Hans didn't really need to ask for her permission. Nahalikan na naman siya nito, mga dalawang beses na rin yata. And those kisses were taken by force. But now that he asked, mas na-appreciate niya ito. She really wanted to kiss him since the Viking ride. If it's the old Hans, he would just curse and leave her there, kung ayaw nitong sumakay.

He did curse though, hindi nga lang directed sa kanya. And he endured the dizzying ride and possibly an utter humiliation just to be with her there, on that huge swinging boat. Kisses aren't to be seen as rewards, but at that moment, she felt like she have to reward him with that.

When she said yes, she could see his eyes twinkle. Maybe it was the fireworks reflecting in his eyes, but it tugged at her heart, whatever it really is. Kapag ang lalaki, humihingi ng permiso, alam mong may respeto. Dahil hindi nya na lang basta ginagawa ang mga bagay na gusto nya. Isinasaalang-alang nya rin yung kagustuhan mo.

Hans gently pulled her to him, cupping her face with one hand while the other's on her waist. Nang pumikit ito ay pumikit na rin siya. And then, another set of fireworks worked their way up the sky. Or maybe it's her insides, bursting with so much joy.

She held on to his nape, her fingers lacing on his short hair. Now she'll never know the feeling of those long locks tangling on her fingers. But his hair's undeniably soft, para kang humahawak sa bulak. She figured that Hans doesn't use hair gel, like most guys.

She opened her mouth to gasp for air, but he quickly covered it with his. Para siyang nalulunod. Literal na nahihilo siya dahil sa unti-unting pagkawala ng hangin sa baga niya. But she liked the feeling. Parang ayaw na niyang matapos.

It's clear that Hans didn't want to stop either. It felt like they were kissing for forever. And it's not until the sky had gone quiet, and the crowd erupted in cheers, and the light went back on, that they finally stopped.

Humiwalay ito sa kanya. There's this wild look in his eyes na nakapagpakilabot sa kanya. She had never seen his eyes like that.

"I'm sorry," he muttered.

"For kissing me?" kunot-noo niyang tanong.

Hans shook his head, messing up his hair in doing so. She wanted to touch his hair again. Parang mas malambot pa iyon sa buhok niya.

"For prolonging the kiss. I only meant to give you a peck."

Well, it was so much more than a peck. Naramdaman niyang nag-init ang mukha niya.

"I-It's not your fault."

"You're right. It's yours. You made me lose control."

--

Ken was equally happy. Inihatid niya si Ahn sa bahay nito and his ninong insisted na pumasok muna siya sa loob. Maybe so he could inspect Ahn and if he finds anything wrong or amiss with her, Ken's there to take all the blame.

Nakahinga naman sila pare-pareho nang makitang nasa ayos lang si Ahn. They insisted that he stay for dinner. Akala naman niya ay kung bakit. Papaglutuin lang pala sya.

It was quite fun. Tumulong ang magkakapatid sa kanya sa paghahanda ng kakainin habang ang ninong at ninang naman niya ay nag-aalaga sa bunso ng pamilya. Si Manang Soling naman ay nakaupo na lang at nanunuod ng TV habang kumakain.

Ahn told him that the old lady had been with the family since her mom's childhood. Kahit wala na halos itong ginagawa sa bahay ay okay lang sa kanila. Parte na kasi ito ng pamilya. Lalo na't malalaki na rin ang mga apo nito.

Manang Soling likes him very much. She said he reminds her of her grandson, Mikoy. Kaya namann botong-boto ito sa kanya para kay Ahn.

"Ano'ng ulam?" tanong ni Manang.

"Paksiw po," sagot niya. "Saka binagoongan."

Napangiti ang matanda. Paborito kasi nito ang pinaksiw, lalo na kung bangus.

"Yan ang minamanugang, yung marunong magluto!" she exclaimed.

Pinaningkitan ito ng ninang Jae niya.

"Manang, may pinariringgan ka ba?"

Tumawa na lang ang matanda.

--

Iya was hugging her pillow so tight that she was sure if it has lungs, it'll choke. She couldn't get the kiss off of her mind. Tulog na ang lahat ng tao sa bahay pero hindi pa siya dinadalaw ng antok. Mag-aala-una na ng umaga. Hindi sya pwedeng mapuyat dahil may pasok pa mamaya.

Pero hindi talaga siya makatulog.

Ano ang gagawin niya kapag nagkita ulit sila ni Hans? Should she act like nothing happened? Aubrey might ask her for details. What will she say to her? Alam naman niyang nire-relay nito lahat kay Hans, because she does the same for her. Sinasabi rin nito ang sinasabi ni Hans sa kanya. Pinanindigan talaga nito ang pagiging tulay.

Napabalikwas siya nang biglang tumunog ang phone niya. Hans is calling. Sasagutin ba nya ang tawag nito? She could just pretend to be asleep.

But she did answer, anyway. Kahit ano pang kontra ng sarili nya.

"Hello?"

"Bakit gising ka pa?" tanong nito.

"I-I can't sleep."

She heard him chuckle. "I can't sleep either. Are you thinking about it?"

"About what?"

"The kiss."

Hindi sya agad nakapagsalita. What will she say? Either way, yes or no, there will be a catch.

"Iya, I want to kiss you again," tahasan nitong sabi. She covered her mouth, afraid of what might come out. Narinig niya itong tumawa. "Sorry. I think I'm starting to get greedy."

Hindi pa rin siya nagsalita. She just wants to hear him talk. Ang sarap sa tenga ng boses nito.

"Tulog ka na ba?"

"U-Uhm... hindi pa."

"Akala ko tulog ka na. Hindi ka kasi nagsasalita."

"Tinatamad kasi akong magsalita."

"Nakakatamad ba 'kong kausap?"

"Hindi. Ano... pwedeng kumanta ka na lang? I just really need to sleep. May klase pa ako bukas."

"So pampaantok na rin pala ang boses ko ngayon?"

She sighed. "Hans..."

"Okay, okay. Ano'ng kakantahin ko?"

"Bahala ka na."

"Okay."

She recorded the call.

There's somethin' that

I've got to say

You're always with me

Even though, you're far away

Talkin to you on my cell

Just the sound of your voice

Makes my heart melt

Oh girl, well it's true

Sobrang old school ng kinakanta ni Hans. I'm All About You by Aaron Carter. Did he just pick the song randomly o sadya? Pinaalalahanan niya ang sarili na huminga. Ayaw niya kasing maabala ang pagkanta nito.

I'm all about you

I'm all about us

No, baby, you never have

To question my love

And every night

There's a new crowd

But it's always you

That I'm singing about

There is only one these words

Are going out to

Oh girl, I'm all about you

Ganito ba ang pakiramdam ng hinaharana?

I know you worry sometimes,

Some other girl will make me forget you're mine

There's not a doubt in this world

That anyone could take the

Place of my number one girl

It's true

I'm all about you

I'm all about us

No, baby, you never have

To question my love

And every night

There's a new crowd

But it's always you

That I'm singing about

There is only one these words

Are going out to

Oh girl, I'm all about you

"Iya?"

She didn't answer. Tapos na ba? Gusto pa niya ng isa pa pero nahihiya siyang magsabi.

"Tulog ka na yata."

Nakapikit na nga siya kanina at makakatulog na sana, but when Hans stopped singing, naudlot iyon bigla.

"Good night." His voice sounded really sweet.

--

Nagising si Iya pagkalipas ng ilang oras. Namulatan niya ang phone na hawak-hawak pa rin niya. Naningkit siya nang mapagawi sa bintana ang mata. The sun was already up.

She pressed a button on her phone to check the time. The screen lit up. Napamulagat sya nang makitang alas dyes na ng umaga. Nakalimutan pala nyang mag-alarm!

She groaned. May 15 messages siyang natanggap habang tulog siya kanina. Siguro ay kanina pa text nang text sa kanya si Aubrey. It's not like her to skip class, lalo na kapag Sunday. Nakakatakot ang kasungitan ng prof nila.

She entered her password and the screen changed. She frowned when she was led to the recording app of her phone. She pressed exit and the app prompted a message. Would you like to save your recording? Napakunot ang noo niya habang inaalala kung bakit nakabukas ang recording app.

And then it dawned on her. The kiss. The conversation. The song. Hans.

She pressed Cancel and then played the record. Unti-unti siyang napangiti nang pumailanlang ang malamyos na boses ni Hans.

Oh girl, I'm all about you

His voice trailed off. Tanda niya na bahagyang nawala ang antok niya nang tumigil ito sa pagkanta.

"Iya?"

There was a long pause, and then he spoke again.

"Tulog ka na yata."

May pause ulit pagkatapos.

"Good night."

He already said goodnight pero may ilang segundo pang natitira. The record kept on going but all she could hear is static.

And then..

"Don't tease me for saying this, okay? I love you."