Chapter 33

My heart was beating loudly inside my chest as Austin Archangel's face neared mine. Naalala ko na kailangan kong pumikit gaya nung mga nasa libro kaya naman ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko... but I was curious to know how it would look like, so I opened my eyes again at sumakto iyon sa pagdampi ng labi niya sa labi ko.

My eyes were opened wide.

So... this was what kissing felt like.

I could still hear the beating of my heart. I did not know what I'd do next—I just wanted to stand there and let him do what he wanted to do... Kasi kung ibabase ko sa mga sagot ni Dominic at ng mga kapatid niya, we should be doing a whole lot more than this.

But after ten seconds of our lips just touching, he let go. His arms were still around me and he was looking down on me. There's that smile on his face again.

"It feels like it's my birthday," he said.

"Because of the kiss?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Ano'ng pinagkaiba na 'to sa nangyari sa yacht?" tanong ko sa kanya dahil parang pareho lang naman... only the one in the yacht was shrouded with the thrill of dying.

"That happened quickly."

"And this one lasted ten seconds."

"I was panicking that time."

"And now, you aren't?"

"Still am," sabi niya sa akin. "I think I can hear my own heart beat."

"Ako rin," sagot ko sa kanya. "Naririnig ko kanina iyong tibok ng puso ko, pero hindi na ngayon."

And then there was silence again.

Naka-tingin lang siya sa akin tapos ngumiti ulit. And then he pressed a kiss on my forehead and I felt him sigh. Tapos ay niyakap niya ulit ako nang mahigpit.

"I hope you enjoyed today," he said while he was still tightly hugging me. His chin was resting on the top of my head. Hindi kaya siya nahirapan kanina nung hinalikan niya ako dahil ibinaba niya iyong ulo niya? I forgot to stand on my toes—that would've probably made things easier for him.

Tumingin siya sa relo niya. "Time's up. You have to go inside."

Bumitaw siya sa yakap. I took a step back para magkaroon ng space sa pagitan naming dalawa. I smiled at him. I really enjoyed today. Nabusog ako sa kinain namin. Natuto ako dahil sa seminar. And I did a good deed nang magpamigay kami ng pagkain sa mga bata. And I had my second kiss.

"Thank you for today, Austin Archangel."

He smiled at me. "The pleasure is mine, Karaminah Viel."

Pagpasok ko sa bahay ay nakita ko si Papa na naka-abang sa akin. May hawak siyang newspaper. Napa-tingin siya nang marinig niyang papasok na ako. At saka napa-tingin siya sa relo niya.

"Nagtimer ba kayong dalawa? Talagang sinakto na 11:59."

"I don't like breaking curfew," sagot ko sa kanya. "Akyat na ako, Pa," I said and then he nodded at dumiretso na ako sa kwarto ko. Pagdating ko roon ay inilagay ko sa study table ko iyong box na binigay sa akin ni Austin Archangel. I could not believe that he remembered it when I barely could remember saying anything about it. I just wanted the stuffed toy dahil iyon ang napapanood ko sa mga pelikula, but he remembered.

I needed to prepare for his birthday even if it was four months and five days away. He liked basketball... so maybe my gift would be related to that. At kailangan ko rin palang mag-ipon.

I took a bath kahit na madaling araw na. Buong araw akong nasa labas kaya naman gusto kong linisin iyong katawan ko. Nang matapos ako ay naupo ako sa may study chair ko. I blow-dried my hair was about to scroll through the explore page of Instagram nang makita ko na may tagged IG story sa akin si Dominic. It was a selfie of us nung inaya niya akong manood ng game nila. And there was a caption 'Happy birthday, bestie @bluethecat.'

Nagreply ako sa IG story niya. Kaya pala dumadami iyong followers ko dahil tina-tag niya ako. Akala ko talaga ay dahil maraming nacucute-an kay Blue... Nag-effort pa naman ako na kuhanan siya ng maraming pictures.

Pagkatapos kong magreply kay Dominic ay nakita ko na may IG story din si Austin Archangel. It was a stolen photo habang naka-upo ako sa swing. Kinuhanan niya pala ako ng litrato habang naka-talikod ako sa kanya. Tanging 'Happiest birthday' lang ang naka-lagay sa lower right side nung post. Nang matuyo ang buhok ko ay natulog na ako. It had been a long day.

I woke up at 7AM, still.

Bumaba ako para kumain ng cereals. Mama asked me about my birthday and I told her about everything we did, except for the kissing part because I remembered Austin Archangel telling me that it would be betrayal of my parents' trust na hinalikan niya ako sa labas ng bahay namin... Although baka alam na rin naman nila dahil mayroong CCTV doon.

"Ano'ng gagawin mo ngayon?" Mama asked.

"I will still think about it," I replied. "But Kaleigh, Dominic's cousin, asked if we could meet dahil nagustuhan niya iyong script na sinulat ko. She also writes script. So, baka makipagkita ako sa kanya ngayon."

Pinaarawan ko si Blue sa garden tapos ay umakyat na ako sa kwarto. Hindi na ako nag-effort na kuhanan siya ng magandang picture dahil hindi naman pala siya ang dahilan kung bakit maraming nagfollow.

Pagdating ko sa kwarto, nakita ko na nagtext sa akin si Austin Archangel ng Good morning. I did not reply dahil sabi niya ay hindi naman daw required. Nagtext ako kay Kaleigh na free ako ngayong araw para magkita kami. Pagpunta ko sa Instagram ay nagulat ako na nasa 1578 na iyong followers. May 189 na comments sa latest picture sa account at karamihan doon ay tina-tag iyong mga kaibigan nila at puro mga mata iyong comments.

I suddenly felt like all eyes were on me, so I turned the Instagram account into private.

austingdl: your account's on private. Everything all right?

bluethecat: yes. Bigla lang dumami iyong followers.

austingdl: is it because of my post last night?

bluethecat: siguro, pero tinag din ako ni Dominic

austingdl: I won't tag you if it makes you feel uncomfortable.

bluethecat: no, it's okay. Puro mukha lang naman ni Blue iyong nandito

austingdl: okay. What are your plans today?

bluethecat: makikipagkita kay Kaleigh about the script

austingdl: until what time? Can we come by your house?

bluethecat: sino kasama mo?

austingdl: Violet. Playdate with Blue?

bluethecat: okay. I will text you kung anong oras ako makaka-uwi.

austingdl: noted. Take care!

Hinatid ako ni Kuya Robert sa townhouse nina Kaleigh after naming kumain ng lunch. Pagdating ko roon ay agad kong nakita si Dominic na naka-higa sa couch.

"Hey, you're here," sabi niya habang hawak pa rin iyong cellphone niya. Naupo siya nang makita niya ako. "What's up? Bakit ka nandito?"

"Kaleigh," I replied.

"Ka!" sigaw ni Dominic. Napa-tingin siya sa akin. "Sorry, I need to shout—may pagka-bingi 'yon," he said. Napa-tingin siya sa cellphone niya at kumunot ang noo. "God, so annoying," sabi niya.

"Sino?" I asked.

"Just some girl," sabi niya. "I seriously wonder kung sino ang nagbigay sa kanya ng number ko."

I just nodded. I was not that interested in Dominic's life. Napa-tingin ako sa may hagdanan nang marinig ko iyong boses ni Kaleigh. Pumunta kami sa may dining area. She gave me an unopened bottle of water.

"So," sabi niya habang nasa harapan niya iyong iPad niya at naka-open doon iyong file nung script na sinend ko sa kanya. There were some comments and circles and I wanted to read them. I knew I probably would not like some of her comments, but accepting criticisms is the way to improve as a writer.

"We just finished iyong sa short film with Serj," she said. "Iyong shinoot, remember?" she asked, and I nodded. "For next sem, kailangan ulit namin ng bagong material. And since same college naman na tayo nun, another friend is wondering if you'd like to work with her to adapt your script into a short film."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"Don't worry, everything will be credited naman sa 'yo and it's a collaborative work. Also, I can vouch for my friend—super galing nun and may ilang awards na siya sa mga films na nagawa niya. Medyo anal retentive lang 'yun, but I feel like magkaka-sundo naman kayong dalawa."

Kaleigh and I discussed what would happen kung pumayag ako. The discussion lasted for an hour. Nang matapos kami ay nagpaalam siya na aalis na siya dahil may kailangan siyang ipasa bigla sa school. Nang maglakad ako paalis ay nakita ko si Dominic na naka-kunot na naman ang noo.

"Yes or no," sabi bigla ni Dominic sa akin.

"About?"

"Just choose," sabi niya.

"I cannot if I do not know kung ano ang pinipili ko."

"There's this courtside reporter asking me to guest in her Youtube account," sabi ni Dominic. "I really don't know her all that well, so should I say yes or no?"

"Hindi ka naman mamamatay, so bakit hindi ka na lang pumayag?"

"Yeah, well... A lot of people are 'shipping' us, so I think guesting there would just fuel the fire," sabi ni Dominic. "I'm gonna say no," sabi niya at saka may pinindot sa cellphone niya. Tumingin siya sa akin. "San ka after? Free ka ba?"

Umiling ako. "Hinihintay ko lang si Kuya Robert. Pupunta si Austin Archangel sa bahay."

"Nice," sabi niya.

"Bakit naman?"

He shrugged. "Austin's actually a great guy. You deserve a great guy," sabi niya habang tinap ng tatlong beses iyong ulo ko.

Habang hinihintay ko si Kuya Robert ay nanood lang kami ng highlights ng laro ni Dominic na naka-post sa Youtube. Kaya pala sila shini-ship ay mayroong isang beses na initerview siya nung babae and admittedly, nilandi siya ni Dominic sa harap ng camera. Kasalanan niya rin naman daw pala.

Nang dumating si Kuya Robert ay umalis na ako. Pagdating ko sa bahay ay nakita ko na naka-park lang sa labas iyong sasakyan ni Austin Archangel. Lumabas ako ng sasakyan at saka bumukas din iyong pinto ng sasakyan niya.

"Kanina ka pa rito?" I asked.

"Around 20 minutes," he said.

"Dapat pumasok ka na."

"No, it's fine," sabi niya at saka kinuha iyong carrier ni Violet. Ang cute talaga niya. Mayroon pang kinuuha si Austin Archangel na isang box. "Treats for Blue and pandesal for Ate Gina."

"Thank you," I said because Blue loves treats. Kapag nagiging sweet na si Blue ay ibig sabihin gusto niya ng treats. Minsan, iniisip ko na tao rin sila... Ramdam niya kapag paubos na iyong treats niya at magpaparamdam siya na kailangan ko ng bumili.

Pagpasok namin sa loob ibinaba ni Austin Archangel iyong carrier at pinalabas si Violet. Nakita siya agad ni Blue tapos naglaro na silang dalawa. Sana ay 'wag silang tumalon sa pool.

"Ay, salamat!" tuwang-tuwa na sabi ni Ate Gina nang iabot sa kanya ni Austin Archangel iyong paper bag na mayroong laman na pandesal.

"Nako, may kaka-laban pa ata sa akin," sabi ni Kuya Robert, pero hinampas lang siya ni Ate Gina.

Pina-punta nila kaming dalawa sa garden. Hinanap ko sina Blue at Violet, pero hindi ko sila makita. Sinubukan ko silang hanapin, pero sabi ni Ate Gina na siya na lang ang maghahanap. Wala naman kasing pwedeng labasan iyong dalawa na iyon maliban sa main door. Mataas iyong bakod sa palibot ng bahay namin kaya hindi nila kayang talunin iyon.

"How was the meeting?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Gusto raw ng kaibigan ni Kaleigh na gawing short film iyong script ko."

"Wow, that's great!"

"I know, pero kinakabahan ako."

"It's normal to be nervous," sabi ni Austin Archangel. "But that shouldn't stop you from pursuing your goal."

I took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right—everything is scary at first."

He nodded. "But everything gets easier, too."

"Yes, but I think there are exemptions... pero wala akong maisip ngayon kaya 'wag mo akong tanungin. I will text you kapag may naisip ako."

Nagpasalamat kami kay Ate Gina nang dalhan niya kami ng meryenda. We quietly ate. The weather was nice—hindi masyadong mainit at maaraw.

Austin Archangel and I were discussing about the brunch he had with his family. Napunta kami roon dahil binanggit niya na pinaalala sa kanya ng nanay niya na pupunta ako sa bahay nila para sa dinner. Nandoon iyong lahat ng kapatid niya.

Habang nag-uusap kami ay napa-kunot ang noo niya nang may ma-receive siyang e-mail. I just saw the icon of gmail. Ibinaling ko iyong tingin ko sa pool to give him privacy. Nang ibaba niya iyong phone niya ay tumingin ako sa kanya. I did not want to ask him about it because like me, he'd tell me if he wanted to talk about it.

"Are you free tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yes. Why?"

"Arcade on the afternoon, and then dinner with my family?"

"Hindi ko pa tapos bilangin iyong tickets... Ilan pa ang kulang?"

"You tried to count?"

"Yes."

"Sorry, I forgot to tell you—I had that counted in the arcade. Still 4053 tickets short."

"Since you're good at playing basketball, ilang araw tayo doon bago makuha lahat nun?"

"I think a week? If we'll hog the game."

"Ikaw lang kumuha nung lahat ng ticket?"

"Yeah. Cohen wanted to help, but I wanted to do it alone."

Naka-tingin ako sa kanya. That was too much effort. Busy siya sa training pati sa mismong game at saka tinapos niya pa iyong requirements niya para sa degree niya. He must really like me.

"When did you decide that you like me?" I asked.

"I... don't know for sure," sabi niya sa akin. "At first, you were just the quiet seatmate. Then, I got curious because you're always writing. I think it began there."

"Dahil naki-basa ka sa script ko?"

"Hey, I did not read the script."

"Your eyes just scanned the words," I said, nodding.

"Traitor eyes," he replied, grinning. And then he cocked his head to the side and then stared at me again. "Thank you for making me your inspiration. I think it started there. You caught me off guard."

I slowly nodded. "You're welcome, then."

He laughed again. "The pleasure is always mine, Karaminah Viel."

**

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