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DIANA'S POV

Nothing feels better than having your crush clinging into your arm and leaning her head on your shoulder as you drive with one hand with ease.

With my other arm around her shoulder, I press Franki closer to my chest to give her a kiss on her head as I smile in content. I try my best to limit my movement for her full comfort.

Ugh, she smells so sweet and the lingering scent of her shampoo in her slightly wet hair has stuck on my nose already.

I can't wait to see her reaction on the surprise that I have specially prepared just for her. I asked Mark Dean's help to keep Veronica preoccupied so I can have my escape.

I told her that I want to come back to Dave's condo but she again used the self-pity card and asked for one more week. Leandra, her sister, will come back next week from Singapore to keep her company so I will have more reasons to move out.

But come to think of it...

I have been clear with her from that start, that I was uncertain with my feelings but she was willing to accept anything that I can give. And now, she has been making me feel that it is my responsibility to give more...

We're technically just friends now so I am not doing anything wrong...right?

I peer down to see the beauty resting in my arm. My attention is held on her long, thick lashes and her baby hair sprouting from her forehead.

How can she do that? To still look breathtaking even from the top view?

"See you tomorrow..."

Her words that night after we left the movie theatre had been replaying in my mind since then. She left me hanging and wanting more and more each day, and I don't think I can break out from this spell anytime soon.

I want to have her all by myself again and I don't care about anything else anymore...

...even if it means hurting my brother. 

I want her so bad and I want to do something to make her fall for me really hard to the point that she will leave David and choose to be with me because I don't think that I will be able to get her out of my mind ever again.

Whoa, slow down, Dianer! Aren't you getting a little bit fast?

Yes. I'm the speed of light now.

I have been waiting for this kind of feeling and excitement all my life, you know. Last night, I wasn't able to sleep, actually. I have been thinking about her, contemplating and weighing some things...

What if she really wants this too? What if we'll give it a try?

She even sent me a few text messages, saying that she loves me and it is not the first time that she told me so...

What if she really meant what she said? What if she is just now trapped in her relationship with my brother? I mean, they just started dating and based on what she had shared with me, she seems to be getting uncomfortable with David now so...

Props to your great performance, Diana. You totally bent her. Remember, once a pasta gets wet and cooked, it will never be as straight and stiff as its original form ever again...

She seems so quiet right now though...

"What are you thinking, Franki?" I softly ask as I carefully maneuver the steering wheel to the left while turning around the corner.

She suddenly lets out a deep sigh as she cocks her head up to look me. 

"I was fantasizing about you earlier," she says as her eyes drop down to my lips, her answer totally taking me by surprise. If I look down, it will definitely graze on hers.

"Franki...I'm driving. Don't distract me." I swallow my incoming arousal down.

"Okay..." she giggles as she snuggles back on my side and suggestively continues, "I will make you turn that fantasy into reality with me later then..."

I just then press my lips inwardly to contain my kilig (romantic excitement).

"Seriously though, where are you taking me?" she asks in her impatient, raspy voice that I always love to listen to.

"Just wait and see..." I give her a meaningful smile.

"Oop—I love surprises!" she utters in delight before breaking away from me to search for something in her bag. She fishes out her lipstick and her huge palette mirror that she always brings with her.

"What did Veronica say?" she casually asks as she starts to put her lipstick on while holding out the mirror in front of her. I smile in amusement at her kikay (girly) routine. She is obviously unprepared because of her make-up free face and her slightly unkempt hair but little did she know that I find her the most beautiful without those... I mean, what I love about her personality is her rawness and effortless humor, and so are her natural physical attributes. 

"Nothing. Why are you so worried about her?" I think it's time for me to clear this to her—the real situation with Veronica.

"I don't know. She's just...she seems jealous of me. What are you two anyway?"

With my gaze fixing on the road straight ahead, I finally explain,

"She's like a best friend to me. We have known each other for like five years now. We are in the same circle of friends and we also did pageants together. We became an item, but I wasn't really sure about it before... I broke it off with her last time and told her that it's better if we'll just remain friends to not complicate things..."

There's silence for a few seconds before she responds,

"I'm sorry for asking but...why did you break it off?"

I can't seem to take her mood seriously because she is dressing up her eyebrows with a pencil as she asks me that.

Sometimes, Franki can be really hard to read, which makes her more interesting anyway.

"I don't want to be in a relationship where I am not a hundred percent into, Franki," I answer with a stern face while catching her eyes from the rearview mirror.

I then continue,

"And if we hang out, it doesn't mean that we're together, together, you know." I defensively explain. I don't know why but I just felt the need to at this moment as I don't want her to be reluctant in this...

She returns her stuff in her kikay kit as silence ensues between us for a few moments. She then looks out the window and gently sighs.

"Are you okay?" I worriedly ask her. She then turns to me and smiles before sinking into my arm again.

"I'm fine. I just want to be near you...always," she whispers as she leans her head on the curve of my shoulder and neck which she apparently treats as her home now.

"Me too..." I answer as I lean back mine against hers in sideways.

Minutes later, we finally arrive at the luxurious hotel that I have chosen here in Pasay.

"Ooh...a hotel?" she blurts out in delight with one eyebrow raised while I surrender my car to the young valet.

"I want to have a place where we could own even just for a night..."

She looks up at me with an appreciative, tender smile. "And where we can make our own rules...Thank you for this, Diana."

"Basta ikaw, (Only for you), Franki." Ugh, the braveness in me makes me feel so good and so high...

I want to hold her hand as we walk through the entrance doors but I'm afraid that someone will see us. To my surprise though, she again attaches herself in my arm like it's her usual thing to do...and I can only shake my head in amusement.

Both of us look feminine, especially her so we can be mistaken as "bffs" anyway.

My still wary eyes start to become alert with my surroundings as we grace the lobby like a real couple. Ugh, I have a feeling that every day will be like an adventure with this adorable yet unpredictable woman, but I'm loving it anyway.

"I can't wait to have another night with you." she subtly mutters under her breath as we head to the reception for check-in.

"Me too..." I am excited and anxious at the same time.

We were giggly and clingy inside the elevator and up to our floor. I can feel this uncomfortable, tingly sensation in my gums as I anticipate the things that will happen tonight.

I finally open the door for her upon reaching our hotel room and I watch her in delight as she steps inside with her eyes lit up and her lips parted wide in surprise.

I have actually checked-in this afternoon and set everything up myself. I bought a bottle of wine and vodka and requested the staff to place it in a bucket with ice and prepare two long glasses for us. I also bought a couple of fresh, expensive roses and spread some petals on the bed to make it more romantic and of course, the red glass tealight scented candles that would illuminate the room with a romantic, reddish glow. Franki also loves chocolates so I also spread some dark ones on the nightstand.

"Oh my gawd!" she shrieks out in her high-pitched voice with both hands on her mouth. She then turns to me with amazement evident in her face. "Diana...This is soooo cute!"

I flash her a composed smile as I lock the door behind me. "I'm glad you liked it."

"Did you prepare all of this?" she asks as she marvels at the room like a child who is out in the playground for the first time. I lean on my side against the wall as I watch her in utter delight and contentment.

"I just can't believe it. This is the first time that someone did this to me!" She explains as she sits on the queen-sized bed with her hands running on the smooth, silky bedsheet, transparently elated.

Is she really serious? A woman like her deserves to be treated like a queen!

"Seriously? David never did this nor any of your exes?"

She just nods her head absent-mindedly before bouncing her ass on the bed while picking up the petals and throwing it over her as she squeals.

God, she's such a baby! An adorable and sexy one...

"So...Is this a date or what, Dianer?"

"What do you think?" I ask with a lip-bite.

"I don't know! I'm just...my heart is so full right now! What did I do to deserve this?" she sounds really appreciate and hyper right now and I am so loving it. I can feel the happiness radiating in my eyes as I watch her squeak on the bed like a child.

Ugh, she deserves the whole world, you know.

Setting up the strong Bluetooth speaker on a corner desk, I casually take my phone out, which is connected to it and casually play my favorite song right now.

Di ka naman halatang super prepared, Diana noh?

She immediately gets up and excitedly bounces towards me as the music starts playing smoothly around, its strong bass booming on the four corners of the hotel room.

"Oh my God, is that Taylor Swift's Lover? That song is stuck in my head since the first time I heard it!" she exclaims as she takes my hand and flings it around animatedly.

"Me too. It's my favorite now, and every time I listen to it, you're the one that comes to my mind..."

My heart swells at the sight of her looking away as a red tinge crept across the paleness of her smooth cheeks.

(Don't skip this part! Play the video attached above and listen to the music as you continue to read below. If it cannot be played, download it from Youtube and listen to it from your music player or somewhere else as you read. I repeat. I want you to read the next scene with the music playing in the background. This is for an enhanced reading experience.)

The toothy grin on her face vanishes after mine did while my gaze on her intensifies. I hypnotically walk towards her, closing the gap between us and gently place both of her arms over my shoulders.

"Ooh...dancing." she softly comments with a giggle while she tries to hold a stare with me.

She intertwines her hands behind my neck as she looks up at me with love glazing in her beautiful light brown eyes. My heart is pounding so hard as we just stare into each other's eyes as the music plays.

🎵We could leave the Christmas lights up 'til January...
This is our place, we make the rules...
And there's a dazzling haze,
a mysterious way about you, dear...
Have I known you for twenty seconds or twenty years? 🎵

Instinctively, our bodies start to move into the music as one. Her sweet scent engulfs me and takes control of my senses and finally, I let go of all my inhibitions as we own the world and make our rules this time.

It's just me and her...in our own little world tonight.

🎵Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close forever and ever?
And ah, take me out, and take me home
You're my, my, my, my lover...🎵

I can feel her breathing becoming deeper and deeper as her arms tighten around my shoulders. The lyrics literally took the words out of my mind and I feel like I was the one who composed it. Feeling each word and meaning with all my heart, I lean my head down and press my cheek on the side of her head as she snuggles closer for an embrace. I pull her closer, my hands sliding down the small of her back while I let myself drown in the floating, wonderful feeling of her small frame perfectly fitting mine.

With her soft, hot breath on my neck, her softness all over me, our fast heartbeats fusing into one, and the magical feeling that is taking me on cloud nine right now intensify with our every step, every sway, and every burning touch.

🎵We could let our friends crash in the living room
This is our place, we make the call
And I'm highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you...🎵

Oh yes everyone seems to want her but little did they know that I'm the only one that her heart desires...

She pulls away to peek on my face and starts singing with the song. She places her hand on my mine and steps back, urging me to twirl her around. I chuckle as I did what she wanted and the moment she faces me again, I wasn't able to stop myself from catching her lips and finally kiss her in the most loving way.

🎵Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close forever and ever?
And ah, take me out, and take me home (forever and ever)
You're my, my, my, my lover...🎵

With utter fondness, I caress her cheeks as we slowly but passionately savor each other's lips like it's the first time we kissed. Without breaking it, I lean forward as she bends back with my hand supporting her back. She squeaks and chuckles into my mouth as I pull her back up.

Wanting to savor each moment and to save more for later, I pull away from her lips and just stare at her face, totally mesmerize at the utter beauty right in front of me. I have been dreaming about this, dreaming about this perfect moment that I have always wished and fantasized in my mind and the thought of this finally becoming a reality has my breathing becoming even shallower and my heart heavier with love inside my chest.

"Why are you so goddamn beautiful, Franki?" I murmur into her face as I tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.

"And so are you, Diana. You're so beautiful...inside and out, do you know that?" she runs the back of her fingers on my cheek as she said those words, and it caused a spark of tingly electricity down my spine.

I playfully roll my eyes to have an excuse to avert my gaze away from her. I can't help it. Her stare is so deadly I think she can see through the innermost part of my soul...

"Seriously though, I have never met a woman as beautiful and interesting as you are..." she continues with our bodies still subtly swaying into the music.

A deep sigh escapes my lips as I let these overwhelming emotions take me. I then lovingly gaze back upon her eyes and lean down to press my cheeks onto hers as we continue to dance and hum into the music.

"Franki..."

"Hmm?"

My heartbeat increases a thousandfold at this very second and what I am about to say has sent my head spinning in this overwhelming emotion.

"I love you. I love you dearly with all my heart..."

"Wait," she pulls away from me and steps back as her mouth opens into an "o" of surprise. "Oh my gosh, you finally said it!"

"Why, what's wrong?" I ask while masking my confusion with a chuckle.

"Nothing. I'm just really happy with you...To be this close to you po." She hugs me again and I put my arm around her shoulders as she buries her face back in my neck.

"This is gonna be hard..." she huskily grumbles against my skin.

"I know..."

"What do you think your mom would say?" she suddenly asks, and I am taken aback for a second.

"I don't know yet..." I really don't know how my mom would react to this. My aunt Kelly is very religious and has been kind of homophobic ever since and of course, she has influenced my mom. They have been teasing me to Sky ever since, but I have a huge feeling that she will be totally disappointed with me if she finally learns this. I'm her only daughter so it will definitely break her heart...

"How about your mom? She seems really nice in the pictures, not to mention as beautiful as you are." I throw the question back at her as I walk to the bed to open up the bottle of vodka.

Franki has an older sister Sophia and her older brother Derek. They both seem nice too based on the pictures and so is her mom.

"Yeah, she is but I'm not so sure about it too..."

My heart sinks as I catch the glimpse of worry and sadness in her face before she looked away.

I tap the space beside me on the bed and she immediately sits across me.

She then continues as I pour the colorless alcohol in our glasses,

"She has always planted in my head that I'm gonna marry a man and have beautiful kids..." The spark in her eyes earlier is replaced with apprehensive cloudiness this time.

I gulp as the reality suddenly slapped me hard on my cheek.

*****To be continued*****

A/N:

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