#JustTheStrings

Kabanata 41

First day with Saint went well... or maybe a little too well dahil 26 hours kaming magkasama. Upon waking up, he cooked for me dahil late akong nagising. I set an alarm but he closed it dahil puyat daw ako... And when I woke up, a platter of pancakes and bacons was waiting for me. Tapos, umuwi muna siya para maligo. An hour later, umalis kami at iniwan namin iyong kambal sa bahay nila dahil gustong makipaglaro ni Finley at Riley kay Psalm at Cohen (not with Austin kasi takot daw sila). We played paintball—finally pumayag na ako dahil dati pa ako inaaya ni Saint pero ayoko dahil sabi nila Kuya, masakit daw. And after the game, I felt like the bruises were already forming but it was worth it. Kitang-kita na nag-enjoy si Saint, e. At pagkatapos nun, we roamed around the mall... It was normal but it was different in some ways. Nanood kami ng movie, nagshare ng popcorn, tapos bumili ng same glasses (because deep inside, Saint's into twinning, hindi niya lang inaamin).

All in all, I had a great day with Saint. And we capped the night off by going to Tagaytay. He drank coffee while I enjoyed my tea.

Ang normal lang ng ginawa namin but I enjoyed it a lot. He brought me home around 2 in the morning.

"Did you enjoy?"

I nodded.

"Can you still drive?" I asked. Medyo matagal din kasi siyang nagdrive tapos madaling-araw na...

And then that playful smile dawned on his face again.

"Why? You're inviting me to stay the night again?"

"Bakit? Gusto mo rin, no?" I shot back. Kanina pa ako tinutukso ni Saint kaya hindi na ako tinatablan.

He laughed. "Of course. But I need to go home already," he said and then kissed my forehead. "See you later?"

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Bukas?"

He nodded.

"It's Sunday. Let's see mass together," he said.

May mas perfect pa ba sa kanya?

"Hindi ka ba magsisimba kasama ang parents mo?" I asked. Ang alam ko kasi, nagsisimba talaga ang GDL tuwing Sunday. Kami rin naman nagsisimba tuwing Sunday pero never kaming nagka-sabay kasi sa magkaibang simbahan kami nagsisimba.

Umiling siya.

"They go to mass at 6am. I don't think I can wake up that early. Let's see a mass at noon, okay lang sa 'yo?"

I nodded.

"Okay," I said with a smile.

"You're still smiling. Hindi ba sumasakit 'yang mukha mo?" he said and then stretched my face with his fingers. "Buong araw na 'yan, oh. Ganyan ka ba kasaya na boyfriend mo na ako?"

Hinampas ko iyong kamay niya.

"Ikaw nga, iniyakan mo ako, e. Mas gusto mo kaya akong maging girlfriend," I said and then he laughed. He pulled me and hugged me tight. "Tapos palagi kang naka-yakap. Ikaw kaya 'yung patay na patay sa akin."

I felt him kissing the top of my head.

"Who wouldn't fall in love with you? You're everything I ever wanted," he said and then hugged me tighter.

"Ano'ng meron sa akin?" I managed to ask after struggling for a very long time. Saint's almost too good to be true. He's too good... tapos nagustuhan niya ako? Ang tagal ko nang gustong tanungin kung bakit. Kung ano ba ang meron sa akin at bakit ako 'yung nagustuhan niya kasi sa totoo lang, marami namang iba... Alam ko naman na hindi ako perfect. I was flawed. And sometimes, I was too much to handle... so, why me?

We were just hugging in front of my house—or maybe we were dancing a little dahil medyo umiikot kami. But we were hugging, nonetheless. He didn't want to break the hug. At ayaw ko rin naman.

"Sabi mo nga, mahirap akong kausap kasi hindi ako nagsasalita madalas... I don't talk about my problems like how you want me to... And I know I frustrate you... Kaya bakit ako?"

He only hugged me tighter.

"You know why you frustrate me? Because I want to know you more. Because if I don't care about you at all, I wouldn't even bother asking you how you are."

I smiled. And bit my lower lip.

"And why wouldn't I want you? I noticed you two years ago, when you went to the gym to give something to Preston. I wanted to approach you but I decided not to because Preston hated my guts so much."

"Ayaw pa rin naman sa 'yo ni Kuya."

He laughed.

"I know."

"Pero bakit nilapitan mo na ako?"

"I didn't. You fell on my lap. For two years, I've been looking at you like a creep and I've been waiting for a sign para kausapin na kita. And then one day, you willingly went inside my car. And that was God's sign. Na akin ka na raw talaga."

Natawa rin ako sa kanya. I removed my face from his chest and looked at him.

"Totoo?"

He nodded.

"Yeah..." he said with a smile. "That day, Psalm asked me to pick him up because he forgot to bring his car and he needs a ride back home. So I went to the coffee shop. But before I could even text him that I was already there, you went inside my car."

Napa-ngiti ako. Ngayon, ito na 'yung maaalala ko kapag binalikan ko iyong araw na 'yun. Dati kasi, ang naaalala ko ay pinaiyak ako ni Parker nung araw na 'yun... Pero ngayon, napalitan na ni Saint iyong alaala na 'yun.

"Hindi mo naman sinabi sa akin na hindi ka Uber driver," I said.

"Well, my crush willingly went inside my car, who am I so contradict the will of God?"

Kinagat ko iyong labi ko dahil kinilig talaga ako nung sinabi niya na crush niya ako. Bakit mas nakakakilig pa 'to kaysa nung naging boyfriend ko siya?

"And you were crying that day... I just wanted to make you smile. But I failed. Hindi ako makapagsalita nun, e. Nagulat ako sa 'yo."

I was still fighting the urge to smile but he was making it really hard! Bakit ang lakas niyang magpa-kilig?

"Ano'ng sabi ni Psalm?" I said, diverting the topic because I didn't think I could handle more of his words.

"Well, he got mad at me. He made me do suicide run and basically, abused me during training. Naiwan kasi siya sa coffee shop and apparently, his partner has a crush on him and it made him really uncomfortable."

"Hala..."

He smiled. Ayun na naman iyong ngipin.

"But totally worth it," he said and then cupped my face. "Because eight months later, the girl I ditched Psalm for is now my girlfriend."

Hindi ko na pinigilan. Napa-ngiti na rin ako. Naka-hawak ako roon sa t-shirt niya.

"Worth it, right?"

He said and I nodded. I couldn't think of anything when he's looking at me like that.

"Mary..."

"Hmm?"

My God. Para akong aatakihin dahil sa lakas ng tibok ng dibdib ko.

"Never mind. I'll just do it," he said and then he did it.

He kissed me. Oh, my God.

Nanlaki iyong mga mata ko dahil sa ginawa ni Saint. I was expecting it but it still threw me off when he really did it. Nakadilat ako habang naka-pikit si Saint. My mind was in a state of frenzy and he just made me crazier when his lips started moving. Oh, dear God!

Holy Mother of Christ.

"Hey, Mary. Are you still breathing?"

Napa-kurap ako.

"Hey."

Iyong paghinga ko.

Napa-hawak ako sa labi ko.

"T-tapos ka na?"

Bigla namang natawa si Saint—iyong tipo na parang maiiyak na siya dahil sa sinabi ko. May nakakatawa ba sa sinabi ko? Para kasing mamamatay na siya at kulang na lang ay gumulong siya sa sahig dahil hindi niya na kaya.

"Sorry," sabi niya nung tapos na siyang tumawa. "Did you not enjoy the kiss? Why are you asking me that?"

Napa-kurap ako.

"Uhm... Good night, Saint," sabi ko at saka tumakbo papasok. Paano ko siya haharapin?! Hindi ko alam kung paano humalik! Baka kung ano ang iniisip niya sa akin!

Tumakbo ako paakyat sa kwarto ko at saka binagsak iyong katawan ko sa kama. Tinakpan ko ng kamay iyong mukha ko at saka gumulong-gulong sa kama. Wala na iyong first kiss ko! Kinuha na ni Saint! Tapos para akong tanga kasi hindi ako nakagalaw. Hindi nga yata ako naka-hinga nang maayos dahil sa ginawa niya!

I was still internally berating myself for acting that way when my phone vibrated. Saint was calling.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked.

I bit my lip.

"Ah... okay lang."

"Why did you run? Did I disappoint?"

Mother of God! Bakit ba hindi siya tumitigil sa mga ganyang tanong?!

"Uwi ka na," I said, instead. "Malapit nang mag 3."

"Why are you changing the topic? Let's talk about the kiss."

Goodness gracious! Totoo pala iyong kasabihan na nothing good happens after 2 am. Kung anu-ano na ang ginagawa ni Saint at ang lumalabas sa bibig niya!

"Matulog ka na nga," I said but he just laughed.

"My girlfriend's shy," he teased.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo."

"I'll kiss you again when I see you later."

"Good night."

"Good night din," he said. "Also, accept my relationship request in facebook."

Inilagay ko sa loudspeak iyong tawag at saka nagpunta sa facebook. At ayun nga...

Saint Iverson Gomez de Liaño listed you as his girlfriend

"Ngayon na? Ngayong madaling-araw?"

"Yes," he replied. "Nagsisimula na akong maniwala dati na walang silbi ang relationship status sa facebook. Thank you for changing my belief."

Saint in the wee hours of the morning should be illegal. Sobra na nga siya kapag normal na oras... pero kapag ganito na madaling-araw? Kung anu-ano ang lumalabas sa bibig niya. Hindi kaya werewolf siya? Na nag-iiba tuwing bilog ang buwan?

"Okay. Para matahimik ka," I said as I clicked accept. "Okay na po ba? Wala ka na po bang iuutos?"

He laughed. Again. Ilang beses siyang tumawa sa loob ng 27 hours na magkasama kami.

"Last request."

"Hmm?"

"I have a game tomorrow. Wear my jacket."

"Okay..."

"And then cheer for me."

"Okay..."

"And then after that, if we won, congratulate me. And if we lose, tell me it's alright."

"Okay..."

"And then just stay by my side. Iyon lang."

I nodded.

"Okay..."

"And Mary?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't break my heart."

I smiled. Of course not.

Pagkatapos nun, pinilit ko si Saint na matulog na. Mabuti na lang at naka-sunod lang si Martin sa amin kaya naman hindi na nagdrive si Saint pauwi. Kinakabahan din kasi ako kasi alam ko na puyat na puyat na siya dahil 27 hours na kaming magkasama. Tapos mamaya naman, magkikita na naman kami kasi magsisimba kami.

I cleaned myself up and I was preparing to sleep when my phone beeped with notification.

Parker Adrian Palma liked your relationship status