Maui's POV

Sinubukan akong patahanin ni Ryner pero hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan niya akong pagtawanan! Napakabait talaga niyang nilalang.

"Umalis ka nga!" Asar kong saad sa kanya.

"Baka condo ko 'to?" Biro pa niya.

"Edi ako na aalis." I started walking away from him but he suddenly grabbed me. Pinitik pa nito ang noo ko. Inis kong kinamot 'yon habang nakatingin ng masama sa kanya. Masakit kaya.

"Biro ko lang. Besides I won't let you leave. Now please stop crying. I hate it when tears are covering your ugly face—argh!" He groaned when I hit his stomach. "I'm just kidding, damn." Daing pa ulit niya.

"Nakakainis ka naman kasi e!" He's supposed to comfort me but he end up teasing me. Tss. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan ang sarili kong ngumuso at tumingin ng masama sa kanya.

Pero hindi ko maipagkakailang masaya ako ngayon. Hindi rin naman pala masama ang pag-iwas ko sa kanya. Maybe that was just part of me realizing what and who he is to me. Even though I tried to forget him, I can't do it anymore because he's already engraved in my heart. May lugar na talaga siya sa puso ko. Pilit ko lang na kinokontra ang nararamdaman ko.

Meeting Ryner is one of the best things that happened to me. At wala akong pinagsisisihan na siya yung taong nagustuhan ko.

Since the day I confessed to him, I don't know why I feel a little bit awkward every time I am looking at Ryner. Hindi ko lang alam. Just so funny to think na kung kailan umamin na ako sa kanya, tsaka pa ako mahihiya at maiilang. Ang gulo ko talaga!

Ryner opened the door for me. He offered his hand and I don't know kung tatanggapin ko ba 'yun o hindi but in the end I accepted it. If there's a hand I would love to hold onto, it would always be his because with his hands, I feel secured.

"Ry, nakatingin sila sa atin." I whispered to him dahil napapatingin ang mga estudyante sa amin. I hate attentions.

"Just let them for them to know that this girl I'm holding right now is mine." He said while gazing directly in my eyes. He sounds so possessive now, huh? But I couldn't stop myself from smiling as it makes my heart beats so fast.

"Nahihiya nga ako." Halos mawala ang boses ko dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Sus! Nahiya ka pa samantalang nung umamin ka sa akin, wala kang hiya." He teased, showing me his sweet teasing smile. I purposely gripped his fingers habang magkahawak kamay kami. He just laughed from what I did.

"Pupuntahan ko si Axel!" Bwisit siya! Walang hiya rin siya!

"Don't you dare. I won't let go of your hand anyway." He said arrogantly. Hindi nga niya binitawan ang kamay ko at ako naman yung tumawa this time.

"Nagseselos din pala yung arogante."

"Tch." Tugon lang niya, halatang naiinis pa at mas lalong hinigpitan yung pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko.

We went inside our room, still holding hands. Halos lahat ng mga kaklase ko ay napadako ang tingin sa kamay namin pero parang wala lang iyon kay Ryner samantalang gusto ko nang matunaw sa kinatatayuan ko.

Maxi and Xianny raised their brows on me as if they were asking me what's the meaning of what they're seeing right now. I just shrugged my shoulders. Matapos nga nung klase namin, tuluyan na akong dinakdakan nung dalawa.

"Hoy, ano yun? May hindi ka na sinasabi sa amin ah!" Pangungulit ni Maxi. Xianny just smiled at me maybe because she already knew it.

"Did you confess already?" Xianny asked and nod my head while smiling.

"Anong confess confess ha? May tinatago ba kayo sa akin?" Medyo napalakas ang boses ni Maxi. Hindi ko naman siya masisi dahil hindi pa naman talaga ako nag-oopen up sa kanila. Xianny's just too observant that's why she knew what's going on with me.

"Yeah and he feel the same way for me." Hindi ko maitago ang kilig sa tono ko. Xianny screamed at tinusok-tusok niya ang tagiliran ko. I can't help but laugh because she's tickling me.

"Letche kayo! Mag-open naman kayo sa'kin! Parang hindi ako best friend ah!" Padarag na sabi ni Maximo, nagtatampo, at sabay lang kaming tumawa ni Xianny.

Since hindi mo matatagalan ang kadaldalan ni Maxi at mapilit talaga siya, si Xianny na ang nagkwento sa kanya.

"Kyaaaaaah! Kapa pala may paholding hands na kayong nalalaman ah." Tapos siya na itong kinakantsawan ako. "So, kayo na?" Dagdag tanong pa niya.

"Nope. Wala pa kami sa stage na yun. I like him, he likes me. I'm enough with it besides we don't wanna rush things up." I said, wearing a smile on my face. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali sa kung anumang relasyon mayroon kaming dalawa as long as pareho kaming masaya. Shocks! Gusto kong tumili. Bwisit.

"Taray ha? But I'm happy for the two of you. At least ngayon, you are not avoiding him anymore, e." Maxi stated. I nodded to what he said. There's no reason for me to avoid him anymore. Ginawa ko lang naman yun before dahil natatakot akong masaktan.

We went back in our classroom after that. Nung wala pa yung teacher namin, naupo ako sa tabi ni Axel.

"Hey!" Agaw atensyon ko sa kanya.

"Hey!" He greeted back. "You're different today." Puna niya sa akin.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Maaliwalas lang kasi ang mukha mo ngayon." He added, tila inaalisa pa nito ang buo kong mukha. Napailing na lang ako habang nangingiti.

"Baliw! Kung anu-ano na naman yung napapansin mo." Sabi ko sabay hampas sa kanya. I may be brutal or sadist to AJ sometimes, no mostly pala, but I never heard him complaining. Sanay na rin siguro sa akin.

"I'm just telling what I noticed."

"Whatever AJ!" I said making him laugh.

Natigil kami sa katatawa nang marinig ko ang pekeng pag-ubo ni Ryner. There he is, leaning his back on the doorframe while looking at us, showing the slit of his eyes. Selos ba siya? Yieeee. Kilig ako. Charot! Nginitian ko lang siya kahit na alam kong ayaw niyang kasama ko si AJ.

"Are you two okay now?" AJ suddenly asked. I answered him with a nod. "Go to him now." Sambit niya sa akin.

"Hayaan mo siya r'yan." Sabi ko at nanatili sa upuan ko, nakangiti pa rin. I'm not doing anything wrong. AJ is a good friend of mine.

Nang dumating ang teacher namin, bumalik na ako sa upuan ko which is tabi kay Ryner.

"Enjoying his company?" I can sense a hint of jealousy in his voice. I looked at him and showed my sweetest smile.

"Selos ka naman?" Pang-aasar ko.

"Tch." Sabi na selos na naman 'to e. Nako! But thinking that he's jealous, may part sa akin na natutuwa ako. He won't be jealous if he doesn't care for me. That only means he really did have feelings for me. Nakagat ko ang labi ko upang pigilan ang kilig na nararamdaman ko. Bwisit. Ang babaw ko pero natutuwa lang talaga ako, letche!

"Kaibigan ko lang siya." Sabi ko sa kanya.

"I can't help but to feel jealous. We started as a friend. I'm just afraid that you might fall for him too." Geez. Ang advance naman yata niyang mag-isip? Hinarap ko si Ryner at hinuli ko ang mga tingin niya.

"Uh, oh. We didn't started as a friend. Baka nakalimutan mo? Magkaaway kaya tayo no'n! Ni hindi nga tayo magkasundo e." Pagtatama ko sa kanya.

Yeah, I still remember on how we met back then. Ang sungit sungit niya that time. Akala mo babaeng may PMS. Masyadong arogante.

"Well, at least our relationship is different from his. Dahil kayo hanggang magkaibigan lang. Tayo, hanggang sa magiging magka-ibigan." He whispered right through my ears and it gives me unexplainable feeling.

I felt my blood runs upward my face and even if I can't see myself in the mirror, I can imagine it turning into crimson. Goodness Ryner, you're such an affection to me.

I just hid my face because I don't want him to see me blushing. Alam ko naman kasing pulang-pula na ang mukha ko kahit hindi ko pa tignan sa salamin. Geez lang! Ganun niya lang ako kadaling pakiligin. Kahit konting salita lang mula sa kanya, sobra-sobrang laki na ng nagiging epekto no'n sa akin.

Do I like him this much?

No'ng break time, sumabay ako kay Ryner. Busy din naman kasi sina Maxi at Xianny e kaya hinayaan na lang nila ako which is alam kong sinadya talaga nila para makasama ko si Ryner. Duh? Sobrang pabor yun sa'kin 'no. Charot!

Palabas na sana kami ng room nang hinarang kami ni Krizelle. I gave her a bad shot look. Seeing her is kinda frustrating. It disgusts me.

"Ryner, Maui, I'm sorry." Okay, I almost laugh because of what she said. Now, she's acting like a good one. If I know, she's doing this because of Ryner. She's sorry without sincerity at all. Besides, how could she be sorry e halos ipagpilitan niya ngang ako talaga ang nagsimula nung gulo.

"Just save your words. That words coming from you is quite frustrating. You're not sincere at all." Straight forward kong sabi.

"I'm sorry. I really mean it." I just snickered. Mean her ass!

"Okay. What a great talent you have. Keep on acting." I said sarcastically and I won't accept her apology. She doesn't deserve it anyway. But then, I felt Ryner nudged me kaya napa-okay na lang ulit ako, puno ng sarkasmo at labas sa ilong. Tss.

Krizelle smiled at me. Sus! Kala niya naman pinatawad ko na siya! Asa siya!

"Ryner, can we talk please? Just the two of us?" Tila nagmakaawa niyang sabi. Napataas naman ako ng kilay. Okay? Bakit pa niya kakausapin si Ryner? Baka nakakalimutan niyang ako ang naperwisyo niya at hindi si Ryner?

Before Ryner could open his mouth, inunahan ko na siya.

"Sorry Krizelle but you can't talk to him." I saw her raising her brows on me. Galing talagang magpanggap ng babaeng 'to. I might recommend her on an agency I knew. Tss. "I have my rule and that is, Ryner can't go anywhere without me." I said before dragging Ryner out of her yes. Nang makalampas na kami sa building namin, I heard Ryner whistled.

"What?" Inis kong tanong sa kanya.

"You look prettier when you're jealous." Sabi niya. I stopped from walking and faced him annoyingly.

"Hindi ako nagseselos! Naiinis lang ako!"

"Oww." Sabi niyang hindi naniniwala sa sagot ko. Nginitian pa ako ng malapad.

"Ewan ko sa'yo! Do'n ka nga sa Krizelle mo!" Sigaw ko sa kanya. Akmang aalis na sana ako pero hinila niya ako palapit sa kanya hanggang sa masubsob ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya.

"You're my one and only girl. Keep that in your mind." Pinitik na naman nito ang noo ko. Aba, namimihasa na siya, ah? "One thing, since when did my rule became yours?" Nakangisi niyang sabi.

He's referring to his second rule, "You can't go anywhere without me." Edi rule na niya kung rule niya. Malay ko bang seryoso siya ro'n. It doesn't matter anyway. At least napakinabangan ko yung rule niya. Lol.

Dumiretso kaming dalawa sa cafeteria. Matapos lang naming magmiryenda, bumalik na kami kaagad sa room. Our English teacher meet us for half an hour minutes, after that she dismissed us early dahil may meeting ang faculty members kaya naman umuwi na kami ng tuluyan.

Pagkarating sa condo, naisipan kong magluto ng mac and cheese tsaka strawberry cake. Trip ko lang kumbaga. Dahil nga hindi ako pinagpala ng talento pagdating sa kusina, Ryner assisted me.

To be honest, mas marami pa siyang ginawa kumpara sa akin. Tapos nung maglalagay na ako ng icing sa cake, bigla niya na lang pinahiran ang pisngi ko ng icing.

"Ang bad mo!" I said but he keeps on laughing. I also put icing on his face. I run to him still trying to put icing on his face pero hindi ko siya mahabol-habol hanggang sa bigla niya na lang akong niyakap palikod. Kinulong niya ako sa bisig niya para yata hindi ko siya malagyan ng icing sa mukha niya.

Maduga siya!

Pilit ko siyang hinaharap pero ayaw niya. Ayaw niyang malagyan siya ng icing samantalang ako tinadtad niya. Tawa lang siya ng tawa. Bwisit. Ang duga talaga!

Nasa gano'n kaming posisyon nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan. My eyes bawled in shock when I saw who just came in.

"Mom! Dad!" Mabilis kaming naghiwalay ni Ryner. Geez! Nakakahiya! Even if we looked so messy, dumiretso pa rin kami sa pintuan to let them in.

"Mom, you didn't inform us that you're coming here." Medyo natatarantang sabi ni Ryner.

"Kailangan pa ba 'yun? We miss you that's why we drop off here." Sabi ni Tita Grecie. "Anyway, what happened with the two of you? Para kayong bata." Tita said while laughing at us. Ganun na rin si Tito. Paano kasi may mga icing pang nakalagay sa daliri namin.

"Napagtripan lang po. Gumawa po kasi kami ng cake." Ako na yung sumagot.

"Oh. You should fix yourself. Ako nang tatapos do'n sa cake."

"Sige po." Sabay kaming umakyat ni Ryner sa taas habang ipinagpatuloy ang paglalagay ng icing sa mukha ng isat-isa.

"Tama na nga! Bwisit ka! Nando'n parents mo sa baba oh." Sabi ko sa kanya, halos pabulong na.

"Don't mind them." Hinila niya na naman ako at nilagay ang natitirang icing sa tungki ng ilong ko. "Maligo ka, mukha ka ng gusgusin dahil sa icing." Tsaka siya mabilis na pumasok sa kanyang kwarto. Bwisit talaga.

Done fixing ourselves, sabay kaming bumaba at sabay-sabay na naming kinain yung mac and cheese at strawberry cake na ginawa namin.

"Mom, Dad, what if I'm going to court Mauricy?" Halos mailuwa ko yung cake na nasa bibig ko. The eff? Sa dami ng tanong, bakit yun pa? Seryoso ba siya? I felt Tita Grecie taps my back. Inabutan pa niya ako ng tubig.

"You okay hija?" Tumango lang ako sa kanya. Tinignan ko si Ryner at pinandilatan siya ng mata. Kaso ang loko, nginitian lang ako.

"Why are you telling us this, son? If you want to court her, why not ask her? Besides, siya naman yung sasagot ng oo sa'yo, hindi kami." Tito Greg said. Hindi ko mawari kung bakit kailangan pa niyang tumawa matapos niya kaming tignan dalawa.

I swear, my face flushed red. Jusko! Bakit naman out of the blue yung mga sinasabi nila?

"If Ryner would court you hija, papayagan mo ba?" Mas lalong namula ang mukha ko dahil sa tanong ni Tita.

"P-po?" I stuttered with my own words. Geez! Bakit pakiramdam ko, iisa ang takbo ng utak ng magpapamilyang 'to?