IV

"Babyy!"

I was excitedly running towards him before he just smiled at me when I'm running towards him, but now-he's now open his arms para salubingin ako ng yakap. "I miss you," he whispered when he finally held me and rested his head on my shoulder.

"I miss you more!" I whispered to his ears, narinig ko naman ang mahina niyang pagdaing na parang mamatay na siya sa kilig. It's like weeks since he started to court me, but we're acting in relationship right now.

"Can we hug like this for a while?" He requested. I nodded my head then slowly rubbed his back. "Yes, we can hug like this muna. As long as you want, you can hug me," I said as I felt his arms wrapping my body. I could feel his tight hug like my warmth was the one he needed right now.

"Lovee loveee!"

He laughs nonstop when we are now sitting in our mat; tawang-tawa siya ngayon sa ginagawa ko. We decided to paint for today's video; unfortunately, none of us know how to paint.

"Mukha namang sunset! Pinagtatawanan mo ko." I frowned when he continued laughing. We decided to paint a sunset. But I can't figure out kung sunset ba talaga ginawa ko. I add too much black! Yung sa kanya nga-maayos, grr. I just rolled my eyes and naglabas ng panibagong canvas. Tig isa kami na dalawang maliit.

"I want to try this!" I excitedly painted his palm color blue, but instead of being annoyed, he smiled at me. Ayan ganyan dapat sasabayan ako sa gusto ko. I press his palm on the canvas dahilan para maiwan ang mark ng hand niya. "Ako po maglalagay sayo." I bit my lips to stop smiling, then gave him the purple paint.

"Kiss sa kamay ng Disney Princess," he said, and then the next thing I knew, his lips were now touching my hand; he was kissing my hand, my palm, and my five fingers. I can feel my cheeks turning pink. "Ayan na okay na love love." He said, then I looked at the canvas, dalawang kamay na namin ang naka marka ron.

"Let's keep this." He whispered while looking at the masterpiece we made. It was a masterpiece made of kagagu-but looking in his eyes, his eyes twinkled while looking at our piece. Okay, I won't deny it na, it was made of love.

It was odd feelings; it was unfamiliar when my heart suddenly beat fast. I watched the sunrise; it was five in the morning. I was confused; my mind and my heart are confused. I bite my lips while looking at the sun, who waves a welcome in my eyes. I suddenly want to breathe. Everything happened so fast, and my heart's want to breathe. Should I stop seeing him? He is bad for me, bad for my heart.

Four in the afternoon came, and I stayed in our house. I enjoy being alone in my room, but somehow hindi ako mapakali. I should stop seeing him; this is not serious. Hindi ako pwedeng bumigay, I will hurt. Then, if I'm not? In the end, I will still hurt. I'm having too much; I'm tired of getting hurt again, baka hindi ko na kayanin. But when my phone beeps, hindi ko na pagilan ang sarili kong buksan ang message.

"I'm waiting for you; please come here, my love."

But who am I to be a fool? Just one chat, I found myself standing in front of him. He's looking at me in the same intense way. "Sit down." Napaguso akong umupo sa tabi niya.

"You don't have plan to meet me? Didn't reply to my chats, ignoring me? Why it is my love?" He asked in serious tone but I can see his softness when I stared at him. "Sowey na, namiss kita." I said then in one snap I'm at his side hugging him. "I miss you more, I miss you so much." He whispered then hugs me tight.

"Hala may guitara ka palang dala, guitarist ka?" I asked when I noticed the guitar at his side. He rolled his eyes then nod his head, si sungit naman. "Haharahin mo ba ko?" I asked but he just smirked, hala ang pogi. Nilagay niya sa kandungan niya ang guitara, then he put his hand to right place. Using his guitar pin dahan-dahan niyang kinuskus ito sa string. It made a melody, a beautiful melody.

"Wise men say

Only fools rush in

But I can't help falling in love with you."

I try to sing and follow his chords; he plays slowly, para maksabay ako dahilan para mapangiti ako. "Hmm, continue, my love." He whispered and stared at me. Parehas kaming napangiti ngayon.

"Shall I stay?

Would it be a sin

If I can't help falling in love with you?"

I bite my lower lips, and avoid his gaze. His gaze became more intense like his eyes want me to know something that I still don't want to hear.

"Take my hand,

Take my whole life, too

For I can't help falling in love with you

For I can't help falling in love with you."

He stop playing his guitar, I feel his warm hands on my hand. I squeeze his hands gently. "Tingnan mo ko sa mata my love." I look at his eyes, my heart can't breathe na naman! Parang gusto ng tumalon ng puso ko sa dagat, at gusto ng umakyat ng kaluluwa ko sa itaas!

"I love you."

My eyes widened, para tila nabingi ako sa mga salitang sinabi niya. That was the scary word I didn't want-that word I avoided. But even though I avoid it, my heart always finds a way to exclaim her owner-it was him-my Jerome.

"I love you, Ashley Realonzo."

"Pstt mi rey? "

I whispered in a low voice when I saw Jerome sleeping in the mat. Nakalatag na ang mat namin na inuupuan. And I saw him sleeping here. Habang nakaunan siya sa braso niya. Napasimangot ako, what if may babae na tumitig sa mukha niya? Masasampal ko talaga.

Nakita ko ang pagdahan-dahan niyang pagmulat ng mata niya, he looked at me in his sleepy eyes. "What's mi rey po?" he asked in a sleepy tone. "It means my king." I giggled when I saw him smile. "Wala akong crown po, how can I be a king?" I slightly pouted then looked at him. "Here's your crown," I said and planted a kiss on his head and his forehead. He giggles while his eyes are close. Ang cute ng baby.

Maingat kong inangat ang ulo niya, "sa lap ko ikaw matulog." Mahina kong sabi nang makitang papikit-pikit na siya, he opens his right eyes, then closes them again at umayos ng higa sa kandungan ko. "Tulog po muna ako," he said in a soft voice that made me smile. Maya-maya ay hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko na titigan ang mukha niya. I just appreciate Jerome by calling him pogi. But when I said pogi, sobrang pogi talaga niya.

He has these intense-looking eyes; I don't know if I'm right, but I think he has a pair of almond eyes. I think it's almond because the way he stared was sharp and deep; nakakatunaw talaga lalo na pag seryoso siyang tumingin. I touch his eyebrow at marahang sinundot-sundot ang makapal niyang kilay, nang makita kong kumukunot ang noo niya ay agad akong tumigil, then message his forehead. That was one thing I learned from him; he has this number one expression, yung pagkunot lagi ng noo.

I gently rubbed his chin. I giggled when I saw him moving his eyes. I trace his chin, and I can't help but be amazed; he's a standard when it comes to his features. He has a heart-shaped chin; naalala ko kasabihan na when you have this shape of chin, it means you are so handsome; hindi nga nagkakamali ang kasabihan na 'yon.

"Naks hindi retoke ah." Mahina kong bulong nang hawakan naman ang ilong niya, his nose are his asset. Ang tangos kasi nito. I gently touch his jaw; he doesn't have a sharp jaw, but it's bagay sa kanya; it makes him more attractive. And finally, I touch his thin lips; it was soft, but I don't want to kiss it because I know it will be too addictive.

"Can you be my girlfriend?" His are still close while saying those words; maybe he's having a dream? "Yes," I whispered in his ears. I saw how his eyes opened and how his eyes widened; maybe he realized what he said at yung sagot ko. Napabangon siya sa pagkakahiga and look at me.

"H-huh? Forgot about that; dapat tanungin kita ng mas maayos," he said, and avoided my gaze. My baby is shy. "Ask me again." I demanded. He stared nervously, but he smiled at me and held my hand.

Pinagmasdan ko lang siya na may kunin na kung ano sa bulsa niya. Now he's holding a small box, and when he opens it, nakita ko ang isang pendant. It was a heart pendant that had his initial J.F. and as always, my hearts melt with teary eyes staring at him. "Leyley ko, can you be my girlfriend?" It's three months is enough? Five months of knowing him and falling for him in the short period of time. Isn't enough? I think...

"I'm your girlfriend now, mi rey."

"Honey, love letter mo sakin po?"

He asked when I gave him a small brown envelope that engraved his name. I shyly look at him. "I actually want you to know how much you mean to me," I said in a low voice. He smiled at me, making me feel confident enough to stare at his peaceful eyes.

He opened the letter; he smiled at me before reading it out loud. "First of all, happy first monthary to us, my Jerome." He read that made me smile. "I never imagined that love could truly exist; I thought I would never dare to take a risk. Yet, as I gazed into your serene eyes that day, a realization dawned upon me." He cleared his throat and stared at me. I can see how he was flighting his emotions as he continued reading.

"I would gladly return to Sagada time and time again, just to witness the tranquil beauty of the sunset in your eyes."

He smiled at me while his eyes were filled with tears. All of a sudden I saw myself in his arms; he is hugging me tight while sobbing a little in my shoulder.

"I'm so lucky to have you, honey," he whispered, as I could feel his hands in my batok. As I feel something in my neck. Lumayo siya sa akin, nakita ko ang makininang na bagay sa leeg ko. It was a heart pendant.

"I never received a love letter before," he said in a low voice, but he smiled while staring at me like his eyes were saying his happiness that his first letter came from me. "Bagay sayo, honey." He said that made my eyes teary. The necklace that has a purple heart pendant that I'm wearing is really pretty.

"I gave you that heart pendant, which means my heart is always yours. No matter what, what will happen. Our love will be forever."I smiled as I whispered to him.

"In Perpetuum et Unum Diem."