🐰22ND Charm🐰

I smiled at my mini mirror for the last time before going out my tent to rush towards my waiting boyfriend. And just the mere thought of the word made me smile even more.

When I spotted Vitto looking off into the distance, resting against a tree with one hand in his pants pocket, I just tucked a few stray hairs behind my ears and bit my bottom lip to contain my giddy smile. Why do he look so gwapo in this very early morning with his plain navy-blue tee underneath his unbuttoned plaid shirt and faded jeans? Even those who were passing by were giving him second look but the sight of the group of giggling ladies ogling at him started to bother me.

Halos patakbo akong lumapit sa kanya. Who cares if I looked like I'm so atat to be with him? I wouldn't share my boyfriend to anyone, like duh! His handsomeness is not for free viewing noh!

"Carrots!" I beamed at him as I hooked my arms to his arm. He straightened as he looked down at me and I lifted up my hand to fix the fringes of his hair covering his brows. Gosh, my boyfriend smelled refreshingly fresh like the spring.

"How's your sleep?" I asked with a huge smile. He didn't answer yet handed me a bottle of water with untwisted cap.

Hindi ko na pinigilan pa ang kinikilig na ngiti. He is Vitto, okay. The once odd guy who prefers talking to plants than humans. And here he is now, trying to hide his caring nature while looking indifferent and I'm living for it!

I took few gulps of my water and realized that water never tasted as sweet 'til now. Cheesy, but I won't allow anyone to rain in my parade! I felt like squealing when he took the bottle of water from me after I finished drinking and I couldn't be giddier.

"Did you wait long for me?" I asked him as we started to walk over the assembly hall.

"Who told you that I'm waiting?" He countered like he's offended.

Napangiti ako lalo. Paano'y nagpapakipot na naman ang carrots ko. I cleared my throat and tried so hard to hold back my smile. "So, you mean coincidence lang na may dala kang water for me?" I slightly tilted my head to peek at him.

Huminto siya sa paglalakad at salubong ang kilay na tumingin sa akin. "That was my water."

Nawala ang ngiti ko at inis na napanguso. Hindi man lang ba niya ako hahayaang sulitin ang mailap na ka- sweet- an niya? Inis na bumitaw ako sa pagkakakapit sa kanya.

"Akin na 'yan. Nalawayan ko na." Yamot na hagip ko sa hawak niyang bote ng tubig.

Malakas siyang napapalatak saka inagaw ang tubig sa akin, "Binili ko 'to kaya akin 'to." Masungit na aniya saka ibalis ang takip ng bote upang inumin ang natitirang tubig doon.

My jaw dropped as I felt my throat went dry while watching him gulping down the water from the same bottle which I laid my lips onto. Did we just—indirectly kiss? I felt my nose beading sweat as I remembered the kiss we shared last night.

"D- Did you just... k- kiss me?" My voice came out hoarsely and he suddenly coughed, choking on his water. His eyes bulged as he looked at me like he's totally offended. I started worrying when he started hitting his chest with his fisted palms as if trying to smother down the water that entered his trachea. I moved closer and gently rubbed his back. Inilabas ko ang panyo ko para punasan ang namumuong pawis sa noo at tungki ng ilong niya.

"Don't do that again." He grumbled as he glared at me.

"What?" I asked, clueless.

"Don't talk so openly about kissing in public." Pabulong ngunit madiing anas niya.

"Totoo namang you kissed me last night e!" Nagdadabog ng sagot ko. Paano ay nakakainis na siya.

"Darn mouth!" Muli'y anas niya saka tumingin sa paligid. Tiningnan ko ng masama ang ilang dumaang napapatingin sa amin.

"I knew it. Ikinakahiya mo ako." Naghihinanakit na sabi ko. Amused niya kong tiningnan.

"Ano na naman ba 'to?" Nakakunot noong tanong niya.

"So what naman kasi if you kiss me? Boyfriend naman kita kaya it's normal!" I looked away to hide the blushing of my cheeks. It's not like I'm used to talking about kisses but I hate him to see me not confident.

He heaved out a resigned breath and palmed his face. He looked at me incredulously but I just glared at him. Hindi ba pwedeng maging sweet na lang siya lagi sa akin? Umaandar na naman ang pagiging alien niya! Sa halip na amuin ako ay hayan at nakairap din ang magaling na lalaki!

Inis na tinalikuran ko siya at nagpatiunang naglakad. Nang hindi ko maramdamang nakasunod siya at nakasimangot kong hinarap ang direksyon niya. I saw how his shoulders moved as he sighed and I felt anxious. Was he already tired of me? But he always shows me how he's tired and pissed off on me, yet...

Yet, there he was, looking at me with calm expression, lifting his hand to offer it to me. My chest pounded loudly as I mentally swooned. Was he waiting for me to come back? I threw him a suspicious look but he gestured me to come over through a nod. I bit my lower lip and walked towards him with slow steps. Nang makalapit ako'y hinila niya ang kamay ko saka ako hinila sa tabi niya.

"Iyakin." He clicked his tongue.

"Kung 'di na ako magka- cry, 'di mo na ako ico- comfort." I muttered sulkily.

"Hindi naman kita kino- comfort." He denied and I glared at him.

"I'll just walk out na lang ulit." Yamot kong sagot saka pilit na hinihila palayo ang kamay ngunit humihigpit lang ang kapit niya doon. Inis ko siyang tinitigan, "Let go."

He looked at me challengingly, "Are you sure?"

I was frozen. Well, Madali lang naman akong kausap. Umismid ako, "Sige na nga. Hold me tighter na lang."

I almost see him smiled. "Huwag ka ng makulit. They're already doing the roll call." Aniya at nagpatiuna ng maglakad habang hawak pa rin ang kamay ko nang pigilan ko siya. Nagtatakang tumingin siya sa akin.

Bigla na lang akong lumapit sa kanya saka tumiklay upang dampian siya ng mabilis na halik sa pisngi na ikinaawang ng labi niya. Hindi ko din alam kung bakit ko ginawa iyon. Probably, because I feel the need to get closer to him.

"Good morning, carrots." I greeted and I noticed how his beautiful face flustered.

Everything in the morning is good because of him indeed.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

"Bakit halos puro girls ang groupmates mo?" Halos magmaktol ng tanong ko habang hila- hila ang laylayan ng damit ni Vitto. Nang marahil ay makulitan sa aki'y hinuli niya ang kamay ko at tiningnan ako ng masama.

"Are you planning to strip me?" He asked gravely. I irritably pouted and lifted my free hand to reach for his arm but he caught it with his other hand before I could ever grab him.

"Sasama ako sa'yo!" I deliberately stomped my feet.

"Kung gusto mong magka- allergies ulit e di sumama ka." Binitawan niya ang mga kamay ko. I grouchily puffed out a breath and glared at him. He just looked lazily at me.

Naiinis na tinapunan ko ng tingin ang camp leaders namin. It was as if they were purposely pissing me off. How dare they group my carrots with ladies? Oo nga at may isa pa silang lalaking kasama pero apat pa ring babae ang kagrupo niya! Not to mention that they told me to stay here together with Rosenda and help with the preparation of snacks. The only consolation was that Riza was assigned to another group. But still, could this day get even more irritating?

"Make sure that you won't make someone pass out with the snacks you'll prepare." Tila nananadya pang bilin sa akin ni Vitto na lalong ikinalukot ng mukha ko. He clicked his tongue and pulled off his plaid shirt leaving him with his navy-blue tee. He stepped closer and tied his plaid shirt around my hips making my breath hitched. His fragrance and proximity were giving me tingles and I pursed my lips afraid that I might give in with the need to kiss his cheek again.

"Don't let anyone touch you. Lalo na kung girls." I remind him sullenly. Hindi siya sumagot bagkus ay hinawi niya lang ang buhok na bahagyang tumabing sa mukha ko dahil sa malakas na hangin. Narinig namin ang pagtawag sa kanya ng mga kagrupo niya na higit ko pang ikinasimangot. Sa dami ng allergies ba pwede kong makuha, bakit sa leaf molds pa? Tuloy ay hindi ako makasama sa kanya sa loob ng gubat.

Hindi naalis ang tingin ko sa kanya kahit pa noong tumalikod na siya. Kapagkuwa'y huminto siya sa paghakbang saka bahagyang humarap sa akin. Narinig ko ang pagtikhim niya.

"Cover your legs when you sit down." He uttered and my jaw dropped. I was dazed for a moment before I managed to smile and nod my head. I never knew that there was that side of him. Madalas naman kasi akong magsuot ng maikli gaya ngayon ngunit ni minsan ay hindi niya pinuna ang pananamit ko. Why would this thing make me so happy? Is it because he's concerned?

Nang marahil ay makuntento sa sagot ko ay muli siyang tumalikod saka naglakad patungo sa mga kagrupo niya. Magaan ang pakiramdam na pinuntahan ko ang cottage kung saan ako tutulong sa paghahanda ng snacks ngunit hindi pa man tuluyang nakakalapit ay natigilan ako nang makita sina Giro at Rosenda na magkayakap.

Giro was rubbing soothing circles on Rosenda's back while the latter was clutching his shirt tightly as if her life was depended on it. If I saw this happened a month ago, I might have impulsively confronted them without caring whether I hear another painful rant from Giro again and I would have pretended to be tough but will eventually run to my cousin and cry a river of tears after.

Nang marahil ay maramdamang may nakatingin sa kanila'y nagawi ang tingin ni Giro sa akin. Nakapagtatakang tila napapasong bahagyang naitulak nito ang mga balikat ni Rosenda na bakas ang pagtatakang umangat ang tingin sa kanya.

I cleared my throat and moved my feet. It's not as if I've done anything that would offend them. Balak ko sana talagang lampasan sila pero nang tawagin ni Giro ang pangalan ko'y awtomatiko akong napahinto.

"Oyos ka na ba?" He asked and I was really stupefied. Was he really asking me in front her low- esteemed girlfriend?

I flipped my hair as I looked at them. Tumikwas ang isang kilay ko nang makita ang tila natatakot na tingin sa akin ni Rosenda. As if on cue, her grip on Giro's shirt tightened.

"Yeah, thanks for asking." I answered casually. Hindi ako bitter. Naiinis lang talaga ako sa pabebe niyang girlfriend na akala mo ay laging iiyak tuwing makikita ako maski wala naman akong ginagawa.

"Uhm, well—it's a relief." Giro smiled and I was bewildered. Why was he acting nice to me in front his girlfriend? May LQ ba sila? Was he using me to make this girl jealous? Duh! Though hindi ko siya masisisi kasi I'm trully wonderful naman talaga pero hindi ko naman yata maaatim na gamitin niya ako para pagselosin ang mas iyakin pa sa aking girlfriend niya na halata namang selos na selos na sa akin.

"May LQ ba kayo?" Hindi na napigilang tanong ko. Napaawang naman ang labi ni Giro na akala mo'y may nakakawindang sa sinabi ko.

"A- Ano?" Giro asked in daze.

"Don't worry. Obvious namang sobrang drawn sa'yo 'yang girlfriend mo kaya magkakaayos din kayo in no time. You don't have to force yourself to talk to me to make her jealous, you know." Wika ko na lalong nagpalaglag sa panga niya samantalang si Rosenda ay mamula- mula na ang mga mata na para bang maiiyak na naman. "Well, the snacks are waiting for me. See you around." I smiled sweetly at them as I flipped my hair and marched away.

Carrots will surely be tired so I have to personally prepare him smacks. He'll surely be proud of me with how fabulous snack I can make. I smiled giddily with the thought.

"Oreo, are you sure you know what you're doing?"

I almost dropped the loaf of bread I was holding as someone approached me without warning. It was someone from my college whom I can't really remember the name. She's someone short and overweight. Figures why she didn't join the team building activity in the heart of the forest. Surely, she'll more likely to gasp than walk.

"Yeah," I confidently answer as I nonchalantly shrugged my shoulders. "Like I'm spreading some jam on the loaf." 'Like duh! It's obvious!' I wanted to supply but stifled it. I'm preparing some snacks for my carrots so I should just bring with me a positive aura so the food would absorb it from me.

"E, baka naman magka- diabetes na ang kakain niyan." Puna pa ng nosy na baabe at agad akong napahinto sa ginagawa. Puno na nga ng jam ang loaf na pinapalamanan ko pero duh! Para nga sa carrots ko ito 'di ba? So, I should prepare him something na hindi tinipid. Bakit ba nangingialam ang babaeng 'to?

I forced a smile at her. "Alam mo, miss. You better mind your own business, okay? Since I'm not preparing this for you, you might as well care to buzz off."

"Of course, I will care!" Bulalas nito na ikinaawang ng labi ko. Pati ang mga kasama nami'y napahinto sa ginagawa at napatingin sa amin. "'Yong ibang pinalamanan mo halos walang jam samantalang iyang hawak mo kulang na lang isawsaw mo sa palaman!"

I incredulously puffed out a breath. Nang mapatingin akong muli sa paligid ay nakita kong nakatingin na din sa amin sina Rosenda at Giro na kasama namin sa paghahanda ng snacks. No one dares to shatter Oreonina Acosta's poise! Nang ibalik ko ang tingin sa babae ay sobrang saman a ng tingin nito sa akin. She also looks like she's preparing to smack me.

I heaved a calm breath as I tried to regain my composure. Maingat kong inilapag ang sandwich na inihanda ko para kay Vitto saka inalis ang plastic gloves na suot. I flipped my hair and literally looked down at the woman because she's literally short compared to my height.

"You see, I'm trying to prepare something special for my boyfriend and I don't get why you keep on messing with my business." I tried to sound nice thought my teeth is already gritted in annoyance.

The woman tiptoed as if trying to get on my level and smiled mockingly. Aba!

"You mean, 'yong boyfriend mong ipinagpalit ka na sa iba?" She asked challengingly and my jaw slackened. Kailan pa ako ipinagpalit ni Vitto sa iba? At sino ang pangit na babaeng iyon?!

My temper started rising, my invisible pores screaming so hard wanting to know who that girl is and pull her hair out her scalp 'til she turns bald and uglier so Vitto won't like her anymore! I can feel the heat spreading my face as my chest heaved fast. My shaky hands were fisted and my lips started quivering.

The woman smirked obviously satisfied that she was able to make me react like this by touching a nerve. Sa sobrang inis ay gusto kong kalmutin ang mayabang na ngisi na chubby niyang mukha pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Mas lalong hindi ako pipiliin ni Vitto kung bayolente ako! Kahapon lang kami ni Vitto at mahigit isang oras pa lang kaming naghihiwalay pero ipinagpalit na niya ako agad?

"Parating na sila." Biglang pagsingit ni Giro sa usapan at napakurap ako. "We better prepare all snacks so they can eat and rest."

"Hoy, Tami! Tama na 'yan. Para lang sa palaman nakikipagdiskusyon ka na. Diet din 'pag may time, mare!" Pagsali na din ng isa pang babae sa usapan na tatawa- tawa habang nakatingin sa kaibigan. Inirapan ako ng atribidang babae saka ako tinalikuran.

Huminga ako ng malalim upang pigilan ang pag- iyak lalo na ng mapansing matiim akong tinititigan ni Rosenda. I won't give her happiness by watching me cry for yet again another heartbreak. Kinuha ko ang sandwich na hinanda ko para kay Vitto saka umirap rito bago ako tumalikod.

I should go talk to Vitto. By hook or by crook, I would know who the hell that woman is and make Vitto like me more.

Nagmamadaling naglakad ako palapit sa mga dumating nang agad din akong mapahinto. Vitto was carrying a woman on his back! Why was he carrying a damn ugly girl on his back like— did the world just turned its back on me? That overweight girl was right! Vitto is cheating on me!

I gritted my teeth as I marched towards them in slipping restraint. Vitto put down the ugly woman on a chair and the freakin' tease was doing an all-out- I'm- hurt kind of face!

Lumuhod si Vitto sa harapan ng pangit na babae saka bahagyang iniangat ang isang paa nito na tila ba'y chini- check kung may injury ito. Higit ko pang binilisan ang paglalakad hanggang sa wakas ay marating ko ang kinaroroonan nila.

"Don't touch her, carrots!" I called and he looked at me in surprise but he was still holding the woman's leg. Nang 'di pa siya tuminanag ay hinila ko ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa binti ng babae dahilan para bumagsak ito sa lupa. The woman whimpered as if she was really hurting.

"Why are you holding her?" Inis na tanong ko, "I told you not to let anyone touch you!"

"Don't be immature, Oreo. She needs help." Matigas na sagot niya.

I irritably puffed put a breath, "Oreo? Nasaan na ang bunny?"

He groaned impatiently, "This isn't the time for your tantrums." Tumalikod siya saka muling nilapitan ang babae.

"So, siya talaga ang ipinalit mo sa akin?" My shaky voice raised a pitch higher. Kunot ang noong humarap si Vitto sa akin.

"What drama is this again?" Yamot niyang tanong.

"The drama is that you're cheating on me!" Halos magpapadyak na ako sa sobrang frustration.

He groaned in exasperation but never said anything. He just looked at me disappointedly with his furrowed brows and turned his back from me to nurse the woman he carried on his back.

I contained my sobs. Everyone was looking at us and it's not that I mind but I don't want to give Vitto more reason to hate me. I hate him, okay. But still, I don't want him to hate me. If ever he'll hate me, how can I make him realize that I'm not worth losing?

With head held high, I marched away and kept myself from the range of those nosy people. I wanted to cry so hard but I will not. I couldn't.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

"Oreo."

Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang marinig ang boses ni Giro. Mabuti na lang ay hindi ako umiyak. Oo, sobrang nasaktan ako pero kakatwang hindi ako nagngangawa sa iyak. I'm so sure that I like Vitto so much but how come that I can't cry? pero 'yong dibdib ko, feeling ko ay bigla na lang sasabog. Wala naman akong hika pero bakit ang hirap huminga? Wala naman akong sore throat pero bakit ang sakit lumunok? Jeez, I wanna eat some carrots.

Namalayan ko ang pagupo nito sa tabi ko. Inabutan niya ako ng isang bote ng tubig na tinitigan ko lamang. Nang hindi mahintay na abutin ko iyon ay inilapag na lamang nito iyon sa gitna namin kung saan nakalapag din ang sandwich na hinanda ko para kay Vitto kanina. I mentally huffed. Dahil inaway niya ako ay hindi ko ibibigay sa kanya ang special sandwich with love na inihanda ko. Masamid sana siya sa kakainin niyang sandwich na inihanda ni overweight girl!

I heard Giro cleared his throat as trying to start a conversation.

"Don't tell me that you're only here to give me water." Ako na ang unang nagsalita bago pa man niya ako matanong.

"You like some orange- flavored water so I brought one for you." He replied quietly. I looked at him and he looked so different. I mean, it was like he was never the Giro I knew before.

"You look different." I voiced out and he looked at me, struck. He lost weight and he has dark circles around his eyes. Then my forehead furrowed as I come up with a theory. "Giro." I called and he looked at me attentively. "Are you sure you'd moved on from me?" I asked and he suddenly coughed.

"W- What?"

"Sabi kasi nila late daw talagang nakakapag move on ang mga boys. And I was a wonderful girlfriend to you before so I know that you'd really regretted letting me go." Dire- diretso kong sabi samantalang ito ay tila naeengkantong nakatingin lang sa akin habang awang ang mga labi.

"See? I was right!" Sabi ko pa at umangat ang isang sulok ng labi nito.

"You never changed, Oreo." Napapailing na sagot nito ngunit may naglalarong ngiti sa labi. Was he trying to flirt with me?

I grimaced at him, "If you plan on cheating, Giro, spare me, okay? I don't want you using me with your faithlessness." I retorted.

Sasagot pa sana ito nang pumagitna ang pamilyar na tinig sa paguusap namin at tila batong nanigas ako sa kinauupuan.

"Here you are slacking off while the food committee is looking for you." Said Vitto's cold voice. Tinapunan ko siya ng nakamamatay na sulyap na sinuklian niya ng nagyeyelong tingin. He's so nakakainis!

"I don't want to talk to another cheater." I crossed my arms as I huffed. Naramdaman ko ang paglapit niya hanggang sa huminto siya sa harapan ko.

"Oreo, maiwan ko na kayo." Tila naiilang na pagsingit ni Giro saka tumayo ngunit hindi pa ito nakaaalis ay sumagot na si Vitto.

"And who am I cheating with?" Malamig na tugon ni Vitto, "With the poor results of your exams, you have the more tendency to cheat."

"We're not talking about exams here!" I shot back in great annoyance as I stood up and leveled his icy gaze.

"And you keep on blurting about cheating? I never cheated my entire life."

"I said I'm not talking about exams! Why are you so dense?!" Gumagaralgal ang tinig na sigaw ko.

"And now you're going to cry again?" Yamot na aniya.

"I am not!" Halos magpapadyak ng sagot ko habang impit ang pag- iyak.

"You are!"

"Because you cheated on me!"

"Kanino?" 'Di makapaniwalang tanong niya, "Sa mga puno sa loob ng gubat?"

"Doon sa babaeng kinarga mo!" I sobbed.

"She's injured, I have to carry her." He uttered impatiently.

"Nag- prepare pa ako ng snacks for you but you dared carrying another girl? Bahala kang magutom!" I cried.

"It's not as if your sandwich is edible." Bulong niya na lalo kong ikinaiyak.

"Napakasalbahe mo! I don't want to see you!" I blurt out impulsively without even meaning to say it.

He was as if taken aback as he stared at me. Then his facial muscles tightened and I heard him heaved out an exasperated sigh.

Walang salitang humakbang siya palayo at tila pinagtakluban ako ng langit at lupa.

"Oreo." Narinig kong tawag sa akin ni Giro na 'di ko namalayang naroon pa rin pala. Pero sa halip na si Giro ang lingunin ko ay pumihit ako paharap sa papalayong si Vitto na ng sandaling iyo'y pumihit din paharap sa akin.

Our gazes met and it was like my feet has its mind of its own when they started pacing towards him and he was doing the same thing 'til we meet halfway.

Isinubsob ko ang mukha sa dibdib niya at umiyak ng malakas.

"You're so salbahe talaga! Why are you making me cry?!" I smacked his chest with my fist. I felt his hand caressing my hair.

"You always resort everything into something dramatic." Sagot niya sa masungit pa ring tinig.

"You should apologize to me!" I looked up at him, my tears still generously trickling down.

"I did not cheat. Why would I?"

Inis na itinulak ko siya at malakas siyang napapalatak. Nang akmang hahampasin ko ulit ang dibdib niya'y mabilis niyang nahuli ang mga kamay ko.

"Enough." Aniya.

"Bakit mo ko pinapahinto? You're so bad!" Pilit kong hinihila ang kamay palayo sa kanya ng higpitan niya ang kapit doon saka ako hinila payakap.

"I said enough with the crying." Mahinahon ng tinig niya na ikinatigil ko. I hiccupped as I listened to the sound of his breathing. "I never cheated, okay? I will never do that." He muttered patiently and my world froze just to gather my tears at once. When my carrots is sweet and gentle like this...

I wrapped my hands around his waist and sobbed loudly like a child.

"Uwaa! Carrots, y- you're so bad—you're making me cry harder! You shouldn't let a beautiful woman—cry like this!" I said as I struggled against hiccups.

"You are not that's why you're crying." Sagot niya na ikinaiyak ko pa lalo. Kahit kailan talaga! Hindi man lang niya hayaang sulitin ko ang miminsang kabaitan niya!

"Salbahe!" I whimpered.

"Isip bata." He muttered as he held me tighter and sooth my back.

"Uy, Tami! Mukhang pinag- away mo pa 'yong magjowa!" I heard someone said. Wait, did she just say Tami?

"Hala! 'Yan bang si Blake Vitto Alonzo ang boyfriend niya? Akala ko si Giro pa rin!"

I immediately straightened and threw a deadly stare at the annoying overweight woman who flinched as she met my burning gaze. So, inaway ko talaga si Vitto dahil lang sa maling akala nito? Nagdrama ako sa harapan ng lahat para lang sa wala?!

Gosh! I wanted the ground to just eat me up whole. It's so nakakahiya!

I bit my lower lip as I hesistantly stared up at Vitto who was looking at me with furrowed forehead. I flashed him a nervous smile and wrap my hands around his waist again.

At least, my carrots surely never cheated on me. And he never will.

...🌻...

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