Chapter 29

Austin Archangel's eyes widened.

And then he blinked five times in rapid succession.

"You... want me to kiss you?" he asked, his voice lower than usual. I watched as his Adam's apple moved up and down. And as he brushed his fingers through his hair—his hand was slightly shaking as he did so.

"Yes," I replied. "Wala ka bang dalang toothbrush?" I asked. "We have spare toothbrush," I offered dahil may spare naman talaga na toothbrush sa bahay namin. Iyong isang box ay nasa storage area, pero mayroong stock ng twenty unused toothbrush sa buong bahay—mayroong five per bathroom.

"No," he replied. "I have my toothbrush in my car."

"Okay," I said. "Do you not want to kiss me?" I asked dahil kung ayaw niya ay hindi ko naman siya pipilitin... Although that would cause confusion on my part dahil gusto niya akong maging girlfriend, pero ayaw niya akong halikan? Hindi ba iyon ang ginagawa ng mga girlfriend at boyfriend sa mga movies na pinapa-nood ko at sa mga libro na binabasa ko?

Austin Archangel pressed his lips together. Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga. Ipinatong niya sa lamesa iyong kamay niya. I saw him tap his fingers against the table—mas mabilis iyong pagtap ng mga daliri niya ngayon kumpara sa normal na ginagawa niya.

"Of course I want to kiss you."

"Okay. Let's kiss," I said.

He blinked. "Here? Right now?"

Itinuro ko iyong loob ng bahay namin. "You have to brush your teeth first," sabi ko. Tumayo rin ako dahil kailangan ko ring magtoothbrush. Naglakad ako papasok sa loob. Muli kong itinuro kay Austin Archangel kung nasaan iyong CR kung saan pwede siyang magtoothbrush. Umakyat ako sa kwarto ko at nagtoothbrush sa CR. I brushed my teeth twice, just to be sure. I also gargled and flossed.

Pagbaba ko, I asked Ate Gina kung nasaan si Austin Archangel, pero sinabi niya na nasa labas pa raw. Lumabas din ako. I saw him standing beside his car. I walked up to him.

"Hindi mo ba dala? You can ask Ate Gina for a spare," I said.

Hindi siya nagsalita. He nervously licked his lower lips, and then sighed. "Look, Karaminah Viel, I would love to kiss you... really," he said, seryoso iyong tono ng boses niya. "But I don't want to kiss you in your house."

"We can kiss here," I offered.

He ran his fingers through his hair again. "No, not that. I mean, your parents trusted me and I feel like it'll be a betrayal of their trust if we kiss tonight? While we're still just friends? Do you understand?"

"But I need to kiss you to help me decide."

"Decide to?"

"If I'll let you court me."

"Is that really needed?"

I shrugged. "I read a book and the character described this thing called 'sparks,'" I told him. "I was just wondering kung mararamdaman ko rin ba iyon kapag hinalikan mo ako."

He slowly nodded. "Okay..." he replied. Sumandal siya sa sasakyan niya. "I know I told you that I like you the way the male lead likes the female lead... but I feel like if you'll compare us to the books and the movies, we'll fall short. And I'll try to live up to that, but it's fiction... And I just don't want you to be disappointed."

Naka-tingin ako sa kanya.

"I don't know if you'll feel the sparks. I'm actually afraid to kiss you now because what if you don't feel the sparks? You'll just say no?"

I stayed quiet for a full minute, digesting what he said. He's right—fiction is different from real life. If I would base all my decision sa mga napapa-nood ko at nababasa ko, I would also end up disappointed because those characters do not exist in real life. Meron siguro—but not exactly.

Besides, I never wanted a fictional character.

I just wanted someone who will accept me for me.

"I understand," I replied.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "You... understand?"

Tumango ako. "I will remove all the unrealistic expectation. Sasabihin ko iyong sagot ko sa 'yo bukas kung mananalo kayo o after ng third game kung matatalo kayo bukas."

He pressed his lips again. "Okay," he replied.

"Okay," I said. "Drive safe and good luck sa laro bukas."

I took a step back para mabuksan niya iyong pinto ng sasakyan niya. Austin Archangel did not move—nanatili pa rin siyang naka-sandal doon at naka-tingin sa akin.

"Karaminah Viel," he called.

"Austin Archangel," I replied.

"Do you know that you make me nervous?"

I shook my head. "Why do I make you nervous?"

"I honestly don't know... Everything you do unnerves me," he said, smiling a little. "So..." He paused. "Whatever may or may not happen tomorrow, I will still be your friend, okay?"

I nodded. "Okay."

Binuksan niya iyong pintuan at naupo sa driver's seat. He rolled the windows down and looked at me. "Will you wear my jacket tomorrow?" he asked.

"Nasoli ko na iyong jacket mo."

"I know. I'll give it to you tomorrow when I see you."

"Okay."

He smiled a little. "Good night," he said.

"Good night," I replied before I walked back into the house.

* * *

It was 12NN nang dumating ako sa court. There was a catering courtesy of the sponsors of the team. Kumain na ako bago ako umalis sa bahay kaya naman naka-upo lang ako sa bench habang kumakain sila. The players were quieter than usual. After the lunch, Coach Aldrin just reviewed the plays that would be used today. After the twenty minute talk, he dismissed the players, but told them to just stay within the vicinity dahil aalis kami ng 3PM.

"Hey," Austin Archangel said nang mapunta siya sa tabi ko. Lumabas ako ng court. I was just walking around when he caught up with me.

"Hi," I replied.

"Here," he said, handing me a paper bag. "Jacket."

"Oh," I said. "Thank you. Isusuot ko mamaya."

"Cheer for me?" he asked.

"Sure," sagot ko sa kanya.

Biglang uminit dahil sa araw kaya naman huminto kami sa may likuran ng gym. It looked different kapag walang mga naka-sampay na towels. Naka-sandal lang si Austin Archangel sa puting pader. I just stood there. Ayokong sumandal dahil baka madumi.

"Kinakabahan ka?" I asked.

"Yes."

"You'll win," I replied, basing my statement on the record of the season... but still, bilog ang bola. Anything can happen.

"I'm not worried about that."

"What are you worried about?"

"Your answer."

"Oh."

Nagkaroon ng katahimikan sa pagitan namin. I looked at him—my head tilted because of how tall he was. He was looking down on me. Kung magiging boyfriend ko siya... how would kissing work? He's really too tall for me.

"Do you want to hear my answer now?"

His forehead creased. "You have an answer already?"

Tumango ako. "I decided before I went to sleep last night."

His lips parted. "Oh..." he said. "I... don't know. If it's a no, it'll affect my game."

"My answer is yes," I replied.

His eyes widened. "What?"

"I thought about what you said and you're right—unfair kung gagamitin kong criteria iyong mga napapa-nood at naba-basa ko... It's illogical, unrealistic, and quite frankly, unfair for the both of us. And you'll be courting me—I can still decide if you'll be my boyfriend. We'll still get to know each other. And I like spending time with you. So, the logical thing to do is to say yes."

His lips parted.

He was breathing deeply based on the rising and the falling of his chest.

"So... you're saying yes?"

"Yes."

"Nililigawan na kita?"

"Yes."

A smile appeared on his face. "Oh, wow. Thank you."

I shrugged. "You're welcome."

Naka-ngiti pa rin siya. "Uh... the honor is mine."

Tumingin ako sa relo. "Kailangan ba na 3PM tayo bumalik doon?" I asked.

"It's still early," he said.

"We still have 54 minutes," I replied.

"What do you want to do?" he asked.

"Gusto ko ng umuwi."

Napa-ngiti siya. "Right after the game, I'll bring you home, okay?"

"Dala mo iyong sasakyan mo?" I asked dahil sa shuttle kami suma-sakay papunta sa laro.

"I'll ask someone to drive it there."

"Okay," I said. "Kasama ba sa panliligaw mo iyong ihahatid mo ako?"

"Yes."

"Ano pa iyong kasama?"

"I think I mentioned before that I'll text you at least three times a day?"

I nodded. "Required ba na magreply ako kung good morning lang naman ang sasabihin mo?"

Natawa siya. "I mean... no? But it'll be nice if you'll reply."

"Noted," I said.

"What's your stand about FaceTime? 20 minutes before you sleep?"

"Okay," I said. "Pero paano kung ayaw kong magsalita?"

"Then we can FaceTime in silence."

"Okay."

"You'll have more time after this season and I'm done with my requirements," sabi niya. "What do you say about day trips to Tagaytay, La Uñion, or Batangas?"

"As long as papayagan tayo ng magulang ko."

"Of course."

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa.

"Iyon lang ba?" I asked dahil madali lang naman pala iyong mga gusto niyang mangyari. Ginagawa naman namin iyon kahit nung magkaibigan pa lang kami at hindi niya pa ako nililigawan.

"I still have some things in mind, but we can discuss that some other time."

I nodded. "Okay." He was looking at me and he was smiling. "What?" I asked.

Umiling siya habang naka-ngiti. "Thank you for the chance."

I nodded. "No problem."

We stood there in silence habang naka-tingin lang ako sa paligid. Sometimes, Austin Archangel would look at me and then I'd catch him smiling. Kapag tinanong ko siya kung bakit, he would just shrug.

It was 2:50PM when we decided to walk back to the gym. Isinuot ko na iyong jacket dahil baka mabitawan ko dahil marami akong dadalhin papasok sa shuttle. Pagpasok namin sa loob, lahat sila ay napa-tingin sa aming dalawa ni Austin Archangel. Saint hooted and then the rest of the players clapped and asked Austin Archangel for a high five. 

**

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