Dos Montecillo actually like her? Everything was so unreal!

"We should head out," Dos suddenly said making her look back at him. Iminuwestra nito sa kanya ang may bandang bintana. It was starting to get dark na.

Tumango siya and followed him down the hallway. As they walked, hindi niya maiwasang mapatingin sa kamay nito as it swayed while walking. It looked so soft. How will it feel kaya if she holds it?

OMG, George! What are you thinking?!

She immediately looked away but still continued walking. Kung anu-ano nanaman kasi ang pumapasok sa isip niya. She heaved a sigh bago maya-maya ay napatingin nanaman sa kamay nito.

Mukhang napansin naman agad 'yon ni Dos so he stopped making her bump on his back.

"Ouch!" she yelled. "What was that for?!"

"You wanna hold hands?" tanong nito ignoring her latter question. Napaangat siya ng tingin dito and raised an eyebrow.

"W-What?" Bigla ay nag-init ang kanyang mga pisngi.

"I said, do you want to hold my hand?" he repeated. "Kanina ka pa kasi nakatingin sa kamay ko."

"N-No kaya!" tanggi niya naman agad which made her sound a bit more guilty. "I was looking sa floor kaya."

"Sure..." Dos said in a teasing manner before he started to walk again. She didn't understand why pero, bigla siyang napasimangot.

He didn't even make pilit. Ugh.

But then, nagulat na lang siya when Dos suddenly turned around and held her hand. She automatically looked at him wide-eyed.

"Kunwari ka pa," he mumbled before gently pulling her closer to him.

Oh my gosh! He's holding my hand!

Dumoble nanaman ang bilis ng tibok ng kanyang puso as they made their way back to the library—hands entwined. Her eyes couldn't stop glancing on their hands kasi hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala that he's doing this.

Does this mean ba that they're already dating? Are they together? Did they just skip the whole courting thing? Hindi pwede! Plus, her dad might get mad at her kasi she can't have a boyfriend pa. She's only fourteen years old kaya!

"I'm guessing your talk went well?"

Naagaw ang kanyang pansin when she heard Jarvis' voice. Nasa labas na ito ng library at nakasabit ang backpack sa isang balikat while her bag was on the other. The guy then turned towards her and smiled.

"The library was closing so I took the liberty of fixing your stuff up. I hope you don't mind," anito as he slipped her bag off at abutin sa kanya.

"T-Tha—" But before she could take it, naunahan na siya ni Dos.

"Salamat," Dos said in a firm tone that made Jarvis chuckle a bit. "Kay River ka na sumabay. Tell him to take my stuff too."

"Dala mo yung motor?" the latter said taking side glances at her that made a small blush creep on her cheeks.

"Oo," Dos answered monotonously. He was still holding her hands so she's sure na nakita na 'yon ni Jarvis. "Now go. Naaalibadbaran ako sa mukha mo."

Her eyes grew wide at the sudden harshness of Dos sa pinsan nito. But Jarvis didn't seem to mind it and was just grinning.

"Okay. Ingat kayo kuya," Jarvis said—still grinning. "I can hear the police sirens from here. Pero next year ka pa daw huhulihin."

Napatingin siya kay Dos who looked like he was about to murder a family member. But before he could say anything, Jarvis turned towards her.

"Bye, George," he said. "Ingat ka. See you tomorrow—"

"Not likely," putol dito bigla ni Dos at hinila na siya palayo. She didn't even get a chance to speak and thank Jarvis for taking care of her stuff.

She didn't have any choice but to follow Dos as they walked towards the school's parking area. Tahimik lang din siya because their hands were still clasped together and her heart was still in shock. Her brain din pero yung heart niya yung sobrang hindi mapakali.

Ganito ba when you like someone?

"That was so rude," she muttered as they arrived sa may parking area and he let go of her hand. She's pertaining to Dos' behavior, not the hand thing. "I wasn't even able to say good bye to you cousin."

"Why do you have to say good bye to him?" kunot-noong tanong nito. "Close ba kayo?"

That made her pout. Kanina he was all chuckling and smiley. Now he's suddenly back to his old rude self. Ang annoying.

"Where are we going ba?" she said rolling her eyes and folding her arms. "I have sundo, you know."

"Ako na maghahatid sa'yo pauwi." He said that as if it wasn't a request but an order. Wow. He's so bossy talaga.

Then bigla nitong tinanggal ang suot na jacket at inabot 'yon sa kanya.

"Tie this to your waist."

As if she had any choice. He said he likes her pero bakit ganito nanaman siya? Like he's a different person nanaman. He super confusing!

After giving her a ride home ay agad din naman itong umalis. Good thing wala pa ang mommy at daddy niya kaya she didn't need to explain why a guy just dropped her off and hindi na siya nagpasundo sa driver nila.

She ran upstairs, changed her clothes and opened her laptop. She needed to finish her tasks pa and some of her homework. But before she could do any of that, her phone suddenly rang.

"Hello?"

"Eat your dinner and sleep early."

Napasinghap siya nang matinigan ang boses sa kabilang linya.

"D-Dos?" She knew it was him pero she needed to make sure.

"You don't have my number saved?" tanong nito bigla sa kabilang linya. "You wound me, Georgina."

Napatingin siya sa screen ng kang cellphone and it was indeed Dos. She didn't get a chance to look at it kasi when she picked up. A wicked idea came into her head.

"Why would I save your number ba in the first place?" If dati, he's the only one allowed to tease her, ngayon it's her turn naman. "Ano ba kita?"

"Your crush," diretsong sagot nito. Even if nasa call sila, she could sense that a smirk was slowly forming on his face. That made her eyes roll.

"Conceited," she mumbled. Narinig niya ang magaang pagtawa nito sa kabilang linya. "Why are you laughing?"

"Ang cute mo."

"I'm not cute. I'm beautiful," she said rolling her eyes again. How did he manage to turn this around to her? Ugh.

"I know."

With those two words she immediately fell silent. But the sound of her heart beating so loudly, feeling niya ay nabingi siya bigla.

Did he just say that? He agreed?

"Wag ka muna masyadong kiligin diyan."

"I'm not kinikilig kaya," she answered. A lie, obviously. "Feeling."

Again, she heard Dos' soft chuckle on the other line. Hindi niya talaga mapigilang mapangiti. Dos' gummy smile flashes in her mind every time she hears him chuckle. He looked so different from the intimidating Dos everyone knew of.

"Georgina." His voice suddenly sounding serious.

"What?"

Then silence.

"Dos?"

"Nothing." She even heard him heave a sigh. "I'll see you tomorrow."

And the line went dead making her forehead crease. What was up with him?

She was about to open her web browser when all of a sudden ay nag-ring nanaman ang telepono niya. It was Dos.

"What--"

"Good night. I love you."

Again, the line went dead. But her heart was so alive.

🌺

pbb teens. ugh. sana ol.