Chapter Ten

I decided to pause the movie, but to my surprise, Zia hugged me. Then I heard her crying. She's really that scared? I don't know what to do, but I found myself hugging her back. I guess it would help her to calm down. We've stayed like that for couple of seconds until she released from my hug. Embarrassed... maybe?

"S-sorry," she said then she looked at the tv. Her eyes got wide then she instantly closed her eyes.

I hugged her again. My heart's pounding again. It's fast. I lost count. She's on my chest so I bet she hears my heart pounding. And I don't know why... but I want us to stay like this.

But things should end, Pia took a picture of us hugging each other, while laughing and clapping. That girl's really weird. They're alike.

For the second time she got out from my hug. She faced the other side then said sorry ulit. How cute. She's blushing. I can see it on her ears.

"Iba na lang yung panuorin natin,"  I said trying to dismiss the awkward atmosphere.

"Tulog na ako. Anong oras na, e," she said. Why? Ayaw na ba n'ya ako kasama?

Hindi pa kami nakakasagot eh umalis na s'ya at umakyat.

"Don't mind her. Gan'yang oras talaga s'ya natutulog," sabi ni Pia. Pabigla-biglang nagsasalita 'to. Weird talaga.

"You know what? I like you," she said smling at me then run towards her room? I dunno.

"What the hell was that?" I said in my mind.

Iiwan ko na sana yung mga kalat dun nang dumaan si Kevin.

"Do you like her?" he asked without giving me an eye contact. I just shrugged to piss him off. He then glared.

"Do you like her?" he asked again. Giving an emphasis on every word.
"Remember what I've said earlier?"

Nanatili lang syang nakatingin sakin.

"I said.. 'Now I think I already know what did you like about her.' I knew it because we feel the same," I said then I went upstairs. Leaving him drowning into his thoughts. Maybe that conversation will help him to realize what he must do before it's too late.

Nag-shower na ako para fresh ang pagtulog. After nun eh humiga na ako, remembering my conversation with my brother earlier..

Those words that came out from my mouth was natural. I didn't even practice nor think about it before uttering those words. It was all natural—it feels like I'm taking it seriously.

And... Anong ibig sabihin ni Pia na she likes me?

*****

I can't sleep. But I'm sleepy. Hindi ako sanay sa timezone ng Pilipinas. Wala pa akong tulog masyado. It's already quarter to 3 in the morning and here I am, staring at the ceiling.

I decided to go downstairs to get a hot chocolate.

Pagkalabas ko ng kwarto ko, I heard someone crying. And believe me or not, I had goosebumps. That Shomba was really scary. She's also one of the reasons why I can't sleep.

Napatingin ako sa kwarto ni Pia. Dun nanggagaling yung iyak eh.

Then may babaeng gulo-gulo ang buhok ang nandun.

Pinuntahan ko s'ya at hinawakan sa braso tapos tinanong.

"Zia? Umiiyak ka?"

I'm not sure kung si Zia 'to. Pag hindi 'to si Zia, babalik ako sa America at 'di na ulit babalik dito. Shit talaga. Di na ko mag-eempake alis agad!

"K-Keanu?" she asked between her sobs.
"Uh-huh," I said trying to sound cool. Nakakahiya kaya kung mas mukha pa akong takot sa kanya. At buti si Zia s'ya.
"Akala ko si Shomba ka naaaaaaa!!!!"

"Shh. Shh.. Baka marinig ka ng kapit-bahay sa lakas ng boses mo."
"Sorry"

Pinunasan na n'ya yung luha n'ya saka tumingin sa'kin. Our eyes met for a second.

I remembered her annoyed face at McDonald's. I wanna laugh but that would be weird. Lol

Ang ganda n'ya. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Mas mabilis sa kanina. I want to protect her like what prince does to his princess.

Then napansin ko na nakatingin s'ya sa abs ko. I forgot I'm shirtless. Natawa ako sa kan'ya. Loved the view?

"Are you done checking my hot body?"
"Psh. Hot daw. K. Kaw na ang may pandesal."

"Akala ko hi-hindi ka eh. Papahawak ko sana," I said then nilabas ko yung dila ko. My childish part's coming out when I'm with her. Unconsciously.

I asked her what happened. She actually doesn't want that kind of movies but she watched it. Girls.

"Dito ka na lang sa kwarto ko matulog," I offered. Since we're scared. YEAH! WE!
"H-huh?"
"Natatakot ka 'di ba? You can hug my hot body para 'di ka matakot," I said then winked at her
"Mukha kang may epilepsy bhe," she laughingly said.

"Sakit naman sa puso nun. Pogi-pogi ko tapos ginaganyan mo ko."

"Abno," she said.

What's abno? I said to my mind.

*****

She's already in my room so I went to the kitchen to make hot chocolate.

"Sir. Ako na lang po d'yan," Manang said. She looks like she's just awoken.

"Nah. Ayos lang manang. Tulog ka na po ulit."
"Hindi Sir. Ako na lang po."
"Hindi manang. Matulog ka na. Pagod ka po," I insisted.
"Sige po Sir, salamat," she said while taking her leave. I just nodded.

Gumawa na ako ng hot chocolate. Gusto ko masarap. Kelangan!

'Bakit kelangan?' I asked myself.
'Kasi...' ugh! hopeless. Why am I like this?

Nung natapos na ay pumunta ako sa kwarto ko. Nandun si Zia sa kama ko. It made my heart pound—again. Her presence makes me feel this. And she's lying on my bed so I think it's normal to feel this way.

Yes!! That's because she's on my bed! Wala nang ibang rason. Tangina.

Nilapag ko 'yung hot chocolate sa table. She's busy scanning the room.

I saw the sofa. I think I have no choice. She'll definitely kill me if I sleep beside her.

I look at the sofa again. I'm tall so I'm not expecting that I'll fit on that couch. Poor me.

"D'yan ka na sa kama matulog. Dito na ako sa sofa," I said. It might be good if she thinks that I am a gentleman, right?

It will help. I know.

"Dito ka na lang. Malaki naman kama mo tsaka di ako malikot matulog," she said. I didn't expect it coming.
"Nope. I'm a guy, you're a girl. Girls should sleep on the bed," I insist. How would she think that I'm a gentleman if I didn't sleep on the couch?

"And you're the owner of the bed where I am lying right now."

"Aish. Babae ka, lalake ako. Get it?" sinabi ko para tumigil na s'ya and let me do what I want.

But... I'm affected. What if we're the one that's destined? I slapped my inner self for thinking that. Why would I??? I should not.

Keanu. Always remember GUSTO SYA NG KAPATID MO! BACK OFF!

Pero... pilitin mo pa ako. Tatabihan talaga kita.

"Gago! Lalaki rin ako kaya wala kang mamamanyak sa'kin," she said. I laughed. Kevin's right. You really are one of the boys.

Pinipilit talaga n'ya ako. Baka 'di ko mapigilan at lumapit talaga ako sa'yo.

"Oo nga pala. Flat ka!"
"Kingina mo."

Imbes na 'di ako pansinin, minura lang ako. You're one of a kind, Zia.

"Dito ka na kasi."
"Aish. Bahala ka nga," I said. She defeated me. No choice. I'll sleep beside her.

Pero... a part of me wants to sleep beside her. To cuddle with her. Why does my brain makes me feel this way?

So I went to my bed and lie down. Pero malaking ang space. I'm facing at her direction. Pero nakatalikod s'ya sa'kin.

I keep on staring her back. She's facing the wall.

She looks like she's sleeping now. Ambilis. So jealous.

I sighed. I can't sleep. Seeing her next to me makes me feel nervous. I want to hug her.

Gumalaw s'ya ng konti. Tapos humarap sa'kin.

Ang ganda n'ya. May mga nakaharang na buhok sa mukha n'ya. Tapos medyo nakanganga s'ya. Bakit ang ganda n'ya pag ganito s'ya? Nababaliw na ba ako? You're not my type Zia. You're so out of my type.

Now... my heart's beating so fast— again. Kinakabahan ako sa ginagawa ko but I know I'm not doing anything wrong. You're supposed to feel this when you're doing something wrong, right?

I gently caressed her face. It's soft. Traces her eyes her nose and lips. She moved a little bit. It tickles, I bet.

Then out of nowhere, I sat down and kissed her cheeks.

Now. I really did something wrong.

I'm sorry Kevin.