Chapter 16: Kiss

"Ba't ganiyan pala suot mo?" iritadong sambit niya nang nakita ang kabuuan ko.

"What's wrong with this outfit?"

He heaved a sigh. "Wala akong problema sa suot mo, ang akin lang ilugar mo ang pagsuot ng mga ganiyan. Sa palengke tayo pupunta tapos naka-heels ka? Baka isipin pa ng mga tao na may tililing ka."

I glared at him. "Bakit kasi tayo sa palengke pupunta? Atsaka alam ko ba, ha?"

He equalled my glare. "May reading comprehension ka ba o wala? 'Di ba nagtext ako tapos sabi ko mamamalengke ako? Sana naisipan mong magsuot nang naaayon sa lugar."

"E, ano naman kasi kong magsuot ako ng ganito?"

He massaged the bridge of his nose. "Ang sakit mo naman sa ulo. Paano kung mabastos ka sa palengke o 'di kaya kantiyawan ka kasi 'di naman dapat talaga ganiyan ang sinusuot kung sa palengke ka lang naman?"

"I can protect myself, Zian. Isa pa, nandiyan ka rin naman, so ba't ako mamomoroblema?"

"You trust me?" he asked.

"Didikit ba ako sa 'yo kung wala? You're so bobo."

He glared at me and made a face. "Tanga ka naman."

"Bakit ikaw ang mamamalengke? Don't you have maids?" I asked, changing the subject.

I feel like this jerk's doing this on purpose. He didn't use his car all the way here. Nagpahatid lang kami kay Archie tapos bumaba kami ng sasakyan para maglakad pa nang malayo, e, p'wede namang sa mismong market nalang kami ibaba. I don't know if he has a grudge on me para pahirapan pa ako.

"Alam mo, brat, hindi namin iniaasa ang mga trabaho sa iba kung kaya naman namin. We don't need maids, dahil kaya naman namin ang gawaing-bahay. We're not spoiled like you."

I made a face. "But, mayroon kayong driver, 'di ba?"

Nang kanina pumunta kami sa bahay nila ay nadatnan lang namin siya sa labas ng gate nila. He was talking to someone inside an SUV and when I asked Archie about it he said it was their driver he was talking to.

"Hmm, he's almost our family. May driver kami kasi minsan busy talaga, tapos kapag pupunta kami sa malayong lugar. Besides, hindi naman namin siya p'wedeng tanggalan ng trabaho, may pamilyang binubuhay iyon, e."

I nodded. "I didn't see your parents earlier, where are they?"

"Ano ka ba, reporter? Ang dami mong tanong. Umalis sila, okay?"

My brows furrowed. "So, galit ka?!" I rolled my eyes.

"Hindi ako galit, nagsasabi lang," he calmly said.

"'Di ba sabi ko kagabi i-date mo ako? You should've cleared your schedule today because we already talked about something last night."

"Tss, may magagawa ka ba? Atsaka, malay ko ba lasing ka lang talaga kung ano-ano lumalabas sa bibig mo."

"Excuse you. Even if I'm drunk or whatsoever I always know what I'm talking about."

"Talaga lang, ah?"

"So, bakit tayo rito dadaan? May wet market sa mall kaya bakit dito?" I complained as I saw a street vendors with their products laying on the floor. Isn't it dirty?

"Tanga mo talaga. Ano ba ang hindi mo maintindihan sa salitang palengke? Kailan ka pa namalengke sa mall?" He let out a problematic sigh. "Have you been in this kind of place before?" he asked, crossed arms.

I looked at him in disgust. "No way."

"This is your first time, then. Let's go."

"Are you serious? I might think this is the place where we'll be dating."

"Yeah, kaya halina't mag-date sa palengke," natatawang aniya at hinila ako sa kamay.

Sa sobrang inis ay gusto ko na lang siyang sigaw-sigawan. Yes, I want a date with him, but seriously? Sa palengke? I've never dated someone before iyong tipong ako ang mag-aaya! It should be special, pero ang lalaking 'to sinira lang at dito ako idedate, seryoso talaga siya?!

"I hate you... I really do... I hate you, Zian..." paulit-ulit na bulong ko habang nadadaanan namin ang mabahong crowd.

"I hate you too, brat..." he answered playfully.

I clenched my jaw as I clung my arms on his tightly.

"Ouch, may sama ka ba ng loob sa 'kin?" he asked without glancing at me.

Sa inis ko ay hindi ko siya sinagot hanggang sa dumating kami sa hilera ng mga isdaan.

"What are we doing here?" I mumbled, my hands covering my nose and mouth. The smell can make me puke.

"Bibili tayo ng gulay, masaya ka na? Alam mong nasa isdaan tayo, magtatanong ka pa kung ano gagawin natin, alangan namang mag-swimming tayo rito," litanya niya.

"Can't you just answer me properly? You always answer me in sarcastic way!"

People looked at us in a curious way, so I have to divert my attention to him for me to not feel uncomfortable.

"Common sense nalang kasi kaya ka nababara, e. Obvious na nga, itatanong pa."

"Fine, I won't talk to you ever again," I said and for the past minutes I really didn't talk.

"Brat, ano'ng favorite part mo ng isda?" Zian keeps on asking nonsense things.

"Ano ba uulamin natin? Gusto mo sabay tayong kumain?" he asked, but I just looked somewhere, iyong hindi siya makikita ng peripheral vision ko.

My arm wasn't clung on him anymore. Nasa tabi niya lang ako at sinusundan siya kung saan siya pumupunta. Panay naman ang iwas ko dahil natatalsikan nang maruming tubig galing sa mga puwesto ng mga nagtitinda.

"Maraming apple roon sa kabila, gusto mo bilhan kita mamaya?" Parang bata niya akong sinusuyo at akmang hahawakan ang baba ko pero dahil galit ako sa kaniya ay iniiwas ko.

"Mukhang hindi yata talaga ako kakausapin. She's that pissed." I heard him utter words.

"Alam mo ba na itong isdang 'to? Nalunod 'to kahapon kaya ngayon ibinenta na lang." Sabay pakita niya ng mga isda na nasa cellophane.

I rolled my eyes. Kahit ano pa ang gawin niya, hindi niya ako makakausap. Natapos na lang siyang namalengke habang daldal nang daldal ay hindi ko pa rin siya kinakausap.

"Halika, may napansin ako rito." He grabbed my hand using his another hand while the other was holding a bag of what he bought.

"Magkano rito, ate?" He asked a woman while holding the white-pearled hairclip.

"50 lang iyan, sir."

He nodded and faced me. He tilted his head while checking if it fits me, nilalayo ko naman ang ulo ko para hindi niya makita nang maayos kung babagay ba.

"Pili tayo ng iba," aniya at pumili pa ng iba.

"Ito, bagay 'to sa 'yo." He put the heart-shaped pearl hairclip he chose on my hair. He then pouted before smiling. "Ang galing ko talaga pumili, ang ganda mo, oh... Teka lang, bayad muna ako."

"Bayad, ate. Salamat."

"Girlfriend mo, sir?"

"Ah, hindi. Kaibigan lang, sige salamat po ulit."

"'Wag ka nga sumimangot. Ang ganda-ganda mo tapos hindi ka nakangiti?" puna niya.

I rolled my eyes and ignored him still.

"Uy, sorry na..." he said almost begging. We're already outside. Umupo siya sa waiting shed habang ako ay nakatayo lang sa gilid niya.

"Joke nga lang iyong kanina, e. Sige na, sorry na. Patawarin mo na ako, please..." I felt him hold my one hand and squeezed it.

I swallowed hard and tried my best to ignore him.

"Ang lambot ng kamay mo halatang walang ginagawa sa bahay," sabi niya.

I gritted my teeth and harshly pulled my hand.

"Luh, lalo atang nagalit." He paused. "Sorry na nga, e. Ano ba gusto mong gawin ko?"

I crossed my arms. "Gusto mo malaman?"

He smirked and stood up. "Yes," he answered and put some strand of my hair in the back of my ear. "Ganda mo talaga, oh."

I hissed when I felt my cheek blushed. "Shut up!"

"Ano gusto mo?"

I pouted. "Kiss."

He looked at me in disbelief. "Ayaw ko nga. P'wedeng iba na lang?"

"Iyon lang ang gusto ko, Zian."

He sighed. "Fine..."

My eyes widened. "Really?! I mean... are you sure?"

He chuckled. "Ayaw mo ba? Mabuti naman."

"Did I say no?!"

"Hindi. So, close your eyes first," utos niya sa 'kin.

I felt my heart beating fast and having butterflies in my stomach as I slowly closed my eyes.

A seconds later, I felt him planted a soft kiss...

What the fvck.

I opened my eyes and saw his amused face closer to me.

"What the fvck, Zian..." I uttered. Mas lalo siyang ngumisi na kinainis ko.

"Why?"

"Did I say a kiss on my forehead?!"

He chuckled. "Wala ka namang sinabing sa lips."

"Gosh! Sa lips ang gusto ko..." mariing sambit ko.

He shrugged. "Wala na, ubos na iyong free kiss. Next time na lang, kung magsasabi ka kasi iyong detailed para alam ko. Oh, ano? Napatawad mo na ako, ha? Tara na."

Wala akong nagawa kun' 'di patawarin siya kahit labag sa kalooban ko.

"I thought you'd date me somewhere? Iyon na iyon?" reklamo ko nang napansing nag-aabang na lang siya ng sasakyan.

"Hindi ka pa ba nagugutom?" he asked.

"I'm starving, hindi pa ako kumakain simula kanina."

"Even breakfast?"

I rolled my eyes. "Tanghali na akong nagising, breakfast pa ba tawag doon?" It's my turn to make him shut.

"E, di tanghalian, bobo."

"Saan sa sinabi kong 'hindi pa ako kumakain simula kanina' ang hindi mo maintindihan? Did you lose your hearing o sadyang stupid ka lang?" I shot back.

"Fine, you won. Let's go home to eat. You choose, paglulutuan kita o dito na lang tayo kumain?"

I smiled. "You cook?"

He rolled his eyes at me. "Ano ako baldado para hindi marunong magluto? Lahat naman siguro marunong maliban sa 'yo. At isa pa, hindi naman big deal kung marunong magluto ang lalaki. That's one of the things men and women should learn. And you're included."

"Are you insulting me?"

"Nainsulto ka ba?"

I shook my head.

"E, 'di hindi ako nang-iinsulto."

"I want to eat you— I mean the food you're going to cook." I smirked. I said it on purpose and just acted like I slipped.

He frowned. "Napakamanyak mong babae ka."

"Woah, excuse you! Naiinsulto na ako, ah!"

"Good, dahil insulto naman talaga iyon."

"You're a jerk."

"You're a spoiled brat."

"Whatever, let's go and eat."

We arrived at the unfamiliar house. "Sure ka ba na hindi tayo naliligaw? Baka nakalimutan mo kung saan kayo nakatira."

"Bahay nga namin 'to. Dalawa bahay namin dito, iyong kanina room talaga kami nakatira, rito naman pumupunta lang ako kung gusto ko."

"Okay. So, why did you bring me here instead the other one?"

"Baka makita ka nila mama roon, paglihian ka pa."

"E, ano naman?  You mean... your mom's pregnant?"

He nodded and while opening the gate.

"So, ano naman kung paglihian niya ako? I'm pretty —"

"Oo, maganda ka nga, pero ayaw kong maging suplada at spoiled ang kapatid ko."

I tsked and followed him behind. I wandered my eyes inside his house, it's pretty big and neat.

"Madalas ka ba rito?"

"Minsan lang."

I followed him until we reached their kitchen, it's big too. Their house is quite nice, I like the ambiance.

I sat on the high chair while watching his movements. Walang pasubali siyang naghubad ng damit nang nakatalikod at halos lumuwa ang mata ko nang kitang-kita kung paano magflex ang muscles niya sa likod. He's just so sexy.

This is illegal. "Zian!" saway ko.

Nang humarap siya sa 'kin ay dali-dali siyang nagsuot ng apron.

"Geez, I'm sorry. Init na init na 'ko, 'di ko naman alam na nandiyan ka pala."

I twisted my lips and smirked. "What a lame excuse. P'wede mo naman akong sabihan, Zian, kung inaakit mo 'ko." I shook my head, pretending that I'm disappointed.

"Kapal. Totoo iyon! Hindi ko ugaling magsinungaling."

"Oh, sige. Ni minsan ba hindi kita naakit?" walang hiyang tanong ko.

"Oo."

"What the— what's oo?"

"Oo, naakit ako."

My lips parted. "Really, when was it?"

"Last night," diretsong pag-amin niya.

"Oh my..." Magtatanong pa sana ako, pero tumalikod na siya para maghanda sa lulutuin habang ako naman ay natulala at inisip kung ano ang ginawa ko kagabi para maakit siya? I was expecting him to deny it or say no, but he's indeed an honest man. Inamin niya nang walang alinlangan. What the fvck.

"I want a spicy dish for my lunch, Zian," I ordered.

"Ako, hindi ako mahilig sa maanghang kaya lagyan mo nalang iyang plato mo ng sili."

Lumukot ang mukha ko. "Wala ka talagang kuwenta!"

I just heard him chuckle.

"Right. Let's date tomorrow," biglaang sabi niya nang ilapag sa harap ko ang niluto niya.

Hindi ko alam kung saan muna itutuon ang pansin sa mabango niyang niluto o sa kakasabi niya lang.

"W-what?" I stuttered!

"W-what?" he mocked while making a face. "I said, let's date tomorrow... a real one. Sinamahan mo lang naman akong mamalengke, hindi talaga iyon date"

Nasamid ako sa sariling laway. "So, gusto mo talaga akong idate?"

"Ikaw ang may gusto, hindi ako."

"E, ba't yayayain mo ako kung hindi mo pala gusto?"

"Oo na, gusto ko. Okay ka na?"

"Yeah, sure," I sarcastically said.

"Let's eat." He winked and sat in front of me, he has already a shirt on.

"Wait, what's this thing?" I curiously pointed the other dish since he cooked two dishes that fast.

"Adobong atay ng manok."

"A-atay? You mean... liver?!"

"Hindi, kidney ata english no'n."

"Really... masarap ba 'to?"

"Paano mo malalaman kung hindi mo titikman?"

"E, ikaw ano'ng lasa mo?" I raised a  brow.

"Alam mo, kumain ka nalang. I want you to eat foods you haven't tasted in your life. Iyong rarely lang kainin ng mga mayayaman at maaarteng kagaya mo. Subukan mo nang kainin."

I hesitant first, but when he offered a spoon with that atay ng manok on, I smiled and ate what he offered.

"Masarap?"

I looked up while chewing it. Well, it's weird since I was thinking the chicken's liver, but it's delicious.

"Yeah, it is. Pero mukhang masarap ka?" dagdag ko.

Hindi niya ako pinansin at itinutok nalang ang atensyon sa pagkain.

"Dinala ako ng amoy rito sa kusina. Grabe, umabot sa bintana ng kuwarto ko iyong amoy... Ari, ikaw ba tao rito? Kung nagluluto ka ay patikim ako..."

I almost fell on my chair out of shock. Bigla nalang may nagsalita, napatingin naman ako ay Zian na lumilikot ang mata sa kusina.

"Magtago ka..." he mouthed.

"What?"

"I said —"

"Oh, bro. Hindi niyo man lang ako niyaya. Ari, patikim..." When his gaze landed on me, he stopped. "Ay Audrey pala!"

I heard Zian curse. "Why are you here, Kent?"

"Ako?" He pointed himself. "Bakit ngayon mo lang ako tinatanong ng ganiyan, e, pumapasok naman ako sa bahay na 'to kung gugustuhin ko. Oh, ikaw? Ba't parang nahuli ka sa krimen? Isusumbong kita kay Tito at Tita, hindi mo sinabing may kalive-in ka na pala rito. Kailan pa?"

Zian glared at him. "Ang daldal mong t*rantado ka."

I raised a brow, remained silent.

Kent sat on the vacant chair. "Sino nagluto nito? Ikaw ba, Audrey? Patikim, ha?"

I shook my head. "No, he cooked that." I pointed at Zian who is still glaring at Kent.

"Weh, sure ka? Baka naman ni-order niya lang 'to."

I shook my head again.

"Talaga? Marunong ka magluto, bro? Surprising."

"Idiot, ano'ng surprising do'n? E, talaga namang marunong ako."

"E, bakit ako hindi?"

"You don't know how to cook?" I joined.

He shook his head and chuckled making his dimples visible. "Sorry, pero hindi, well, medyo lang."

I then turned at Zian. "Ang sabi mo marunong halos at ako lang ang hindi? E, hindi naman pala marunong 'tong pinsan mo."

"Marunong iyan, medyo nga, 'di ba? May possibility na nakakaluto siya nang masarap, may possibility namang magluluto lang siya para itapon sa basurahan."

I chuckled.

"Bakit pala kayo nandito? I mean... Am I disturbing something?" he asked teasingly. "Hindi ko alam na close na pala kayong dalawa. Ikaw, Zian, walang hiya ka sabi mo hindi ka maggi-girlfriend?"

"Sinabi ko 'yon? Wala akong sinasabi sa 'yo, loko. Bakit natatakot ka ba na sa 'ting dalawa ikaw ang maiiwang single?"

"T'*rantado ka, Zian! Kapag ako nagka-girlfriend isasaksak ko 'tong tinidor sa 'yo." Itinutok niya kay Zian ang tinidor na hawak niya.

I chuckled.

"By the way, ang sarap ng luto mo, bro. Na-amaze ako, p'wede ka na agad mag-asawa."

"Oo, maghahanap muna ako."

"Ba't ka pa maghahanap, e, nasa harap mo na?"

Kent and I looked at each other and smirked. I glanced at Zian who is now seriously eating while brows were furrowed.

"'Ge, salamat sa tanghalian. Alis na 'ko," paalam ni Kent.

"Huwag ka na bumalik," si Zian.

"Oo, hindi muna ako babalik. Baka may maistorbo pa ako, bye."

While Zian washing the plates, I was just sitting and touching the hairclip he bought earlier. I can't help, but to smile like an idiot. I just feel... kilig.

Lumapit ako sa sink kung saan siya naghuhugas. I am now leaning against the sink, facing him.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" He raised a brow still washing.

I crossed my arms. "I have a question. Why did you kiss me on my forehead earlier?"

"You haven't moved on? I kissed you there 'coz I wanted it there. Nothing more."

"You could just kiss me on my cheek, why did it have to be on my forehead?"

"Just because."

"Zian, just answer me."

"Fine, I just did it. Swear, it has no meaning."

I pouted. "Okay..."

He glanced at me while wiping his hand using a towel. "I want to take a picture of you. You really looked cute and pretty at the same time."

I bit my lowerlip. "Sure."

He smirked and leaned on me. I stepped backward, confused. Until I felt the counter at my back when he cornered me between his arms.

Hinawakan niya ang mukha ko hanggang sa gilid ng aking labi. "Para kang bata kumain..."

Sa inis ko ay naitulak ko siya. "You jerk!" How dare him to tantalize me.