Chapter 21

It was probably a bad routine.

At least nakaka-disrupt siya ng body clock.

For about a week already, Finley would go here sa condo ng 4AM. It began with 4:30AM talaga since super near lang naman nito sa school... but he said na super bitin daw kapag 4:30 so naging 4AM na siya! I knew naman na meron din siya sa house nila nung protein shake, but he acts like dito lang meron non. Tsk. Ang aga ko tuloy nagigising lagi!

And as if naman makaka-tulog pa ulit ako after niya umalis...

How could I?! When we'd literally make out the whole time he's here! Tapos I always had to remind myself not to bite his lips... because apparently... I'm a biter.

Oh, gosh, the realizations!

"You okay?"

I nodded and smiled. "Yup," I replied with a smile kahit sa totoo lang, I wanted to take a nap na. Super sleepy pa ako! Late na ako naka-tulog yesterday because I had to do some school works tapos super aga ko rin nagising.

Both recess and lunch break, I didn't go out. My sleepiness won over my hunger. I decided to sleep na lang kasi antok na antok talaga ako super. Nagtext pala si Finley nung lunch asking na magkita kami doon sa old building but I was sleeping nga so, hindi ako naka-reply.

'Sorry. I was sleeping,' I said kasi baka isipin niya na naman na iniignore ko siya. So far, so good. One week na kaming hindi nagtatalo. Akalain mo 'yon?! Possible pala!

'Buong lunch?'

'Yup,' I replied.

'Dinner later. Somewhere far,' he said like alam niya na para kaming criminals na nagtatago dito sa Manila.

I stared at his text. I wanted to sleep agad pag-uwi ko. I was so looking forward to the dismissal... but I wanted to go on a date with Finley din! Hindi na kami nakapagdinner together this week because may training siya until 10PM. Nakaka-miss din pala siyang kasama magdinner kahit wala naman siyang tinutulong sa akin.

When dismissal came, it was like I was on autopilot. Diretso lang ako na naglakad papunta sa condo. I told Finley na mauuna na ako. I planned to take a power nap! Kahit 15 minutes lang!

Pero napa-haba yata iyong tulog ko...

"Omg, sorry," I said nung buksan ko iyong pinto tapos nakita ko na nandon si Finley. I had to stop for a second to breathe in the view. Gosh, he's so gwapo talaga! Naka-suot lang naman siya ng plain white t-shirt and dark jeans... but I guess kapag gwapo ka, gwapo ka talaga no matter the outfit.

Finley looked at me, his forehead creased. "Kaka-gising mo lang?" he asked. Napa-hawak ako sa hair ko. May bedhead pa ba ako?! Gosh! Nagiging complacent na ba ako? I told myself na kahit mag-one year na kami ni Finley, dapat lagi akong maganda sa harapan niya!

I nodded. "Yes, power nap lang dapat but I guess I slept through my alarm," I told him. "But I'll be fast...ish," I continued. I couldn't sacrifice looking ugly in front of him! Kahit matagalan pa ako!

I was about to turn around na para magtake ng quick shower sana when napa-tigil ako kasi hinawakan ni Finley iyong wrist ko.

"What?" I asked because he was just looking at me. He looked like he was in deep thought—like pinag-iisipan niya talaga kung anuman iyong next na mga salita na lalabas sa bibig niya.

"Let's just stay in," he said.

"What? Grabe naman! I'll be super fast!" I said. Ica-cancel niya agad dahil lang naka-tulog ako? I mean, fine, fault ko naman talaga, but grabe naman! It's been a week since nagdinner kami together. I was tired, but I was looking forward to it kaya.

"No," he said. "We can go out to have dinner some other time."

I chewed on my lower lip.

Ganon ba niya kaayaw maghintay?

Finley looked at me. His forehead turned into a deeper crease. He cupped my face with both his hands and made me look at him.

"Why are you pouty?" he asked. "I'm giving you a chance to sleep."

"What?"

He pinched both my cheeks, so I frowned at him. "My fault—hindi ka nga pala sanay na 4AM gumi-gising," he said as he pulled me close tapos ay bigla niya akong niyakap.

Why... was this so nice?! It should be criminal how nice hugs could be!

"Fault mo talaga..." I said against his chest.

"I know. I'm sorry," he said. "What can I do to apologize?"

I wanted to tell him na okay na ako sa kiss, but why was I suddenly so shy?! Like wala kaming makeout session every madaling araw this week!

"No, it's fine," I said na lang. Honestly, wala rin akong maisip na hingin from him. Para kasing before ko pa isipin, binibigay niya na agad... so ano pa ang iaask ko?

* * *

We did stay in.

Nandon kami sa couch. Finley was sitting. He was playing whatever game he was playing (he tried to recruit me but I was just really not a fan of the game! I try my best na lang not to get jealous sa kung sinuman ang nakaka-laro niya doon). I, on the other hand, naka-higa iyong head ko sa may legs niya. I was taking a nap. Finley wore airpods so hindi ko naririnig iyong ingay niya. Sometimes, I'd feel him caressing my arm. It was so... comforting.

But at the same time, kinda scary.

Parang it happened so fast.

One day, we're just schoolmates.

Now, I couldn't imagine life without him—I mean, I could, but it sounded so painfully boring.

Like Finley brought colors into my life.

Ugh.

Ang corny ko na!

After a while, nagising na rin ako from my power nap. It's so annoying that even from this cursed angle, ang pogi pa rin ni Finley. I raised my left hand and I poked his cheek kaya napa-tingin siya sa akin.

"Snow White is finally awake," sabi niya sa akin.

"Didn't you know? Magigising lang si Snow White if may true love's kiss?"

I saw how the expression on Finley's face went from confusion to shock to happiness. He placed his phone on the side, used both his hands to cup my face, and then leaned down to kiss me on the lips.

It was just a peck this time, but gosh, that was enough to send my heart racing!

"You hungry?" he asked with his lips just less than an inch from mine. Peck lang ba talaga?!

I nodded.

"For food, just to clarify," he continued in a teasing tone.

I glared at him. He was laughing. I pushed him away tapos ay naupo na rin ako. Ugh. He's still super annoying!

"Little kiss monster," he said.

"Sino kaya 'yung pumupunta dito ng 4AM?"

"Sanay ako na gising ng 4AM. Sino 'yung nag-adjust ng body clock?"

I pushed him. He laughed as he grabbed my hands and placed it against his chest. So annoying!

"Fine, I'll stop," he said. "For now." I glared at him.

Finley convinced me na lumabas kami. We were wearing hoodies na naka-suot iyong hoodie sa head namin and sunglass kahit gabi na. We looked even more suspicious dahil sa ginagawa namin.

It was a Friday night. I didn't know kung saan kami pupunta. I didn't even care to ask—I knew naman na kahit saan ako ayain ni Finley, I'd go with him.

I was already so comfortable with him.

It's both nice and scary.

We went to a drive thru. We got burgers, fries, nuggets, and cola. Surprisingly. Medyo healthy eating kasi siya kaya nagtaka lang ako. He said na okay lang naman if minsan.

Akala ko babalik na kami sa unit, but Finley parked in front of what looked like a private basketball court.

"You'll play?" I asked.

I mean... sure. Okay naman ako kahit manood lang ako sa kanya. Actually, okay na ako basta nakikita ko siya.

"No," he replied. "It's just nice and quiet here," he continued. "And this is one of my favorite places. I wanted to bring you here."

And on cue, I felt my cheeks heating up.

Ugh! He just knew what words to say talaga!

We got inside the court. Finley was the one holding all the food. I asked him kung bakit may ganito pa e may court naman sa school. He said that this one's private. I asked pa and eventually, he did tell me na sa kanya lang 'tong court na 'to.

"This is yours?" I asked.

He nodded. "Technically, yeah," he replied as he placed the food doon sa table sa isang gilid. It was a half-court lang but meron naman nung ring kung saan shinu-shoot iyong ball. Mukha ngang for private use lang.

"Seriously... are you like... a son of a drug lord?" I asked. I had to! Now, he's suspiciously rich na!

He laughed—like as in laughed—that I was kinda weirded out kasi ngayon ko lang siya narinig tumawa. I frowned at him. I was curious lang naman! Kaya nga nag-ask ako!

"Sorry," he said as he wiped the tears kasi naiyak na siya sa kaka-tawa. "It was just funny. You should meet my dad. He's the farthest thing from a drug lord."

Still, I glared at him.

"No, but seriously, I don't think my parents do anything illegal. They're just good at investing, I guess," he said. "Our parents all got us buildings when we were born, so you can say that I've been earning since the day I was born."

My eyes widened.

And then I tried to reign my reaction kasi parang ang gold digger ko naman! Na-shock lang ako because who gives buildings as a gift dahil lang pinanganak ka?!

"Cool," I said.

Finley was looking at me, a grin appearing on his face like he was making fun of me dahil sa earlier reaction ko.

"I'm not a gold digger, okay," defensive na sabi ko. "I mean, sure, I did say that I'll marry rich but like—" napa-tigil ako sa sinasabi ko because Finley was just grinning at me and he's so annoying and I wanted to wipe that grin off his stupid face!

"What?" I asked, super annoyed.

"Nothing," he replied. He took a step forward. I felt my heart skip a beat dahil lang don. "Maia," he called my name and I literally stopped breathing. "I know you—both the good and the bad. I'm still here, right?" Then he pulled me close and enveloped me in his arms. "So, don't worry. I'm here. You have me."

**

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