🐰26th Charm🐇

...🌻...

No classes...

Just pure fun for the next three days... Me and my carrots...

I breathed deeply as I looked up at the sky and smiled in delight, "This is heaven."

"It isn't. It's pure hell." Vitto's annoyed voice broke me out of my sweet trances. I turned to look at her and smiled even more when his irritated but handsome face welcomed me. Hawak niya sa kanang kamay ang isang puting payong panlaban sa mataas na sikat ng araw samantalang ang kabilang kamay naman niya'y ang carrot shake ko. His glowing clear complexion was even emphasized by his white shirt and dark pants.

"What are you saying, carrots? This is obviously one of the most fun days here in Helix U." I countered him in still excited voice, "look at all those booths and colorful decors. I wish everyday is Helix's founding day." I sighed dreamily.

"Whatever you say." He replied in a bored voice, "so can I go now?"

"Saan?" Gulat kong tanong.

"All these noises are making my head ache. I need to go somewhere peaceful." He said while looking around with his furrowed forehead.

"Do you mean home?" Disappointed kong tanong. Doesn't he know how to get fun? Seryoso siyang tumingin sa akin.

"Library."

"C'mon!" Dismayadong bulalas ko, "carrots, but it's no study time for the next three days. We should have fun."

"It's always no study time for you everyday." He lazily replied making me pout. Nang makita niya ang itsura ko'y pumalatak siya saka lumapit upang pasukubin ako sa payong. He handed me my carrot shake.

I looked around the school ground where the booths are. Students come back and forth to check every booth and there were couples around. Why can't we just the normal couples around us? I just wanted to have fun... but really, it isn't really fun without Vitto with me. Kung makikipagmatigasan naman ako sa kanya'y tiyak na iiwan lamang niya ako doon. What's the use of pagtatampo? Nakasimangot na inabot ko ang carrot shake sa kanya.

"Then I'm going with you." I gave in then sipped at my shake to quench the tightening of my throat. There was a space of silence between us.

"Do you want some cake?" He suddenly asked and I looked up at him, surprised.

"I- I thought sa library tayo?" I asked, my hands quivering from anticipation.

"You want to eat books?" Masungit niyang tanong pero napangiti pa rin ako.

"I want to eat cake."

"Tch! Parang bata." He muttered solemnly.

My smile widened but my forehead furrowed when I saw a bead of sweat trickling the side of his handsome face.

"Pawis ka na." I wiped his sweat using the back of my palm and I felt him stiffened. "Drink some shake." I offered him mine and he stepped back. I squinted my eyes when the sun ray hit my face and I heard him clear his throat before stepping closed to me again so I can be with him under the umbrella. I lifted my shake and offered it to him again. I looked at him expectantly while he eyes the shake like it has some kind of weird stuff there then he was suddenly flustered.

Muli niyang inalis ang bara sa lalamunan at iniiwas ang namumulang mukha sa akin, "Gamit mo na 'yong straw."

"Nandidiri ka sa akin?" 'Di makapaniwalang bulalas ko, "but we already kissed!" But it was too late to take back what I said. His whole body stiffened as he stared at me with his widened eyes. Lalo pa akong nakaramdam ng hiya ng huminto ang ilang nagkataong dumaraan sa tabi namin upang panoorin kami. I can feel my whole face burning ang I just wanted to evaporate and die!

Oh my God! What should I do? He's surely mad at me. I'm so dead!

Lalo pa akong kinabahan ng walang pasabing inabot sa akin ni Vitto ang payong saka naglakad palayo. Agad ko siyang hinabol.

"C- Carrots! Carrots!" He kept on walking and he was fast I can hardly keep up with his pace. Napahinto lamang ako ng bigla akong mapatid at sa kamalasan ay naputol ang heels ng sandals ko. Gusto ko na sanang maiyak sa frustration ng makita kong huminto si Vitto sa lilim ng malaking puno ng acacia kung saan may bench.

I approached him dragging my ruined sandals as I walked. He was now sitting on the bench, his face still flustered. Naupo ako sa tabi niya ngunit sinigurong may maluwang na distansya sa pagitan namin.

"C-Carrots..." I started, "s- sorry na." Bulong ko habang nakatingin sa carrot shake na nasa kamay ko.

"I need a drink." He suddenly said making me startled.

"W- Water?" I stuttered, "I'll get you one then." Nagmamadali akong tumayo ng bigla niya akong hilain sa braso sanhi upang mapaupo ako ulit. Napasinghap ako sa gulat.

"Give me the shake." He said seriously and I was almost speechless.

"B- But... I already used the straw." I asked confused.

"You gave me no choice then." He told and suddenly pulled me to him. I was dumbstruck when I felt his lips brush against mine and I literally stopped breathing.

It was already our second kiss... but why does it felt like it was the first? My heart was throbbing so loudly and my head felt so light I suddenly felt so weightless.

His lips was so soft... and wet... and sweet like the bubble gum I used to love when I was a child. I was about to close my eyes when he cut the kiss and the reality slapped me so hard my eyes widened in shock.

Walang pasabing inagaw niya sa akin ang hawak kong shake at sumimsim doon. Lalo pang napaawang ang aking mga labing katatapos niya lamang halikan. Nang tumingin siya sa akin ay kalmado na ang itsura niya at nasisiguro kong ako naman ang labis ang pamumula ng buong mukha.

"'Y- Yong straw..." I mumbled stupidly.

"What?" He asked, his expression straight, "do I gross you out? But we just kissed again." He said casually and the remaining of my brain left me.

............

My smile reached my ears upon seeing Vitto finally coming back from my locker. On his right hand were my favorite sneakers but it wasn't exactly that why I felt so excitedly agitated on my seat. Something will surely change our lives later and I can't wait for that.

"You found it!" I delightfully said as I snatched from him the paper bag and he scoffed.

"This is the only pink sneakers there." He replied in his usual cold- and- nonchalant voice. "It's not like I don't know colors."

I smiled despite his mocking remark. I offered him my feet and wiggled them in front of him.

"Help me put them on." I smiled widely at him. He raised one brow at me but after an annoyed sigh, he knelt and pulled out clean foot socks from the paper bag.

"Ako na!" Aagawin ko na ang footsocks sa kanya ng mabilis siyang nakaiwas.

"You surely don't want to put on a show, do you?" He jerked a brow and nodded at my dress and I suddenly hugged myself upon realizing what he meant. I am wearing a dress with quite lose neckline and it wouldn't be a good idea to bend.

He did not wait for me to say anything anymore and started helping me with my shoes. How can his hair look so soft and silky while the wind was creating tiny ripples on it? The sun was slightly peeking from the acacia tree and its ray was reflecting on his beautiful face so perfectly anyone would think he's an angel. Well, a cold one, but still an angel.

"Wear a comfortable footwear next time if you plan to walk the whole day." Panenermon niya nang matapos ang ginagawa. Ngayong nakatayo na siya sa harapan ko ay mas nasisilaw pa ako sa kanya kaysa sa araw.

"Blake Vitto Alonzo? Oreonina Acosta?"

Sabay kaming napalingon sa dumating. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi upang mapigilan ang pagngiti.

"You two need to go with us." Hindi na nito binigyan pa ng pagkakataong magsalita pa si Vitto dahil hinila na siya nito at wala nang nagawa pa kun'di magpahila bagaman bakas sa gwapong mukha ang gulat at lito samantalang ako nama'y willing na sumunod. But when Vitto caught the sight of a mini reception for a wedding booth where the man was dragging him, he started to react.

"Why the hell are you putting me in there?" He asked in exasperation trying to yank his arm from the stranger who wasn't really a stranger to me now.

"Obviously, someone has listed your names for the couples to be wedded." The man replied lazily as he automatically casted me a glance. I pursed my lips and pretended to look somewhere else. Am I busted?

"This is ridiculous." Vitto whispered in contained annoyance, "get off me." He asked the man.

"Pare, you wouldn't surely waste that person's money who listed your names just because you find this shit ridiculous, would you? Besides, this is just for fun!" He tried to convince Vitto but his voice says that he's so done with his job, too. I secretly glared at the man. So, this man is thinking that my idea is ridiculous? Why can't some men understand romance?

Vitto looked at me again with his scrutinizing eyes and I smiled nervously at him as if I'm deer caught in a taillight. It's just so hard to keep something from him when he looks at me like that. He pulled away his arm from the man, nudging his glasses further up his nose and his shoulders moved as he sighed.

"The couples are here!" One of them called and they lead us to the reception where the pretend- minister is. A woman helped wear a wedding veil and another wrapped the wedding cord around us. The pretend- minister showed us the fake wedding rings as someone flashed the vows in front us.

Vitto was still, his thoughts seem so deep this time I'm afraid I couldn't indulge in it. Did I go too far? Did I push him too hard again for something I only desire? What if he breaks up at me after this? When I started liking him, I started to develop some fears too. Fear that he might get tired of me, fear that he might just get away and never talk to me again, fear that I will be living a life without the chance to be with him ever again like this. And where are all these fears coming from?

I looked into his eyes and the answer struck me like a poisoned arrow.

Because this is one- sided.

I was about to step back when he reached for my hand and it surprised me more than a spearing lightning. My chest heaved so fast when he silently picked up the fake ring and whispered, "I solemnly vow to love you faithfully, through the good times and the bad, and sickness and in health, regardless of where life takes us. I promise to cherish you and uphold your hopes and dreams and keep you safe at my side. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love from this moment on for as long as we both shall live." My hand started to shake as he slipped the fake ring on my ring finger. It was like a dream. I might be exaggerating but I wasn't expecting him to agree to this. Yeah, I tested the waters and took risk when I listed our names here, but I wasn't expecting him to be as calm as this. My heart was thumping so loud I almost missed what the pretend- mister has whispered to me. I feel all my nerves wrecking despite the fact that this is all pretend.

"It's your turn now."

I shakily picked the fake ring and reached for his hand. Although this is all pretend, I wholeheartedly sworn, "I-I solemnly vow to love you faithfully, through the good times and the bad, and sickness and in health, regardless of where life takes us. I promise to cherish you and uphold your hopes and dreams and keep you safe at my side. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love from this moment on for as long as we both shall live." And I slipped the ring on his long candle- like finger.

"Do you, Blake Vitto Alonzo, take Oreonina Acosta as your lawful wife, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?"

Vitto looked at me, his expression something I couldn't read at the moment. His shoulders moved and he whispered, "I do."

My knees slightly buckled and I flustered when he caught my shoulders while my bones still wobbled. I heard some muted laughter and I blushed even more. What is freakin' happening with me?

"Are you okay?" He asked as he helped me steady my feet.

"Y- Yeah." I struggled to stand steadily so he wrapped my waist in his arm.

"Do you, Oreonina Acosta, take Blake Vitto Alonzo as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?"

I looked up at him, his arms warmly encaging my waist and I swallowed as I stare at his lips who had just kissed me a moment ago. My eyes moved up to his eyes, how I wanted to read the expressions it makes and how it hides the things he don't want to tell the world. I really like him. and maybe, even more...

"I do."

I now announce you husband and wife.

And I don't whether my heart or my brain was working at that moment because I only realized that I was on tiptoe as my lips touched the corner of his slightly open lips. Do I feel more than what I think I feel for him?

Yes, I do. 

...🌻...